Lake Geneva day trip: Chaplin's World, Chillon Castle & cruise

Ride a Belle Époque steamer across Lake Geneva to a 12th-century castle

This 10-hour guided day trip from Geneva takes you through the Swiss Riviera to Montreux, Chaplin's World museum, the UNESCO Lavaux vineyards, and Chillon Castle, with a first-class cruise on an old paddle steamer and an apéritif included. The steamer runs June through September. If you book outside those months, the castle visit replaces the boat ride. A live English-speaking guide drives the group and leads you through each stop.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Olympic Museum Lausanne2m
2. Chaplin’s World1h · entry included
3. Lake Geneva45m
4. Chillon Castle1h · entry included
5. Old Town of Montreux45m
6. Freddie Mercury Statue3m

Explore Swiss Riviera and Historic Sites

• Meet your guide
• Photo stop at Olympic Museum Lausanne
• Visit Chaplin’s World in Vevey
• Enjoy aperitif in Lavaux vineyards
• Board Belle Epoque steamer boat
• Tour Chillon Castle
• Discover Montreux city and old town
• See Freddie Mercury statue
• Free time at Queen's studio

The experience

The day starts with a drive through the Vaud countryside toward Vevey, where you'll spend time at Chaplin's World: a museum built inside the manor where Charlie Chaplin lived. You move through Hollywood-style studio sets and exhibition spaces dedicated to the artist and his films, walking through recreations of scenes from his greatest work. From there, the route climbs into the Lavaux terraces, a UNESCO World Heritage site of vineyard slopes that drop toward Lake Geneva and the Alps. You stop here for an apéritif with local products, tasting what the region produces.

The centerpiece is the cruise. You board the Belle Époque, an old side-wheel paddle steamer (one of the world's most important fleets of these boats) for a first-class ride across the lake. The boat carries you toward Chillon Castle, a medieval fortress on a small island that you enter by crossing a covered bridge into its walled courtyards. The castle dates to the 12th century and is Switzerland's most visited. After exploring inside, you have free time in Montreux's old town to walk, shop, and find the Freddie Mercury statue before the drive back to Geneva.

The steamer cruise runs only from June through September. If you book outside those months, you'll still visit Chillon Castle and Montreux, but you'll arrive by road instead of water. Either way, a guide who speaks English is with the group throughout, handling the driving and leading the stops. Bottled water is provided on the bus.

What’s included

• Visit to Chaplin's World museum.
• bus ride through the Swiss countryside and Lavaux vineyards.
• apéritif with local products.
• bottled water.
• first-class cruise on the Belle Époque paddle steamer (June–September only).
• entry to Chillon Castle.
• free time in Montreux's old town.
• live English-speaking guide throughout.

Options for this experience

2 options

Excursion to Montreux, with visits to the Chaplin's World Museum and Chillon CastleGuide in English · 08:45 and 09:30BasicTour (KTG302)

Gold Chaplin Montreux (KTG301)Guide in English · 08:45(KTG301) - Gold Tour: includes Chaplin's studio, first-class boat, Chillon Castle and an apéritif

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesSaturdayDepartures at 08:45 and 09:30Last departure this season: 26 Dec

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Keytours (Switzerland)

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want the lake and the castle without driving yourself. The steamer ride is the day's centerpiece, and the guide handles all the stops and timing so you move through the Riviera without planning the route. If you're traveling with infants or small children, strollers are welcome and specialized infant seats are available on the bus.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4).

When does the Belle Époque steamer run, and what happens if I book outside those months?

The first-class cruise on the old paddle steamer runs from June through September. If you book the tour outside those months, you'll visit Chillon Castle and Montreux by road instead, and the castle visit replaces the boat ride in the day's sequence.

What is included in the apéritif at Lavaux?

The apéritif at the Lavaux vineyards includes local products from the region. The specific items are not detailed, but you stop in the UNESCO terraces to taste what the area produces alongside views of Lake Geneva and the Alps.

Is lunch included in this day trip?

Lunch is not included. The apéritif with local products at Lavaux and bottled water on the bus are provided, but you'll need to arrange your own meal during the day.

What is Chillon Castle like, and do you go inside?

Chillon Castle is a medieval fortress on a small island in Lake Geneva, dating to the 12th century and Switzerland's most visited castle. You cross a covered bridge to enter its walled courtyards and explore the interior of this fortress.