Beau-Rivage Palace, Lausanne
switzerland, switzerland · ★★★★★
The Verdict
Worth it for your honeymoon?
The Beau-Rivage Palace is Lake Geneva's grande dame — open since 1861, perched at the water's edge in the suburb of Ouchy, with 168 rooms across two linked Belle Époque buildings. It hosted the signing of the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, and the corridors have hosted every kind of European royalty since. For honeymooners, it offers something different from the Swiss alpine hotels on this list: a city-lake setting with the Alps on the horizon, a genuine 2-Michelin restaurant by Anne-Sophie Pic (the only female chef in France with three stars at her home restaurant, running Lausanne as her only other fine-dining outpost), a 2,000 m² Cinq Mondes spa, and one of Europe's great outdoor hotel pools on a lawn running down to the lake. Best used as a 3-4 night centerpiece — or paired with a Swiss alpine hotel for a mixed lake-and-mountain honeymoon.
- ✓Trust couples-verified reviews
- ✓Prioritise spa & wellness
- ✓Are willing to invest in once-in-a-lifetime
- →Need a strictly adults-only resort
- →Want a direct beachfront
- →Prefer boutique & intimate properties
Score Breakdown
89/100
At a Glance
Room Recommendation
Which room to book
Book a Junior Suite Lake View in the historic Palace wing (not the Beau-Rivage wing, which faces the gardens). These are 45-55 m², with French balconies over Lake Geneva, the Alps visible across the water on clear mornings. For a splurge, the Prestige Suites on the top floor have full balcony terraces and wraparound lake views that take in Evian-les-Bains on the French side.
No Surprises
True cost breakdown — 7 nights for two
Based on mid-range rooms, premium-economy flights from Europe, full dining and signature experiences. Adjust for your actual travel profile.
| Item | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Room (7 nights avg $1,550/nt) | $10,850 |
| Flights (2 pax, economy/premium) | $1,800 |
| Airport transfers / seaplane | $200 |
| Dining & drinks (beyond room) | $16,275 |
| Excursions & experiences | $700 |
| Spa / signature treatments | $600 |
| Tips & service (8%) | $2,170 |
| Total estimated | $32,595 |
Book Your Stay
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Day by Day
Your 7-night honeymoon itinerary
Arrival & Anne-Sophie Pic tasting
Train from Zurich to Lausanne (2 hours 15 minutes via Bern). Métro from Lausanne station down to Ouchy, 5 minutes to the hotel. Settle in, aperitifs on the lakefront terrace, then dinner at Anne-Sophie Pic — the 2-Michelin tasting menu, ideally the vegetable-focused menu if you're staying more than one night to try the full carte later.
Vevey & Charlie Chaplin day
Direct train along the lake to Vevey (20 min) to visit Chaplin's World (the family home, now a museum) and lunch at Denis Martin. Back via Montreux and the Château de Chillon medieval lakeside castle. Evening: pool/spa at the hotel, dinner at the more casual Café Beau-Rivage.
Cinq Mondes Spa day
Full day at the Cinq Mondes Spa — Balinese, Ayurvedic and Japanese ritual programmes. Couples' signature treatment in a private suite (90 min), then pool and lake walk. Evening: private candlelit dinner on the pontoon over the water (weather permitting, spring-autumn).
Lavaux vineyards
Private wine-tour day through the Lavaux UNESCO-listed terraced vineyards (15 minutes east of Lausanne by car). Lunch in a vineyard restaurant with Chasselas and Dézaley wines. Back in time for the Beau-Rivage's daily afternoon tea ritual in the Palace Lounge.
Boat day on Lake Geneva
Private motor launch from the hotel's pontoon for a full day on Lake Geneva — swim stops, lunch in the medieval village of Yvoire on the French side (bring passports), back by late afternoon. Dinner at Anne-Sophie Pic again, à la carte this time.
Olympic Museum & Gstaad day option
Either: morning at the Olympic Museum (Lausanne is headquarters of the IOC, the museum is excellent and lakeside). Or: full day trip to Gstaad by GoldenPass train (2 hours each way) for a mountain day. Evening: farewell dinner at Anne-Sophie Pic chef's table.
