I will be in Geneva for an event soon and will have Sunday Sept 22, 2019 free. I did not plan as sightseeing trip but was interested in the old town Geneva and Mont Saleve cable car for a glimpse of the Swiss French Alps. However, since Rick Steve so highly recommends Lausanne and especially Chateau de Chillon, I am considering the trip to Lausanne for both the Olympic museum and the castle. However, I am concerned about the time involved and wonder how important using the boat cruise approach to the castle is. Is that route particularly scenic on the lake ? Could a lake cruise at Geneva provide similar effect - maybe this is obviously not so - but I may be able to work in easier on another day. I read elsewhere on the forum a comment that the boat ride from Montreux was almost too short. I also imagine on a Sunday it may be particularly busy everywhere which leads to my next question about how important it is to buy the train tickets from/to Geneva.
Any advice would be much appreciated !
Posted by
Green Bay
20086 posts
Trains in Switzerland operate like city buses elsewhere. Nobody pays extra for seat reservations anymore than you would reserve a seat on a cross town bus. Trains are very frequent and there is plenty of room for everyone, maybe a reason ticket prices are so high.
If you have doubts about the amount of time you have, go to Chillon first, then maybe take a boat back toward Montreux, then a train to Lausanne, see the Olympic Museum and decide if there is anything else you want to see or do. If its a nice day, you can see the Alps across the lake, which are the French Alps for the most part. The last direct train on a Sunday from Lausanne is at 11:21 pm and takes 55 minutes, but there are later trains with a connection in Nyon until 58 past midnight. So you can head back virtually any time you want.
Schedules at www.sbb.ch/en.
Posted by
Paris
6897 posts
Good advice above, I'll just add that there are very few boats out of Chillon, so I'd get back to Montreux by walking (45 minutes, beautiful lakeside) or bus 201, and catch a more frequent boat from there to Lausanne (90 minutes).
Posted by
Green Bay
20086 posts
I said that Swiss trains are expensive. The cost from Geneva to Chillon is 41.60 CHF. That is a train to Montreux, then the 201 Bus to the Chateau. Return will be similar priced depending on boat surcharge. You'll also need public transport in Lausanne to get to the Olympic Museum.
I see that right now, you can get a Saver Day Pass for 88 CHF which will allow unlimited travel in Switzerland for Sept 22. You need to buy it soon as the price will increase as you get closer. Might not save you any money, but time stopping to buy tickets would be nice. There are also several other things you can do. If it is a nice day, take the train from Vevey to Les Pleiades for your mountain views. Also take the train from Vevey to Lausanne via Puidoux. This is a separate rail line that goes along the mountainside above the lake through the vineyards. The Saver Day Pass will also work on the Lausanne public transit system.
See details at:
https://www.sbb.ch/en/travelcards-and-tickets/tickets-for-switzerland/1-day-travelpass/saver-day-pass.html
Buying on-line can be tricky, you might need an American Express Card. But look at downloading the SBB Ap. You can buy it with that as long as you will have data service on your phone in Switzerland.
Posted by
OP
PA, USA
10 posts
Thank you so much for all the helpful insights ! However, I don’t have an AMEX card and wasn’t sure about getting a data plan in Switzerland but I will certainly look into these travel options and purchase tips. Very excited thinking about these prospects !
Posted by
Green Bay
20086 posts
Here might be a better deal. You can buy an all-zone Vaud Mobilis day ticket for 55.60 CHF, That will cover you from Mies (just north of Geneva) to Chillon, including Lausanne. Les Pleiades is just outside the network, maybe you can buy a small adder ticket if you wanted to go up. Otherwise, you could take the Mont Pelerin funicular to the viewing terrace 2000 ft above the lake (nice weather activity). Also, not sure if it covers boat rides, but check and see.
Your hotel in Geneva should give you a guest card which will cover Geneva public transport during your stay. So now it is only a matter of paying for the short distance from the north end of the limit of your guest card to Mies, the beginning of the Vaud network. That should be about 6.60 CHF each way.
You don't have to buy these tickets until you get to Geneva. BTW, you can also get a free public transport ticket at Geneva airport to your hotel in Geneva.
https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/destinations/mont-pelerin-views-over-the-lake/
https://www.mobilis-vaud.ch/tarifs-mobilis/
https://www.mobilis-vaud.ch/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Plan_general_A3_paysage.pdf
Posted by
OP
PA, USA
10 posts
Wow - so resourceful and helpful ! Does the free transport to hotel apply when arriving by train ? I had known the hotel would provide a free transport card but did not know there were free benefits before getting to the hotel. Thanks again.
Posted by
Green Bay
20086 posts
Not from the train station. Oh well.
Posted by
OP
PA, USA
10 posts
One further question about trains - I planned on arriving in Geneva from Paris via train and then 10 days later also travel by train from Paris to London. Thought I would see more of the country side that way and did not expected any discount cards would help for just two trips but thought to ask anyway. (I may use the train again from Lisbon to Porto but that is as yet uncertain. More likely I will only visit Sintra as side trip. Thanks again.
Posted by
Green Bay
20086 posts
You'll get the best price by buying nonrefundable tickets months before your travel date. Long distance trains work like airline tickets. Its already a bit late for these. Right now, I see 54 EUR for Wed Sept 18 for Paris to Geneva. Geneva to London is 133 EUR. I'd look at flying for that one.