Driving to Lavaux: tolls, fuel & road trip guide
Lavaux is a stretch of terraced vineyards on the north shore of Lake Geneva in the canton of Vaud, running for roughly 30 kilometres between Lausanne and Vevey. Its stone-walled terraces, first laid out by medieval monasteries and worked by hand ever since, cover some 800 hectares and were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. The dominant grape is Chasselas, a white variety that most visitors only ever taste here, as little of it leaves Switzerland.
For drivers, the lakeside Route du Lac between Lutry and Vevey threads through the wine villages, and the A9 motorway exit at Chexbres drops straight into the terraces from above; the Montreux–Geneva leg of a Swiss road trip passes right by. Autumn is the classic season: the harvest runs through September and October, and as the vines turn gold toward late October the hillsides above the lake change colour. Parking is limited in the villages, so plan to leave the car and walk a section of the vineyard paths, and keep Switzerland's 0.5 per mille drink-driving limit in mind after tastings.
Top attractions
Lavaux Vinorama
The discovery and tasting centre for Lavaux wines, on the lakeside road at Rivaz, with around 300 wines from across the terraces and a film on a winegrower's year. It is open daily until 30 October 2026, then Wednesday to Sunday from 1 November.
Terrasses de Lavaux trail (Route 113)
SwitzerlandMobility route 113 zigzags about 11 kilometres through the UNESCO terraces from Lutry to Saint-Saphorin, around three hours on surfaced paths with repeated climbs. The lakeside railway stations make it easy to walk just one section and return to the car.
Saint-Saphorin
A compact medieval wine village pressed into the terraces at the eastern end of Lavaux, with narrow lanes, old cellars and a church dedicated to Saint Symphorien that is listed as a Swiss heritage site of national importance.
Chexbres viewpoint
Chexbres sits high on the ridge above the vineyards, just off the A9 motorway exit, and its terraces look down over the whole sweep of Lavaux to the lake and the Alps beyond. The short 'Train des Vignes' line climbs here from Vevey through the vines.
Lutry
A lakeside town at the western gateway to Lavaux, just east of Lausanne, with a medieval old town, a waterfront promenade and the start of the Terrasses de Lavaux trail. It hosts the Fête des Vendanges harvest festival each September.
Driving to Lavaux
Road charges in Switzerland
- Vignette required: CHF 40 (≈€42) — https://via.admin.ch
Mandatory equipment in Switzerland
- Headlights (daytime running lights or dipped beam)
- Safety vest (reflective, high-visibility)
- Warning triangle
- Snow chains
Driving distances from Lavaux
| To | Road km | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Montreux | 15 | 13 min |
| Geneva | 74 | 1 h 03 min |
| Bern | 96 | 1 h 22 min |
| Interlaken | 112 | 1 h 36 min |
| Zermatt | 117 | 1 h 40 min |
| Lucerne | 173 | 2 h 28 min |
| Zurich | 217 | 3 h 06 min |
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Drive it on these routes
Nearby destinations
Cross-border destinations near Lavaux
- Lyon — France, 221 km
- Le Puy-en-Velay — France, 357 km
- Gorges du Verdon — France, 397 km
- Monaco — Monaco, 402 km
- Nice — France, 404 km
- Avignon — France, 417 km