Geneva, Switzerland is a great city to visit. There are many things to see in Geneva, but sometimes people are fortunate to be able to spend more time in Geneva and would like to see some other places around the city. I was able to visit Geneva several times and I learned about a few beautiful places right around Geneva. Each is within easy driving distance and makes for a great day trip.
If you have already explored Geneva and have extra time, then the area surrounding Geneva is simply beautiful! If you have a few extra days to spend in the Geneva area, you can easily visit many beautiful places. So, come along with me on my favorite day trips from Geneva.
1. Perouges
Beautiful old stone building in the main village square at Perouges
See my photos from Perouges
Located across the border into France, Perouges is my favorite day trip from Geneva. This small village is one of those beautiful places that makes me want to come back to Europe and visit as often as I can. A small medieval village perched up on top of a hill, Perouges is a perfectly preserved medieval jewel. You would never find anything like Perouges in the US. Located only about one hour and a half driving from Geneva, Perouges is situated in the mountain region of Rhone-Alpes in France.
The road from Geneva to Perouges was also beautiful, winding its way through the Jura mountains between Switzerland and France. Everything is green and beautiful. As you come closer to Perouges, the landscape turns from mountain peaks to gentle rolling hills filled with wheat fields. This is beautiful French countryside!
Plan Your Day Trip from Geneva to Perouges
Stay in Perouges. If you want to stay around Perouges, you will love the charming and affordable The Resid for Calixte right in Perouges. Or you can find budget hotels in the Rhone-Alpes area.
Book a local tour of Perouges. Take this beautifully led local walking tour of Perouges which highlights local history, culture and local food.
Drive to Perouges. Since Perouges is located in the French countryside, it is difficult to get there by train from Geneva…really difficult (train changes and lots of walking). The easiest way to get to Perouges from Geneva is by rental car (click here to save up to 30% on rental cars).
Perouges Travel Guide
2. Annecy
The old town of Annecy is right by the beautiful lake
See my photos from Annecy.
My second favorite on my list of day trips from Geneva is Annecy, also in France. Annecy is only about 45 minutes driving distance from Geneva and it makes for a great day trip. We loved this old town and we happened to visit during the largest Farmer’s Market of the entire year. Annecy has the most amazing location we’ve seen. It’s nestled in the mountains and the Annecy Lake is just gorgeous. The drive from Geneva to Annecy is very pleasant, especially when getting closer to Annecy on the A41 motorway from Geneva. It’s a beautiful and short drive, so it’s worth all your time.
Plan your day trip from Geneva to Annecy
Stay in Annecy. If you need a hotel you can stay at the excellent Allobroges Hotel (great value, free parking and great location) or you can search budget hotels in Annecy.
Take a bus from Geneva to Annecy. If you don’t have a rental car, the easiest way to get to Annecy from Geneva is by taking a half-day bus tour of Annecy from Geneva.
Book a local walking tour of Annecy. Take a beautifully conducted local walking tour of Annecy which highlights local culture and history. Just gorgeous!
Drive to Annecy. If you rent a car in Switzerland, you can easily drive to Annecy in undern one hour. The best way to get to Annecy Lake and Annecy Old Town is to look for signs pointing you to City Hall (Hotel de Ville). Once you get in the area, park at the City Hall parking lot, and then just walk around the lake area and start walking up the canal. This will take you to the old town area.
Annecy Travel Guide
3. Chamonix
The village of Chamonix is charming in the summer.
See my photos from Chamonix
Third place on my list of day trips from Geneva is in France again. It’s the mountain resort of Chamonix. This beautiful village is located one hour away from Geneva on the A40 freeway. The drive from Geneva to Chamonix is just amazing! The French Alps line up the freeway and are looming right in front of you. It’s just really cool to see.
The village of Chamonix is the gateway to the French Alps and the Mont Blanc peak which is the tallest peak in Europe. While the Alps are the main attraction at Chamonix, the village itself is a really quiet retreat from the busy life in Geneva.
Plan Your Day Trip from Geneva to Chamonix
Stay in Chamonix. If you are planning a day trip to the Chamonix Mont Blanc area of France you can stay at the beautiful La Tanière de Groumff (lots of charm, free breakfast and free parking), the excellent and convenient Hôtel L’Heliopic Sweet and Spa (excellent location and charm) or at the very affordable Fleur des Neiges. You can also find other great hotels in the Chamonix area.
