Few places in Europe are as inviting and spellbinding for road-trippers than the lakes nestling in the lush environs of Geneva, in south-western Switzerland. There are several idyllic expanses of water in the city's surroundings, chief amongst them Lake Annecy and Lake Bourget on the French side and the larger but more accessible Lake Geneva and Lake Neuchâtel on the Swiss side. Each of the lakes is photogenically enhanced by the verdant slopes and picturesque peaks of the majestic Jura Mountains, and all four are quickly and easily reached by car from Geneva Airport on road networks generally considered to be amongst the best in Europe.
Dubbed the City of Peace due to its status as a global hub for peace-keeping and high-level diplomacy, the enchanting city of Geneva is the ideal starting place for an exhilarating motoring holiday around its pristine lakes at any time of the year. Furthermore, it's a major tourist destination with a wide selection of unmissable attractions, such as the Old Town (Vieille Ville), St. Peter's Cathedral (founded in the 4th century), the world-class Museum of Art and History (Musée d'Art et d'Histoire) and the iconic Jet d'Eau water fountain which can be seen from miles around. And if you're travelling with youngsters, don't miss CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, which offers immersive exhibitions, interactive shows and hands-on workshops for adults and children alike.
A successful road-trip will most often depend on the quality and reliability of your car hire arrangement, which means that it's always best to opt for one of the world's longest-established vehicle providers. Few companies fit that description so well as Auto Europe, which has been firmly placed in the heart of the global car rental industry since 1954 and today provides over 28,000 convenient pick-up points in more than 190 popular destinations. Besides offering the lowest rates on the market, Auto Europe also provides its customers with the chance to take advantage of a plethora of added-value car rental benefits, including the opportunity to hire a modern motorhome (with all mod cons and bed space for up to 7 people) and the possibility to collect your vehicle in one place (in this case Geneva Airport) and drop it off somewhere else (Zurich, for instance), subject to a one-way fee.
It's also worth mentioning that when it comes to renting a car in Geneva, the airport is particularly unique for the fact that it features both a French and a Swiss terminal, thus further broadening travelers' options when planning their lake-side road-trip itinerary. Either way, Auto Europe has you covered because when you make a booking through them, you'll find that the company's booking engine lists Geneva under both Switzerland and France, although you'll need to bear in mind that regardless of which side you choose to collect your vehicle, you will need to return the car to that same side of the airport at the end of your rental period.
Nothing is more enjoyable with a group of close friends and family members than a leisurely drive around the fringes of Geneva's glistening lakes, which offer an unparalleled scenic adventure replete with undulating hills, picturesque stone villages, vast vineyards (such as Chateau de Chillon which featured in Lord Byron's famous poem, The Prisoner of Chillon) and long esplanades lined by palms, cypresses and magnolias. And wherever you go and whichever lake you're visiting, you'll be constantly aware of the striking backdrop of soaring snow-capped peaks that dramatically punctuate the landscape, a mountain range crowned by Mont Blanc, which at 4,809 meters (15,777 feet) is Europe's highest peak.
Popular for its sheer beauty and breathtaking panoramas, Lake Geneva (known locally as Lac Léman) is also the gateway to the Alps, offering easy road access to some of Switzerland's most stunning mountain vistas. The roads skirting this awe-inspiring lake boast an abundance of unmissable tourism highlights, as well as a succession of serene stopovers along the way. Both blessed with unparalleled views of Lake Geneva, the charming lakeside towns of Coppet (just 15 kilometers, or 10 miles, to the north of Geneva) and Nyon further along the lake are both worth visiting for their narrow cobblestone lanes and well-preserved medieval architecture.
The prospect of the perfect lunch stop awaits you either at Lausanne, a gorgeous city located some 60 kilometers (38 miles) east of Geneva where visitors can wander through its lovely Old Town to see the magnificent Gothic cathedral, or Montreux, a city famous throughout the world for its grand Belle Époque buildings and superb jazz festival held annually since 1967. Both have a fine array of eateries, many of which offer al fresco dining along the waterfront during the warm summer months.
Lesser known but equally appealing is Lake Neuchâtel (Lac de Neuchâtel in French), the largest lake located entirely in Switzerland and a dream destination for motorists with time on their hands. Characterized by lush vineyards and fine sandy beaches, its shores are easy to circumnavigate by car along approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) of scenic motorway in a round-trip that takes about three hours to complete. But there's a lot to see and do en route, including a visit to the ancient town of Neuchâtel with its precious Romanesque church and handsome main square surrounded by elegant 17th-century buildings.
The long list of other places of immense interest along the shores of Lake Neuchâtel includes Boudry (a small town famous for its ancient castle and fascinating wine museum), the Laténium (Switzerland’s largest archaeological museum featuring prehistoric pile dwellings located in Hauterive), Yverdon-les-Bains (a lovely town popular for its thermal spa center) and Estavayer-le-Lac, a pretty place with a very old castle - the Château de Chenaux - which dates back to the 13th century.
The two smaller lakes of Annecy and Bourget offer visitors a whole new travel experience to savor, more for the fact that they are both located in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of south-eastern France, an area of stunning natural beauty. The former is notable for its crystal-clear turquoise waters, while the latter (the largest natural lake in France) is more renowned for its natural beauty and diverse landscapes.
Fed by mountain springs, Lake Annecy is both a hidden gem and a prime road-trip destination waiting to be discovered just an hour's motorway drive due south of Geneva Airport. Its beautiful northern shore features the attractive city of Annecy, a town renowned for its upmarket boutiques, fine-dining establishments, fascinating museums and well-preserved historic center through which runs a series of mountain-fed canals that are home to flocks of white swans. Many quaint little lake-side villages dot Lake Annecy's shoreline, such as Talloires, Duingt and Menthon-Saint-Bernard, each blessed with lines of old shops, traditional boulangeries and local cafés that don't seem to have changed much in many decades.
Arguably the wildest of all Geneva's lakes is Lake Bourget, which is surrounded by stunning peaks and photographic viewpoints, all of which are easily accessible by car. The largest town along its shoreline is Aix-les-Bains, a beautiful thermal center where you can visit the original Roman spa and see several old palaces from days gone by. Another excellent place for a stopover just inland from the lake is Chambéry, the historic capital of the Savoy region ever since the 13th century when Amadeus V. Count of Savoy made the city his seat of power.
