lake geneva boat tours swiss pass

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With this ticket you will experience the city of Geneva from the lake. During a 50-minute boat ride, you'll get a special view of Geneva and the Jet d'eau, the famous water fountain in Geneva's harbor basin.

Unfortunately, this offer is not bookable at the moment.

Similar activities

Lake Geneva ticket from Lausanne to Evian-les-Bains return

Take a beautiful boat trip from Lausanne to Evian and back with a view of Lake Geneva. You will make your way to the source of the world famous Evian water.

Round trip Lake Geneva ticket from Geneva incl. audio guide

About this offer likely to sell out.

Duration: 50 minutes

Use your phone or print out the voucher

No booking fees

Pier Genève Mont-Blanc or Genève Jardin Anglais

Discount: Swiss Half Fare Card

Free cancellation

German, English, French, Chinese

50 minutes round trip on Lake Geneva

free audio guide "GCN Tours" for your cell phone

• Take a 50-minute cruise on Lake Geneva
• Admire sights like the Jet d'eau in the Lake Geneva basin
• You can download the audio guide "CGN Tours" to your cell phone for free and use it without roaming charges
• Learn many exciting secrets about the metropolis on Lake Geneva as well as the region
• With the GA travelcard, Swiss Travel Pass and SBB Day Passes, you can travel for free

Description

On this sightseeing tour you will get a special view of the city of Geneva and its bustling inhabitants. With its many sights and interesting history, Geneva is a fascinating destination. Spend an educational hour with lots of information about the sights and history of Geneva. As a starting point you have the choice between the piers Jardin Anglais and Mont Blanc. During one hour you will travel by boat through the Lake Geneva basin and explore the city of Geneva.

Your ship will also pass the world famous Jet d'eau. This impressive 140 m high fountain is one of the city's landmarks. The cruise also passes many parks, magnificent villas, monuments, the Palais des Nations (League of Nations Palace) and much more. Before you board, you can download the "GCN Tours" app on your smartphone to learn many exciting things about the history of Geneva during the audio tour

Your disembarkation point is back at the place where you got on.

Practical Information:

• Audio guide app: CGN Geneva Tour
• Languages audio guide: English, German, French and Chinese
• You can download the app from the free Wi-Fi at the Geneva Mont-Blanc pier

With dog, wheelchair or pushchair

• free of charge up to 30 cm shoulder height
• half price for 2nd class over 30 cm shoulder height, even if you have booked 1st class as a guest
• tickets are available at the CGN counter

Wheelchair:

• Ships are wheelchair accessible for "normal sized" wheelchairs.
• There is little space on the main deck of this small ship, so wheelchairs are better left inside the boat
• Upper deck is only accessible via stairs

Pushchairs:

• Can stay on the main deck (inside the boat) if you want to visit the upper deck

Important Information

• Please note current timetable

Meeting Points

From CHF 9.50 Likely to sell out

Take a beautiful boat trip from Lausanne to Evian and back with a view of Lake Geneva. You will make your way to the source of the world famous Evian water. More details

Duration: 35 minutes

booked 121 times

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Scenic lake cruises and boat trips in Switzerland

With around 1,500 lakes in total, Switzerland is home to some sizable bodies of clear, sparkling water. Over 100 of these have a surface area exceeding 30 hectares. Lake Geneva (Lac Léman in French) is the largest of these, and is known all over the world. 

Many major European rivers also flow through Switzerland, so for a landlocked country there is a lot of water. Exploring these lakes and rivers can be a highlight of any Swiss vacation, but it goes way beyond that.

In Switzerland, taking journeys by boat is often a practical matter of getting from A to B. In addition to leisure trips operated by the likes of Lake Geneva cruise lines, there are public transport boats connecting destinations so a daily commute may involve travelling across the lakes or down the rivers. 

For the Swiss, in many instances the easiest way to get from one place to another is in fact by boat, so this is simply a way of life. Boat trips are therefore an essential part of the national transport system. 

As a visitor, you may be able to choose between taking a train and hopping onto a boat when planning how to get from one village, town or city to another.

