Switzerland, 6 Days · Tailor-made by car

Lake Geneva and the Alpine Foothills Route

From
624
Departure on 22/03/2025 from Dublin

Marvel at the beauty of Lake Geneva with the Swiss Alps as a backdrop

No wonder that the Empress Sisi, the romantic poets Shelley and Byron, the great Charlie Chaplin and the sadly-missed legend Freddie Mercury used to holiday on the shores of the stunning Lake Geneva. This small and private 'inland sea' of Switzerland, the largest lake in Western Europe, and its picturesque surroundings seem to have been tailor-made for your exploration and enjoyment. And what better way than at your leisure, at the wheel of your car and travelling through the jaw-dropping landscapes along the 'Lake Geneva and Alpine Foothills' tour. On your road trip, you'll get to visit vibrant lakeside cities such as Geneva, the World Capital of Peace; Lausanne, the Olympic Capital; and Montreux, with its majestic Chillon Castle, dating back to medieval times. And while you're travelling from one location to another, you'll come across UNESCO-listed vineyards perched on hills that cascade down to the lake; you'll get a first-hand insight into the handmade process involved with the world-famous Gruyère cheese (and of course, savour a freshly-made or an aged version); and you'll be able to pay your respects at the grave of the legendary actress Audrey Hepburn, who spent the last thirty years of her life in the quaint town of Tolochenaz. These are just some of the many adventures that will make this trip a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The sparkly silver waters of Lake Geneva with the Matterhorn or Mont Blanc piercing through the horizon have that very effect.

Lake Geneva and the Alpine Foothills Route

Departure date

Departures from December 2024 till November 2025

From

Dublin, Shannon, Cork...

Nature

Travel details

  • Travel details

  • Day 1 City of origin - Geneva

  • Day 2 Geneva - Nyon - Tolochenaz - Lausanne

  • Day 3 Lausanne - Lavaux - Puidoux - Chexbres - Vevey - Montreux

  • Day 4 Montreux - Gruyères - Les Diablerets - Montreux

  • Day 5 Montreux - Geneva

  • Day 6 Geneva - City of origin

Your trip includes

  • Return flight.

  • Stay in selected hotel in Geneva.

  • Selected meal plan in Geneva.

  • Stay in selected hotel in Lausanne.

  • Selected meal plan in Lausanne.

  • Stay in selected hotel in Montreux.

  • Selected meal plan in Montreux.

  • Rent-a-car.

Your trip doesn't include

  • Accommodation taxes in Switzerland direct payment in facility.

  • Possible toll charges.

  • Insolvency protection.

Important remarks

- Driving in Switzerland: 1. It's compulsory to drive with headlights on at all times, even on the brightest summer's day. Seatbelts are mandatory for all passengers. 2. Speed limits. 2.1 Built-up areas up to 50 km/h. 2.2 Roads up to 80 km/h. 2.3 Dual carriageways and motorways up to 120 km/h. 2.4. There are many radars in Switzerland, especially in speed-controlled sections, and radar detectors are forbidden. Fines for speeding are very high, so make sure you stay within the limits at all times. If you are fined, the police can demand on-the-spot payment. 3. In Switzerland, blue road signs indicate secondary roads, while green ones indicate motorways. 3.1. Make sure that your rental car has a Swiss motorway vignette on the windscreen. This means you can use all Swiss motorways for free over a one-year period (in Switzerland there are no toll roads as such). 4. Studded tyres are allowed from October to April, but they're not allowed on most roads throughout the rest of the year. The speed limit with these tyres is 80 km/h. 5. A red warning triangle and a reflective yellow vest must always be carried in your car in the event of a breakdown or accident. 6. Alcohol. The legal limit is 0.25 g/l. There are severe penalties for drivers that exceed the allowed limit. 7. Parking. All the major cities in Switzerland have metered parking. 7.1. If you want to park on the street, take careful note of the road markings. Yellow line: parking prohibited. Blue line: free parking, but limited to one hour (except at night). You can get a blue parking disc free of charge at tourist offices in any city and it will be valid for the whole of Switzerland. White line: metered parking for a limited time (varies depending on the location). You have to pay at the special parking meters.

- Triple rooms in Europe are generally rooms with twin beds or a double, in which a folding bed is installed to accommodate the third person. Due to the inconvenience this causes, we advise against using this option as far the possible.

- Check-in time at the hotel on the day of arrival depends on each establishment, but in no case will it be before 3:00 p.m., unless otherwise indicated.

- The proposed excursions and tours for each day are purely suggestions, as you can tailor the trip to suit your times, tastes and needs.

- A credit card is considered a guarantee, so sometimes you will need one for check-in at hotels.

- Hotels usually have cots available. Otherwise, babies will have to share a bed with an adult.

- To pick up your rental car, you'll need a credit (not debit) card in the name of the person who made the booking, who must also be the named driver of the vehicle.

- Consult the necessary documentation to enter the destinations visited and for transit in the countries where air stopovers are made.