Lake Geneva

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About Lake Geneva

Europe's largest lake, separating some of Switzerland and France, this glittering stretch of water is much more than just an impressive statistic and political boundary. It's spectacularly beautiful, with views of the alps on one side, charming rows of lush vineyards to another, and pretty châteaux and smaller towns dotted all the way around it. These offer wonderful peace and tranquility, and one of them is where milk chocolate was invented, but if you want a richer cultural experience some of the best places to stay on Lake Geneva are the lake's main cities, Geneva and Lausanne. All of which means that there's a wide range of properties to choose from too: charming rural B&Bs, excellent restaraunts with rooms and top notch luxury hotels to satifsy even the pickiest of customers.

We’ve started our recommendations with a quick review of the different cities, towns and villages we recommend, but if you’re only interested in hotels they’re just below.

Some of our Lake Geneva Collections:

Where to Stay - which town?

Geneva was originally settled because of its strategic position, straddling the Rhone at the south west end of the lake, where there's a shallow crossing point. It boasts spectacular views of the Alps and the Jura plus a heritage listed old town full of small bars, cafes and boutiques lining winding, cobbled streets. The lakeside is pretty too. In fact Geneva is a wealthy cosmopolitan city full of pretty spots, great shopping, good restaurants and interesting museums.
Lausanne also has a medieval centre, dominated by a Gothic cathedral, and an annual civic calendar dominated by arty festivals and events, but it's not quite as polished at Geneva. Smaller, and possibly trendier, Lausanne is a great place for foodies and students. If you're looking for the best lake views climb the Sauvabelin Tower.
As well as the museums and galleries of Geneva and the cellars of Lausanne, consider the beaches - and palm trees - of Montreux. As well as watersports, Montreux has always been known for its popularity with writers, artists and musicians (it hosts a popular Jazz Festival every summer), and it's also the closest town to the fairytale Château de Chillon.
Or there’s Vevey, on the North shore of Lake Geneva. To the British, this town may be most familiar as the final home of Charlie Chaplin, but he is just one of many famous residents who have called Vevey home: Dostoevsky, Victor Hugo, James Mason, Shania Twain are some other famous residents. Vevey is where milk chocolate was invented in 1875 and is still the headquarters of Nestle. Fittingly, you'll find here the museum Alimentarium (of Nutrition) and Nestle's own discovery centre (popular with both adults and kids alike) The Nest.
Évian-les-Bains on the French side of the lake, is still best know for its luxurious waters — now available worldwide — but this Belle Époque treasure is more than just a picturesque spa town with its own ‘youth juice’. Évian is also a town of beautiful parks and graceful architecture, pretty squares, narrow lanes and small cafes and restaurants.
Closer to Geneva than Évian, and almost directly opposite Lausanne, Thonon-les-Bains is another French Belle Époque spa town boasting a charming town centre with plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants. It doesn’t have famous water, but it does have an attractive château, and there are some great value accommodation options here.
Yvoire is just a village really, on the French southern shore of the lake close to Thonon-les-Bains, but what makes it special is that it was beautifully fortified in the 14th century, and those walls and fortifications remain, surrounding the charming, historic town inside with its bijoux bistros, boutiques, little galleries and medieval treasures. Yvoire also has a 14th century château. And all of these pleasures add up to making this little village feature regularly on the official list of ‘The Most Beautiful Villages in France’.
Nyon is about mid-way between Geneva and Lausanne, so it’s a good place for someone to build a beautiful, white chateau, something reminiscent of drawings in fairytales. These days it’s a sort of middle base for many people, and has some of the lake’s best museums and galleries, outside Geneva and Lausanne. And maybe to make up for being a sort of smaller sibling, it plays host to a packed schedule of annual festivals and events. It’s beautiful too, surrounded by vineyards, and on a gentle slope towards the water that means that many hotels have views over the tops of the hotels in front of them.
Just outside Lausanne, only a few kilometres to the east, Lutry is a charming medieval village founded by monks in the 11th century. With its pretty waterfront, and its main street lined with boutiques, galleries, cafes, bars and restaurants, Lutry makes a quiet alternative to Lausanne for anyone who wants to be close to the thick of things, but not stay somewhere busy: it’s under ten minutes on the train between them, or 20 minutes on a ferry.
Just to the east of Lutry, about five kilometres, is Cully, another small, charming, lakeside village, this time known for its winegrowers. Just behind Cully are Riex and Epesses, where many of the best local wines grow.
Morges is another wine-growing village close to Lausanne. It’s pretty, with a charming waterfront, and squat château, but what makes Morges most special is that its position on the lake is almost directly opposite Mont Blanc, so the views are quite something. Especially during its famed tulip festival which runs between mid-April and Mid-May.
But it’s Aigle that’s the wine capital of the Vaud region, and it’s got some beautiful local castles and châteaux to prove it! Along with a carpet of vines growing all over the softly undulating slopes of this southeastern end of Lake Geneva. There are some excellent places to eat, as well as drink here, and while the narrow streets of the old town might smell somewhat of red wine it’s the local chablis that Aigle is famous for.
If you're here for rest and recuperation, the thermal baths at Lavey des Bains will tempt.
There are plenty of challenges for walkers and hikers all around the lake, but the southeastern corner, near Aigle, is closest to the Vaud Alps and the dramatic shadow of the Diablerets glacier.