Lazy breakfast & farewell
Breakfast on your lake-view balcony, slow packing, short train to Zurich or Geneva airports.
Honest Assessment
What to know before you book
Lausanne is a city, not a resort — it's quieter than Geneva but you should expect urban sounds, occasional weddings/conferences at the hotel, and tram traffic nearby. For pure seclusion look at the Ticino lake hotels or an alpine stay instead.
The 'beach' is a lawn plus a small pontoon area — not a swimmable beach in the resort sense. Lake swimming from the hotel is pleasant in July-August; the pool is the main swimming option the rest of the year.
Anne-Sophie Pic is the big culinary draw and books out 4-6 weeks in advance for evenings. Tell the reservations team on booking exactly which nights you want, and request the chef's-table option specifically if you're interested — it's a separate booking.
Pre-Arrival
Email to send the hotel
Subject: Honeymoon enquiry — Beau-Rivage Palace, summer 2027 Hello Beau-Rivage reservations team, We'd like to book our honeymoon with you. Details: - Dates: 7 nights in late June or early July 2027 (flexible by a few days) - Room: Junior Suite Lake View in the historic Palace wing, highest floor possible, south-facing toward the Alps - Occasion: honeymoon — any welcome would be appreciated - Dining pre-bookings, ideally: Anne-Sophie Pic tasting menu on night one; Anne-Sophie Pic à la carte on night five; chef's table, if available, for our farewell dinner on night six; one private pontoon dinner over the water (weather permitting) on night three; Café Beau-Rivage on night two - Spa: a 90-minute couples' ritual on day three; priority pool access in the mornings - Experiences: a private Lavaux vineyard tour day with lunch, a private motor launch for a full day on Lake Geneva with lunch in Yvoire, Chaplin's World half-day in Vevey, Olympic Museum and one mountain day option (Gstaad via GoldenPass) - Transfer: private car from Geneva Airport both ways Could you share current honeymoon packages, cancellation policy, and confirm early check-in and late checkout? Also please note any events or weddings on our dates that might affect the hotel's atmosphere. Warm regards, [Names]
Send 2 weeks before arrival. Fill in names, dates, and preferences. Hotels respond to personalised requests.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is the Anne-Sophie Pic restaurant really the headline attraction?
For a honeymoon where food matters, absolutely. Pic holds three stars at her flagship in Valence, France, and Lausanne is her only other fine-dining residence. Two Michelin stars held consistently here. Book at least two nights — the tasting menu one night, à la carte the next. The vegetable tasting menu is genuinely as good as the main one.
Can we swim in Lake Geneva from the hotel?
In summer, yes — there's a swimming area off the pontoon and a small stretch of lawn-beach. The water is clean and warm enough from late June through early September. For the rest of the year the outdoor pool (heated in shoulder season) and indoor pool are the options.
Lausanne vs. Geneva for a honeymoon?
Lausanne is more intimate, more charming, quieter, with a better single hotel in the Beau-Rivage. Geneva is more cosmopolitan with more shopping. For pure honeymoon feeling, Lausanne wins. If you need big-airport convenience, Geneva airport is 40 minutes from Lausanne — a practical fly-in point.
Can we pair this with an alpine hotel?
Yes and it's our favourite Swiss honeymoon structure: 3-4 nights Beau-Rivage (lake, culture, food) + 3-4 nights The Alpina Gstaad (mountain, spa, ski/hike). The two are connected by the GoldenPass panoramic train (about 2.5 hours, with luggage forwarding).
How's the spa?
Cinq Mondes-operated spa, 2,000 m² over two levels, with indoor pool, hammam, saunas and 8 treatment rooms. Signature rituals are themed around Bali, Japan, India and Polynesia. The honeymoon couples' package includes a 90-minute dual treatment plus private hammam access.
How do we get there?
Fly into Geneva (40 minutes by car or train to Lausanne) or Zurich (2 hours 15 minutes by direct train). The hotel can arrange private transfers either way. Lausanne station is 5 minutes by taxi or métro from Ouchy.
Same Vibe, Different Destination
