Lavaux
A UNESCO-listed staircase of vine terraces dropping to Lake Geneva, with the Alps posing on the far shore — the Romans planted here, and the view has only improved.
- Best forCouples · Walkers & hikers · Foodies
- In November10°C · 14 rainy days
- Ideal stayA day, or two nights based in Lausanne or Vevey
- Approx. flying time~11h 55m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyCHFSwiss franc
- LanguageGerman, French, Italian and Romansh
- Local time13:121h ahead of the UK
- PlugsType C / JBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+41
Why go
Terraces of vines drop 300 metres from the road to the shore of Lake Geneva, held up by dry stone walls built over eight centuries. The strip runs about thirty kilometres between Lausanne and Montreux, with villages sitting inside it rather than above it. Walking is the point: paths thread between the rows and past growers' cellars, with the water below and the Savoy Alps on the far shore.
Trains along the lake and a smaller line through the terraces make this an easy day out from Lausanne, Vevey or Montreux, and none of it requires a car. The vineyards look their best from late spring through to the October harvest, when open-cellar weekends bring the region out. Winter strips the colour but keeps the view. Anyone who neither walks nor drinks wine will find it a short visit.
- Ideal stay
- A day, or two nights based in Lausanne or Vevey
- The vibe
- Terraced, sunlit, quietly civilised
From our guides
Walk the terrace path between Lutry and Saint-Saphorin, pausing at tiny caveaux where winegrowers pour Chasselas you'll struggle to find outside Switzerland. Trains run along the shore, so nobody has to drive. Go at golden hour on a September evening and try to leave; you won't manage it.
Featured in Ten vineyard escapes for lovers of a long lunch
Things to do
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Lutry to Saint-Saphorin
The classic terrace walk, about eleven kilometres and mostly downhill in that direction, linking wine villages the whole way.
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Dézaley and Calamin
The two grand cru terraces produce the region's most serious Chasselas, grown on the steepest slopes above Rivaz.
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Chexbres balcony
The village terrace looks straight down the vineyards to the water and across to the Alps, and is the easiest big view to reach.
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Saint-Saphorin
A tight knot of medieval lanes at the eastern end of the walk, with Roman stones built into the walls of its church.
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Boats on Lake Geneva
Paddle steamers call at the shoreline villages, and the crossing to the French side takes under an hour from Lausanne.
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Chillon Castle
At the eastern end of the lake near Montreux, a moated castle built on a rock in the water and one of Switzerland's most visited buildings.
Getting there
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Fly to
Geneva (GVA)
Nearest airport to Lavaux, about 59km away as the crow flies.
-
Then
To Lutry
About an hour from Geneva (GVA) by direct train to Lausanne, then a few minutes more on the local line to Lutry or Cully. Driving takes a similar time.
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On the ground
Getting around
The terrace path between Lutry and Saint-Saphorin is walked in three to four hours, with village stations along the lakeshore line so you can start and finish wherever you like. A small tourist train also runs through the vines in season.
Public transport: Excellent. Swiss trains follow the shore through every terrace village, and boats cross Lake Geneva from Lausanne.
Flights
Los Angeles Lavaux, Switzerland
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Roughly 11h 55m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
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When to go
Daytime highs run from about 5°C in January to 23°C in August. Driest in August; wettest in December, with rain on about 17 days.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
November10° · rain 14 daysCold and often wet.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Small village hotels, a few view-hotels above the vines, guest rooms with winegrowers and standard town hotels in Vevey and Lausanne. Capacity in the villages is very small.
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Best base overall
Lutry
A medieval wine village at the western end of the terraces with a lakeside station, a small harbour and the terrace path starting at the top of town. Room choice is limited.
Find stays in Lutry -
Closest to the sights
Cully
Right in the middle of the vineyard terraces, with caveaux in the village and the best walking in both directions from the door. It is tiny and largely shuts on Sundays.
Find stays in Cully -
Quietest
Chexbres
Perched above the vines with the classic wide view over the lake and the Alps opposite, and a couple of long-established hotels. You are up a steep hill from the shore.
Find stays in Chexbres -
Best with children
Vevey
A proper lakeside town with a promenade, playgrounds, the food museum and boats to Chillon, five minutes from the terraces by train. Prices are Swiss whatever you do.
Find stays in Vevey
Worth knowing before you book: Book around the Vevey and Montreux festival dates or avoid them entirely. Many caveaux open only at weekends and in season, so check hours before planning a tasting walk.
Search everything else in Lutry by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Getting there
- Regional trains stop at Lutry, Cully, Rivaz and Saint-Saphorin, so you can walk one way and ride back.
- Timing
- Cellars often open only at weekends or by arrangement outside the harvest season, so check before planning a tasting day.
- Pack this
- Shoes with grip. The paths are paved but steep, and the descent is harder on the knees than the climb.
- Costs
- Switzerland is expensive, and a picnic bought at a village shop makes the day considerably cheaper.
- Etiquette
- The terraces are working vineyards on private land. Stay on the marked paths and pick nothing.
Similar places
Nearby destinations
Morzine
France · 38km away →
Glacier Express
Switzerland · 41km away →
The Bernese Oberland
Switzerland · 41km away →
Les Gets
France · 41km away →
Montreux Jazz
Switzerland · 59km away →
Lac Blanc
Chamonix, France · 61km away →Elsewhere in Switzerland
Related articles
Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Lavaux?
Daytime highs run from about 5°C in January to 23°C in August. Driest in August; wettest in December, with rain on about 17 days.
How long should I spend in Lavaux?
Our suggestion: a day, or two nights based in Lausanne or Vevey.
How do I get to Lavaux?
About an hour from Geneva (GVA) by direct train to Lausanne, then a few minutes more on the local line to Lutry or Cully. Driving takes a similar time.
Do I need a car in Lavaux?
No. Swiss trains follow the shore through every terrace village, and boats cross Lake Geneva from Lausanne.
What currency and language are used in Lavaux?
Currency: Swiss franc (CHF). Language: German, French, Italian and Romansh. Plugs: type C and J.
Who is Lavaux best for?
Best for couples, walkers & hikers and foodies. In a phrase: terraced, sunlit, quietly civilised.