The Lake Geneva region, in the French-speaking area of western Switzerland, is a timeless and picture-perfect destination known for classic alpine scenery and iconic hotels.
Travelers arrive from across the globe for wine tastings in the Lavaux vineyards, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as a wide range of outdoor pursuits such as hiking and winter mountain sports. The Vallée de Joux, celebrated as the birthplace of Swiss watchmaking, is also nearby.
In October, Lausanne opened the Aquatis Aquarium-Vivarium, an interactive cultural center, museum and educational institution. As the largest freshwater aquarium in Europe, it houses nearly 10,000 fish and reptile specimens representing species from five continents.
This winter, the village of Château-d’Oex marks the 40th Festival International de Ballons, taking place Jan. 27–Feb. 4, 2018. The town is famous as the starting point of the first successful around-the-world balloon flight in 1999 by Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones in the Breitling Orbiter. More than 80 balloons from 20 countries are expected to lift off during the festival.
For food-focused travelers, the Lake Geneva region offers an outstanding culinary scene. Michelin-starred chef Franck Giovannini of Restaurant de l’Hôtel de Ville in Crissier was honored as Best Chef of the Year, and Florian Carrard of Hotel Valrose in Rougemont was named Discovery of the Year by Gault&Millau. The 2018 Gault&Millau guide lists 97 restaurants in the region, and 12 establishments appear in the Michelin Guide 2018.
Visiting around the holidays brings festive markets and seasonal events. Montreux Noël runs for a month and features 160 chalets along the lakefront selling handcrafted items and regional specialties. Nearby Lausanne hosts Bô Noël, a holiday market that showcases local food, wines and artisanal goods.
Glacier 3000 expanded its ski offerings for the 2017–2018 season with the opening of Red Run on Dec. 20. At nearly five miles in length, it is the glacier’s longest run. Visitors can also experience the Peak Walk, go dogsledding, and dine at the refurbished Restaurant Botta. The Lake Geneva area provides numerous winter-sports opportunities across Les Diablerets, Villars-sur-Ollon, Les Mosses, Leysin and other ski resorts.