Camping by Lake Geneva

A dream holiday awaits travellers camping on Lake Geneva between the towns of Bern and Geneva. The beautiful campsites here are located directly on the shores of the lake, surrounded by lush nature and green hills. Situated close to the Jura vaudois wildlife park, Lake Geneva is surrounded by the charming Swiss Alpine landscape - an ideal destination for water sports enthusiasts and hikers and for holidays with the family or your partner.

Special features of camping on Lake Geneva

The well-kept campsites on Lake Geneva, the "Lac Léman", are spread along the shore and have fine sandy beaches. They are surrounded by a unique mountain panorama with wooded hills and a sunny lakeside atmosphere. The places invite you to go surfing and sailing or to stroll along the flowery promenades in the picturesque little towns. The campsites are also the ideal starting point for cycling and hiking tours with the family and for excursions to the beautiful regions around the lake.

Recommended campsites on the shores of Lake Geneva include Campéole La Pinède in Excenevex, Camping Huttopia Divonne Les Bains and Camping Saint Disdille. The Touring Club Switzerland (TCS), which stands for camping and glamping in Switzerland, also offers plenty of choice. With TCS Camping Flaach am Rhein, TCS Camping Lugano-Muzzano, TCS Camping Morges and TCS Camping Sempach, there are several campsites on the outskirts of Lake Geneva. The modern facilities with their pitches are particularly popular in the high season.

Campsites on Lake Geneva

On the shores of Lake Geneva there are marvellous campsites with a wonderful view of the lake and comprehensive facilities. The popular water sports centre in Switzerland and southern France in the shadow of the Alps is therefore a popular destination for campers from all over Europe. Especially in the high season, a stay of several days is a wonderful way to relax.

Campéole La Pinède in Excenevex

Campéole La Pinède in Excenevex is a recommended holiday destination for all travellers without their own vehicle or tent. Although there are also pitches here, the highlight is the numerous glamping accommodations. The spectrum ranges from the Canadienne tent to the Maasaï lodge tent and the modern chalet.

Camping Saint-Disdille

This very family-friendly campsite with a well-equipped playground and entertainment for children is more than just an insider tip on Lake Geneva. The numerous sports facilities such as beach volleyball, tennis, bike hire and archery are a big plus. The on-site sanitary facilities are wheelchair-accessible and modern. The number of pitches for guests and permanent campers is balanced at Camping Saint-Disdille.

TCS Camping Morges

TCS Camping Morges is an idyllic spot on Lake Geneva. The beautiful bathing beach in front of the extensive meadow area, the boat hire and children's playground as well as the sports facilities make the days fly by, not only in high season. The grocery shop, the entertainment programme for guests and the open-air swimming pool stand for the good service on the campsite.

The Touring Club Switzerland (TCS) invites you to camp on Lake Geneva with other campsites such as TCS Camping Flaach am Rhein, TCS Camping Lugano-Muzzano and TCS Camping Sempach. The campsites are equipped with beautifully situated pitches and children's playgrounds, as well as glamping accommodation that is also wheelchair-accessible.

Journey

From Munich, the route leads through the Allgäu and via Zurich with a journey time of around 6.5 hours and 560 km. From Berlin, the journey takes around 11 hours via Nuremberg or Frankfurt and is around 1,100 kilometres long. And from Hamburg, the route via Kassel-Frankfurt-Freiburg and Basel is around 1,000 kilometres and takes 11 hours.

Due to the length of the journey, it is advisable to plan enough breaks or to make an overnight stopover. Especially for families travelling with children or dogs on board, breaks, drinks and sufficient exercise in between are important. Disposal and provisioning can take place at the service areas or at the campsites not far from the motorways.

For Switzerland, holidaymakers need a vignette, which can be purchased at the border crossing or ordered online before the journey. When travelling with four-legged friends, the vaccination regulations for Switzerland apply and the vaccination certificate and proof of chip should be carried.

Destinations

The region around Lake Geneva is a varied Eldorado for lovers of nature and culture. Historical stories and traditional crafts enrich holiday memories here. The lake is also a lively place with boats and cruises for visitors.

The world of luxury watches and master craftsmanship lies in the city of Bern

The city of Bern enchants visitors with its historical monuments and exquisite boutiques. Switzerland's watchmaking history is at home here and the old tradition fills the atmosphere of the streets. If you want to immerse yourself in the world of watchmaking, a visit to the Patek Philippe Museum is highly recommended. It presents a unique, valuable collection of watches from four centuries and documents the entire history of watchmaking.

How is an alphorn actually made?

The Tschiemer family's alphorn workshop is located in the idyllic municipality of Habkern in the canton of Bern. In a picturesque country farm idyll, interested visitors can find out how an original alphorn is made from a raw tree trunk. During a guided tour of the workshop, visitors are initiated into the secrets of traditional craftsmanship and listen to the sounds of the ready-to-play national symbol. The instruments are on display in the alphorn shop and a few souvenirs are added to the luggage.

Activities and excursions

In Switzerland, there are interesting excursion destinations and historical sights to discover while sightseeing or on a hiking tour.

Day trip into the mountains to Chamonix and Mont Blanc

Visitors can experience the highest mountain in Switzerland on a day trip to Mont Blanc. A guided tour with a local tour guide is recommended here to discover the natural landscape and get a taste of the mountain air and the stories of the mountains. The route leads through the Arve valley to the picturesque town of Chamonix on the French side of Switzerland. From here, the cable car takes you to the summit of Aiguille du Midi, offering breathtaking views of the Alpine landscape of three countries.

On the trail of Swiss cheese in the Emmental

The Emmental show dairy is a picturesque excursion destination with the character of a village. Here, guests can experience traditional cheese production according to old recipes and gain an insight into modern cheese production. The garden terraces and restaurants of the cheese dairy invite you to linger and savour the delicacies. Fine delicacies and souvenirs made from cheese and Swiss chocolate are available in the craft shop and cheese shop on site. Groups can learn how to make their own cheese here under the expert guidance of a master cheesemaker.

Gastronomy

Swiss cuisine loves specialities and is strongly influenced by the cuisine of France and Italy due to its location in a triangle of countries. Switzerland's traditional dishes, chocolate and cheese specialities are world-famous and the Swiss, as lovers of quality, cultivate an extremely refined palate. Around Lake Geneva, excellent restaurants and bistros welcome guests from all over the world. The multicultural menus fulfil every culinary wish and spoil you with exquisite ingredients. Those who prefer to savour rustic and typical local dishes can visit the nearby inns and pubs run by the locals. Here you will find hearty, savoury fare and typical Swiss delicacies with a selection of hearty drinks to match.

Weather

Due to the mountains and the extreme differences in altitude in Switzerland, there are different climate zones and temperature ranges. On the mountain peaks and glaciers there is often snow all year round, while in the valleys and lake regions temperatures range between 13 and 25 degrees Celsius with beautiful sunshine. Winter temperatures in Switzerland, on the other hand, are between -2 and 6 degrees Celsius from November to March. The ideal weather for a holiday essentially depends on the individual holiday interests of the visitor. A beach holiday on Lake Geneva is ideal in the summer months from May to August. Hiking and cultural trips can be planned from spring to autumn and winter sports enthusiasts can hit the slopes from November to February.