A typical example is the trip between Bern and Interlaken, which can involve a cruise across Lake Thun. Though this is more time-consuming, it’s a great way to see more of the country while getting from one destination to another. 

This guide will take you through all you need to know about lake cruises and boat trips in Switzerland – including scenic cruises typically taken by tourists as well as Swiss Travel Pass boat rides holders can take for free. 

From the famous shores of Lake Geneva to the River Rhine, these are the best boat trips in Switzerland. Which ones will you take? 

Top photo © Swiss Travel System

[ This post may contain compensated links. Please see my  disclosure policy  for more information. ]

Handy tip: Holders of a Swiss Travel Pass can travel free on most lake cruises in Switzerland.  Simply present your valid Swiss Travel Pass at the ticket counter before boarding.  If you don’t have a Swiss Travel Pass, we have included links below to purchase tickets for individual cruises.

What's in this Article

Quick Summary of Swiss boat trips covered in this guide

Lake geneva cruises.

For many visitors, there’s no Switzerland cruise that is as highly anticipated as a Lake Geneva cruise.  As one of the largest lakes in Western Europe, Lake Geneva (or Lac Léman as it is known in French), is located in western Switzerland.

Covering an area of 580km², the crescent-shaped lake is partly in Switzerland and partly in France and lies just north of the Alps.

Stretching from the westernmost point at Geneva to Montreux on the eastern shores, Lake Geneva is also at the feet of some other attractive Swiss cities and towns including Nyon, Lausanne and Vevey.

Above the latter two towns, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed terraced Lavaux Vineyards cover 800 hectares and make the ideal backdrop to the crystal clear waters of Lake Geneva.

The most popular routes among Lake Geneva boat tours include the cruise from Geneva to Lausanne, from Geneva to Evian-les-Bains on the French shore, and from Lausanne to Evian. Cruises to or from Geneva, Montreux or Vevey are also available. 

If you are planning to take one of the above Lake Geneva boat tours, Swiss Pass holders can travel for free whilst those without a Swiss Pass can buy a ticket at the boat pier.

Another option is to take the Yvoire boat from Geneva to visit this small, medieval French destination on the shores of the lake. Boats on this route also stop at Nyon, and you can find out more about this and other routes via the CGN website . 

There is also the option to book a dinner cruise on Lake Geneva in Switzerland.

Vessels operating on Lake Geneva include a fleet of Belle Epoque paddle steamers and modern motor boats.

Below you will find some of the most popular Lake Geneva boat cruises.

One hour sightseeing Lake Geneva cruise

This one hour boat ride on Lake Geneva is taken by many holidaymakers so they can see the city from the water. During this cruise you can see landmarks like the famous Jet d’Eau fountain, Mont Blanc and of course the mighty Swiss Alps. 

> Click here to book this Lake Geneva cruise in Switzerland  

Two hour Montreux cruise to Chillon Castle

If you’re staying in the Montreux area, this is a great choice amongst the options of Lake Geneva boat cruises. It takes in the majestic Chillon Castle, as well as the lake which was immortalised in Deep Purple’s song Smoke on the Water . The cruise takes place aboard a historic paddle steamer and there are fabulous views of the Swiss and French Alps. 

> Click here to book this Lake Montreux cruise

Three hour Riviera cruise from Lausanne

Departing from Lausanne, this three hour boat trip takes in the Lavaux vineyards,  Montreux, Chillon Castle and Vevey. 

> Click here to book this Swiss Riviera cruise

Two hour Lake Geneva cruise from Vevey

If the idea of spending two hours aboard a paddle steamer appeals, this trip departing from Vevey is recommended. You’ll travel on Lake Geneva to Montreux, seeing Chillon Castle and the French and Swiss Alps en route. 

> Click here to book this Vevey to Montreux cruise

Self-guided boat trip from Lausanne to Evian

This one day ticket allows you to take a boat trip whenever you please from Lausanne to the charming town of Evian-les-Bains. The journey takes 35 minutes each way and you can explore Evian’s historic Old Town and lakeside promenade after arrival. 

