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Season: all year
Recommended season: mid April to late October
Max. altitude: 396 m (1299 ft)Lake Geneva boats: quick introduction 
Lake Geneva ("Lac Léman" in French and "Genfersee" in German) is in south-west Switzerland. Famous towns such as Geneva, Lausanne and Montreux are located here. The southern shores are largely in France.
The lake is 72 km long, and can roughly be divided into two parts:
- the western part between Geneva and Lausanne, with gentle green hills
- the eastern part between Lausanne and Villeneuve, with higher mountains
Boat trips can be made on both parts of the lake. Both modern vessels and nostalgic steamboats operate on Lake Geneva. Most have a simple bistro, or an actual à la carte restaurant in 1st class.
You can get on and off board on all stops on the route. There's no need to make a full round trip or a long cruise.
➤ Boat prices, tickets, reservations, and 1st vs 2nd class
Ticket prices for Lake Geneva boat trips
The price of your ticket depends on the exact boat ride you'll be making. An example: the relatively short return cruise between Lausanne (on the northern Swiss side of the lake) and Evian-les-Bains (on the southern French) shore costs about CHF 40 per adult in 2nd class.
Instead of normal tickets, you can buy a day card to cross the entire lake as much as you want. However, a Saver Day Pass includes free Lake Geneva cruises too, and can be much cheaper if you get it well in advance.
Depending on the rail pass you're traveling with, you can enjoy discounted or even free cruises. If your pass grants free rides, you don't have to get any tickets or day passes.
Where to get your tickets
If you need tickets, you can buy them online, at the lakeside docks, and on the boat itself.
2nd versus 1st class on the boat
The Lake Geneva boats have 2nd class sections on the lower deck and 1st class segments on the upper deck. The 1st-class areas are more spacious and comfortable, and usually a bit quieter too.
Moreover, with a 1st-class ticket or pass you're always allowed to sit in the restaurant. With a 2nd-class ticket or pass, you may only do so during dining hours.
Reservations for boat trips
You don't have to make reservations for standard daytime trips on Lake Geneva. Just board with your valid ticket or pass, that's all. If you want to join a special culinary trip, such as a dinner cruise, I recommend that you do make reservations in advance.
➤ Rail pass discounts for Lake Geneva boats
The benefits of the passes below apply to standard boat tours on Lake Geneva. If you book a special (culinary) cruise, additional costs apply.
| Pass | Discount |
|---|---|
| Day Pass | Free:
|
| Eurail Global Pass | Discount 50%:
|
| Interrail Switzerland Pass | Discount 50%:
|
| Regional Pass Lake Geneva-Alps | Free:
On a day you do not select: 50% discount. |
| Saver Day Pass | Free:
|
| Swiss Half Fare Card | Discount 50%:
|
| Swiss Travel Pass | Free:
|
| Swiss Travel Pass Flex | Free:
|
How to reach the Lake Geneva docks
Many towns on the lake can be reached by train and by car. If there's no rail station, you can travel by bus. Most towns are small, meaning you can reach the ship piers in minutes on foot.
Not all boat routes are displayed on the map below. Consult the timetable for a complete overview.
The boat docks of Geneva
Geneva has several docks, so be sure to check from which one your cruise departs: "Pâquis", "Mont-Blanc", "Jardin-Anglais" or "Eaux-Vives". They're all within walking distance of each other.
From stations and bus stops to the boat docks
There are many lakeside towns from which you can board the Lake Geneva ships. Below are some examples of how quickly you can reach the shipping piers in several towns. The Swiss timetable shows the exact route:
- Bellevue: from the dock to the rail station: 5 minutes on foot
- Geneva: from the "Pâquis" or "Mont-Blanc" docks to the rail station: 15 minutes on foot
- Hermance: from the dock to the bus stop: 5 minutes on foot
- Lausanne: from the dock to the rail station: 15 minutes by subway and on foot
- Montreux: from the dock to the rail station: 5 minutes on foot
- Morges: from the dock to the rail station: 10 minutes on foot
- Nyon: from the dock to the rail station: 10 minutes on foot
- Vevey: from the dock to the rail station: 10 minutes on foot
- Villeneuve: from the dock to the rail station: 3 minutes on foot
Operation dates, schedules and timetable
Operation dates for Lake Geneva boats: eastern side between Lausanne and Villeneuve
On the eastern part of the lake, between Lausanne and Villeneuve, you can make cruises nearly all year round.
High season months are roughly mid-April to mid-October: that's when the boats operate most frequently. A slightly reduced schedule applies during spring and fall, although there's still plenty of choice then. In the winter period between mid-December and late-April, there are only about 2 daily cruises on the eastern lake.
Operation dates for Lake Geneva boats: western side between Geneva and Lausanne
On the western lake area, between Geneva and Lausanne, the options in winter (from mid-December to mid-April) are limited. But:
- You can make 1-hour round cruises from Geneva (mostly during weekends), and daily rides between Geneva and Nyon.
- Crossings from Lausanne to the French towns of Evian-les-Bains and Thonon, and between the Swiss town of Nyon and the French town of Yvoire, are available too.
From mid-April to mid-October, significantly more cruises can be made, including the long trips between Geneva and Lausanne.
