Lake Geneva cruise

Many towns along the lake have a dock that allow you to board one of the ships. Geneva actually has four docks, so be sure to check from which one your cruise departs: Pâquis, Mont-Blanc, Jardin-Anglais or Eaux-Vives. All of them are within walking distance of each other. Other larger towns where one can board the boats are Lausanne, Montreux, Nyon, Morges, Vevey and Yvoire (France).

There are several longer boat trips (cruise-like) and ferry services (quick lake crossing). These are the main ones:

• One hour round trips from and to Geneva via Bellevue;
• Round trips from and to Geneva via Hermance (90 minutes or longer);
• Cruises in the western part of the lake between Geneva, Nyon, Yvoire, Morges and Lausanne (3 to 4 hours maximum);
• Cruises in the eastern part of the lake between Lausanne, Vevey, Montreux, Chillon castle, Villeneuve and St-Gingolph (3 to 4 hours maximum);
• Ferries from Nyon to Yvoire in France;
• Ferries from Lausanne to Evian en Thonon in France.

Most boats have 2nd and 1st class areas, where 1st class is usually at the upper deck. Many boats have either a restaurant or a bistro on board.

Sample trips by boat and train or bus

• Take a boat from Vevey to Villeneuve (1 hour), and back by train (15 minutes). Optionally you can visit Montreux and Chillon Castle along the way;
• By boat from Geneva to Lausanne (more than 3 hours), and back by train (40 minutes);
• By boat from Geneva to Hermance (45 - 60 minutes), and back by bus (45 minutes).