ניון

May to September is the best time for the lakefront, the beaches and boats. Summer is warm. The Paléo Festival, a large open-air music festival, takes place in July. Visions du Réel, a documentary film festival, takes place in April. Winter is mild but often grey.

• Château de Nyon is a medieval castle above the lake. It holds a museum of local history and porcelain.
• Esplanade du Château is a terrace by the castle with views of the lake and the Alps.
• Musée Romain shows finds from the Roman town of Noviodunum.
• Musée du Léman shows the history of the lake and of boats.
• Plage des Trois Jetées is a lakeside beach for swimming in summer.

• Walk the old town and look at the castle.
• Swim in the lake in summer.
• Take a lake boat to Lausanne or Yvoire.
• Cycle along the lakeshore.
• Visit the weekly market, which is held on Tuesday and Friday.

• Geneva is about 25 minutes away by train.
• Lausanne is about 20 minutes away by train.
• Vevey and Montreux lie further along the lake.
• Lake boats connect Nyon with towns on both shores, including Yvoire in France.
• Yverdon-les-Bains is a spa town on Lake Neuchâtel.

• Lausanne, Vevey and Montreux are the main towns along the same lake.

• By air: Geneva Airport is about 20 minutes away by train.
• By train: Nyon is on the main line between Geneva and Lausanne. Check times on SBB.
• By boat: lake boats stop at Nyon in the warm months.

• The old town and lakefront are easy to walk.
• The station is about 10 minutes from the old town.
• Local buses link the town with nearby villages.
• Lake boats leave from the harbour.

• A car is not needed for Nyon itself.
• Parking in the old town is limited and costly. Use a car park near the lake.
• The main road along the lake can be busy at rush hour.

Try perch fillets from the lake and cheese fondue. Local white wines come from the La Côte area, the vineyards north of the lake. The old town has many cafés.

People speak French. English is widely understood.

• Nyon is very safe.
• Lake water is cold in spring. Swim in marked areas.
• Tap water is safe to drink.
• Watch your bags at festival time.

The Romans founded Noviodunum on this site in the 1st century BC. Remains of a Roman colony have been found beneath the old town.

The castle was built in the 12th century and later rebuilt. In the late 18th century, Nyon was known for fine porcelain.

Quick practical facts for Switzerland at a glance: