Lavaux vineyards at a glance
The Lavaux vineyards stretch along the northern shore of the lake between Lausanne and Montreux. Stone walls hold up narrow terraces of vines, small villages sit between them, and the lake and the Alps fill the view to the south. You can see the area in several ways: on foot along the vineyard paths, on a small road train, on a guided tour with a tasting, or on a longer tour with a driver who also visits a cellar.
Most visitors come for the wine and the views, and the two combine well on a walk with a tasting at the end. The villages of Cully, Grandvaux and Lutry have train stations or boat landings, so you can reach the area without a car.
Our picks: Lavaux vineyard tours
The guided terrace visit is short and works with or without a tasting. The wine day with a driver-guide covers more ground, and the wine walk from a train station suits you if you like to walk through the vines.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in Swiss francs (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Lavaux wine day with a driver-guide
- Driver guide
- Cellar visit
- Wine tasting
A full day by vehicle with pickup, a cellar visit and a tasting in the Vaud vineyards. Meals are extra.
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Lavaux and Lutry wine walk with a tasting
- Local wine tasting
- Charcuterie platter
A guided walk through the vines with a tasting and a platter of cold cuts. Trains run to both start stations from Lausanne.
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Lavaux vineyard terraces with a live guide
- Live guide
- Tour of all sights
- Wine tasting with selected option
A two-hour visit to the terraced vineyards. The wine tasting is only included if you select that option, and the meeting point depends on the option.
Check availability →Lavaux wine tours and tastings
Guided tours, cellar visits and a vineyard walk with a tasting, with live prices and availability.
Lavaux wine tasting
Wine tasting is the main reason to visit the Lavaux vineyards. Terms vary from one estate to the next, so treat any price as belonging to that estate only. As one example, Domaine Porta offers a tasting of 3 wines in about 45 minutes for CHF 20 per person from 4 people, and CHF 25 per person for smaller groups. No tasting in the area is free as a rule, so ask about the terms when you book.
If you would rather have everything arranged, a few tours include a tasting. There is a tour with a live guide that includes a wine tasting only if you select that option, and the meeting point depends on the option you choose, so read the booking page carefully. Another tour has a driver who is also your guide, includes a visit to a cellar, a tasting and transport with pick-up, and leaves meals to you.
A third choice is a wine walk through Lavaux and Lutry with a tasting of local wines and a charcuterie platter. It starts at the station of Grandvaux or Bossière, depending on the day, and both stations have regular trains from Lausanne.
Lavaux vineyard walk
The classic walk leads from Saint-Saphorin to Lutry. It covers 11 km, takes about 3 hours 15 minutes and includes an ascent of 440 m, so it is a real half-day hike rather than a stroll. The paths run through the vines and between the villages, and there are plenty of places to stop for the view. Wear sturdy shoes, bring water and check the weather before you set out.
You can shorten the walk by leaving at one of the villages along the way, because stations are close to the route. If you are staying in the city, our Lausanne page shows what else to see before or after the walk.
Lavaux Express
The Lavaux Express is a sightseeing road train that runs a round trip from Lutry or Cully. The trip takes 1 hour 15 minutes, and an adult ticket costs CHF 17. It runs from April to the end of October, but check the days at the edge of the season on the operator's site before you plan the trip. The service is not a railway and does not replace the normal train.
A booking is recommended, and the operator can cancel a trip in bad weather. Pay on the spot in francs or euros, in cash or cashless. If you are visiting with a group, ask the operator about the departure point, since Lutry and Cully do not run on the same days.
World Heritage terraces
Lavaux was inscribed on the World Heritage list in 2007, and the protected area covers 898 ha. The terraces mark a landscape in which wine has been grown since Roman times. The present structure of walls and terraces goes back to the 11th century, when monasteries developed the slopes.
That history explains the look of the area: narrow plots, stone walls and villages built for the winegrowers. If you want a longer day, combine Lavaux with Montreux or with a cruise, and read about boats on our boat tours page. Our things to do page lists more places around the lake.
Frequently asked questions
Is wine tasting in Lavaux free?
Not as a rule. Each estate sets its own terms. At Domaine Porta, a tasting of 3 wines costs CHF 20 per person from 4 people and CHF 25 for smaller groups.
How long is the walk from Saint-Saphorin to Lutry?
The route is 11 km and takes about 3 hours 15 minutes, with an ascent of 440 m.
On which days does the Lavaux Express run?
It runs from April to the end of October, and the days differ between Lutry and Cully. Check the dates at the edge of the season on the operator's site before you travel.
Can I reach Lavaux without a car?
Yes. The stations of Cully, Grandvaux and Bossière have trains from Lausanne, and the Lavaux Express starts from Lutry or Cully.