Geneva tours and excursions
Geneva tours
E-Bike tour
Choose the most comfortable way to master the challenges of the almost 90 km of cycling lanes of Geneva. Enjoy the sights and wonderful landscape in and around Geneva while sitting on an e-bike. Pick up your bike at the train station.
Tel: +41 41921 0575.Website: https://www.sbb.ch/en/station-services/auto-velo/rent-a-bike-high-season.html
Boat tours
One of the best ways to see Geneva, especially in fair weather, is to take a ‘Mouette’ boat and tour the lake. Swissboat run tours with guided commentary in English and their boats ply the lake and the Rhône (cruise of the lake: 50 minutes, tour of the Rhône 2 hours 30 minutes). Smaller companies offer similar tours.
Swissboat
Tel: +41 22 732 4747Website: http://www.swissboat.com
Bus tours
Key Tours organise a choice of tours covering Geneva’s star attractions, as well as incorporating the considerable charm of the surrounding countryside. The company’s three-hour tour explores the main urban sights before finishing with a cruise on Lake Geneva for good measure.
Key Tours
Tel: +41 22 731 4140.Website: http://www.keytours.ch
Walking tours
The Geneva Tourist Office offers a selection of walking tours in French or English around some of Geneva’s mainstream sights, as well as the kind of quirky tucked-away places that only guides ever seem to know about. Options include an Old Town tour, or a themed visit in the footsteps of Genevan philosopher Rousseau. Private tours are also available.
Geneva Tourist Office
Tel: +49 22 909 7000Website: http://www.geneve.com
Geneva excursions
Lausanne
This lakeside city, just 61km (38 miles) from Geneva, is easily reached by a 36-minute train journey from Cornavin station. Lausanne's pedestrianised, hilly streets are perfect for wandering. The Rue du Pont leads to the Place de la Palud, with its fountain and Renaissance Mairie (town hall). Nearby, the turreted towers of the Romanesque-gothic cathedral offer the best views of Lausanne, Lake Geneva and the Savoy Alps. The Musée Historique de Lausanne has a rich collection of religious art, while the Musée Cantonal des Beaux-Arts displays work by local artists.
Lausanne Tourisme
Avenue de Rhodanie 2, Lausanne
Tel: +41 21 613 7373Website: http://www.lausanne-tourisme.ch
Montreux and Château de Chillon
Situated on the north shore, at the eastern end of Lake Geneva, Montreux is the gateway to nearby ski resorts like Gstaad, Leysin and Château d'Oex, as well as the mountains of the Valais canton further afield - of which the Matterhorn is the most famous peak. Montreux is 93km (58 miles) from Geneva and can be reached by frequent trains and also ferries during the summer. The town offers mountain-biking, rafting and paragliding, and sits close to the most famous castle in Switzerland, the Château de Chillon.
Montreux-Vevey Tourisme
Rue de Théâtre 5, Montreux
Tel: +41 848 868 484Website: http://www.montreuxriviera.com
Lavaux vineyards
Wine production in the Lavaux vineyards, just east of Geneva, dates back to Roman times. Today, this picturesque region flanking the steep northern slopes of Lake Geneva is dotted with beautiful wine-producing villages such as Chexbres, Rivaz and St Saphorin, offering superb wine-tasting opportunities in their local cellars. Follow the 32km (20-mile) Lavaux Wine Trail from Lausanne's Olympic Museum to Villeneuve for spectacular views of the lake or climb aboard the Lavaux Express tourist train at Lutry to explore the area.
Montreux-Vevey Tourisme
Rue de Théâtre 5, Montreux
Tel: +41 848 868 484Website: http://www.montreuxriviera.com