Brenda

I will have two free days in Lausanne after an upcoming business trip, and am at a complete loss as to what to do. Any advice on whether i should stay there, or move on somewhere more interesting before i head back to Geneva?

Grasshopper

I was in Lausanne in July and thought it was a great town. It is a short train ride to Geneva (maybe 30 min?) and about the same to Montreux. There are a variety of interesting towns along the lake. Choose one according to your interests. The Vaud is full of vineyards. You didn't say what month you'd be there. If it's winter, I don't think the steamers run but if it's not, they are a fun way to see Lac Leman. <BR><BR>Also, you can head upwards toward Blonay, Les Pliedes, etc. There is some skiing in that area also.

xxx

Brenda, you can easily spend two days in Lausanne. <BR><BR>If you're interested in fine arts, the Fondation de l'Hermitage is a must.<BR>www.fondation-hermitage.ch<BR><BR>I also suggest to visit the Olympic Museum.<BR>www.museum.olympic.com<BR><BR>You will find a lot more suggestions about what's on on Lausanne's home page. Just click the English flag.<BR><BR>www.lausanne-tourisme.ch<BR>

xxx

Lausanne is a special city - built along the lake (Ouchy) and up along the hill. If you want to stay at a place with a little character, try an inn/hotel in a small village along the lake just abutting Lausanne - one ex. is in Cully, at the Auberge du Raisin.

s

Hello Brenda! <BR><BR>I’m a frequent visitor to Montreux on Lake Geneva, and here is my list of favorite things to do there. All of these are very easy to do/see from Lausanne.<BR><BR>Spend a morning walking along the 11km flowered lakeside promenade from Clarens to Villeneuve, passing the Chateau Chillon between Territet and Villeneuve; there are plenty of cafes to stop and have a coffee &amp; snack along the way to replenish your strength. There are also plenty of benches to sit and read, watch other walkers, or simply stare at the majesty of the lake and the mountains in the distance. <BR><BR>Top off your long walk with a wonderful pizza &amp; beer lunch at a lakeside caf&eacute; in Villeneuve, then take the ferry back to Montreux (I think the ferry stops in late Sep/Oct). <BR><BR>Spend the morning in Vevey hunting down the antiques shops in the old town. Then have lunch at the Hostellerie de Geneve on the Pl. Marche (reviewed -- sort of-- in NY Times Travel section. Go to www.nytimes.com, then to the archives of &quot;What's Doing,&quot; then find &quot;What's Doing in Vevey&quot; from summer '99). <BR><BR>Take the train (the “wine train”) from Vevey to Chexbres, then spend a morning walking the vineyards down to the lake, hitting Rivaz &amp; St. Saphorin. For lunch, find the Auberge du Rivaz (in Rivaz . . . ) with a terrace lake view or see if any of the cellars are having a cheese/wine tasting. <BR><BR>Cully (esp. the Auberge du Raisin) and Lutry's well-posted tour of ancient sites are worth a trip as well. <BR><BR>Spend a day in the mountains, taking the train to the resort of Gstaad. On the way back, stop at Chateaux d'Oex, where the only successful round-the-world-by-hot-air-balloon trip was launched. Or stop at Glion for lunch at the Hotel Victoria with its panoramic views of the lake; then walk the rest of the way down to Montreux on a stair-step path through the forest (or take the train or the funicular to Territet). <BR><BR>Spend an afternoon in the medieval village of Gruyeres, making sure to sample the berries in creme-double. <BR><BR>Spend an afteroon in Nyon at the Roman museum and the Caesar's columns nearby. <BR><BR>Spend a morning walking up to Montreux's old city &amp; the museum &amp; the old church. Fantastic views from the old church (can't remember the name -- but it's prominent in the old city). Have lunch at the restaurant at the museum. <BR><BR>Here are the websites: <BR>www.montreux.ch (find their picture gallery) <BR>www.vevey.ch <BR>www.lake-geneva-region.ch <BR>www.gruyeres.ch <BR>www.nyon.ch <BR>www. lutry.ch <BR>www.lavaux.ch/sentier2.htm<BR>www.hospvd.ch/public/eccmid/lavaux.html <BR><BR>My personal travel journal (w/photos) of Montreux<BR>www.igougo.com/planning/journal.asp?JournalID=7825<BR><BR>Best of luck!<BR><BR>s

xxx

Thanks for the tips swandav! Being in Geneva, we sometimes lose sight of what's &quot;just around the corner&quot;...