> Click here to book this Lausanne to Evian trip

Lake Lucerne cruises

At 38 kilometres long, Lake Lucerne may not be Switzerland’s longest lake but it is one of the most uniquely shaped. The lake has four distinct ‘arms’ and several sharp bends which makes a superb scene when viewed from one of the surrounding mountains such as Mt. Rigi or Mt. Pilatus .

Officially called Vierwaldstattersee in German (which translates to ‘four forest sites’), the lake is shared between the cantons of Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden and Lucerne.

When planning a lake cruise, Lucerne is the most popular starting point and there are numerous options to choose from.

You can take a cruise on Lake Lucerne that includes a three course gourmet lunch, hop aboard a luxury yacht for a scenic tour or take a journey across Lake Lucerne to Vitznau as part of a Mount Rigi day trip.

Other options include the Lucerne to Fluelen boat ride across Lake Lucerne, which is part of the Gotthard Panorama Express route. Find out more about this iconic journey via the Gotthard Pass in Switzerland in our dedicated guide here .  

From 2022, five paddle steamers will be in use every summer between late May and mid September. Travel on these Lake Lucerne steamers is also included with the Swiss Travel Pass (food and beverages are additional). 

As well as the paddle steamers and a fleet of modern motor boats, Lucerne is also home to MS Diamant , Switzerland’s first climate-neutral boat in regular service. The vessel is also the first Swiss hybrid boat in operation.

Popular Lake Lucerne cruises include:

Two hour Lake Lucerne cruise with lunch

This Lake Lucerne panoramic sightseeing cruise includes a gourmet lunch, so you’ll enjoy three delicious courses made from fresh local produce while admiring the mountainous Swiss landscape. Key Lucerne landmarks can also be viewed from the water.  

> Click here to book this lake cruise in Lucerne with lunch

One hour yacht cruise in Lucerne

Taking a trip aboard a panoramic yacht can help to make your stay in Lucerne truly memorable. The yacht will take you towards Meggenhorn Castle and includes views of upmarket homes, local landmarks and rolling green hills. This Lake Lucerne cruise is perfect for those who have limited time but don’t want to miss the experience of cruising on the tranquil waters.

> Click here to book this Lucerne yacht cruise

Self-guided Mount Rigi trip with lake cruise

The Lake Lucerne cruise price is included in this self-guided Mount Rig i day trip . You will also travel by train and cogwheel railway to reach the mountain summit. This trip to the Queen of the Mountains is not to be missed while in Switzerland. 

> Click here to book this Mount Rigi day trip ticket

Lake Thun & Lake Brienz cruises

Located either side of the holiday resort town of Interlaken, Lake Thun and Lake Brienz offer totally different experiences for those who’d like to cruise in the Bernese Oberland.

With a choice of both paddle steamers and modern motor boats, there is a cruise to suit everyone.

The larger of the two lakes, Lake Thun stretches 17.5 kilometres (10.8 miles) from Interlaken to Thun.   

Lake Thun boat tours call at Oberhofen and Spiez where you can disembark to see the impressive castles, or you hop off at St. Beatus Caves to explore the network of caverns, stalactites and stalagmites, before rejoining a later service.   

If you are short on time and don’t wish to disembark enroute, the cruise from Interlaken to Thun – or vice versa – takes just over two and a half hours.  The boat pier is located by the Interlaken West train station.

The return journey can be taken by boat (subject to the timetable) or train.

Boat trips on Lake Brienz stop at the pretty village of Iseltwald and at Giessbach Falls before continuing on to Brienz, well known for its wood carving. If you choose to disembark at Giessbach Falls, you can take a funicular to the Giessbach Hotel for lunch or a snack and view the magnificent waterfalls.

You can reach Brienz from Interlaken by boat in 75 minutes. The boat pier is located beside Interlaken Ost train station and, just like the boat trips on Lake Thun, the return journey can be made by boat or train.

Lake Brienz boat trips operate from April to October only.

Why not make your day out extra special by including a ride on the Brienzer Rothorn steam train when you reach Brienz?

Interlaken Lake Thun cruise day pass 

This Interlaken cruise pass allows you to travel all day on Lake Thun, plus Lake Brienz if you travel between early April and mid-October. As you travel over the water you can see pretty Swiss villages with traditional chalets and snow-capped mountain peaks.  

> Click here to book this Lake Thun boat day pass

Lake Brienz cruise day pass

Between early April and mid-October, a day pass is also available for Lake Brienz. Regular services connect Interlaken and Brienz with stops at Iseltwald and Giessbach Falls, making this one of the most popular boat tours Interlaken has to offer.

The cruise day pass is essentially a self-guided ‘tour’ giving you the flexibility to hop on and off as you wish. 

> Click here to book this Lake Brienz boat day pass

Lake Zurich cruises

Imagine commuting to work in Switzerland’s largest city across a tranquil lake with the spectacular Swiss Alps as a backdrop!  Many folks in Zurich do just that and you can experience this serene way to travel too!

The city of Zurich sits at one end of the 40-kilometre (25-mile) long banana-shaped Lake Zurich, and there are numerous different cruises available depending on how much time you have available.

The Lake Zurich Navigation Company operates 17 different ships – including two paddle steamers – with round trip cruises ranging from 90 minutes to 4.5 hours in duration. 

One of the most popular boat trips is from Zurich city to the Lindt Home of Chocolate in Kilchberg which takes just 27 minutes. 

The boat trip from Zurich to Rapperswil is another I personally recommend. Rapperswil, known as the City of Roses, is well worth visiting and is a relaxing two hour boat ride from Zurich. 

Make it a full day’s excursion by cruising both ways or travel by train one way (40 minutes) and boat the other.  Both modes of transport are free with your Swiss Travel Pass .

The Zurich boat pier is located at Bürkliplatz. 

3.5 hour Zurich sightseeing tour with cruise 

This Zurich lake cruise price covers a boat trip across Lake Zurich as well as guided tours of the city on foot and by bus. As you glide across the water, your guide will tell you all about the history and famous sights of Switzerland’s biggest city. 

> Click here to book this Lake Zurich cruise

Lake Lugano cruise

Fringed with palm trees and framed by surrounding Alps, there’s a real Mediterranean vibe around Lake Lugano.

The lake is shared between Switzerland and Italy and cruises and boat trips on the lake offer the chance to visit both countries. 

Popular cruise destinations include the villages of Morcote, one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Switzerland, the fishing village of Gandria and Cassarate where passengers can disembark and take the funicular to Monte Bre.

Lunch and dinner cruises are also available.

Cruises on Lake Lugano operate from April to October.  The boat pier can be found at Lugano Centro.

4.5 hour Monte Bré trip via Lake Lugano

This four-and-a-half hour trip includes a scenic boat ride from Lugano to Cassarate, a small harbour town. A picturesque return journey on the funicular railway to Monte Bré is also included, as is a visit to the Museum Wilhelm Schmid. You can then walk or take a bus back to Lugano. 

> Click here to book this Monte Bré day trip with cruise

3 Lakes cruises – Neuchâtel, Biel and Murten

The Three Lakes area encompasses Lakes Neuchâtel, Murten and Biel/Bienne in the Jura region in Switzerland’s west. This area has a gentle landscape awash with Swiss farmland and rolling vineyards, and also connects with the Aare River. 

Cruises operate on all three lakes and passengers can choose from cruises on just one lake, two or three as the lakes are connected by canals.  Lake Biel Navigation Company operates the boat trips on Lake Biel, whilst Lacs de Neuchâtel et Morat offer cruises on Lake Neuchâtel and Murten.

On Lake Biel/Bienne, the village of Ligerz and St. Peter’s Island are popular places to disembark and stroll around.  The medieval town of Murten (on Lake Murten) and the well-known wellness town of Yverdon-les-Bains (Lake Neuchatel) are other much-visited cruise destinations.

You can take a Three Lakes cruise from Biel to Erlach to Murten lasting for a little over three hours. It’s free with the Swiss Travel Pass – as is the epic 8-hour cruise that operates on special occasions.

Lunch and dinner cruises, as well as theme cruises are available.

In total, there are 28 landing stages on the three lakes which can be found in the cantons of Neuchatel, Fribourg , Vaud and Bern.

