Meander down the river from Geneva’s central train station, and within 15 minutes, you’ll have left any traces of the city behind you. Classical french style buildings, tall office blocks, cars, and concrete quickly disappear. All of a sudden, you’re on a woodland path through the thriving Moulin- de- Vert nature reserve with overhanging trees, green fields with donkeys to your right, and the wide, fast-flowing river on your left.

Nicknamed “Geneva’s Balcony,” Mont Salève stands 1,379m above the glitzy swiss city, just 20 km from the centre. Climb up a steep rambling path through thick woodland, past the quaint little village Monnetier, and eventually, you will come to Salève’s summit, where you’ll meet the less adventurous visitors who took the cable car up to the top.

The Lavaux region produces some of the finest Swiss wine, and there are some nice opportunities to sample it along the way, with a number of vineyards open for tasting (but perhaps not midweek in the winter months). The most beautiful time of year to visit this region is during autumn, where the vineyards and surrounding fields explode into an array of rich reds and burnt yellows. But of course, every season has its own particular beauty.

An easy inland route through woodlands from quaint villages to cosmopolitan Geneva. This route is a slight variation of the ViaJakobi stage 9 hiking route, adapted to include part of the lakefront, and to end at the beautiful botanical gardens.