Most of the cities and towns on the lake are served by boats allowing you an extra scenic exploration route. Lake Geneva is also a beautiful spot for a road trip - you might even want to consider choosing two or three of the best places to stay on Lake Geneva and then hopping between them.

The Best Places to Stay on Lake Geneva

For a room with a view

Vevey’s Hotel des Trois Couronnes is a luxury lakeside hotel and spa benefitting from 172 years of practice and tradition. Its stately facade overlooks the lake and the Alps beyond, and the best of its 71 rooms and suites do too. The terrace restaurant is renowned, and has a Michelin star, there’s an extremely luxurious spa — considered to be one of Switzerland’s best, there are chandeliers in the gym — and its list of former patrons is extremely impressive.
Lausanne’s Beau Rivage Palace is a wonderfully old grande dame hotel, with 161 luxurious rooms and suites with all the trimmings, including opulent decor and stupendous views cross the lake to the snow capped Alps and beyond. The best rooms are those with balconies. There’s also an award-winning spa, both indoor and outdoor pools, a buzzy cocktail bar that attracts visitors from all round the lake and a restaurant with two Michelin stars. And it’s surrounded by ten acres of private, landscaped gardens.
Geneva’s Hotel d’Angleterre is an elegant five-star hotel in an enviable location by the lake, overlooking the Jet d’Eau from the opposite side of the water. From its many-windowed exterior you’d think this was a large hotel, but it has just 45 rooms and suites, individually, and opulently, decorated with all sorts of beautiful, and varied, antiques and interesting treasures. This is the sort of hotel which offers a range of dining choices, including private dining, and there’s a glamorous bar for the evenings, and afternoon tea for the afternoons. Luxurious and very memorable.
The impressive Grand Hotel du Lac on Vevey’s waterfront is another luxurious hotel with incredible lake views, which stretch up to the Alps. This hotel offers contemporary luxury, with 50 rooms and suites, the best with private balconies, a choice of restaurants: ‘Les Saisons’ restaurant with its Michelin star, and ‘La Veranda’ for more casual dining and local dishes. Plus there's a spa with outdoor pool.

For Traditional Elegance

The Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues is a grande dame of Geneva, sitting elegantly against the waterfront right beside the Port du Mont-Blanc. Its 115 rooms and suites range from classically elegant to palatial, decorated in a riot of brocade and toile de jouy in soft blues and greens, and the best of them have private balconies as well as incredible lake views. There’s a rooftop pool too, with a terrace, and another terrace associated with the bar, which is definitely a place to see and be seen.
The Hotel de la Cigogne is a a beautiful, beautifully appointed, family-owned hotel in the heart of Geneva’s Old Town. Its 52 spacious rooms and suites are all individually decorated with carefully chosen antiques, and some really beautiful furniture and interesting art. The romantic restaurant is panelled with mahogany, to set the intimate, Belle Époque tone.
The Lausanne Palace’s grand, historic exterior houses a five-star hotel that really sparkles with luxury and turn of the 20th century grandeur. There are 138 rooms and suites, a state-of-the-art spa with a specialist AVEDA hair spa, and four restaurants, one with a Michelin star. It deserves its title.

For romance

Lausanne’s Château d'Ouchy is an historic, 12th century castle turned chic, 50 room hotel, right across the road from the lake. The decor is elegant, befitting the regal exterior, but in an understated way. The best rooms are those with the best views, and we also appreciate the pool, spa and terrace restaurant offering seasonal dishes from locally sourced ingredients.
The Hotel Tiffany is a chic, Art Nouveau era property in the heart of Geneva, with 65 elegant, luxurious, rooms decorated with contemporary art. The restaurant is well known and well regarded and the bar is glamorous.