A fleet of seven vessels operate on the Three Lakes, including the only lake and river steamer in Switzerland.  Cruises are from Spring to Autumn (Fall).

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Lake Constance cruises

Bordering three countries – Switzerland, Austria and Germany – Lake Constance, or Bodensee as it’s known in German, is fed by the Rhine River. It’s also the third largest freshwater lake in Central Europe.

From the Swiss shores of Lake Constance it’s possible to cruise to the German side in around one hour. Routes include Romanshorn to Friedrichshafen and Rorschach to Lindau .

Travel on these routes is not fully covered with the Swiss Travel Pass but a 50% discount applies to pass holders.

Rhine River cruises

If you would prefer to experience a Switzerland river cruise there is the possibility to take a boat trip on the Rhine. The Rhine River originates in the Swiss Alps so it’s only natural that a cruise on this majestic waterway is popular with visitors.

Options include a cruise between Schaffhausen and Kreuzlingen which takes around four hours, or from Basel to Rheinfelden.  Further details can be found below.

Rhine River cruise from Schaffhausen to Kreuzlingen

This route takes you from Schaffhausen to Kreuzlingen with numerous stops along the way.  Two towns worth disembarking at are Diessenhofen, which is a member of the Most Beautiful Villages in Switzerland organisation, and Stein am Rhein, a pretty medieval town with an attractive Old Town.

Find out more about this cruise here . 

Rhine River cruise from Basel to Rheinfelden

Despite being located in a landlocked country, Basel has something of a maritime air due to the fact that it’s at the mouth of the mighty River Rhine. Local company Basler Personenschifffahrt operates boat trips from Basel to Rheinfelden between March and October. 

These boat trips last for about four hours and you can see various Basel landmarks. You should even be able to make out parts of Germany and France as you glide across the water, and you’ll also pass a couple of major locks, namely Birsfelden and Augst. 

Cruises and boat trips in Switzerland: Useful things to know

If you’re interested in taking trips around Switzerland by boat or cruising the lakes or the Rhine, there are some useful facts worth knowing to help you plan your trip. 

Swiss Travel Pass

The first thing to consider when planning any trip to Switzerland is the purchase of a Swiss Travel Pass . As mentioned above in various sections, the pass covers boat trips on the major lakes in the country.

A Swiss Travel Pass also gives the holder free public transport in all Swiss destinations, plus some cogwheel, funicular and scenic railway routes. Entry to hundreds of museums is also included. 

Alternatively you could buy a Swiss Half Fare Card to receive 50% off the price of boat trips. 

Learn more about the Swiss Travel Pass and the Swiss Half Fare Card in this article . 

1st and 2nd class travel in Switzerland

Swiss public transport such as trains and some boats includes first and second class travel options. You can select either option when buying individual tickets or passes. On boats, the first class section is usually found on the upper deck. 

First class carriages are generally more spacious and private, and may give you better views over the landscape. This option is ideal for the trip-of-a-lifetime or honeymooners, as well as those who don’t mind paying more for a bit of extra space.

Swiss boat piers

As they form such an important part of the Swiss public transport network, boat piers in Switzerland are often located right next to the train station. This allows for seamless travel via several modes of transport – and makes it easier for visitors to find them. 

Restaurants on Swiss boats

A number of Swiss ferries and boats have on-board eateries, making it convenient to dine while you travel. 

Swiss boat timetables 

You can find timetables for each Swiss boat operator via their websites or on the Swiss Federal Railways website sbb.ch or the SBB app. Do bear in mind when planning your trip that some services may be seasonal: this particularly applies to funicular and cogwheel railways, cable cars and boats. 

Swiss lake names – See, Lac or Lago

Switzerland has four official languages – German, French, Italian and Romansch – and therefore you’ll notice the word for lake differs depending on which language-speaking region you are in.

In German-speaking Switzerland, the word for lake is see so Lake Zurich is called Zürichsee whilst Lake Thun is Thunersee, and so on.

In Geneva and the Three Lakes Region where French is the local language, Lake Geneva is referred to as Lac L é man and Lake Neuchâtel as Lac Neuchâtel .

