Lavaux Vineyard Terraces Walk

How would you rate Lavaux Vineyard Terraces Walk?

Tap a star to share your experience and help other hikers.

Lavaux Vineyard Terraces Walk: UNESCO Vines Above Lake Geneva

Published 17 July 2025 Updated 5 June 2026

673

Ranked #673 of 974

See the Top 100 →

HikeList Score

Lavaux Vineyard Terraces Walk scored 77/100 on HikeList's trail-quality metrics.

Very Good

See score breakdownHide breakdown

Ideal length 55
Balanced challenge 100
Scenery & wildness 58
Varied terrain 89
Accommodation 91
Food & support 81
Path quality 76
Season flexibility 89

Computed from length, challenge, scenery & wildness, terrain variety, accommodation, food & support, path quality and season flexibility.

The Lavaux Vineyard Terraces Walk is an 11 km point-to-point day hike in Canton Vaud, Switzerland, following SchweizMobil local route 113 between Lutry and St-Saphorin. It crosses the UNESCO-listed vineyard terraces on the steep, south-facing north shore of Lake Geneva. Allow about 3 to 3.5 hours of walking, longer for caveaux, photos and village stops. The route is technically straightforward and waymarked, but the stepped climbs and roughly 400 m ascent make it a moderate walk rather than a flat lakeside stroll.

Route Overview

Start at Lutry train station or the lakeside town, then climb into the terraced vineyards via Aran, Grandvaux and Riex, with Cully just below on the lake. The route continues through Epesses, across the Dézaley grand-cru slopes and Rivaz, before finishing in the historic wine village of St-Saphorin. It is walkable in either direction, but Lutry to St-Saphorin is the canonical line of route 113. Both endpoints sit on the Lausanne–Vevey rail line, so the return is simple by train. For a very different Swiss day hike, compare the Chasseral Ridge Walk; for a much longer traverse, see the Alpine Pass Route (Route 6).

Lavaux’s Monastic Vineyard Landscape

Vines have been grown in Lavaux since Roman times, but the terraced landscape seen today took shape from the 11th century onward under Benedictine and Cistercian monks. The dry-stone retaining walls, narrow lanes and vineyard benches have been maintained for around a thousand years. Lavaux was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2007 under cultural criteria, recognising both the wine-growing tradition and the long relationship between people, slopes and Lake Geneva.

Notable highlights

Lavaux Vineyard Terraces: Around 10,000 stone-walled terraces rise above Lake Geneva, forming a worked cultural landscape that has been maintained for nearly 1,000 years and UNESCO-listed since 2007.
Dézaley grand-cru slopes: One of Switzerland’s most prestigious grand-cru vineyard areas, known for Chasselas grown on steep, sunny terraces above the lake.
St-Saphorin: A small medieval wine village with narrow lanes and a church, marking the eastern end of the classic route 113 walk.
Lake Geneva and Alps panorama: The path gives frequent views across Lac Léman to the Savoy Alps and the Dents du Midi, with the lake basin spread below the terraces.
Village caveaux: Aran, Grandvaux, Riex and Epesses are wine villages where caveaux pour local Lavaux Chasselas from producers along or near the route.

Challenges to expect

Navigation is generally easy on the waymarked route, and there is no exposure, but the effort is real: expect sustained steep sections, flights of stone steps and about 400 m of climbing. Surfaces vary between paved or concrete vineyard lanes, gravel tracks, dirt paths and steps. The hillside is south-facing, so in fine spring-to-autumn weather it can feel open and sunny. If you want a rockier Jura outing, consider the Creux du Van Circular Trail or Creux du Van to Noiraigue.

673

Ranked #673 of 974

See the Top 100 →