The shores of Lake Geneva have attracted visitors and invaders for millennia. The cheerful city of Geneva sits on the lake's western shore, lofty snowcapped peaks creating a gorgeous backdrop on all sides. The city is perfect for exploring on foot; hire a bike to venture further. At the top of any itinerary should be visits to Geneva's lakefront and its famous fountain, the Flower Clock in the English Garden, St Peter's Cathedral, Reformation Wall, Place Neuve and the birthplace of the UN.

Lausanne was once an intellectual capital, attracting such great thinkers as Rousseau and Voltaire. Today it is a haven for lovers of water skiing, swimming and sailing. The International Olympic Committee even has its headquarters here. The town's history is evident, though, in its medieval cathedral, the museums of the Palais de Rumine, and Ouchy, the port where Lord Byron wrote "The Prisoner of Chillon" and the Treaty of Lausanne was ratified. For great views, hike up to the Signal de Sauvabelin.

Yet another lovely old town on Lake Garda, Malcesine is an elegant resort at the base of Castello Scaligero. Enjoy a leisurely day of shopping in town (making sure to stop at an outdoor café with a lake view), or if you’re getting restless, take a cable car to Monte Baldo for skiing in winter or challenging hiking in summer.

Set in a sheltered cove, Santa Ponsa's standout attraction is its vast beach, where sunseekers sprawl against a backdrop of pine trees. The resort town combines old and new, with a modern marina and waterfont promenade alongside ancient archaeological sites and a nearby nature preserve.