Lake Geneva travel tips

Wellness tourism has seen a 36% annual growth since 2020 and is expected to increase another 13.3% through to 2027, according to research by leading global research and wellness industry nonprofit the Global Wellness Institute (GWI). Lausanne, located on the shores of Switzerland’s Lake Geneva, has long been leading the trend. It is home to the International Olympic Committee and over 25 sporting federations, so visitors can benefit from myriad sporting activities. When paired with its many opportunities for relaxation and recalibration, it’s the ideal destination for tourists looking for a holistic approach to wellness while on their travels.

Spend any length of time in Switzerland and you’ll come to realise just how distinct the seasons are here and how well the country wears them.

Thinking about travel to Europe this summer? I’ll whisper this two-word, game-changing suggestion in your ear: Swiss Bliss. Switzerland is a spectacular vacation escape, promising plentiful pampering, playful diversions, culture (music festivals, art experiences, unique museums—from sports to science, film to food) and stellar gastronomy. Taste Chasselas wine; its white grapes are grown in the terraced Lavaux vineyards along the south-facing northern shores of Lake Geneva, where vintners produce artisanal batches that are rarely exported, so 98 percent of their singular sips can only be savored within the country. Discover abundant natural beauty and peaceful hideaways. Hike Alpine mountains. Swim in glistening lakes. Picnic amid wildflower meadows. For high-speed outings, ample opportunities abound: boating, road cycling, mountain biking, paragliding, skydiving and white-water rafting. Transportation within this tidy nation, especially via its SBB trains, is smooth and swift, accessing scores of destinations. (For itinerary details and surprising delights: My Switzerland Tourism.) Internationally renowned for training extraordinary hoteliers, hospitality is a revered profession, which adds smiles to your stay. Choose from a wide variety of accommodations—campgrounds to chalets to castles. If your vacay preference tends toward one-of-a-kind, five-star hotels, this article shines on three favorites, which are among French entrepreneur and winemaker Michel Reybier’s impressive collection of wellness-promoting properties.

As Mother’s Day approaches, consider giving the gift of quality time paired with a unique culinary experience. These nine restaurants, set in picturesque locales across Europe, offer more than just exceptional food—they promise unforgettable getaways where culinary art, sustainability and ambiance blend perfectly to celebrate this special occasion.

With its evian SPA, the Hôtel Royal adds a new attribute to the subtle art de vivre it has been relaying for over a century. 

It was a handpainted sign on a wooden barn that piqued my interest in Gruyères. I was travelling from Emmental to Montreux last year, following the wonderful Golden Pass rail route. Our train paused at Montbovon, the start of a steep climb up to the line’s final dramatic mountain pass. There was the prospect of stunning views of Lake Geneva ahead. To the right of the railway, I spotted the bold sign: “La Gruyère vous salue” (the region, like the cheese, lacks the village’s final “s”).

Switzerland is one powerful place. While Zurich is arguably where the money of the world is kept, Geneva is where the peace of the world is kept. As the European headquarters of the United Nations, Geneva is home to 175 representations along with 250 international non-governmental organizations, the host city of more than 173,000 diplomats, delegates, and world thinkers every year. That’s nearly more people than the city of Geneva counts as residents.

No country has it all, but the Swiss are justified in feeling pretty smug about their lot.

New branded spa to open on February 1, 2024

Nestled in the southeast corner of France near the Swiss border, the Savoy region has a cuisine that befits its alpine location. Visitors should expect hearty dishes, such as its famous tartiflette, a creamy baked gratin of potatoes, onions, lardons and reblochon cheese; and farcement, a sweet and savoury potato cake that contains both bacon rashers and fruit such a prunes or pears. 

One of the best things about the Swiss city of Lausanne is its brilliant location. Located in the heart of Europe, on the shore of beautiful Lake Geneva, and within spitting distance of both the Alps and the Jura, it’s the ideal base for numerous day trips, whether cultural, physical or simply peaceful.

Summers in my hometown of Geneva, Switzerland used to bring sunny spells, but also long, rainy periods during which one wondered whether July had suddenly morphed into November. No longer. Climate change and its resulting heat waves have transformed the aquatic landscape, and more importantly the relationship between people and Lake Geneva (also known as Lake Léman). Along the quays, outdoor bars and cafes have sprung up, and on the water, sail boats, yachts, but also kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and even floating mattresses lend a new Mediterranean feel to this Alpine scenery.

Jumeirah Group said on Monday it had bought the Le Richemond, a five-star hotel on Lake Geneva. The move signaled that the luxury hospitality company based in the United Arab Emirates is focused on growing worldwide in key gateway cities.

Jumeirah Hotels is keen to invest in more properties in Europe. Having recently acquired Le Richemond in Switzerland’s Lake Geneva, Jumeirah with a 26-property portfolio now has five hotels in Europe.

Any ideas for a snow-free Alps vacation? 

Switzerland has been waiting for you. The country is a charming blend of everything you would ever want from a holiday break. Great efficiency, genteel calm, pretty Alpine views, silky smooth snow, rewarding museums, incredible Gothic architecture and much more. Both its alluring outdoors and its compelling cities are all here to be enjoyed. A mix of these two elements are always at your fingertips in the fascinating world of the Swiss cantons – there are 26 incredible cantons to explore in the country. The beauty of the cantons is that you never have to choose between a city break or a stay savouring Mother Nature, they can be had together – it’s all available for you in one single trip. This makes Switzerland an ideal all-year-round holiday destination as you get the very best of everything here.

Rough Guides writer Lucy Pierce travels around Switzerland sustainably by rail, visiting thermal spas, alpine villages and world-renowned ski resorts.

The first thing you might think of doing in Switzerland is skiing, but a summer holiday there can be just as much fun — after all it is high among the most beautiful countries in the world voted by our readers. Here are ten things to do in Switzerland during the summer months in the land of peaks, lakes and chocolate — and the best things to do in Switzerland aren't only hiking and outdoor activities. For more on what — and what not— to do in Switzerland read up on Switzerland etiquette. You might also want to read more widely around the best time to visit Switzerland and read up on festivals in Switzerland.