Book a local walking and food tour of Chamonix. A beautifully conducted food and walking tour of Chamonix highlighting the local food, history and culture.
Take a bus tour of Chamonix from Geneva. If you don’t have a rental car and you’re staying in Geneva, you can book a beautiful day trip from Geneva to Chamonix and Mont-Blanc.
Chamonix Travel Guide
4. Yvoire
Old chateau in Yvoire, next to Lake Geneva.
See my photos from Yvoire
Continuing with my favorite day trips from Geneva we find another small village in France. Yvoire is just across Lake Geneva inside France. Yvoire is only about 30 minutes driving distance from Geneva, but a visit to this small village will take you way back during medieval times. Yes, Yvoire is very touristy but for a good reason…it makes for a great tourist destination. Old cottages, city walls and cute restaurants will make your visit worthwhile.
Plan Your Day Trip from Geneva to Yvoire
Stay in Yvoire. Find the budget hotels in the Rhone-Alpes area of France. Staying in the French side of Lake Geneva is generally much cheaper than staying in Geneva.
Take a boat from Geneva to Yvoire. Take a beautiful boat trip from Geneva to Yvoire and explore this beautiful medieval village.
Drive to Yvoire. You have two ways for reaching Yvoire: across Lake Geneva by boat or by car when you drive around Lake Geneva and enter the French area of Rhone-Alpes. Renting a car is faster and the drive from Geneva to Yvoire is beautiful but the most scenic way for getting to Yvoire is by boat from Geneva or Montreux.
5. Gruyeres
Gruyeres Castle sits on a hilltop overlooking the mountains.
See my photos from Gruyeres
We are finally back in Switzerland on our list of day trips from Geneva. Gruyeres is a Swiss medieval village which makes for a great day trip from Geneva. Yes, Gruyeres is very touristy but there are good reasons why the medieval village of Gruyeres is so popular. The old village of Gruyeres is perched on the hill and an old cobblestone road winds its way through the middle of the village. At the end of the road you will find an imposing medieval castle.
Plan Your Day Trip from Geneva to Gruyeres
Stay in Gruyeres. You can stay at the charming Gruyeres Rooms inside the medieval village or find other budget hotels in the Gruyere region of Switzerland.
Book a local tour from Geneva. If you don’t have a rental car, the easiest way to get to Gruyeres is by booking a day trip to Gruyeres Village & Chocolate Factory from Geneva. This tour will take you to Gruyeres and enable you to visit all the attractions without the hassle of driving.
Drive to Gruyeres. Since, Gruyeres is a small village, the easiest way to get here is to rent a car in Switzerland. Gruyeres is located about one hour and twenty minutes driving from Geneva. Once you get off the motorway, the country roads are simply beautiful, with the postcard-perfect green lawns and snow-capped Swiss Alps mountains in the distance.
Best Things to Do in Gruyeres
6. Estavayer le Lac
Estavayer le Lac, Switzerland – Beautiful flowers covering a stone wall and buildings with the tower of Saint-Laurent church in the background.
See my photos from Geneva
Suggested by a long time reader, Estavayer is a small town near the shores of Lake Neuchatel in the Fribourg Canton. Estavayer is a quaint village that definitely deserves a place on my list of day trips from Geneva.
If you are planning a day trip to the area you can find budget hotels around Lake Neuchatel.
7. Romainmotier-Envy
Old water fountain and cobbled stone alleyway at Romainmotier-Envy, Switzerland.
See photos from Romainmotier-Envy
Romaimotier Envy is a tiny old village located about an hour and a half drive from Geneva in the Vaud canton. It is well known for its beautiful old Romanesque church. Suggested by a reader, Romaimotier is another tiny place I plan to visit on my next trip to Geneva.
If you’re planning a trip in this area you can find budget hotels in the Lake Geneva/Vaud area.
8. Montreux
Montreux, Switzerland – Beautiful view of a tour boat on Lake Geneva as storm clouds start to gather.
See my photos from Montreux
Montreux is the jewel of Lake Geneva and deserves a good place on my list of day trips from Geneva. World famous for its rock and jazz concerts, Montreux is also known by its nearby Chateau do Chillon which served as inspiration for Lord Byron’s work. If you are in Geneva, it is worth your time coming to visit Montreux even it if it’s only for the amazing views of the lake.
Plan Your Day Trip from Geneva to Montreux
Stay in Montreux. Switzerland is very expensive in general but you can find budget hotels in Montreux if you are willing to stay a bit further from the lakefront.
