Montreux, Lausanne, and Geneva have the best Christmas markets (Marché de Noël / Weihnachtsmarkt), decorations, and Xmas lights to visit in 2021 in the Lac Léman region of Switzerland. The advent season before Christmas brings some color and holiday cheer to towns in the Lake Geneva region. Many towns will see an increase in cultural events – not all music will necessarily … [Read more...]
Visit the Montreux Marché de Noël Christmas Market, Switzerland
The Marché de Noël à Montreux is by far the largest and best Christmas market to visit in the Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) region of Switzerland. Apart from the Weihnachtsmarkt, Santa’s workshop, a Christmas village, and a medieval festival await advent visitors. In 2021 the Montreux Christmas Market is open from November 19 to December 24, 2021. The best Christmas market in … [Read more...]
Visiting the Geneva Motor Show (Genève Auto Salon) in Switzerland
Visit the annual Geneva International Motor Show (Genève Auto Salon), one of the major events in the Lac Léman region, held at the Palexpo exhibition center next to Geneva Airport. The Geneva Motor Show is one of the most important automotive events in the world. It is held annually in the Palexpo show grounds right next to Geneva Airport (GVA) on the Swiss-French border. … [Read more...]
Transportation to the Geneva Auto Show (Genève Auto Salon)
Getting to the Geneva Auto Show (Genève Auto Salon) is easiest by public transportation. Trains (and planes!) are the best options but buses also stop at the show grounds. Pricey parking is available. The Geneva Auto Show is easily reached on public transportation from any part of Genève, Switzerland, or indeed Europe. The Genève Auto Salon is held in the Palexpo … [Read more...]
See l’Escalade Festival and Celebrations in Geneva in Mid-December
L’Escalade is Genève’s top family-friendly festival and overshadows other Advent events and Christmas markets in mid-December in Geneva. L’Escalade is the top event on Geneva’s festival calendar. L’Escalade commemorates the successful defense of Genève against a Savoyan attack in 1602. The celebrations are held each year over a weekend in mid-December with parades, … [Read more...]
Photos of l’Escalade Celebrations in Geneva, Switzerland
L’Escalade is a great celebration in old town Geneva each mid-December with marches, parades, battle reenactments, cultural events, mulled wine, and chocolates perfect for memorable photos. L’Escalade is a Genevan festival held each mid-December to commemorate a famous victory of Geneva over the Dukes of Savoy. On December 12, 1602, the Savoyards attempted to invade the … [Read more...]
Cheap Travel with the Junior Card on Swiss Trains, Buses & Boats
Families with children aged 6 to 16 save big with the Swiss Junior Card or the Children’s Co-Travelcard that allows free travel on almost all trains, buses, trams, boats, and cable cars in Switzerland. The Junior Card (Junior-Karte / Carte Junior) is a fantastic savings offer for children traveling with parents on trains, buses, trams, boats, and cable cars in … [Read more...]
Visit the Musée du Léman Lake Geneva Museum in Nyon
The Léman Museum in Nyon is a great family destination with information on Lake Geneva’s natural history and role in Swiss life and the local economy. The Musée du Léman in Nyon is a museum focusing on all aspects of nature and life related to Lake Geneva (Lac Léman in French) between Switzerland and France. The eclectic collection of the Léman Museum ranges from an … [Read more...]
Photos of Grandvaux Vineyards in Autumn, Lavaux
The terraced vineyards of Grandvaux in Lavaux between Cully and Lutry near Lausanne, Switzerland provide hikers spectacularly beautiful landscapes perfect for photos in autumn. The UNESCO World Cultural Heritage-listed terraced vineyards in the Lavaux region in Switzerland provide some of the most spectacular scenery along the shores of Lake Geneva between Lausanne and … [Read more...]
Photos of the Lavaux Vineyards in Autumn
The UNESCO World Cultural Heritage-listed vineyards of Lavaux on Lake Geneva are beautiful for most of the year but spectacular for photos in autumn. The Lavaux terraced vineyards are spectacularly beautiful in autumn with the triangle between Rivaz, St Saphorin (Lavaux), and Chexbres a particularly pleasant area for easily accessible hikes. Even driving through the region … [Read more...]