For a complete escape

The Hotel Restaurant du Port is a stunning lakeside hotel in Yvoire, boasting a superb restaurant. Charming rooms feature wood panelling, crisp white linen and quaint balconies to take in the gorgeous view. During the summer dine on regional classics, whilst soaking up the sun on the terrace. Fabulous.
The Chateau de Coudree is a 12th century castle turned 19 room hotel overlooking Lake Geneva. There are plenty of original features to add charm, and some which aren’t original but are still relatively old, like wood panelling, detailed ceilings and delicate wall coverings. The restaurant is impressive, and the Bar Renaissance is like an historic pub. There’s also an outdoor pool and wonderful terrace overlooking the lake.
The Auberge de Confignon is in a village just outside Geneva — but still only 20 minutes by bus from the city centre. People who stay here are here for the peace and the food, both of which are simple and wholesome, though the food is also gourmet.

For families

The Edelweiss Hotel is a quintessentially Swiss hotel and restaurant, like a Swiss chalet transported to the centre of town, complete with fondue restaurant and nightly yodelling. Think wood-lined rooms, fireplaces, and long, alpine horns mounted to the walls. There are family rooms and babysitting services offered, and let’s be frank, your kids are probably going to love it.
La Réserve is an ultra-luxurious but family-friendly hotel in a beautiful landscaped park in Bellevue, along the lake from Geneva. There are 102 rooms and suites, with a warm and welcoming style, plus a choice of resort-style pools, a heavenly spa, tennis courts, a kid’s games room and plenty to do.
The Villa Cecile is a pretty, 15 room hotel close to the lake in Yvoire. The contemporary rooms have crisp, neat furnishings and balconies with lake views and the family suite can comfortably accommodate two adults and two children. There’s also a pool, a spa and beautiful gardens. And the restaurant is know for its healthy, regional cuisine.
For luxury and a hillside location with really stunning views book into Le Mirador. Its sixty three rooms and suites all have incredible lake views, and are decorated with contemporary elegance in mind, and the family suites are really spacious. There’s also a children’s play area and they can providing babysitting. The adults in your party with probably be more swayed by the Givenchy spa, the piano bar and fine dining Le Patio restaurant.

For great value

The Tralala Hotel is located in the heart of old Montreux and offers sleek contemporary accommodation that won't break the bank, in an historic 17th century building. The property evokes the spirit of the annual Jazz festival with rooms themed around the likes of Alicia Keys, Santana and Deep Purple.
Montreux’s La Rouvenaz Hotel and Restaurant enjoys a good location by the lake. It is simple but smart with modern spacious rooms - some with balconies overlooking the lake. The restaurant serves fantastic Italian cuisine.
Au Fil de L'eau is a delightful little hotel and restaurant, with seven simply, and individually decorated rooms with private balconies, some overlooking the lake. The restaurant is very well regarded locally, and the location, between Vevey and Montreux, is a great base for exploring the lake.

Prefer a self-catering Apartment or Private Villa?

If you’d prefer to stay in an apartment or private villa we recommend you visit our online partner, booking.com.

Travel Information

Geneva Airport is just four kilometres from the centre of Geneva, which you can easily reach by bus, train, taxi or shuttle. And the train transfer is free to air passengers, and only takes about six minutes to the central station. A taxi will take you around 25 minutes. Lausanne is about 45 minutes away on the train, but Geneva is still the closest airport.
If you want to hire a car - which we advise if you want to see more of the lake and the alps - we recommend you visit our online partner, Rentalcars. There’s no car ferry on the lake, but the views from the road are often breathtaking.
As with much of Europe, Lake Geneva is busiest during the summer months, but the climate is quite pleasant all year round and temperatures aren’t extreme. You’re surrounded by the Alps, so if you visit during winter you have access to the snow, and of course those beautiful views, but during the summer you can swim in the lake. Autumn is changeable and it can be rainy, but from mid-Spring the days are getting drier and longer and sunnier.

Still not sure which is the best place to stay on Lake Geneva?

You could refine your search to just the best places to stay in Geneva or the best places to stay in Lausanne.
Or consider one of the smaller centres and try the best places to stay in Montreux, or the best places to stay in Vevey.
Alternativley, you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.

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The best hotels in Lake Geneva

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La Rouvenaz

Montreux

With a fabulous location on Lake Geneva, La Rouvenaz is a classy establishment. Its rooms are modern and spacious with some boasting fantastic views of the lake from adjoining balconies. Perfect for exploring the local area. A must for jazz lovers in July.

Local exploring - Twenty minutes from Lake Geneva with unspoilt views, right from your bed
Value chic - Great value for this area
Great walks - Take a walk along the 10km Montreux Promenade and enjoy its fantastic views of Lake Geneva.
Sights nearby - Marvel at the 1000 year-old Chillon Castle less than two miles away.

from $159 for 1 room, 1 night including taxes & fees