Places to see around Geneva?
Apr 9th, 2018, 03:35 AM
#1
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Places to see around Geneva?
I have a about a day and a half in Geneva in August, and was wondering what the best things to see and do are around the city. I've heard that the city itself isn't quite interesting, so I was wondering where I could go that's close by. I'd have a geneva transport card (the one given out by hotels and hostels), and would like to stay within the limits of the card.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Apr 9th, 2018, 08:16 AM
#3
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You may visit the CERN, the Red Cross and Human Dignity Museum, Geneva art museums, the Patek Philippe Watch Making Museum, the old city and the cathedral, the Swiss National Museum in the castle of Prangins, the castle of Coppet, the viewpoint Saleve (citybus and cableway)......
or you may do a Lake Geneva cruise by historic paddle steamboat (they go up to Chillon castle).
Trains to most places of Switzerland run every 30 minutes and buses to Chamonix every 1-2 hrs.
or you may do a Lake Geneva cruise by historic paddle steamboat (they go up to Chillon castle).
Trains to most places of Switzerland run every 30 minutes and buses to Chamonix every 1-2 hrs.
Apr 9th, 2018, 04:30 PM
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Do you have a decent guidebook? I find them invaluable, and recommend the Michelin Green and Rough Guide for Switzerland.
If you haven't already seen it, you might find some useful information in my trip report, particularly post # 28....
https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...thanks-983126/
If you haven't already seen it, you might find some useful information in my trip report, particularly post # 28....
https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...thanks-983126/
Apr 10th, 2018, 04:36 AM
#6
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Thanks for the suggestions! Do you think it's feasible (and worth it) to do both Montreux and Vevey, or should I do just one? I would really like to spend an evening in Bastions park in Geneva, and was wondering if I could do Montreux in the morning and afternoon and be back in Geneva by the evening.
Apr 10th, 2018, 05:02 AM
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Well there is little to see in those lovely towns IME - and both are short train trips away. Personally I'd stay in the Geneva area where there is just as much interesting things to see and do for such a short time.
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Apr 10th, 2018, 08:48 AM
#8
I disagree 100%. "little to see"... you MUST be kidding me!!
Anyway, yes you could easily do both Vevey and Montreux as a day trip (it's only ~1 hr on the train, and a short train or bus ride between the two) and be back in Geneva by evening. What days of the week do you have open? I ask because there's the street farmers market in Vevey on Tues & Sat and Montreux on Fri. Plus of course Chillon castle and Rochers de Naye tram (if the weather is clear). And the lakeside "quai" promonade in both towns.
Here's some photos so you can see how there's nothing to see there!!
https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/montreux.html
https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/...-montreux.html
Anyway, yes you could easily do both Vevey and Montreux as a day trip (it's only ~1 hr on the train, and a short train or bus ride between the two) and be back in Geneva by evening. What days of the week do you have open? I ask because there's the street farmers market in Vevey on Tues & Sat and Montreux on Fri. Plus of course Chillon castle and Rochers de Naye tram (if the weather is clear). And the lakeside "quai" promonade in both towns.
Here's some photos so you can see how there's nothing to see there!!
https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/montreux.html
https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/...-montreux.html
Apr 10th, 2018, 09:44 AM
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Interesting perspectives!
Suze, do you think Vevey and Montreux are different enough for me to dedicate time to the both of them? Or are they similar enough that I can spend more time exploring one town alone (probably Montreux, because I'll most likely go to the Chilon)
Suze, do you think Vevey and Montreux are different enough for me to dedicate time to the both of them? Or are they similar enough that I can spend more time exploring one town alone (probably Montreux, because I'll most likely go to the Chilon)
Apr 10th, 2018, 10:06 AM
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OK I enjoyed my stays in Montreux but failed to see anything that would be a 'must' sight except the general ambience of lakeside towns with esplandaes, etc. I would head to Chillon first - by train - then spend whatever time I had in Montreux and or Vevey.
Apr 10th, 2018, 10:12 AM
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We loved the town of Lausanne, also on the lake, and a very hilly town at that! You can probably see Lausanne & Vevey in a half day and save Montreux and Chateau Chillon for the other half by train, although the boat would be far more relaxing.
Apr 10th, 2018, 01:38 PM
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Yes instead of trekking around lovely towns all day how about taking a boat between say Lausanne and Vevey and Montreux and Chillon (also a lovely few-mile walk along lakeside esplanade as noted before).
And Vevey and Montreux though not clones of each other are IME fairly the same - indeed only a few miles apart almost the same town. Montreux is bigger and has that train ride into higher elevations sue mentions - Rochers-de-Naye:
https://www.google.com/search?q=roch...w=1879&bih=922
And Vevey and Montreux though not clones of each other are IME fairly the same - indeed only a few miles apart almost the same town. Montreux is bigger and has that train ride into higher elevations sue mentions - Rochers-de-Naye:
https://www.google.com/search?q=roch...w=1879&bih=922
Apr 10th, 2018, 01:40 PM
#14
They are entirely different in atmosphere and 'vibe'. Vevey feels a lot "more Swiss" to me, while Montreux has more of an international feel. I don't think the boat would be "more relaxing". They are anything BUT "the same". And I'm pretty darn sure the people living in each would agree with me, not PalQ!
The train is extremely efficient and easy and would take a LOT less time than a boat ride.
The train is extremely efficient and easy and would take a LOT less time than a boat ride.
Last edited by suze; Apr 10th, 2018 at 01:43 PM.
Apr 10th, 2018, 01:55 PM
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Vevey a lot more Swiss than Montreux - your subjective take - wonder how Montreuxians would think about that. Anyway to the un-jaded eye of a naive tourist both towns seemed Swiss to me - I thought Vevey a lot more romantic in that it sticks out into the lake - recall fondly having a picnic where it juts out.
Apr 10th, 2018, 02:03 PM
#16
Nope, not my "subjective take". It's my friends who live in Montreux, they are the ones that said that.
Not to mention it's Montreux that "sticks out into the lake" not Vevey! Just 'google' with the words aerial view of Montreux.
Not to mention it's Montreux that "sticks out into the lake" not Vevey! Just 'google' with the words aerial view of Montreux.
Apr 10th, 2018, 02:14 PM
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https://www.viamichelin.com/web/Maps...ud-Switzerland
seems both stick out about the same - I was sitting by the boat dock in Vevey - your friends are Swiss and they don't feel Swiss? Granted that Montreux may attract more foreigners or ex-pats. But I'll defer to your much more familiarity.
seems both stick out about the same - I was sitting by the boat dock in Vevey - your friends are Swiss and they don't feel Swiss? Granted that Montreux may attract more foreigners or ex-pats. But I'll defer to your much more familiarity.