Photos of the Montreux Christmas Market
The photogenic Marché de Noël à Montreux is the largest and best Christmas market to visit in the Lake Geneva region of Switzerland. This beautifully located Weihnachtsmarkt is popular with families and children. The Marché de Noël à Montreux is the best Christmas market to visit in the Lac Léman region of Western Switzerland. This Weihnachtsmarkt is a popular day-trip … [Read more...]
Family-Friendly Leukerbad Therme Hot Pools and Water Slides
The family-friendly Leukerbad Therme (Burgerbad) is the largest thermal pool complex in Loèche-les-Bains. Children enjoy the hot water baths and slides. The welcoming Leukerbad Therme (previously Burgerbad) is a family-friendly thermal pool facility in the heart of Loèche-les-Bains in the Swiss Valais Alps. Leukerbad Therme has ten hot water pools of various sizes and … [Read more...]
Top Châteaux (Castles & Fortresses) to Visit on Lake Geneva
Chillon, Morges, Nyon, Rolle, La Tour-de-Peilz, and Yvoire are the best fortress-like castles (chateaux) to visit on Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) in Switzerland and France. Several castles on the shores of Lake Geneva in Switzerland and France are open to visitors. The best castles to see are arguably the ones with a medieval history and a fortress-like appearance such as … [Read more...]
Visit Chateau de Chillon Castle near Montreux
Chateau de Chillon is a romantic castle in Lake Geneva near Montreux. Chillon Castle is the most-visited historic monument in Switzerland and a great family-friendly destination. It is a fine day-trip excursion from Geneva, Lausanne, and ski resorts in the nearby Alps. Chateau de Chillon has a beautiful location on a small island in the far western end of Lake Geneva … [Read more...]
Easy Transportation to Chateau de Chillon near Montreux
Getting to Chateau de Chillon near Montreux on Lake Geneva is easy by car, bus, boat, train, bicycle, or on foot. Chillon Castle is the most popular historical monument in Switzerland and a great day trip from Geneva, Lausanne or the Alpine ski resorts. Chateau de Chillon Castle is beautifully located on a small rocky islet in Lake Geneva. The fortress is 4 km south of … [Read more...]
Ride Miniature Trains at the Swiss Vapeur Parc in Le Bouveret
The Swiss Vapeur Parc on Lake Geneva allows visitors to ride on miniature steam trains inside a large park with miniature buildings and copies of sites in Switzerland. Visitors to the Swiss Vapeur Parc on the shores of Lake Geneva in Le Bouveret enjoy unlimited rides on the park’s small miniature trains. The miniature trains are small scaled reproductions of many famous … [Read more...]
Visit the Servion Zoo and Tropiquarium near Lausanne, Switzerland
The family-friendly Servion zoo, beautifully located near Lausanne, is a great day-trip destination from Geneva and a fun day out for children of all ages. The Servion Zoo and Tropiquarium are the best zoos and animal parks in the Lake Geneva region. It is beautifully located in a forested area in the hills above Lausanne. The zoo is a great family-friendly day-trip … [Read more...]
Family-Friendly Park Pré Vert at Signal de Bougy
Visit this free park with golf course, adventure park, restaurants, minigolf, animals, gratis kids play areas, and marvelous views of Lake Geneva, the Alps, and Mt Blanc. Parc Pré Vert at Signal de Bougy is a beautifully located green park on a hill overlooking Lake Geneva halfway between Lausanne and Genève in Switzerland. Admission to the park is free with many … [Read more...]
Visit Santa Clause’s Mountaintop Workshop in Montreux, Switzerland
Each December children can visit Father Christmas by cog-wheel mountain train at his Swiss home on Rochers-de-Naye, an Alpine peak towering over Montreux and Lac Léman. NOTE: In 2020, the Montreux Christmas market and all related activities were canceled. Visiting Santa’s house at the top of Rochers-de-Naye is one of main attractions for children to the annual Marché de … [Read more...]
Visit the Swiss National Museum in Chateau de Prangins on Lake Geneva near Nyon
The Musée National Suisse in Château de Prangins is the top museum on the history and culture of Romandie (French-speaking Switzerland). It is located on the edge of Lake Geneva near Nyon. The Musée National Suisse in Château de Prangins is the Western Switzerland branch of the Swiss National Museum. The museum is located in the Château de Prangins, an early … [Read more...]