Day Trip to Lake Geneva?

Chamonix to Montreux is a 2.5 hour journey by train with two changes. You can check schedules at the Swiss Rail site:

www.rail.ch

thanks! I also thought I'd add that I will have a French Saver rail pass. Wondering if this will help me at all?

Chamonix to Montreaux is a weird choice: it's way up on the north bank of the lake and travelling overland from Chamonix will be very circuitous. You would be much better to try the southern bank of the lake which is in France. There are definitely trains from Chamonix to Geneva, although they're country branch lines that are a bit slow and not very frequent (see http://www.ter-sncf.com/rhone_alpes/index.asp). Try checking up on Evian, Thonon and around. You might then be able to get a boat to the Swiss side as a scenic trip in its own right. Alternatively it would be quicker and easier to go to Lake Annecy in France, which is also fairly scenic.

There are three buses a day from Chamonix to the City of Geneva (on Lake Geneva) and back. See a sample schedule at: http://www.sat-montblanc.com/fr/reservation/horaires.aspx?cp=en&rt=SAT49&dA=31/07/2009&dR=07/08/2009. I can't remeber how long it takes but I believe it's just about an hour ride. Cost is 55 Euros round trip.

Marie, you say "Lake Geneva." Do you intend to go to the city of Geneva on west end of the lake or to Montreaux which is actually on the east end of the lake (not the north side). Or do you want to go to the lake itself? As for going to the city of Geneva I've done that day-trip between there and Chamonix--took the bus--and it was about an hour. Chamonix is roughly equidistant--as the proverbial crow flies-- between Geneva and Montreaux, but it would take longer to go to Montreaux than Geneva.

I just did this and your best bet is taking the train (2.5 hrs) to Geneva then seeing the Lake area from there. A daytrip does not lv alot of time to see areas on the lake as Montreux, Chateau du C, Lausanne etc. the sugg of seeing nearby Annecy is a good option.