Planning your cruise with the timetable
You can consult the boat timetables on the CGN website here. Or find cruises in the Swiss timetable. Use the "Settings" function to select the boat as your travel mode. The French addition "lac" ("lake") usually indicates a town's shipping pier.
The main docks of Geneva are called:
- "Genève-Eaux-Vives (lac)"
- "Genève-Jardin-Anglais (lac)"
- "Genève-Mont-Blanc (lac)"
- "Genève-Pâquis (lac)"
Best months
The best period of the year to explore Lake Geneva by boat is mid April to late October.
- April-May and September-October are shoulder season, so boats will be less crowded than in June, July, and August. Lake Geneva is at a low altitude, so temperatures are usually mild to warm in these months.
- June to August is the high season, which means it can get busy. But you'll have the widest choice of trips on the lake. Plus: a relaxed boat trip is great if it gets hot in the towns along the lake.
Weather tips and forecast
Sunny weather is best for your Lake Geneva cruise. That allows you to be on the outdoor deck and fully enjoy the scenery. Boat cruises are good for cloudy and rainy days too. There's plenty of indoor space and you can have a bite in the on-board restaurants.
Temperatures in the Lake Geneva area are mild by Swiss standards. But always check forecasts. Take along an extra layer of clothes if you want to be seated outside: the wind at the lake can cool you down.
The types of boat trips on Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva is very large, so you can choose from lots of boat rides and routes. There are longer cruise-like boat trips and ferry services for quick lake crossings. These are the main ones:
- 1-hour round trips from and to Geneva via Bellevue;
- cruises in the western part of the lake between Geneva, Nyon, Morges, and Lausanne (3 to 4 hours maximum);
- cruises in the eastern part of the lake between Lausanne, Vevey, Montreux, the Chillon Castle, Villeneuve, and St-Gingolph (3 to 4 hours maximum);
- ferries from Nyon to Yvoire in France;
- ferries from Lausanne to Evian and Thonon in France.
How to combine a Lake Geneva boat trip with other activities
Take a boat one way, and a train or bus the other way
You don’t have to make a round trip by boat. You can make a one-way trip by boat and take the bus or train back. Examples:
- Take a boat from Vevey to Villeneuve (1 hour), and back by train (15 minutes). Optionally you can visit Montreux and the Chillon Castle along the way.
- Travel by boat from Geneva to Lausanne (3,5 hours), and back by train (40 to 50 minutes).
- Travel by boat from Geneva to Yvoire (1,5 hours), and back by bus (1 hour).
Other activities to do at the same day
If you make a ride on the western part of the lake, I recommend visiting:
If you explore the eastern region of Lake Geneva, you can combine your boat trip with visits to:
- Lausanne
- Vevey
- Montreux
- Chillon Castle
- a hike in the Lavaux area
The boats also reach beautiful villages on the southern lakeshore in France. Get off to explore Thonon and Evian for example.
Boats Lake Geneva: FAQ
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Is there a boat that crosses the entire lake?
No. There are rides on the western part of the lake (between Geneva and Lausanne) and on the eastern part (between Lausanne and Villeneuve). But you can cover the entire lake by boat with a transfer in Lausanne.
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What’s the best boat trip on the lake?
For the eastern lake area, I recommend a round cruise between Montreux, Villeneuve, and St. Gingolph. You’ll see both the northern as well as the southern French shore, St. Gingolph being right at the border of both countries. Also, you could combine this trip with sightseeing at the Chillon Castle, and in or near Montreux.
The western lake area is surrounded by gradual hills rather than by high mountains. So if pretty scenery is your main reason to take a boat on Lake Geneva, you’d best do so east of Lausanne. But if you’re near Geneva, definitely consider a trip between Nyon, Morges, and Geneva. The old towns of Nyon and Morges are worth a visit, and so is Geneva.
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What are the ships like?
The boats are large ferries, usually with an upper and a lower deck. There’s indoor and outdoor seating. The Lake Geneva fleet consists of several types of boats: from traditional steamboats to modern motorboats. Most boats have a simple bistro or a restaurant.
The boats are operated by the company CGN.
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Can I eat and drink on board the ships?
You can use the bistro or the restaurant. Restaurants are at the upper 1st class deck, so you need a 1st class ticket to enter them (although a 2nd class ticket is valid for the restaurant during dining hours too). On longer rides, there’s enough time to enjoy multiple-course meals. If you’re not seated in the restaurant, you can eat and drink your own food and beverages.
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Are there special, themed cruises?
Yes, definitely! A typically Swiss experience is the “Fondue Festival” cruise, during which you’re served cheese fondue. Other examples are lunch cruises and holiday boat rides, such as the festive “End of year” cruise.
Such cruises often require an additional payment on top of your ticket rail pass. I also advise you to book your spot well ahead.
➤ Get your Lake Geneva boat tickets here
Promotions
- www.cgn.ch: special culinary cruises
Schedules
- www.cgn.ch: timetables for the Lake Geneva boats
Prices
- www.cgn.ch: ticket prices for the Lake Geneva boats
Swiss Coupon Pass
Hike Lutry-Epesses
Town walk Geneva
Town walk Lausanne
Rochers-de-Naye
Chillon Castle
Lake Geneva
Geneva
