What is the world’s most fascinating hobby? The answer must be traveling, right? The next question is, “Where is the best location to travel?”. Europe should be the answer. Many travelers throughout the world place Europe at the top of their bucket list. It just offers wonderful experiences and breathtaking vistas throughout the year. With 44 nations, Europe is the second-smallest continent in the globe.
Switzerland is a beautiful country to visit in western Europe. It is a wonderland filled with mesmerizing alps, scenic lakes and beautiful villages. Among the many Swiss cities, Geneva is one of the super gorgeous destinations you should visit. It is situated at the southern tip of great lake Geneva and surrounded by the stunning mountains of Alps and Jura. Geneva is a global hub for diplomacy and banking as well as it is the base for some largest organizations in the world such as World Trade Organization, World Health Organization, World Bank, the International Committee of the Red Cross and Headquarters of Europe’s United Nations. The best watch making companies including Rolex, Chopard, Patek Philippe and many more are based in this city. Geneva is a true gem in Europe, with its super delicious chocolate & cheese, stunning mountain range of Alps and very extensive history.
Among many tourist attractions, the Swiss Alps are on the top of the list. The Alps lie to the east of the city and the Salève mountain located at the southeast. Meanwhile, Mont de Sion is situated to the south of Geneva, the Vuache Hills are to the west and Jura Mountains located to the northwest.
There are many mountains around Geneva, and below we have listed some of them in a nutshell.
Mont Salève (1097 m)
This is a mountain in the French Alps and it is located near the city of Geneva. Therefore it takes less than 20 minutes to reach by car and around half an hour by bus. Ideal for a day trip.
Chaumont (1087 m)
The mountain is located in the canton of Neuchâtel, which encompasses three lakes Biel, Neuchâtel and Murten. There is a 100-year-old panorama tower near the station, and if you visit it, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the three lakes and the Swiss Alps.
Mont Tendre (1679 m)
This is the highest peak of the Jura Mountains in Switzerland. There is a bus service that goes through the Parc Jura, or you can trail to Mont Tendre from Col du Mollendruz then down to Col du Marchairuz. It is a 16 km train and takes about 4.5 hours. When you reach the peak, you can see a 360 (degree) panoramic view from the Bernese Alps to the Savoy Alps.
Rochers de Naye (1968 m)
Visit this summit to see the stunning views of Jura mountains, Lake Geneva, Savoy Alps and Lausanne. There is an Alpine garden named La Rambertia and a small marmot park called Marmot’s Paradise. The entire train journey from Geneva takes about 2 hours.
Le Moléson (2002 m)
You can reach the mountain by car or train. The most convenient way is by car which usually takes 1 hour 46 minutes. But sad to say, the train network takes around 3.5 hours with six transfers. The summit of Le Moléson offers different activities for its guests such as climbing, hiking, mini-golf and downhill as well as playground and bouncy castles for children.
Berneuse (2041 m)
This mountain is situated right about Leysin. When you reach the top, you can enjoy the stunning views of Diablerets, Mont Blanc, Eiger and Matterhorn. Not only that, it also has the only rotating restaurant in Western Switzerland called Kuklos. it completes a single (one) turn every hour and a half. There is a play area and animal park for children as well as bike and hike trails and Le Temeley, which makes Alpine cheese. To reach Berneuse, you can use a car for 132 km or a train and a gondola. Both methods take about the same time, around 2 hours and 8 minutes.
Crêt du Midi (2326 m)
This mountain is located in the small picturesque village of Vercorin. This old charming village is a ski resort too. When you reach the Crêt du Midi, you can see the breathtaking views of Pennine Alps. You can also enjoy the magnificent views of Diablerets, Wildhorn, Dent de Morcles, Wildstrubel and Bietschhorn.
It takes around 2 hours and 50 minutes to reach Vercorin by train connections with a few changes, but the journey by car takes around 2 hours and 14 minutes. There are modern cable car facilities that take you from Vercorin to the Crêt du Midi in 15 minutes. It offers a beautiful vista across the forest. You can enjoy the panoramic view of the summits of the Pennine Alps higher than 4000 m.
