Geneva is the second most populated city in Switzerland, which is a diplomatic center. Everything is attractive here — from magnificent architecture to stunning nature. The surrounding mountains are covered with snow in winter and greenery in summer. In Swiss cities and towns, ancient architecture is perfectly combined with modern architecture. And in Switzerland you can eat the most delicious chocolate in the world. If you have already explored Geneva, you have a couple of free days and are looking for best day trips from Geneva, visit some great places located nearby. And we will tell you something interesting about them.
Swiss Riviera: Vevey, Monteraux and Chillon
Swiss Riviera is located directly on the northern shore of the picturesque Lake Geneva in the canton of Vaud. This is a special corner with incredible landscapes and an amazing microclimate: from the resorts of the Riviera, you can see views of both the majestic Alps with snowy peaks and the verdant terraced vineyards of Lavaux. Local towns, villages and their surroundings offer the spoiled tourist all the best that they have: from first-class medical resorts, wine and food tours to chic hotels and historical sites.
Photo: Beat Strasser/flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Photo: By Zacharie Grossen, from Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Best day trips from Geneva: Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
The views around Chamonix, especially the incomparable panorama of Mont Blanc, attract nature lovers from all over the world. Unforgettable adventures, such as climbing the Aiguille du Midi by the highest cable car in Europe (altitude 3942 m) or a trip on the rack railway to the Mer de Glace glacier with a visit to its famous cave, make Chamonix perfect and unique place for a day trip from |Geneva.
Europa Theme Park
This is the best theme park in Geneva. There are fifteen different sites, reflecting different countries and cultures. Here you can overcome wild water rapids or participate in fun shows as well.
Photo: Jérémy-Günther-Heinz Jähnick / Europa-Park – Atlantica SuperSplash (41) / Wikimedia Commons (Cc-by-sa 3.0)
Photo: Jérémy-Günther-Heinz Jähnick / Europa-Park – Poséidon (11) / Wikimedia Commons (Cc-by-sa 3.0)
Best day trips from Geneva: Yvoire
This French town is the pearl of Lake Geneva and one of the most beautiful villages in the country. It has hardly changed for over 700 years of history and now will fascinate you with a unique charm of antiquity. In 1959, Yvoire won the national competition of Flower Towns and Villages, and now he regularly wins international competitions in floristics, horticulture and landscape design.
Photo: By Chris H Munro, from Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Photo: magda6108/flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Annecy
A small town on the edge of France, just 30 km from Geneva, can be considered the pearl of the Rhone-Alpes region. In a picturesque place, against the backdrop of a panorama of mountains, near the shore of a calm blue lake. There is an incredibly cozy and charismatic old town of Annecy, with an invariable castle on the top of the mountain. The brightest and most memorable attraction is tower right in the middle of the river, sandwiched by rows of old houses. Narrow streets and many flowers create a truly fabulous atmosphere. No doubt, it is one of the most beautiful small towns in Europe.
Photo: By Dingy, from Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Photo: By Alex Brown (originally posted to Flickr as Lac d’Annecy), via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
Best day trips from Geneva: Gruyeres
There are enough places on the world map that seem to have left the photographs, and the small town of Gruyères is undoubtedly one of them. This picturesque medieval city, located on the slopes of a hill at the foot of the Alps, is the birthplace of the famous Gruyère cheese. Every year, thousands of tourists come here to walk along the ancient streets, climb to the top of the hill on the funicular and just feel the atmosphere of the Middle Ages.
Photo: By PerSona77, from Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Photo: M M/flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Lavaux vineyard region
Terraced vineyards Lavaux is a famous wine region, stretching for 30 km along the shores of Lake Geneva from Lausanne to Vevey. It occupies about 830 hectares of land and is the largest wine-growing region in the country. Since 2007, the Lavaux vineyards, located in terraces on the slope of the coast, have been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Photo: Patrick Nouhailler/flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Photo: Yves Cosentino/flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Best day trips from Geneva: Valmorel
It is a world famous and extremely popular ski resort. It is easy to get here from Geneva. Not only experienced skiers can ski here, but also beginners, who will find special runs here. And if you don’t like skiing, you can go snow skating or tobogganing.
Photo: By Florian Pépellin, from Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Photo: By Domaine Skiable de Valmorel, from Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Interlaken
Interlaken is located in the Bernese Oberland region in the central part of Switzerland. Lying in a valley surrounded on all sides by mountains, the city has been a popular climatic resort for more than three hundred years. The area here is surprisingly picturesque, which, together with clean mountain air and developed infrastructure, attracts tourists.
Photo: Gregorini Demetrio, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Photo: Gregorini Demetrio, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Best day trips from Geneva: Lavey les Bains
Lavey les Bains is a spa complex next to Lake Geneva, home to the warmest thermal spring in Switzerland. This is a real oasis of health: jacuzzis, hydromassage pools, cascades, waterfalls, fountains, slides and air massage beds. Besides, you will find here a wide range of water activities and luxurious spa treatments in a calm and pleasant atmosphere.
Photo: ktulinho/flickr (CC BY 2.0)
Lausanne
It is the most beautiful city in a country of unsurpassed natural beauty. Besides, Lausanne is the city of charming steep hills that are tiered above the lake, forming a succession of small south-facing terraces. Vast expanses of blue water, bright sunlight, and purplish-gray haze-capped Savoy Alps peep between houses and at the end of steeply sloping alleys.
Photo: By Gzzz, from Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Photo: By Sailko, from Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)
Best day trips from Geneva: Glacier 3000
Glacier 3000 is a paradise that guarantees you special experiences both in summer and winter! Having reached an altitude of 3000 m above sea level, you can enjoy a breathtaking panorama of 24 peaks 4000 m high, such as the Jungfrau, Matterhorn or Mont Blanc.
Photo: Jean-Daniel Echenard/flickr (CC BY-ND 2.0)
Photo: By Zacharie Grossen, from Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Evian
Evian is a famous resort in France, located on the border with Switzerland on the shores of Lake Geneva. Beautiful mountain nature and healing mineral water have made it popular among tourists. High-ranking officials, famous artists and writers like to come here on vacation. The stunning beauty of nature and the healing mineral water of Evian made this place famous throughout the world. Evian – a city lost among the Alpine heights, can rightfully be considered one of the best resorts in Europe.
Photo: Christopher Somes/flickr (CC BY 2.0)
Photo: Peter Hurford/flickr (CC BY 2.0)
Best day trips from Geneva: Bern
Bern is the capital of Switzerland and one of the largest cities in the country. The center of Bern is classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. To get a better view of the city, stretching along the banks of the Aare River, you need to climb the Bern Cathedral. In the city center is the clock tower, which is one of the oldest in Switzerland.
Photo: By Daniel Schwen, from Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Photo: By Daniel Schwen, from Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Veysonnaz
Veysonnas is a cozy village with postcard landscapes, located in the center of the canton of Valais. It is the famous ski resort is located at an altitude of 1350 meters which offers stunning views of the Rhone valley and the Alpine peaks.
Photo: TRAILSOURCE.COM/flickr (CC BY 2.0)
Photo: By Jeremy.toma, from Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)