Visit Chateau de Chillon. Purchase a ticket and skip the line and enjoy this beautiful medieval castle and prison with amazing views of Lake Leman. Or take a beautiful 2-hour boat cruise from Montreux and enjoy Lake Leman.
Book a local tour. Unfortunately, you have to change two trains in order to get to Montreux by train from Geneva. The easiest way to get to Montreux from Geneva is with a day tour from Geneva to Montreux & Lavaux. If you want to also visit the wineries and more places around Lake Geneva including Montreux, join a beautiful day tour of the Swiss Riviera from Geneva.
9. Ovronnaz
Tourists enjoying the hot springs at Ovronnaz
See my photos from Ovronnaz
Next on my list of day trips from Geneva is Ovronnaz which is located north east of Geneva. Ovronnaz is a thermal springs town and ski resort in the winter. This alpine town is high up in the mountains above the Rhone Valley area and provides access to the Swiss Alps both in the summer for hiking and mountaineering and in the winter for all the winter sports thanks to the beautiful slopes available in the area.
Plan Your Day Trip from Geneva to Ovronnaz
Drive to Ovronnaz. The drive from Geneva to Ovronnaz takes about 2 hours and it is a beautiful drive on the road that hugs Lake Geneva as it enters the beautiful Rhone Valley area. Once you arrive in Ovronnaz, you can look for signs for the ski lift which is available in the summer as well. The panorama from the top of the ski lift is simply awesome.
Stay around Ovronnaz. When you plan trip your next day trip to Ovronnaz from Geneva you can find the budget hotels in the Valais area of Switzerland.
10. Thonon les Bains
Beautiful view of small boats anchored in the marina at Thonon les Bains
See my photos from Thonon-les-Bains
If you are in Yvoire, just drive a little further up the road and visit the beautiful marina at Thonon-les-Bains. The town itself is not very interesting with the exception of the old Chateaux de Ripaille. However, the marina on Lake Geneva at Thonon is superb. To reach the marina you just drive down the hill and follow the signs.
Thonon-les-Bains, France is located about 10 minutes drive north from the village of Yvoire, France. The marina area in Thonon is peaceful and beautiful and it is worth your time to drive a few extra miles to get there.
When planning your day trip to this area you can find budget hotels in the Rhone-Alpes area.
Plan Your Day Trips from Geneva
- Look for budget hotels in Geneva, Montreux or Rhône—Alps area of France. There are lots of options available. Depending on how you get to your destination, you just have to pay attention to details like parking or proximity to the train station.
- Find all local tours and day trips from Geneva as well as discounted museum tickets.
- Save up to 30% on a rental car in Switzerland or France. You can compare all offers and pick the best price.
- Check out the boat schedule for Lake Geneva. There are frequent boats to all major destinations around the lake.
- If you are going by train, check out train schedules in Switzerland or France.
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I would like to attend The September 3rd Freddie Mercury Birthday Celebration in Montreux, staying one night & returning back to Geneva the next day. Can this be arranged? Is it possible?
Janet…the easiest way to get to Montreux from Geneva is by train. Get on a train from Geneva to Montreux (takes about one hour). Here is the Swiss Rail website.
Evian and Annecy and Yvoire are the best tours. Evian is beautiful city.
Preeti…We loved Annecy and Yvoire. Unfortunately we didn’t get a chance to visit Evian. Thank you for the suggestion!
Hello I am visiting Geneva in August for 2 weeks and wondering where to go outside Geneva for the weekend?
Hoda…it depends on what transportation you have. If you have access to a car I recommend Perouges, Annecy Yvoire, Montreux and Gruyeres. If you don’t have access to a car I recommend Yvoire and Montreux by boat and Annecy by bus. There are also local tours I have recommended on this page.
Hi! We will be staying in Geneva in March and I was wondering if the trip to Chamonix is doable with a baby that time of year? Do you drive across the Alps to get there from Geneva or are the Alps next to the A40?
The trip to Chamonix from Geneva is completely fine with a baby…you are not going across the Alps…but at the bottom of them. Taking the tram up the mountain to Aguilles de midi…might be a bit harder with the change in altitude and cold weather up top. However, I don’t think it’s bad and you should be fine and enjoying the trip.
Thanks for the offers.
I spent over a week in Geneva and the surrounding areas and in addition to the attractions around the lake, I would recommend to cross to France and visit Chamonix
Have fun!
Yes…Chamonix is one of the trips I suggest as well…from Geneva.