Lake Lugano, in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, is called Lago Lugano .

Lake cruises and boat trips in Switzerland: Final thoughts

Whether you opt to take a boat trip to help make your Swiss journeys more seamless or more scenic, there are so many possibilities to enjoy a Switzerland cruise. 

The abundance of lakes and rivers here makes the journey all part of the experience – not least when you have soaring peaks, rolling hills, undulating vineyards, lush meadows, Alpine chalets and crystal clear waters as the picturesque backdrop. 

Switzerland Travel Essentials

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Carolyn Schönafinger

Carolyn Schönafinger is a frequent visitor to Switzerland, the country she fell in love with more than 30 years ago. She now visits Switzerland every year in her quest to explore every inch of the country. Carolyn is a certified Switzerland Travel Expert and she has achieved the Swiss Travel System Travel Expert diploma. She loves sharing her Switzerland travel expertise and helping others to plan their dream Swiss vacation on this website and the Holidays to Switzerland Travel Podcast. Read more

Episode 43: Decadent must-have Swiss chocolate experiences

Episode 44: Breathtaking boat trips to enjoy in Switzerland

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Swiss Holiday Brochures

Lakes & Mountains 2024

Scenic Rail 2024

Lake Geneva Cruises - Lake Geneva (Vaud)

Leisurely cruises in beautiful surroundings.

Available: all year round (fewer services in winter)

Example travel costs

Lake Geneva Regional Pass : FREE 

Swiss Travel Pass : FREE 

Half Fare Card : Half published fare

With plenty of scheduled boat services on Lake Geneva, you can enjoy an outing on a motor-powered saloon vessel or on an elegant, restored paddlewheel steamboat, some of which date back over 100 years. Excellent dining facilities are available, as well as themed events and round trip excursions (half or full day trips). All tickets for these trips can be purchased locally from either the tourist office in resort, the local train station or directly at the boat station.

Get your holiday quotation today

Contact us to book your holiday

Call us on 0800 619 1200 or email us at [email protected]

Classic cruises

Relax on the lake and enjoy the spectacular scenery of the Swiss Riviera. You'll see numerous lakeside villages and a backdrop of beautiful mountains. The regular schedule of boats and lake steamers can take you to Chillon Castle, the Lavaux vineyards and the lively city of Geneva.

You can even cross over to France and visit lovely resorts such as Evian-les-Bains and Thonon-les-Bains. Please remember to bring your passport. 

Restored paddle steamers

Check the schedule if you would like to take your cruise on one of the paddle steamers.  If you have a 1st class ticket you can relive the splendour of the Belle Epoque in the opulent first class lounge or by relaxing on the exclusive upper deck.

Culinary cruises

The Sunday lunch cruises are recommended - try one which takes you on a round trip past Montreux, Chillon and the Dents du Midi mountains.

On Friday nights, you can try the fondue cruise from Lausanne - great fun.

The main boat station in Montreux is in the centre of town, just along from the Freddie Mercury statue.

In Lausanne, head for the Ouchy waterfront area.

Vevey's landing station is also easy to spot on the resort's lake shore. All tickets can be purchased locally.

Please check before travel for maintenance closures. 

Request your holiday quotation

Call us on  0800 619 1200  or email us at  [email protected]

More excursions in the region

This delightful region offers everything from vineyard walks and lake cruises to nostalgic rail journeys and mountain beauty spots overlooking Lake Geneva. There are also higher mountain visits to enjoy, with plenty of scenic trails and alpine restaurants. 

Your choice of resorts

You can choose to stay in an elegant, lively resort such as Montreux or Lausanne or find a quieter holiday in Vevey and nearby La Tour-de-Peilz. All have excellent access to beautiful Lake Geneva. For a mountain holiday, we recommend delightful Villars.

Lake Geneva cruise video

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Summer Lake Geneva CGN Boat Excursions and Day Pleasure Cruises

During the summer season, CGN offers the largest number and variety of Lake Geneva boat cruises ranging from day excursions to gourmet meals, dinner, and sunset cruises, Belle Époque paddle steamers, and regular ferry crossings of Lac Léman.

