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Voykit pocket guide · France
Evian
Évian-les-Bains
Half a day to one night: drink from the free spring, walk the lakefront and take the ferry to Lausanne. Not a base for the Alps.
Evian is a small spa town on Lake Geneva, best known for its free spring water and the ferry link to Lausanne, Switzerland. The town itself is compact — the lakefront, the spring sources and a casino are a 15-minute walk apart. Most visitors come for a few hours on the way to or from the Alps, or as a day trip from Lausanne. One night is enough to add a lakeside dinner and a morning walk.
- Country
- France
- Local name
- Évian-les-Bains
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Feb (many hotels and restaurants close or run reduced hours)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR, €). Contactless cards work in most shops, cafés and restaurants.
- Daily spend
- Budget €60–90 excl. bed · Mid €90–150 excl. bed · High €150+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Orange, SFR, Bouygues Télécom and Free sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at tabacs; ID is required to register.
- Emergency
- Police 17 · Fire 18 · Ambulance (SAMU) 15 · European emergency 112
- Plugs
- Types C, E · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin plugs; type E sockets have an earth pin sticking out, so Schuko (type F) plugs need a C/E hybrid or an adapter.
- Tipping
- Café or bar: Leave small change, €0.20–1.; Restaurant: Service is included; leave 5–10% in cash for good service.; Taxi: Round up to the next euro or two.; Hotel porter or housekeeping: €1–2 per bag or per night.; Tour guide: €5–10 per person for a half day, more for private guides.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere unless signed otherwise. Restaurants must serve a free carafe of tap water on request.
- Toilets
- Paris has free automatic public toilets (sanisettes); elsewhere use cafés (buy a coffee), museums and stations, where some charge €0.50–1.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | €2–4 |
| Lunch menu (plat du jour) | €12–18 |
| Dinner (three courses, mid-range) | €30–50 |
| Beer (pint) | €5–8 |
| Bottle of Evian water (1.5 L, supermarket) | €0.80–1.50 |
| Ferry Evian–Lausanne (one way) | €12–18 |
| Taxi from Evian to Geneva Airport | €80–120 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- GVA · Geneva Airport
- About 1 h by car or train (via Geneva or Annemasse); check
Typical fares
- Ferry Evian → Lausanne
- about €12–18, 35 min (check)
- Taxi Evian → Geneva Airport
- €80–120 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walkable: the lakefront, spring sources and casino are within 1 km (0.6 mi). A free shuttle (Navette Évian) runs between the town centre and the upper neighbourhoods; check the schedule. For longer trips, a car or taxi is needed.Walkable: the lakefront, spring sources and casino are within 0.6 mi (1 km). A free shuttle (Navette Évian) runs between the town centre and the upper neighbourhoods; check the schedule. For longer trips, a car or taxi is needed.
See and do
Known for
- Evian spring water (free public sources)
- Lake Geneva ferry to Lausanne
- Evian Championship golf course
- Belle Époque architecture
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Lausanne | CGN ferry from the port, about 35 min | About 1 h (walk to port + crossing) |
| Chamonix | Car via the A40 (about 1 h 15 min) or train via Geneva (about 2 h) | About 1.5–2.5 h |
| Annecy | Car via the A41 (about 1 h) or train via Annemasse (about 1.5 h) | About 1.5–2 h |
Sleep
- Lakefront (Quai Baron de Blonay)
- Central, near the ferry port, casino and restaurants.
- Royal Parc Evian
- Upscale resort with spa and golf course; about 1 km (0.6 mi) uphill from the lake.Upscale resort with spa and golf course; about 0.6 mi (1 km) uphill from the lake.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjourbohn-zhoor |
| Thank you | Mercimair-see |
| How much is it? | Combien ça coûte ?kom-byen sa koot |
| Where is the spring? | Où est la source ?oo ay la soors |
| A ferry ticket to Lausanne, please | Un billet pour Lausanne, s'il vous plaîtuhn bee-yay poor loh-zahn seel voo pleh |
| Do you speak English? | Parlez-vous anglais ?par-lay voo zahn-glay |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Say 'bonjour madame/monsieur' on entering any shop, bus or office; avoid: Asking a question before saying bonjour — it is read as rude
- Cheek kisses (la bise): Follow the other person's lead; one to four kisses depending on region; avoid: Initiating la bise with strangers or in business
- Addressing people: Use 'vous' and titles until invited otherwise; avoid: First names and 'tu' with older people or staff
- Restaurants: Wait to be seated in restaurants; call the waiter 'monsieur' or 'madame'; avoid: 'Garçon', snapping fingers, asking for the bill before you are finished
- Conversation: Debate is a pleasure; food, politics and philosophy are fair game; avoid: Asking about salary or religion; loud voices on trains
- Dinner at a home: Bring flowers (not chrysanthemums), chocolates or a good bottle; arrive 10–15 minutes late; avoid: Cutting the tip off a cheese wedge or asking for ketchup
- Dress: Smart-casual in cities; covered shoulders in churches; avoid: Beachwear in town centres
Scams and watch-outs
- Ferry schedules change seasonally; check CGN.ch before you go.
- The free spring sources are along Avenue des Sources; bring a bottle.
- Many shops and restaurants close on Sundays and in the off-season (Nov–Feb).
Very safe. The main risks are pickpocketing in the ferry terminal area and slippery lakefront paths in wet weather.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Evian yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Evian spring water (free public sources)
- Lake Geneva ferry to Lausanne
- Evian Championship golf course
- Belle Époque architecture
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- CGN (ferry operator): www.cgn.ch
- Wikivoyage: Evian, revision 5304820 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5304820
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
EvianÉvian-les-Bains
À cette adresse, s'il vous plaît
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
The US has a consulate in Lyon; most other countries have embassies in Paris. The nearest Swiss consulate is in Geneva.
Switzerland is a Schengen country; no border check on the ferry, but carry your passport.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/evian). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.