I am going to Geneva for work and then have 5 days to tour. I plan to see Lake Geneva and the Alps. To get a Schengen visa for someone from my country is a big hassel and cost. Would I be sorry if I did not? I wanted to visit Chamonix and Annecy in France, but am wondering whether I should not rather add the Swiss Alps and not bother with France?? I speak German and no French, if that is something to take into account as well.

If you include Luzern in your itinerary, I would not bother with a Schengen visa... if it really is a big hassle.

And if you wanted a more "intimate" setting than Luzern, travel part way around the lake to Wengen. Similar charm to Talloires (a gem near Annecy).

Near Geneva, you can have cuisine as fine as any, anywhere in France at Domaine de Chateauvieux, in Satighy (Switzerland).

Best wishes,

Rex

I agree with Rex that you will find much and even more of the same charm in the Swiss Alps, and if the cost and hassle of getting the French visa is considerable, I don't think you need to bother.

You could take a train from Geneva to the lovely Chateau d"Oex area in about an hour or a bit more. This is a very charming village which may remind you of Chamonix. The Gruyere area is also close and is another beautiful area, and IMO the whole vineyard town areas along the north east portion of Lake Geneva are absolutely gorgous. Towns like Vevey, Lausanne, Montreux, Cully or Morges; and there is the wonderful Chillon Castle below Montreux. The Zermatt and Saas Fee areas are also beautiful.

Then in the German part of the Alps, there is Gstaad and then into the Interlaken and Lucerene area. The Jungrfau area is sublime. Although I am not a fan of Lucerne, there are several lovely towns along the lake. I believe Rex meant was referring to the little town of Weggis, on the same lake as Lucerene, and not to Wengen, as Wengen, which is up in the mountains about 2.5 hours by train from Lucerene and is in the Jungfrau valley and not on a lake. Both are very lovely and you would enjoy either. albeit Wengen is much further than Lucerne.

Yes, absolutely, I meant Weggis. Musta had <i>Schengen</i> on the brain. In particular, I recall the hotel Albana fondly.

Don't forget to google more destinations, like Zermatt and Saas-Fee and Sankt Moritz and that whole region of the Engadine, and go up on peaks like the Niesen and the Niederhorn and the Brienzer Rothorn and the Jungfraujoch and the Schilthorn in the Berner Oberland (some of these are expensive), and the Pilatus and Rigi near Luzern, and the Saentis in the Eastern alps of Switzerland - you won't miss any Schengen regions, five days will pass like that!

WK

Bonjour Nuut,

Switzerland is part of Shengen agreement, so your visa might be valid for France too. Check with your local French embassy or consulate, though.

OTO, since you speak German, you'll find enough mountains and towns that compare to Chamonix and Annecy to keep you happy for 5 days in Switzerland.