Daniel

Take a local train from Lausanne up to Grandvaux (9 minutes, www.rail.ch/pv/index_e.htm) above the vineyards. Great view. Lavaux is one of the most beautiful wine districts in Europe. Walk down to the lake, take the train back from Cully or one of the other stations along the lake.

s

To xxx,<BR><BR>Ah shucks . . ..<BR><BR>That list is a “canned” document I keep on my hard drive; I must’ve posted it here about ten times now. But as long as someone keeps asking, I’ll keep posting it! <BR><BR>I have also enjoyed your descriptions of Zermatt, and I think it was your wonderful description of Villars that has me traveling to that town on my next trip, right? So I’ll probably be adding Aigle, Leysin &amp; Villars to that list when I return.<BR><BR>“Being in Geneva . . .” can you see the green???<BR><BR>Anyway, thanks for the kind words.<BR><BR>s<BR>

Susan

If you happen to have a Saturday morning free, go to the farmers market in the main square in Vevey (15 mins. train ride form Lausanne). Or on Tuesday they also have it but set up on the pedestrian streets in town.<BR><BR>Chateux de Chillon out past Montreux is a very cool, very old castle to visit.<BR><BR>Or (but I think you'd need a car) the castle at Guyere.<BR><BR>Fabulous food at the local cafes (Lausanne, Vevey, Montreux) - have what ever's written on the chalk board outside. Sit on the promonade or in sa restaurant with a view along the lake in any of these 3 towns and sample a &quot;demi&quot; of the local-made white wine. Delicious!<BR><BR>Maybe it's just me, but I found Lausanne very &quot;interesting&quot;.

jw

Hi, great thread. I love graceful old Lausanne and, of course, the Lavaux region along Lac Leman. No, you don't need a car to visit Gruyeres. J.

xxx

swandav, don't know if it was me writing about Zermatt... but I have mentioned hiking; more hiking; Hotel Julen; Riffelalp; Sunegga; the Hexen-Bar; and McDonald's. And as I've been on a hiking kick this year, it's taken me to Villars, Aigle, Les Paccots, Sch&ouml;nried, Chateau d'Oex and more. Mostly outside the villages, but am sure a place like Villars will be worth it. Did I say go up to Le Bretaye from there? If not, do so. Either by small train or by foot.<BR><BR>Don't know why, but despite living in Geneva have been so biased about spending time in the Swiss area. France is just knocking on the door...

Rick

Some of these posts have my travel jucies flowing. Looking for wine vineyards, hiking, mountain and lake views, old town experience, local markets. Planning on using trains, busses and ferries to get around. Wanted to visit Lyon first (3 days) and then have four more days to devote to some combination of Annecy, Geneva, Lausanne or Montreux. Any suggestions?<BR>I was leaning towards Annecy and Montreux but am afraid they might be to similiar an experience.<BR><BR>thanks in advance

jw

Hello again. Rick, I think you should choose one area or the other instead of splitting your four days between Annecy and Lac Leman. If you travel often, then I'd just settle into Annecy, which is a beautiful old town with mountains and a lovely lake. Save Lac Leman and its towns, vineyards, and mountain excursions for another time when you can give Switzerland more time. J.

Rick

I was thinking the same thing - guess I just neded somebody to confirm it. Thanks for the input.

xxx

Sorry jw, just wanted to put in a plug for Montreux...<BR><BR>Rick, admittedly Annecy is a great place - have been through its old town and on the lake. Don't know about the hiking and vineyard options there, though, as I didn't venture out from the town. <BR><BR>Montreux would be a super option. Why?<BR>- the town is worth a stroll; also, you've got the Chateau du Chillon not far away;<BR>- right from Montreux, you can hop on any number of trains taking you to various incredible destinations. These include:<BR>- above and behind the lake and into the Fribourg/Bern Alpine area, to great little villages like Chateau d'Oex, Rougement, Saanen, Gstaad, Sch&ouml;nried, and Saanenmoser. There are any number of hiking possibilities in this area, either in the valley or in the mountains; plus, you'll see some of the best chalets in Switzerland...<BR>- or, head up to Les Diablerets / Col du Pillon and ride the gondola to Glacier 3000. Snow-shoe, dog-sled ride, snowboard, or just hang out on the terrace...<BR>- little side trips to Rocher de Naye, Leysin, or Villars possible. From Villars, continue with a small train up to La Bretaye for great hiking;<BR>- you like underground mines? There's a salt mine to visit between Aigle and Bex.<BR>- train into the Valais, to places just around the corner like Martigny (take a postbus up into any number of mountain areas from there); visit some wineries (&quot;caves&quot near Sion or Sierre;<BR>- then of course, there's Lausanne which is just 15 minutes or so by train from Montreux in the opposite direction. Eat lunch along the lake in a small village like Cully (Auberge du Raisin, for instance).<BR>- walk among the vineyards around the Grand Vaux area. There is a spectacular view from up high; you overlook a small village and a cove on the lake, and of course across to the French Alps. It reminds of a French Impressionist painting...<BR><BR>

xxx

Sorry, forgot to add, but the implication is: if you have 4 days, then why not use 2 or 3 of them for seeing stuff that's just around the corner? A place like Montreux or Annecy is fine for a day, at most 2. But then you've got so many options for 1 or 1/2 day trips around, it's better to see something else. And you won't feel like a jackrabbit since everything is incredibly close/nearby.