In summer, CGN pleasure cruise boats sail on Lake Geneva throughout the day. Cruise excursions depart from various ports but Geneva, Nyon, Yvoire, Lausanne, Vevey, and Montreux are popular starting points. In addition to regular pleasure cruises, food is available on most Lake Geneva cruise boats with special dinner and lunch cruises sailing daily from especially Geneva and Lausanne. The romantic early twentieth-century Belle Epoque paddle steamers are the best for cruising on Lake Geneva but more modern boats also operate on many sightseeing cruises — ticket prices are the same, so opt for the steamboats if possible. Regular passenger ferry services connect Nyon in Switzerland with Yvoire and Chens in France and Lausanne with Thonon and Evian.

Summer Cruises on Lake Geneva, Switzerland

CGN’s summer schedule is in operation from mid-June to mid-September (with additional cruises in most of July and August). Boat cruises are available daily with additional excursions on weekends and national holidays. Passenger ferries operate year-round on Lac Léman to connect Swiss and French cities.

Special savings tickets and deals are available to reduce the cost of cruising on Lake Geneva. Most Swiss railway and transportation discount passes and travel cards are accepted on CGN Lac Léman boats.

Cruising on Belle Epoque Paddle Steamers on Lake Geneva, Switzerland

CGN has eight Belle Epoque paddle boats of which currently five are sailing on Lake Geneva on regular excursion cruises during summer. These boats, which date from the early twentieth century, offer nostalgia and comfort to Lac Léman cruises. These historic boats require no surcharge (nor time penalty!) making it worth adjusting programs to enjoy these grand boats rather than more modern diesel-powered vessels, which sometimes replace the steamers on some sailings on certain days or at short notice.

The Belle Epoque steamboats usually cruise as follows on Lake Geneva (only main stops are listed):

• La Suisse (1910) – three times per day from Lausanne to St Gingolph and on to Chateau de Chillon before returning to Lausanne via the Lavaux . Three hours for the full circular cruise. Pick this boat (and the cruise past the Lavaux) if scheduling allows.
• SS Simplon (1920) – similar in size to the La Suisse and almost as elegant but with a much larger dining area. The Simplon can accommodate 850 passengers and currently sails between Geneva and Lausanne (and Evian).
• Montreux (1904) – daily from Lausanne to Chateau de Chillon Castle and back. Around 100 minutes one way. Also dinner cruises from Lausanne. It also frequently cruises to Nyon and Yvoire.
• Savoie (1914) – daily from Geneva to Yvoire (via Nyon) and back. Almost two hours each way. Also lunch and dinner cruises from Geneva.
• SS Rhône (1927) – the Rhône returned to service in 2022 following a three-year restoration project. It mostly cruises the long Geneva to Lausanne route.

Two further Belle Epoque paddle boats are fitted with modern diesel engines and they sail on Lake Geneva year-round:

• MS Vevey (1907) – returned to service in 2013 after a full restoration. In summer, the Vevey cruises from Lausanne to Geneva and back with dinner cruises from Geneva.
• MS Italie (1908)– resumed passenger cruises on Lake Geneva in 2016, after a decade out of service, and cruises mostly in the Lausanne, Vevey, Montreux, and St Gingolph area.

Lunch, Dinner, Sunset, and Gourmet Meal Cruises on Lake Geneva Boats

Food and drinks are served on almost all CGN boats cruising on Lake Geneva. Full meals and restaurant service are available on most boats cruising during meal times. However, special lunch, dinner, sunset, and gourmet cruises also sail most days during summer. Meals are almost always optional (and charged for separately) although special combination deals may be purchased too. Food is generally of a very good standard and priced similarly to regular Swiss restaurants (i.e. rather expensive!)

• Cheese fondue is only served on Friday cruises during the winter and shoulder seasons and never in summer.

Lake Geneva boat cruises are mostly booked for the departure and arrival cities even if a variety of cruise names are used in advertising. It is usually possible to interrupt journeys en route but specify the stops when buying tickets, or ask on the boat if such stops would require a surcharge.

