In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Switzerland
Nyon
Give Nyon one night, or a half-day from Geneva or Lausanne: castle, Roman museum and lakefront in 3 hours on foot.
Nyon is a small lakeside town between Geneva and Lausanne, 15 minutes by train from Geneva airport. Its old town, castle and three museums sit within a 10-minute walk of the station, and the lakefront promenade runs the length of the town. Most travellers see it in half a day; one night makes sense if you want the Roman ruins, Prangins Castle and a swim without rushing. It is also the base for the Paléo festival in early July.
- Country
- Switzerland
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Feb (grey, many sights on short hours)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- CHF
- Money
- Currency is the Swiss franc (CHF). Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere; euros are sometimes taken with change in francs.
- Daily spend
- Budget CHF 90–130 excl. bed · Mid CHF 130–220 excl. bed · High CHF 220+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Swisscom, Sunrise and Salt sell prepaid SIMs (ID needed); Swisscom covers the most mountain terrain.
- Emergency
- Police 117 · Ambulance 144 · Fire 118 · European emergency 112 · Rega air rescue 1414
- Plugs
- Types J, C · 230 V · 50 Hz · Swiss three-pin sockets are recessed: thin two-pin (type C) plugs fit, but thick German Schuko plugs do not — bring a Swiss adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Service included; round up or leave 5–10% for good service.; Café or bar: Round up.; Taxi: Round up.; Hotel: Optional; CHF 2–5 for porters.; Mountain guide: CHF 20–50 for a day, optional.
- Water
- Tap and fountain water is excellent. Restaurants usually charge for bottled water; ask for 'Hahnenwasser' / 'eau du robinet'.
- Toilets
- Station toilets cost CHF 1–2; restaurants and department stores are free for customers.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | CHF 4–6 |
| Sandwich or pastry in a tea room | CHF 6–12 |
| Plate of the day in a café | CHF 20–30 |
| Beer, draught in a bar | CHF 6–9 |
| Museum common ticket (castle, Roman, lake) | CHF 8 adults, CHF 6 students and seniors, free under 16 |
| Prangins Castle entry | CHF 10 adults, CHF 8 students and seniors, free under 16 |
| Concert at Usine à Gaz | CHF 10–30 depending on the show |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | CHF 15–30 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- GVA · Geneva Airport
- Train from the airport station to Nyon, about 15–20 min; check the timetable.
Typical fares
- Geneva Airport → Nyon, train
- about CHF 9, about 15–20 min
- Nyon → Geneva, train
- about CHF 9, about 15–20 min
- Nyon → Lausanne, train
- about CHF 15, about 45–55 min
Get around
The centre is walkable: station to castle is about 5 minutes, castle to lakefront about 5 minutes. Local buses (TPN) serve Prangins and the surrounding villages; a single ride is a few francs. Trains along the lake run frequently to Geneva and Lausanne.
See and do
Known for
- Nyon Castle and its porcelain collection
- Roman ruins and the Musée Romain
- Musée du Léman
- Paléo festival
- Lake Geneva promenade
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Geneva | Train from Nyon station, frequent along the lake | About 30–40 min |
| Lausanne | Train from Nyon station | About 45–55 min |
| Montreux | Train along the lake, change at Lausanne if needed | About 1 h 15 min |
| Vevey | Train along the lake | About 1 h |
| La Givrine | Small train from below Nyon station, then walk uphill | About 1 h |
Sleep
- Old town / Place du Marché
- Steps from the castle and lakefront; quiet at night, few rooms.
- Station area (Place de la Gare)
- Best for a one-night stop with bags; bars and the train platform outside the door.
- Lakeside / Quai Louis-Bonnard
- Lake views and the promenade; higher prices, book ahead in summer.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjourbon-zhoor |
| Thank you | Mercimair-see |
| Please | S'il vous plaîtseel voo pleh |
| How much is it? | C'est combien ?say kom-byen |
| Can I pay by card? | Je peux payer par carte ?zhuh puh pay-yay par kart |
| Where is the station? | Où est la gare ?oo ay la gar |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; three cheek kisses among friends; avoid: Skipping the greeting in shops
- Punctuality: Be exactly on time; avoid: Running for the train expecting it to wait
- Language: Greet in the local language, then ask for English; avoid: Speaking German in Geneva as a default
- Quiet: Low voices in trains; quiet carriages are marked; avoid: Speakerphone calls
- Money: Keep financial talk discreet; avoid: Asking people's salaries
- Recycling: Separate PET, glass and cans; avoid: Leaving rubbish in hotel or flat bins unsorted
Scams and watch-outs
- Museum hours are short outside summer and several close on Mondays: check each site before you go.
- Paléo week in early July fills every bed in town and pushes train fares and taxis up; book months ahead or stay in Geneva or Lausanne.
- The Toblerone line and Villa Rose are outdoor, unstaffed and partly on private land: stay on marked paths.
- Lake swimming is cold outside Jul–Aug and there is no lifeguard on most of the promenade.
Nyon is a low-crime town and the centre is safe on foot day and night. The real risks are cold lake water, unlit lakeside paths after dark and pickpockets on crowded festival trains in July.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Nyon yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Nyon Castle and its porcelain collection
- Roman ruins and the Musée Romain
- Musée du Léman
- Paléo festival
- Lake Geneva promenade
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Nyon Région Tourisme: www.nyon-tourisme.ch/
- Nyon Castle: www.chateaudenyon.ch/
- Musée Romain de Nyon: www.mrn.ch/en/index.php
- Musée du Léman: www.museeduleman.ch/en/
- Prangins Castle, Swiss National Museum: www.nationalmuseum.ch/e/prangins/
- Paléo Festival Nyon: www.paleo.ch
- Wikivoyage: Nyon, revision 5307255 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5307255
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Nyon
À cette adresse, s'il vous plaît
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Switzerland has no US or UK embassy in Nyon; embassies are in Bern and consulates in Geneva (check the address).
Nyon Région Tourisme, Av. Viollier 8, is a short walk from the station (check hours).
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/nyon). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.