Lake Geneva tours at a glance
Lake Geneva tours fall into three groups. On the water there are short cruises from Geneva and longer boat trips along the Riviera. On foot there are guided walks in Geneva, Montreux and Lausanne. By coach there are day trips from Geneva to places such as Annecy, the Alps and the castle at Chillon.
Most of these start in Geneva or Montreux, and many give you a fixed meeting point instead of a hotel pick-up. Read the start point of each offer before you book, and check which extras only come with a chosen option.
Our picks: cruises, walks and day trips
Choose the short cruise for a quick look at the lake and the one-hour cruise if you want snacks on board. The Montreux walk fits a stay on the eastern shore, while the Geneva city tour and the Annecy combination suit a day based in Geneva. The chocolate walk is the pick for a tasting on foot.
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.
Annecy and Geneva by bus in one day
- 45-minute walking tour in Annecy
- 2-hour tour of Geneva
- Round-trip bus
Combines a walk and free time in Annecy with a guided tour of Geneva. The one-hour lake cruise is only included if you select that option, and entry fees are extra.
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Geneva chocolate and old town walk
- Expert tour guide
- Stories and anecdotes
- Chocolates in many shapes
A guided walk past well-known and lesser-known sights in Geneva, with chocolate to taste along the way.
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Montreux walk with a local guide
- English or Dutch-speaking guide
- 1- or 2-hour walking tour
- Stories of Montreux landmarks
You choose the one-hour or two-hour walk when you book. The route follows the key landmarks of the town.
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Geneva city tour: UN district and old town
- Professional guide
- Coach through the International district
- Photo stop at United Nations
Photo stops at the United Nations and the Broken Chair, then the old town by mini-train or on foot, depending on weather and season. There is no tour inside the UN, and entry fees are extra.
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One-hour lake cruise with snacks and drinks
- Lake cruise
- Snacks
- Drinks
Snacks and drinks are part of this cruise, which runs without a guide. It suits an easy hour on the water.
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50-minute lake cruise with audio guide
- Cruise ticket
- In-app audio guide
A short trip on the lake from the Mont-Blanc pier, with the audio guide in the app. The ticket does not promise a particular historic steamer.
Check availability →Lake Geneva tours and day trips
Cruises, walking tours and day trips around the lake, with live prices and availability.
Lake cruises
Three ways to see the water.
The shortest option is a 50-minute lake cruise from the Mont-Blanc pier in Geneva. It comes with a CGN ticket and an audio guide in an app, so bring a charged phone. No particular steamer is promised on any given day. Another cruise leaves from the Route Verte landing in Geneva. It serves snacks and drinks on board and has no guide, which suits a quiet hour on the water more than a sightseeing lesson. On the audio-guided cruise, meals are extra.
For longer routes, the CGN fares, the Belle Époque ships and the lines to Évian and Yvoire are explained on our page about Lake Geneva boat tours. Strong wind can cancel sailings, so keep a spare day if the cruise matters to your plan.
Walking tours
Montreux, Geneva and Lausanne on foot.
Montreux
A local guide leads a walk of one or two hours, depending on the option, with stories about the town's landmarks. The tour starts at the Tourist Information on Avenue des Alpes. Read more on the Montreux page.
Geneva
A guided city tour of about two hours combines a coach ride through the international district, a photo stop at the United Nations and the Broken Chair, and the old town by mini train or on foot, depending on weather and season. The United Nations building is not entered, and entrance fees are extra. A separate three-hour walk in the old town includes chocolate in many forms. See things to do in Geneva.
Lausanne
The old town around the cathedral hill is a compact walk. Details are on the Lausanne page.
Day trips from Geneva
Coach trips with a driver guide or a guide.
Geneva is the starting point for most day trips. Montreux and Chillon are the closest, and the castle has its own tickets and opening hours.
A day trip to Annecy in France pairs a 45-minute walking tour of the old town and free time there with a two-hour tour of Geneva. A one-hour lake cruise is part of it only when you select that option. A guide leads groups of more than 10 people, and small groups travel with a driver guide. For the town itself, see our Annecy guide.
Chamonix is also reached from Geneva. A bus runs daily from Geneva Airport, but the journey time is not guaranteed in traffic or snow. The cable car to the Aiguille du Midi uses dynamic prices from 1 June to 30 November 2026, and you must reserve, which is free. Zermatt and the glacier at Glacier 3000 are better planned with our Swiss Alps guide and our Zermatt guide.
Frequently asked questions
Which tour is shortest?
The audio-guided cruise from the Mont-Blanc pier in Geneva takes 50 minutes. The Montreux walk lasts one or two hours, depending on the option.
Is a hotel pick-up included?
Most of these tours use a fixed meeting point such as Place Dorcière or the pier. Read the start point of each offer before you book.
Does the Annecy tour include a cruise?
Only if you select the lake cruise option. Without it, the tour covers the coach trip, the walk in Annecy and the tour of Geneva.
Do cruises run in strong wind?
Strong wind can cancel sailings, so check the day of your trip.