I am headed to Geneva for a sporting event with my son in mid-September. We only have two days "free" days in the region to experience the Alps. We're flying into Geneva from Amsterdam. I'm looking for advice and ideas on where we should stay- Geneva or Chamonix. Also ideas on the greatest sites to see. Thanks for your help!
Posted by
New York, NY
1586 posts
Stay in Annecy France or Montreux, Switzerland. Both towns just an hour or so from Geneva and accommodation will be reasonable. Places nearby worth visiting would be Lausanne (The Olympic Museum) Montreux (Château de Chillon) Gruyeres (Cheese and Chocolate factory).
Posted by
Beverly Hills, MI
813 posts
Annecy is nice but if you have clear weather, you really should get to Chamonix and do the Agulle du Midi aerial tram. It is not cheap but it is arguably the most spectacular lift in all of Europe and on a clear day the view from 12,600 ft. is outstanding and don't forget to dress warmly. If you go to Annecy and skip Chanomix, it is a bit like going to the Grand canyon and stopping at the parking lot.
Posted by
California 🦋
5293 posts
My daughter and I enjoyed our visit to Chamonix (and Annecy) in late May 2016.
One of our highlights was going up to the Aiguille du Midi one clear sunny morning.
There are various activities in Chamonix
We flew into Geneva and took the ChamExpress shuttle directly to our hotel in Chamonix.
If you decide to visit the Aiguille du Midi, do familiarize yourself with the effects of high altitude known as, altitude sickness, or acute mountain sickness.
Enjoy your trip!
Posted by
OP
7 posts
Are the cheese and chocolate factory close to Annecy?
Posted by
New York, NY
1586 posts
Annecy is not that close to Gruyeres. Driving by car it's 2 hours and 20 minutes. Chamonix by car to Gruyeres is 1 hr 48 minutes. By train in both locations, the distance is longer. You can however, base yourself in Montreux Switzerland and be like 30 minutes away from the chocolate and cheese factories of Gruyeres. From Montreux to Geneva via train is 1 hour and 25 minutes . Therefore, you will not be too far to travel and attend the sporting event. Basing yourself in Montreux will give you more flexibility.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
First I trust you already know that Geneva is not in the alps. Personally I would never visit or stay in Geneva if I didn’t have to.
Posted by
New York, NY
4071 posts
We have been to Geneva a few times and absolutely love it. We spent part of our honeymoon in Geneva. Both Samantha Brown and Burt Wolf have programs about Geneva on PBS.
If the OP however prefers to stay in the mountains, definitely do that.