Les Diablerets – Glacier 3000 (2950 m)
This mountain is located at the village, Les Diablerets in Ormont-Dessus. It is also a ski resort. It will take around 2 hours to reach the village by a connecting train. From there, you can use a bus to Col-du-Pillon which takes 18 minutes and then cable cars can be used to go to the Glacier 3000 mountain station. At 2950 m high, Scex Rouge offers a fantastic view of higher mountains such as Mönch, Jungfrau, Eiger, Matterhorn, Mont Blanc, Blanche and Jura as well as Lake Geneva. The Vaud Alps and Savoy Alps can be seen too. The Glacier Plateau has a ten-curve Alpine coaster which is the world’s highest situated toboggan run.
Winter in Geneva
planning to visit Geneva this winter? What a fabulous idea.
The snow-dusted old town with French-style streets, picturesque lake Geneva and Swiss mountain views sets the scenery for a fairy-tale. The winter season in Geneva starts in mid-December and lasts till mid-March.
In December the temperature varies from 0°C to 6°C and there might be some snow. January is the coldest month in Geneva. The temperatures range from -1°C in the morning to 5°C in the evening. Most of the days are gray days and can be quite sunny but there may be some rain or snow. In February, the temperature ranges between 1°C in the morning to 8°C in the afternoon. As in January, a fair amount of sunshine can be expected with some gray-days.
Things to do in winter in Geneva
Winter in Geneva offers a unique feeling like no other season. Here is a rundown of the best things to do in Geneva.
Try Geneva Christmas markets
Many amazing Christmas markets open around November and until the end of December. These markets include hot and delicious food and beverages, unique gifts and ornaments, jewelry, fairy lights and beautiful carols.
Stroll around Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva rarely freezes over completely. So water usually flows all year long. You can take a 1-hour cruise on the lake or you can stroll around to see the spectacular views with a hot chocolate.
Try some Swiss cheese fondue
You cannot skip Swiss fondue when you visit Geneva in winter. After a long day of sightseeing in the Geneva winter, fondue is the ultimate comfort meal you require. So, do not forget to dip your bread, dried meat or potatoes into the cheese pan with a pick.
Explore the museums
Geneva is home to many great museums. So, don’t worry if the weather is too gloomy to spend some time outside in winter. You can stroll between these museums. The Ariana Museum, the most-renowned decorative art museum in Switzerland presents a collection of beautiful ceramic and glass pieces from all over Switzerland and other parts of Europe. Visit the largest contemporary art museum in Switzerland, MAMCO (Musée d’art moderne et contemporain), you will be able to find many exciting concepts and innovative exhibits.
If you love sculptures and works of artworks from various artistic eras, you will love taking a walk in the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire, one of Geneva’s most well-known and largest museums. If you like to learn about different cultures visit the fascinating ethnographic museum. It was awarded the European Museum of the Year 2017. Explore the Patek Philippe Museum to discover the history of Swiss watchmaking. Patek Philippe is one of the world famous luxury watch brands. If you are interested in learning about the various human rights topics and critical issues that the Red Cross works on, visit the Red Cross Museum in Geneva.
Take a day trip to Chamonix
Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in the Alps mountain range, neighboring Switzerland and France. There is a train service from Geneva to Chamonix, which takes about 2 hours. Or else you can choose a guided tour . The train travels to the village of Chamonix while passing over rivers and through gorgeous Alpine scenery. There is a cable car that runs to the top, so if you like to enjoy the breathtaking vistas of snowy mountains, just use a cable car.
Go ice skating
Ice skating on a cold day while enjoying a view of lovely Geneva will be a perfect winter experience for everyone. There are multiple ice skating rinks open up for free during the winter in Geneva. Furthermore there is a little town called Courage, which offers a fantastic large ice arena, ideal for winter adventures. You can reach there in 15 minutes by car or train.
Go for winter sports at Les Diablerets
This ski resort area is not far from the city of Geneva. It offers several pistes for snowboarding and skiing and you can also do cross-country skiing or snowshoeing on flatter routes. Les Diablerets is a home to the Glacier 3000 and Tsanfleuron Glacier. If you reach the Scex Rouge you can enjoy the stunning view of Tsanfleuron Glacier. The 1st suspension bridge in the world which connects two mountain peaks, is located at Glacier 3000. It is 107 m (351 ft) long. You can explore the Glacier 3000 area by reaching Les Diablerets via a guided tour or using public transportation.
Ski in Geneva
If you’re searching for incredible slopes, beautiful vistas, and a ton of après-ski fun, Geneva is a popular skiing destination. There are a lot of ski areas and resorts nearby to Geneva because of the city’s proximity to Swiss and French mountain ranges. Here are some great ski areas in Geneva, Switzerland.
Portes du Soleil Ski Area
This is one of the largest ski areas in Switzerland with the slopes of 600 km and three valleys. It has 286 ski slopes, 196 lifts, 30 terrains and around 99 restaurants on the slopes. 12 resorts are in Portes du Soleil from Lake Geneva through to Mont Blanc in France. It offers so many activities to choose for each ability level. You can reach there only 1 and half hour from Geneva city. Many ski resorts have snow parks with hand rails and half-pipes, so snowboarders and skiers will love this area.
Ski resorts in Vallée d’Aulps
Avoriaz Ski Resort
This is a paradise for free-stylers and advanced skiers with many winter activities including snow mountain biking, husky sledding, and ice-diving. It is the most modern and most snow-sure French resort located on a south-facing plateau high above the Morzine valley. Avoriaz has 650 km of direct access to the Portes du Soleil and 130 km of local slopes, 4 snow parks and 4 snow-crosses.
Resort Height: 1800 m
Total Ski Lifts: 36 lifts
Total KM Pistes: 70 km in Avoriaz – 650 km in Portes du Soleil
Piste grades: 25 blue runs; 13 red runs, 4 black runs, 8 green runs
Distance from Geneva: 82 km
Road trip Duration from Geneva: 1 hour and 12 minutes
(* Please note that time may vary significantly due to weather or road conditions)
Morzine-Avoriaz Ski Resort
A really authentic French Alps experience is ensured by the 120 km of skiing at Morzine-Avoriaz and its nearby Les Gets. Both resorts Located close to the Swiss border, have spas offering massages and relaxation treatments. There are three main sections of the Morzine pistes. Pleney is ideal for beginners while there are various blue ski pistes just for them. Nyon’s red and blue pistes are more suitable for experienced skiers and fans of freestyle can cross the Eagle Park Border. Chamossières, which is higher up, has fantastic off-piste skiing.
Resort Height: 1000 m
Highest ski lift: Chamossiere at 2002m
Total Ski Lifts: 48 lifts
Total KM Pistes: 107 km in Morzine – Les Gets
Piste grades: 5 greens, 29 blue runs, 29 red runs, 9 black runs
Distance from Geneva: 75 km
Road trip Duration from Geneva: 1 hour and 15 minutes
(* Please note that time may vary significantly due to weather or road conditions)
St. Jean d’Aulps Ski Resort
This is another French ski resort in the Vallée d’Aulps. It is situated at the base of Roc d’Enfer and has 50 km of slopes with a variety of options for skiers of all abilities and disciplines. Montriond has the longest ski run in the Portes du Soleil ski region as well as renowned ski slopes. Its village is also a favorite among food lovers.
Resort Height: 950 m
Total Ski Lifts: 1 cable car, 3 chairlifts, 10 drag lifts
Total KM Pistes: 51 km
Total Ski Slopes: 8 green runs, 9 blue runs, 13 red runs, 2 black runs
Distance from Geneva: 58.6 km
Road trip Duration from Geneva: 1 hour and 50 minutes
(* Please note that time may vary significantly due to weather or road conditions)
Ski resorts in Vallée d’Abondance
Abondance Ski Resort
This is a mountain village French resort rich in local traditions and scenic beauty. In addition, a variety of winter activities, including cross-country skiing, snowshoe hikes, ice driving, husky sledding and ice driving are available. There are also kids’ parks suitable for children’s winter activities.
Resort Height: 1000 m
Total Ski Lifts: 81 rope lifts, 1 cable car, 7 drag lifts, 1 magic carpet
Total KM Pistes: 16 km
Total Ski Slopes: 4 green runs, 8 blue runs, 1 red runs, 1 black runs
Distance from Geneva: 30 km
Road trip Duration from Geneva: 1 hour and 30 minutes
(* Please note that time may vary significantly due to weather or road conditions)
La Chapelle d’Abondance Ski Resort
This is a traditional French village resort that is a part of the Chablais alpine massif, and the resorts of Châtel and Abondance are directly connected. Many winter activities are available for beginners as well as experts, such as snowboarding, snowshoeing, downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, telemark skiing, and dog sledding. Guests have access to 6 designated green, 12 blue, and 5 red slopes.
Resort Height: 1020 m
Total Ski Lifts: 1 cable car, 8 chairlifts, 12 drag lifts
Total KM Pistes: 50 km
Total Ski Slopes: 5 green runs, 15 blue runs, 11 red runs, 1 black runs
Distance from Geneva: 67 km
Road trip Duration from Geneva: 1 hour and 30 minutes
(* Please note that time may vary significantly due to weather or road conditions)
Châtel Ski Resort
This is a lovely French village resort in the Chablais area, close to the Swiss-French border. You can take advantage of the 83 kilometers of skiing in the Portes du Soleil ski region if you enjoy both skiing and wide-open expanses. This resort also offers several activities such as snowboarding, ice skating, cross-country skiing and sledding just like other resorts.
Resort Height: 1200 m
Total Ski Lifts: 2 cable cars, 13 chairlifts, 24 drag lifts, 1 magic carpet, 1 rope lift
Total KM Pistes: 117 km
Total Ski Slopes: 7 green runs, 16 blue runs, 14 red runs, 6 black runs, 10 free-rides
Distance from Geneva: 81 km
Road trip Duration from Geneva: 1 hour and 30 minutes
(* Please note that time may vary significantly due to weather or road conditions)
Ski resorts in Vallée d’Illiez
Champéry Ski Resort
The village of Champéry, the first Valais Olympic site, is rich in a centuries-old tourism legacy and is located in the center of the Région Dents du Midi. It is a charming Swiss alpine town with excellent eating and sports opportunities. You should try to climb the renowned “Swiss Wall” if you enjoy difficult, technical slopes. This slope, which is one of the hardest in the world, is 1 km long, and has a gradient of more than 70%. It is just for experts who are not afraid of the cold.
Resort Height: 1037 m
Total Ski Lifts: 1 tramway, 3 chairlifts, 18 drag lifts, 1 magic carpet, 2 rope lifts
Total KM Pistes: 100 km
Total Ski Slopes: 23 blue runs, 17 red runs, 6 black runs
Distance from Geneva: 127 km
Road trip Duration from Geneva:1 hour and 40 minutes
(* Please note that time may vary significantly due to weather or road conditions)
Morgins Ski Resort
It is a magical Swiss resort in the canton of Valais, Switzerland, at the Dents du Midi region’s entrance and not far from the Abondance Valley. It is a home to world-renowned sports champions. The restaurants in Morgins always serve quality food using local products. Views of the Cornettes de Bise, one of the highest peaks in the Abondance Valley, and the magnificent Dents du Midi are can be seen from the summit of the Foilleuse. Slopes that open into the Portes du Soleil and the Rando-Parc created for ski touring give a unique character to the resort.
Resort Height: 1350 m
Total Ski Lifts: 3 chairlifts, 14 drag lifts
Total KM Pistes: 100 km
Total Ski Slopes: 14 blue runs, 11 red runs, 1 black runs
Distance from Geneva: 129 km
Road trip Duration from Geneva: 1 hour 38 minutes
(* Please note that time may vary significantly due to weather or road conditions)
Torgon Ski Resort
The Torgon is a Swiss resort which is also called “The Balcony of the Chablais”, is located at 1085 m above the sea level. It has breathtaking views of the Vaud and Valais Alps, Lake Geneva, the Dents du Midi and Mont Blanc. Torgon is the first resort in the Portes du Soleil ski region. The resort provides a variety of nature trails for ski touring and snowshoeing in addition to its ski slopes. Torgon offers 83 km of ski routes with 15 blue runs, 9 designated green slopes, 15 red-marked slopes, and 6 diamond runs.
Resort Height: 1150 m
Total Ski Lifts: 2 cable car, 13 chairlifts, 24 drag lifts, 3 magic carpets
Total KM Pistes: 50 km
Total Ski Slopes: 15 blue runs, 15 red runs, 6 black runs
Distance from Geneva: 122 km
Road trip Duration from Geneva: 1 hour 40 minutes
(* Please note that time may vary significantly due to weather or road conditions)
Les Crosets and Champoussin Ski Resorts
These two are neighboring Swiss resorts in the Dents du Midi region but offer two different views. The resorts are 1660 m above sea level. Champoussin gives you a full authentic view of Dents du Midi while Les Crosets offers a panorama of Dents Blanches massif and Dent Jaune corridor. The ski resort Les Crosets is a great place to start exploring the Franco-Swiss Portes du Soleil region.
Ski gear shops along the way to Geneva from Paris
It is easier if you collect all the things you need for skiing before you reach your ski resort. So, here we have listed the top-rated ski and snowboard gear shops en route from Paris to Geneva.
