Geneva is a mixture of French lifestyle and international culture. It lies in one of the biggest lakes of the Alps between the Jura and Montblanc massif. Around it is stunning mountains to visit. You might be wondering – what are the nearest mountains to Geneva, Switzerland that I can visit?
Below we list the mountains nearest to Geneva by train or car worth visiting. And to add to that, we include some reasons why visiting these mountains might be a good idea.
My personal favorite is Les Diablerets and Glacier 3000. Read below for the swoon-worthy mountain peaks you can expect from Scex Rouge on Glacier 3000. Plus all the other activities available there that you won’t see elsewhere are included.
Mont Salève (1,097 Meters)
Mont Salève is a mountain of the French Prealps. It is located in the region of Haute-Savoie, France really close to the city of Geneva.
How do you get from Geneva to Mont Salève? From Geneva, take the bus to Veyrier, douane or Veyrier, Tournettes. This ride takes around 30 minutes. The cable car at Route du Téléphérique, 74100 is a 10-minute walk away from the bus stop. There is a huge free parking lot in front of the cable car should you wish to take the car.
Located really close to Geneva makes Mont Salève a popular day trip destination. It is less than 20 minutes away by car and half an hour by bus. And even though the mountain is officially in France, many locals in Geneva consider this “their” mountain.
Image from Ryan Bodenstein from flickr
Why should you visit Mont Salève?
It makes for an easy-to-do day trip from Geneva. On a clear day, you can see up to Mont Blanc just as shown in the image above. Paragliding, climbing, mountain biking, and hiking are just some things you can do here.
Mont Pèlerin (1,080 Meters)
Mont-Pèlerin is a mountain in the canton of Vaud overlooking Lake Geneva.
How do you get from Geneva to Mont-Pèlerin? From Geneva, take the train to Vevey. This ride takes 51 Minutes. From Vevey, change to the slow train to Vevey-Funi where the funicular will take you up to Mont-Pelerin in 11 minutes. The total trip from Geneva to Mont-Pèlerin takes 1 hour 25 minutes including transfer time.
A funicular ride from Vevey brings guests to Mont Pèlerin. The ride goes through the Chardonne vineyards. The train has been running since 1900. The station at the peak is not exactly on top of the mountain. Instead, it is 270 meters under. You can get up to the tower and with the lift go up to the viewing platform Plein Ciel. Plein Ciel is 770 meters above sea level.
Why should you visit Mont Pèlerin?
First, going through Chardonne gives you a glimpse of this UNESCO World Heritage Site: Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces. Up in Mont-Pèlerin, the view of the Savoy Alps and Lac Leman is fantastic. You will see Moléson, Rochers de Naye, Diablerets, and many more mesmerizing peaks.
In 1977, a Tibetan Center opened in Mont Pèlerin. Rabten Choeling Tibetan Center is not only a place for Tibetans in exile. It is also open to visitors who find Tibetan culture interesting. The center also provides information about Buddhism and Meditation.
Lastly, there is a 123-meter-high television tower on Mont-Pèlerin. It has a lift going up to its 64-meter-high viewing platform. From the observation deck, you have gorgeous views of Western Switzerland, Savoy Alps, and Jura Mountains: Moléson, Rochers de Naye, Diablerets, Dents de Morcles, Mont Velan, Grammot, La Dôle, Chasseron, and Chasseral.
Chaumont (1,087 Meters)
The Chaumont is a mountain overlooking Pays des Trois-Lacs. This region encompasses the lakes of Neuchâtel, Biel, and, Murten. Chaumont is located in the Canton of Neuchâtel.
How do you get from Geneva to Chaumont? From Geneva, take the train to Neuchâtel. Then change to the bus going to La Coudre. The funicular is a short walk from La Coudre and it will take you up to Chaumont in 10 minutes. Travel time from Geneva to Chaumont by train takes 1 hour and 40 minutes.
The mountain of Neuchâtel is the starting point of most hiking paths in Jura. It is accessible with the funicular the whole year round from Le Coudre.
Near the train station is a 100-year panorama tower. This observation tower is called Tour panoramique de Chaumont. Climbing the tower is worth it. On top, you get to enjoy breathtaking views of the three lakes – Neuchâtel, Murten, and Biel and the Swiss Alps.
Why should you visit Chaumont?
From its panoramic tower, you can enjoy not only the three lakes as mentioned before. On a clear day, you can see from all sides the Swiss Alps. In the east, the Glarus Alps and west Mont Salève are visible. You can also combine it with a quick tour of Neuchâtel city afterward.
There is also an Adventure Park in Mount Chaumont. Parc Adventure Chaumont has a Treetop Climbing Park, an Outdoor Laser Game, and a Monster Trampoline. It is perfect for a full day of adventure topped with awesome views.
Rochers de Naye (1,968 Meters)
The Rochers de Naye is a mountain in the canton of Vaud near Montreux.
How do you get from Geneva to Rochers de Naye? From Geneva, take the train to Montreux. This ride takes around one hour. From Montreux, the cog railway up to Rochers de Naye takes around 49 minutes. The total trip from Geneva to Rochers de Naye takes 1 hour 59 minutes including transfer time.
The first trains to Rochers de Naye have been going up since 1892. But the trains at that time only reached Glion and Caux. This area has some hotels from the Belle Epoque time. It is also a well-known climatic health resort.
The cog-wheel ride from Montreux up to Rochers de Naye is one exciting journey. The views are amazing, especially in Glion.
Nowadays, the train goes up to Rochers de Naye. From the train station, it takes only 10 minutes to reach the peak. This higher viewpoint provides awesome views of Lausanne and Lac Leman. You can also see until Jura and the Savoy Alps.
