Hi Everyone,
My husband and I originally planned to travel by train to Lake Geneva from Paris and spend two nights then on to Lake Como for two nights. Unfortunately with all the train travel between places we will only get one full day in each which is making me think we should cut one or the other out of our itinerary unless of course we catch a plane.
My question is for those who have travelled to both, which is the prettiest and offers more to see? I know this will be a hard one for people to answer because they both look so beautiful.
Thanks
Tracey
Lake Geneva or Lake Como
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In terms of scenery I would pick Lake Como.
I've been to both and they are both great, so you can't make a bad choice. I agree that choosing just one and really enjoying your time there is the way to go. My personal preference would be for Lake Como, as I feel it is more relaxing. But if you're looking for a big city experience, Geneva (or Laussane, Montreux, etc) might be for you. On both lakes, there are multiple cities or towns you could stay in, so do you know which you would choose? Have fun!
Another vote for Lake Como. It's more different from Paris than Lake Geneva--smaller towns, less cosmopolitan, cuter, less sophisticated, more fun. Stay in Varenna, Menaggio or Bellagio and take the lake ferries between them. Oodles of great posts here about what to do on Lake Como.
Thank you so much for your replies.
It's a tough one. My husband really wants to see Lake Geneva and I want to see Lake Como.
Looks like it may be a plane from Paris.
We are booked in at Bellagio for Lake Como but yet to book a place in Lake Geneva and love the idea of Montreux.
We will have a ball I'm sure. First holiday overseas on our own to celebrate our 32nd wedding anniversary
Hi TraceyJSutton,
Sorry I've never been to Lake Como, so I can't compare, but I do go to Montreux just about every year for two weeks. It has a bit of the atmosphere of the French Riviera, if that helps, but it's much (much) easier to get around. Montreux has Chillon castle, of course, an old town, an old town in Vevey, the vineyards, and some nice bike rides and walks along the lake, in the vineyards, and in the hills above the lake. It's easy to take excursions from Montreux to the mountains of Gstaad or see Gruyeres.
What time of year would this be? There's a Jazz Festival in Montreux in July, and Montreux is just spectacular in September and October.
Just one note. If you decide to go to Montreux, the plane would not be the fastest way to go. A train takes just 4h30 or 5h. If you go by train, you have to get from Paris to the airport (45 minutes), wait at the airport (90 minutes), fly (60 minutes), wait for your luggage (20 minutes), then get from Geneva airport to Montreux (90 minutes). So, a train is at least as fast if not faster, and it's a whole lot more fun. If you get your train tickets about 90 days early, you can get fares as low as 29 Euro or so.
Have fun as you plan!
s