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Best Place to Stay/Itinerary for Swiss Wine Trail and Montreaux Region Visit

We are planning on flying into Geneva on a Saturday night in September, and we would like to spend the next two days seeing the Lavaux wine area/walk part of the Swiss Wine Trail and to also see Montreaux/Chateau de Chillon.

Where would be the best city to stay as a home base on Sunday night given that we will likely be coming from Geneva on Sunday morning? (Lausanne?) Any advice on how to select a part of the Swiss Wine Trail to walk/visit? We'd like to be able to taste wine and enjoy the scenery. Do you feel these activities will take up two days, or are there any other must see things in the area?

Thank you for your help!

Posted by
464 posts

Lausanne is a great base to see the Lavaux Vineyards. We had a small private group tour at Domaine de la Crausaz in Lutry with cheese fondue on the terrace with incredible views of the vineyards and Lake Geneva as well as a winery tour and chocolate for dessert. The views are amazing! We also enjoyed the town of Vevey and signed up for a chocolate workshop at Laderach Chocolatier Suisse which was fun. Lausanne also has the Olympic Museum, Quai d'Ouchy and is an easy metro ride up to the Old Town area of Lausanne. Trains run from Geneva to Lausanne as well as to Montreux and Vevey.

Posted by
11776 posts

We spent a week in Lausanne last year and enjoyed it very much, but when we go back, we will stay in Vevey. Such an attractive little town with a beautiful waterfront! We used the directions in Rick’s guidebook along with some details from the TI to do our own vineyard walk, although the season was well over in October so you will see more action and open tasting rooms in September, I think.

Another fun outing in the area is to go to Les Pleiades by train, high above the lake. Gorgeous views, some easy walking, and a restaurant.