Things to do in Geneva, Lausanne & Lake Geneva

Geneva's landmark is the Jet d'Eau, which shoots water 140 m above the lake, and in the Old Town you can climb the 157 steps of the tower of St. Peter's Cathedral, visit the archaeological site beneath it and walk on to Place du Bourg-de-Four and the medieval Maison Tavel. The city's international side shows on the guided tour of the Palais des Nations, through conference rooms of the UN's Geneva headquarters, and at the CERN Science Gateway on particle physics, while the Patek Philippe Museum traces five centuries of watchmaking. Lausanne has the Olympic Museum, with original torches and medals beside the lakeside Olympic Park, and the Plateforme 10 arts district by the station, home to MCBA, mudac and Photo Elysée; from Vevey the blue-yellow Train des Vignes climbs to the UNESCO-listed Lavaux Vineyard Terraces, and around Montreux stand Chillon Castle on its rocky island, the Rochers-de-Naye cog railway with views from the Eiger to Mont Blanc, and the GoldenPass Express to Interlaken without a change. Inland, Gruyères Castle rises above a car-free medieval town, La Maison du Gruyère shows cheesemaking at copper kettles, Maison Cailler welcomes visitors to its chocolate factory in Broc and Glacier 3000 at Les Diablerets has the Peak Walk by Tissot between two peaks, and in the Christmas season Noël au Quai and Montreux Noël set up along the lake.

Good to knowThe Palais des Nations tour is booked online, needs a valid passport and asks you to arrive at the Pregny Gate visitor entrance 30 minutes early for security checks, and the CERN Science Gateway is free but requires online registration in advance. The Patek Philippe Museum and the Olympic Museum are closed on Mondays (the Olympic Museum opens on Vaud public holidays), and the Jet d'Eau is switched off in strong winds or very low temperatures. Glacier 3000 closes for annual maintenance in autumn, so check its live opening status before you go.