Lake Geneva is the largest lake in Western Europe. Located at an altitude of 372 m, it is situated between France and Switzerland. Many remarkable sites are worth a visit.
Geography and history of a large Alpine lake
This large crescent-shaped Alpine lake is dominated by the Alps. At its southern end is Geneva with its old cobbled town, its large luxury shops and the United Nations. On the 53 km of French shoreline, Thonon-les-Bains and Evian-les-Bains are famous spas. The Swiss Riviera stretches from Lausanne to Montreux on the northern shore, crossing the cantons of Vaud and Valais.
The name “Léman” means lake. It is therefore a pleonasm that has existed since the Romans and Julius Caesar, who called it“lacus lemanus“. Geographically, the lake is 72 km long and 14 km wide. It is fed by the Rhône River, which flows from east to west, and was formed about 16,000 years ago when the Rhône glacier retreated during the last ice age. Its maximum depth is 300 metres. The lake’s fauna consists of perch, perch, pike, trout and arctic char.
The tour of the lake by the most beautiful sites
During your holiday, you can enjoy small typical villages, beautiful beaches and big cities, while touring Lake Geneva.
Geneva
Lausanne
The Lavaux Terraces
Montreux
Chillon Castle
Evian-les-Bains
Yvoire
The 10 most beautiful hotels
We have selected the ten most beautiful hotels around Lake Geneva which offer excellent value for money and which receive very good reviews from guests. These hotels are presented to you in the geographical direction of the tour of the lake that we have followed above.
Royal Manotel in Geneva
This good quality hotel is a 5 minute walk from the Geneva-Cornavin station, the old town and Lake Geneva. The rooms are decorated with period furniture. The hotel has a sauna, a hammam and a gym. The restaurant has a Michelin star.
From € 159 per night.
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel de la Paix in Geneva
From € 690 per night.
Agora Swiss Night by Fassbind in Lausanne
From € 107 per night.
Moxy Lausanne City
From € 120 per night.
Eurotel Montreux
Prices start at € 173 per night.
Hotel du Grand Lac Excelsior de Montreux
From € 175 per night.
Hilton Evian-Les-Bains
From € 142 per night.
Hôtel Royal d’Evian
A 5-star palace to enjoy French luxury. Within a 47-hectare park, you can enjoy a golf course, 2 swimming pools, the Evian Source spa with hammam, aquagym, sauna, jacuzzi and fitness room. A shuttle bus takes you everywhere in the city centre.
From € 340 per night.
Hotel Ermitage d’Evian
This 4-star hotel is a haven of peace. It features 2 swimming pools, a spa, a jacuzzi and gym facilities. You will have access to an herbal tea room, 2 restaurants and a piano bar. Children will enjoy a 4,000 m² playground. Private parking and shuttle bus.
From € 228 per night.
Hotel Le Jules Verne in Yvoire
From € 129 per night.
The most beautiful beaches of Lake Geneva
- The beach at Tougues in Chens-sur-Léman: it has a large lawn with playgrounds for children, century-old trees for picnics in the shade and PRM access.
- The beach at Messery: a large grassy esplanade with a gentle slope and a pebbled bottom. The beach is not supervised and dogs are not allowed.
- Excenevex beach: the only real white sand beach on Lake Geneva. Supervised in July and August, it is 200m long. A wide choice of restaurants is available, as well as paddle and pedal boat hire. Access for disabled people in wheelchairs.
- La Châtaigneraie beach in Yvoire: this large 24-hectare estate has two beaches, one with sand and the other with small pebbles. Beautiful chestnut trees protect from the sun. A lake circuit allows for a beautiful walk.
- The beach of Sciez: it is accessible to PRM. Swimming is supervised in summer. You will find playgrounds, table tennis tables and petanque courts. The bottom of the water is made of pebbles.
- Séchex beach in Anthy-sur-Léman: a rather wild area with shaded areas. You can eat in the many establishments nearby.
- Plage de Rives in Anthy-sur-Léman: this beach is a combination of the Records and Corzent beaches. There are picnic tables, playgrounds and a volleyball court. The customs path offers a nice walk to the port of Séchex.
- Plage de la Pinède in Thonon-les-Bains: close to the Château de Ripaille, it is a succession of small pleasant beaches with a pebbled water bottom. A path leads to the next beach.
- Saint-Disdille beach in Thonon-les-Bains: it was awarded the Blue Flag in 2010. Swimming is supervised, picnic tables are available and there is a playground for the youngest. From the beach, you may be able to see the Dragon Ladies of Lake Geneva practising their Dragon Boat on the lake.
On the other side of the border, there are fewer beaches in Switzerland. However, we recommend the following:
- The Genève-Plage aquatic complex: offers many family activities and relaxation in a two-hectare wooded park.
- Les Bains des Pâquis: this is not a beach, but an aquatic area located in the harbour of Geneva, right in the city centre.
- The beaches of Vidy and Bellerive in Lausanne: these two beautiful spaces are convivial and equipped to enjoy the lake with the family. Pools are also installed.
- The Pierrier beach in Montreux: renowned for the quality of its facilities. It is the city’s large municipal beach.
Cultural and festive events around the lake
- The Montreux Jazz Festival: its growing success has made it the second biggest jazz event in the world. For a fortnight each year, it welcomes the most renowned jazz and blues artists for free and paying concerts.
- Les Rencontres Musicales d’Évian: this chamber music festival is particularly well known among amateurs. In the magnificent setting of the Grange du Lac, it offers concerts and master classes at the beginning of July.
- The Geneva International Film Festival “Tous Écran”: this annual event is organised in the autumn. It allows the general public to observe the links between television, the big screen and new forms of image projection.
- The Lake Geneva Festival: this great show takes place in the harbour of Geneva in August. The atmosphere is festive with colourful evenings, world cuisine to discover and a great fireworks display on the lake.
- The Montreux Comedy Festival: this is the big meeting place for comedians and stand-up artists. The festival takes place in December and attracts an ever-growing audience.
- The Festival de la cité de Lausanne: organised at the beginning of the summer, it brings together more than 160 performances of live shows in unlikely places in the city.
- The fabulous Flottins d’Évian village: in December, large-scale works are created from pieces of driftwood found in the lake. Theatre workshops are offered to the young public.
We have come to the end of our tour around Lake Geneva. You can now discover Lake Annecy and the Little Venice of the Alps.