Boat excursions on Lac Léman are on four basic routings — only main stops are listed, in summer, boats also call at many smaller ports:

• Geneva circular roundtrip cruises — usually around an hour .
• Geneva to Lausanne — almost four hours — often with stops possible at amongst others Morges, Nyon, and Yvoire (in France).
• Upper Lake area from Lausanne to St Gingolph with stops amongst others at Montreux, Vevey, and Chateau de Chillon. This is the most beautiful part of the lake and the best area to cruise in.
• Ferry services — short crossings between Switzerland and France — from Lausanne to Evian and Nyon to Yvoire.

The  historic paddle steamers  are the best choice and cost the same as more modern boats — paddle steamboat cruises are usually clearly marked as such in the published timetables.

Short Pleasure Cruise Boat Excursions on Lake Geneva

In addition to the longer boat cruises along long stretches of Lake Geneva, several shorter cruises are also available. Popular cruises include:

Beautiful shores of Lake Geneva (Belles Rives Genevoises) – hour-long circular cruises sailing six times per day from Geneva.

The French Coast Cruise (Villes Fleuries de France) – up to four times per day from Evian to Yvoire and vice versa with stops in various French towns. (Good ferry crossings are available to Nyon and Lausanne in Switzerland.)

The frequent passenger ferry boat services also offer great opportunities year-round for short cruises on Lac Léman.

More on Lake Geneva Pleasure Boats and Cruises:

• Pleasure Boats and Ferries on Lake Geneva
• Lake Geneva Boat Cruises in Spring
• Passenger Ferries on Lake Geneva
• Book Cruises at GYG or at CGN
• Passenger Ferries and Cruises from Lausanne to Evian and Thonon
• Savings Tickets for CGN Lake Geneva Boat Cruises
• Summer Lake Geneva Boat Excursions and Day Cruises
• Spring & Autumn Cruises on Lake Geneva
• Winter and Christmas Cruises on Lake Geneva
• Pleasure Boat Excursions to Yvoire
• See the Historic Paddle Steamers at the Parade Navale
• New Year’s Eve Dinner Cruises on Lake Geneva

Home » All Lake Geneva Boats & Ferries » Summer Lake Geneva CGN Boat Excursions and Day Pleasure Cruises

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Lavaux Tour (Lausanne - Vevey - Lausanne), 2nd class

Patrimoine tour (lausanne - st-gingolph - chillon - montreux - vevey - lausanne), 2nd class, crossing lausanne-evian (round trip), 2nd class, crossing lausanne-thonon (round trip), 2nd class.

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Regional Pass Lake Geneva-Alps

The Regional Pass Lake Geneva-Alps: Mediterranean flair, delicious cuisine and lovely vineyards.

Floating by the UNESCO World Heritage site Lavaux aboard a historic paddle steamer, climbing to the top of the Rochers-de-Naye on a cog railway and watching marmots from all over the world on the summit, experiencing a ride on the famous GoldenPass Line or going in search of the word’s most delicate temptation on the Chocolate train: The Regional Pass Lake Geneva-Alps offers all of it and then some.

Prices Regional Pass Lake Geneva – Alps

Adult without reduction:, reduced prices with a swiss travel system ticket:, children from 6 to 16 years:.

• Regional Pass 5 days: unlimited travel on 2 days and 50 % discount on 3 remaining days.
• Regional Pass 7 days: unlimited travel on 3 days and 50 % discount on 4 remaining days.
• Surcharge applies: Chocolate train with seat reservation requirement in 1st class
• No surcharge from/to Geneva airport, boat lines on Lake Geneva and regular GoldenPass MOB trains

Information

• The offer is valid throughout the year.
• Regional Pass Lake Geneva-Alps is personal and non-transmittable
• No partial refund can be granted
• Regional Pass Lake Geneva-Alps is obtainable only in Europe. Points-of-sale: SBB ticket shop, Swiss railway stations, boat stations and tourist offices, most Swiss Travel System points-of-sale
• The indicated fares in EUR are recommended retail prices. In Switzerland, fares apply in Swiss Francs as detailed in the chart. (In case of cash payment in EUR: current exchange rates apply)

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