Please sign in to post.
Holiday Sale! Save 20% Storewide!

Too much for 5 nights? Fly into Geneva - Lausanne - Chamonix - Annecy (out of Geneva to Paris)

Posted by (Edgewood, KY, USA) on

My husband and I are doing some European hopping this summer and I am trying to line out the middle portion of the 2 weeks. We have 5 days mid-June where we will be flying into Geneva before we had to Paris for 2 night and head home. We LOVE Switzerland and have stayed in Wengen a few times. Interested in the French portion of the Alps as well. We are looking to hike, maybe bike, enjoy the mountains and lakes. We want things happening and for it to feel lively, but not chaotic. Not big on museums but focus more on the outdoors. Will only be using public transit.

I am considering doing a circular path where we start in Geneva, head straight to maybe Lausanne (2 N), train to Chamonix (2N), to Annecy (1 N). Not sure we would get to see much of Geneva that way though. With the time we have available is this too much hopping?

Would it be better to focus on one region... Geneva - Chamonix - Annecy OR Geneva - Lausanne - Montreaux

Would love input! Thank you!

Posted by
8163 posts

Stay in Montreux 2 nights train to Chamonix.
Stay 3 nights in Chamonix include a day trip by bus to Annecy or skip it you don't have enough time.
Train to Paris.

Posted by
7300 posts

In my opinion, it is OK to just use Geneva as a transportation hub. If you have a few spare hours before your train from Geneva to Paris, you can store your luggage and do a quick walking tour of the city. It is enough, IMO.

I would also consider skipping Annecy, and just doing Geneva - Montreux - Chamonix - Geneva.
You'll have enough of a lakeside fix with Montreux & vicinity.

Posted by
4959 posts

I think you have identified two great options--flip a coin? What do you think would help you decide? With the Swiss option, you get mountains and lake.

Posted by
748 posts

Due to ' circumstances beyond our control' our three day trip to Geneva was reduced to one day . We arrived by train at 11 am. Checked into hotel. Did a city bus and lake cruise tour which took about 4 hrs. We were very happy. Felt we saw the city. Optimally might have enjoyed walking in the old Town and seeing the Reformers Wall more closely.

Posted by
2492 posts

If you are going to Paris afterwards do not circle back to Geneva. There are four to five direct TGVs from Annecy to Paris every day. So to Geneva first. You can do Lausanne as a daytrip. Then go to Chamonix, then Annecy, then Paris.

This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity.