6-Day Lake Geneva Itinerary: Belle Époque Exhale & Elegance

After landing at Geneva Airport, take a direct train to the town of Lausanne. The 40-minute ride runs right along Lake Geneva, with mountain and water views that would be instantly familiar to Belle Époque travelers today.

By the late 19th century, visitors from across Europe were making this same journey to Lausanne (and places like it) to “take the waters”. Check into one of the recommended storied lakeside hotels and if you’ve arrived early, give yourself permission for a jet-lag nap. (Just remember to set your alarm so you don’t sleep too long!)

In the evening, take a stroll along the Ouchy promenade. This lakeside path became a favorite of locals and visitors during the era when promenading was serious business.

This morning, take the ferry from Lausanne across Lake Geneva to Évian-les-Bains (about 35–40 minutes). Évian’s reputation began with the discovery of the Cachat Spring in the late 18th century, and by the 19th century it had become one of Europe’s most fashionable spa destinations. Grand hotels, lakeside promenades, and ornate pavilions still carry the elegance of that golden age.

Once in Évian, make your way to the evian SPA at Hôtel Royal, an elegant Belle Époque property where you can spend the afternoon enjoying one of their Rituals packages: Afternoon Tea, Relax, Silky, or Gentle Idyll.

There are plenty of other options on their menu as well, including their signature treatment concepts built around the evian water life cycle. Whatever you choose, you’ll be experiencing Évian the same way travelers have for over a century—with a little pampering and a lot of lounging.

By late afternoon, board the ferry back across the lake to Lausanne. Enjoy a simple dinner by the water. Or, why not skip going out tonight altogether? Slip into your PJs and order room service, because let’s face it: sometimes staying in is the most luxurious pause of all.

Begin the morning with a visit to the Hermitage Museum gardens. Set in a 19th-century villa surrounded by meadows and old trees, this museum embodies the Belle Époque idea that beauty and art nurture both spirit and body. Take your time and stroll the gardens or sit with the views of Lausanne and the lake below. You can also step inside to see the collection.

By late morning, board the train for the short ride to Vevey (about 20 minutes). On arrival, check into your lakeside hotel. The Grand Hôtel du Lac or the Hotel des Trois Couronnes are both excellent options and steeped in Belle Époque history.

Spend the afternoon easing into your new rhythm. Stroll Vevey’s lakeside promenade or linger at a terrace café with a glass of wine. You don’t need to do much of anything except soak up the atmosphere. If the weather is clear, find a bench and watch how the light shifts across the water. Find a way to remind yourself that slowing down can be an experience all its own.

This morning, meet your tour guide for an easy three-hour ebike ride along the lake. Cycling was a favorite pastime during the Belle Époque. During that era, bicycles symbolized leisure and the freedom to explore landscapes in a new way.

The route starts right in Vevey and winds past palm trees, flower-lined paths, and grand villas that once hosted Europe’s holidaymakers. When you’ve got the Alps on one side and Lake Geneva on the other, it’s hard to focus on the road! (And if you’ve never been on an ebike before, get ready to love it.)

Return to Vevey in time for lunch and a free afternoon. You might settle into a lakeside café with a book, journal your impressions of the ride, or simply sit by the water and watch the ferries come and go. The point is not to fill the hours. Just let them stretch.

Your excursion today is the Lavaux Vineyards, a landscape of stone walls and twisting grapevines that’s also a UNESCO World Heritage site. The terraced slopes were first cultivated by monks in the 12th century. However, it was during the Belle Époque that vineyard walks and tastings became part of the Lake Geneva leisure culture. Yet another reason to raise a glass to those traveling trendsetters.

From Vevey, take the train to St. Saphorin, one of the most picturesque wine villages in the region. From there, follow the short but scenic footpath to Rivaz (about 30 minutes). In Rivaz, stop at Lavaux Vinorama, a small museum and tasting center where you can learn more about the history of winemaking here and sample wines from across the region. Lunch can be as simple as a vineyard tavern (carnotzet) or a café in one of the villages, where local food pairs naturally with the wines of the season.

Note: If you prefer less walking, you can also take the train or ferry directly to Rivaz, though including at least a short hike is highly recommended for the perspective it offers. Of course, booking a guided tour, either in a small group or privately, is always an option as well. Private tours often include a personal sommelier who will walk you through the wines in more depth, recommend pairings, and provide insider notes.

By late afternoon (perhaps feeling a wee bit sideways by now?), return to Vevey for dinner and bed.

Today is your chance to travel exactly as Belle Époque visitors once did. In the morning, board a historic paddle steamer from Vevey. From the deck, you’ll pass Chillon Castle, the jagged peaks of the Dents du Midi, and much more. You’ll also enjoy a three-course lunch as you glide along the lake.

In Montreux, connect with the charming rack railway that climbs the hillside above the lake. The ride is short but magical. The higher you go, the more the landscape opens up to the vineyards and blue water stretching out below.

Return to Vevey in the late afternoon with time to rest and reflect before dinner and your departure tomorrow.