Why should you visit Rochers de Naye?
The stunning views of Lausanne, Lac Leman, Jura, and Savoy Alps are reason enough to go to Rochers de Naye. Aside from the breathtaking views, there is also an alpine garden called La Rambertia.
The Rambertia is on the southeastern ridge of Rochers de Naye. It is easy to get to it on foot as it is only 400 meters away from the train stop. It is open from the middle of June until the end of September. There is no entrance fee.
There is also a small marmot park near the restaurant called Marmot’s Paradise. It is open from April to the end of September.
Le Moléson (2,002 Meters)
The Moléson is a mountain of the Swiss Prealps. It is located in the region of Gruyéres in the canton of Fribourg.
How do you get from Geneva to Le Moléson? For Le Moléson, I highly recommend going by car. This journey will take 1 hour and 46 minutes. Take the freeway A12 to the Bulle exit. Then drive towards Gruyères. From Pringy, follow the signs to Moléson-sur-Gruyères. Parking is available close to the base of the lifts. Unfortunately, the train connections take 3.5 hours and involve changing the train 6 times.
The road to Moléson passes through the picturesque town of Gruyères. It is, in fact, the symbol of Gruyères and Canton Fribourg.
Moleson-Village, located at 1,130 meters, is a developed tourist destination. With charming alpine chalets, hotels, railways, and fun offers, it has touristic possibilities. In Winter, there are 35 kilometers of downhill slopes.
Further, up the village, Moléson mountain has awesome panoramic views. It lies 2,002 meters high.
Image by Viola ‘ from Pixabay
Why should you visit Le Moléson?
Le Moléson describes itself as the following:
Truly a balcony over the Prealps, the summit of Le Moléson allows you to contemplate the entire French part of Switzerland, from the Lake of Geneva to the famous peaks of the Bernese Oberland as well as from the Mont Blanc to the Jura Mountains and the 3 Lakes region.
– Moleson.ch
The views on the summit of Le Moléson are amazing. Not only that. The activities on the mountain are also numerous. There is a mountain cheese dairy called Fromagerie d’Alpage. In the cheese dairy, they hold 45-minute demonstrations on how to make cheese daily.
Hiking, climbing, downhill carts, minigolf, bouncy castles, and a playground round up its offer.
Les Diablerets – Glacier 3000 (2,950 Meters)
Les Diablerets is a village and ski resort in Ormont-Dessus. It is located in the canton of Vaud.
How do you get from Geneva to Les Diablerets? From Geneva, take the train to Aigle. This ride takes around 1 hour 22 minutes. From Aigle, transfer to the train heading to Les Diablerets. The total trip for the best connection from Geneva to Les Diablerets takes 2 hours and 3 minutes including transfer time. From Les Diablerets, the bus takes an additional 18 minutes to Col-du-Pillon, Glacier 3000, where the cable car awaits.
Les Diablerets means literally “the abode of devils.” It is a village surrounded by the Diablerets Massif.
From Les Diablerets, it takes only 18 minutes to reach Col-du-Pillon. From there, the cable car takes visitors up to Glacier 3000 mountain station. This was designed by well-known architect Mario Botta.
Why should you visit Les Diablerets?
The high alpine panorama from Scex Rouge is stunning at 2,950 meters. You get a glimpse of the following mountain peaks:
- In Bernese Oberland: Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau
- In Valais: Weisshorn, Dent Blanche, and Matterhorn
- Mont Blanc
- Savoy Alps
- Vaud Alps
- Lake Geneva
- Jura
The glacier plateau offers also further attractions. There is an Alpine Coaster with ten curves. It is open daily between May and September as long as the weather permits. It is the highest-situated toboggan run in the world.
520° circles, 10 curves, 6 waves and 3 jumps promise action-packed speeds of up to 40 km/hour on a one kilometre stretch: The Alpine Coaster will quickly raise your adrenaline level and get your heart beating hard! You will experience weightlessness up to 6 metres above the ground on this high-flying adventure in an mountain environment you will never forget.
– Glacier3000
Another exciting activity is going on the Peak Walk by Tissot Suspension Bridge. It is the only mountain bridge in the world that connects two mountain peaks.
Hiking, glacier walks, climbing, dogsled rides, and snow sports are some other interesting activities on Les Diablerets.
Crêt du Midi (2,326 Meters)
Crêt du Midi is a mountain in the village of Vercorin. It is on a high plateau on the edge of Val d’Anniviers in Canton Valais. This picturesque village is also a ski resort.
How do you get from Geneva to Crêt du Midi? For Crêt du Midi, I highly recommend going by car. This journey will take 2 hours and 14 minutes. Take the freeway A1 and A9/E62 to Route d’Hérens in Sion. Then take Route de Chippis, Route de Loye and Route du Vallon to Mayens de Rechy in Grône. The train connections to Vercorin, on the other hand, take 2 hours and 50 minutes. This involves taking the train from Geneva to Sierre, changing in Sierre to the bus going to Chalais, téléphérique. From Chalais, change to the cable car going to Vercorin. In Vercorin, you can take the gondola up to Crêt du Midi.
The modern cable car takes you up to Crêt du Midi from the village of Vercorin in 15 minutes. It provides a beautiful viewpoint over the forest. The panorama shows lots of mountain peaks of more than 4,000 meters over the Pennine Alps.
Why should you visit Crêt du Midi?
To visit Crêt du Midi, you will also see the small, old, charming village of Vercorin. When you reach the Crêt du Midi, you will be rewarded with splendid views of the Pennine Alps. You can see Dents de Morcles, Diablerets, Wildhorn, Wildstrubel and Bietschhorn.