Nyon
Nyon is a small town on the western shore of Lake Geneva, Switzerland. The Romans who founded the settlement in the 1st century BC called it Noviodunum. Today you can visit a few Roman ruins and a Roman museum.
Get in
By train
Frequent regional trains between Geneva and Lausanne stop at Nyon. The 🌍 train station is within walking distance from the lake shore. Nyon is also serviced by trains from St. Gallen, Basel and Zürich to Geneva which stop in Nyon every hour (not all long-distance trains stop here, though!). As of July 2014 a one way train ticket from Geneva costs Fr. 8.80.
By boat
Cruises at Lake Geneva commonly call at Nyon.
By plane
Geneva's international airport has its own train station, and many of the intercity trains going east from Geneva actually start at the airport.
By car
Freeway M1 between Geneva and Lausanne passes near Nyon.
Get around
Nyon is small enough to cover on foot, although there is a bus network in the city too.
See
As of July 2014, the three main museums (the castle, the Roman museum and the Lake museum) have a common ticket, a ticket to one of them is also valid at the two other museums. Adults: Fr. 8F, Senior citizens, students, groups of more 10 adults: Fr. 6, Free entrance for children under 16. Free admission every 1st Sunday of the month.
- 🌍 Nyon Castle, Place du Château. November to March:Tuesday to Saturday: 14:00–17:00. Closed on Monday (except public holidays). Nyon Castle, a 12th century fortress above Lake Geneva, contains the History and Porcelain Museum. Its former prison in the attic has recently been opened to the public. From the terrace visitors can enjoy the magnificent view out over Lake Geneva and the Alps and even have access to the Castle’s kitchen garden, still in use.
- 🌍 Musée Romain, Rue Maupertuis 9. Artifacts from the Roman age from the area, such as amphoras, old coins, and parts of murals and statues.
- 🌍 Musée du Leman, Quai Louis-Bonnard 8. A museum about Lake Geneva. There are vastly different things on display from photos and parts of ships to small aquaria with fish species living in the lake and a collection of stuffed land animals as well as works by artists and architects from the area and of course physical information on the lake itself and its properties and history.
- 🌍 Roman ruins. Nyon is proud of its Roman ruins.
- 🌍 UEFA Headquarters. Must see for all football fans. All the European Cups are on display inside the main building (if they let you in). Beautiful small park around the building with some football related memorabilia.
- 🌍 Explore the Old town.
- 🌍 Pragins Castle (Château de Prangins) (from central Nyon bus 805 or 817 to Prangins village, or about 30 min by foot). Tu-Su 10:00-17:00. This castle from 1730 contains a museum, a park and an ancient pottery. The museum has an permanent exhibition about Swiss history from the 18th and 19th centuries and temporary exhibitions of different themes (art, history, culture). adults Fr. 10, students, seniors Fr. 8, children (under 16 years) free.
Do
- 🌍 Usine à Gaz. Concert hall with varied program. Reasonably priced drinks. entrance Fr. 10-30, depending on the concert.
Festivals
- Paléo. Nyon is host to the largest European Music Festival every year in early July — called Paléo, the festival attracts Musicians and people from all around the world come to enjoy this wonderful festive atmosphere.
- Visions du Réel. Nyon also hosts the Visions du Réel International film festival every April.
Buy
Eat
- 🌍 Café Tea-Room Roguemont, Rue St Jean 24. Pleasant café with sandwiches and pastries - fresh and delicious as you would expect in Switzerland.
Drink
Sleep
There is no campsite in Nyon (there used to be one but the land was sold to the UEFA so they could build their Headquarters).
- 🌍 Hostellerie du XXVIe siècle, Place du Marché. The cheapest hotel in Nyon.
- 🌍 Hotel des Alpes (situated near the station). The second cheapest hotel.
- 🌍 Villa Sanluca, Chemin des Cottages 6, ☎ +41 22 362 62 53. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. The Villa Sanluca is a beautiful B&B guesthouse in Nyon with garden, swimming pool and 3 exceptional rooms with evocative names: La Vie en Rose, Rêve d’Eau and Parfum d’Orient. It's located in an old mansion close to the town centre in a quiet and private atmosphere. Hearty Swiss breakfast, wireless Internet access and car parking is included in the price. Prices from Fr. 140 to Fr. 270.
Go next
- 🌍 Givrine. In summer, take the small train starting from below the train station and go to the station Givrine. Then walk to the top and enjoy the view. In winter, you can find a full fledged winter sport station at Givrine, with alpine and nordic skiing.
- Lausanne