Magasin Blue Tomato Genève
You can discover anything you need to do skiing, snowboarding and other winter sports at this shop.
Address:- Rue De-Grenus 7, 1201 Genève, Switzerland
Open:- Monday – Friday: 10 AM – 7 PM, Sunday: closed
SportXX
Find materials, textiles and accessories for all winter sports from all the leading sports brands with your passion in mind.
Address: Av. Louis-Casaï 27 1211, 28 Genève, Switzerland
Open:- Monday – Wednesday: 9.30 AM – 7 PM, Thursday: 9.30 AM – 9 PM, Friday: 9.30 AM – 7.30 PM, Saturday:9.30 AM – 6 PM, Sunday: closed
Chaussures Aeschbach SA
A huge collection of sports equipment, clothes and shoes from prestigious brands such as Rossignol, Dynastar, Salomon or Head and they also offer rental service for ski gears and clothings.
Address:- 40,Rue du Marché, 1204 Genève, Switzerland
Open:- Monday – Wednesday: 10 AM – 7 PM, Thursday: 10 AM – 8 PM, Friday: 10 AM – 7 PM, Saturday: 9.30 AM – 6 PM, Sunday: closed
Coquoz Sports
A tiny ski shop run by a family. This is the right place to go if you want quality service and attention.
Address:- Rue de Villereuse 10, 1207 Genève, Switzerland
Open:- Monday: 1PM – 6.30PM, Tuesday – Friday: 10 AM – 6.30 PM, Saturday: 10 AM – 5 PM, Sunday: closed
Transportation options from Paris to Geneva
If you still haven’t had a chance to visit the gorgeous Geneva yet, this winter is the right season to make your dreams come true. There are several modes of transport that will take you from Paris to Geneva.
Paris to Geneva by Air,
The flying distance between Geneva and Paris is just 408 km (254 miles). Both cities have famous airports which are connected by many airlines like EasyJet, AirFrance, Swiss and Darwin. There are about 19 direct flights per day and one-way ticket prices start at €50.
Paris to Geneva by Train,
Between Paris and Geneva, the train distance is 409 km, and if you choose the high-speed TGV Lyria train service, it takes just about 3 hours to cover this distance. 14 trains per day provide their services to passengers and the first train starts at 6.18. First class and standard class compartments are available and ticket prices start from €25.
Paris to Geneva by Bus,
The distance between Paris and Geneva is 540 km by normal road and about 520 km by highway. One bus and two buses are operated daily, respectively, by public bus services like FlixBus and BlablaBus. The direct route takes 7 hours and 5 minutes, and the least expensive ticket is 80 euros per person and the longest journey takes on average 9 – 10 hours with one change.
Paris to Geneva by Taxi,
The transfer from Paris to Geneva takes about 5 – 6 hours in normal traffic and fair road conditions. But the time and distance may vary depending on the trip you plan and the route you choose. Nowadays, most taxi companies charge flat rates or metered fare. It can be quite expensive compared to other forms of public transport, but unlike them, you don’t need to buy a ticket for each passenger in your group. You and your group can take only one taxi and the fare is calculated on a ‘per taxi’ basis. This means that taxi service is cheaper when you are traveling in a group. And you have many types of vehicles to choose from depending on the number of people in your group and your bags.
What is the best transport method?
The simple answer is that taking a taxi is the most convenient and reliable mode of transport you can use to travel from Paris to Geneva. Safety and comfort are the first things that come to mind when one thinks of private taxi services. Private taxis are certainly safer and more comfortable than the environment of public transport. And the other fact you need to keep in mind is that the COVID-19 pandemic is still not completely eradicated from the world and other viruses like Monkeypox are still spreading. So, health and safety are essential when you travel across countries via public transport. Hence, it is a very good idea to opt for a private taxi service when thinking about issues like the above.
The most important thing is the cost. For instance, if you are a group, getting into a taxi is the cheapest way because the fare is calculated per taxi, not per passenger. If a taxi company is providing it, it is a good idea to choose a larger vehicle such as an SUV. Because the cost is high but there is enough space for at least 6 passengers with luggage.
What is the best private taxi service in Paris?
Paris Private Shuttle taxi service is among the best taxi companies in Paris. Our drivers are route experts and very friendly. They will arrive at your pickup location wherever in Paris and take you safely to your desired destination in Geneva. You are free to ask the driver to stop to take photos of a beautiful view, sip a hot coffee, shop at a ski gear shop or to stop elsewhere on the way to Geneva.
