Near Geneva
Salève · Jura Vaudois
🚗 ~20–50 min from Choully
Pas de l'Echelle – Le Trou de la Tine
The top-rated hike in the Geneva canton. Starts at the foot of the Salève cable car, winds through forest and cliff paths to the iconic Trou de la Tine cave, with panoramic views over the Geneva basin. Can be muddy after rain.
Mont Salève – Panorama of the Alps
A loop from the Salève Observatory with ridge walking to the Croix de Savoie and sweeping views of Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc. Several cliff-side sections — not for vertigo sufferers. The mountain is technically in France, just 20 min from Choully.
Trou de la Tine & Orjobet Cave Circuit
A shorter Salève classic from Monnetier-Mornex leading to the famous Orjobet grotto — discovered in 1779 by Horace de Saussure — with panoramic views over the Genevois. Some steep, narrow sections. Good half-day option.
La Dôle via Saint-Cergue
The second-highest peak in the Swiss Jura (1,677m), recognisable by its white radar ball. Starts in Saint-Cergue, climbs through forests and alpine meadows to the Col de Porte, then the summit — with 360° views of Lake Geneva, Mont Blanc and the Jura. ~50 min drive.
Swiss Alps
Vals · Graubünden
🚗 ~2h from Geneva
Greina Plateau Loop
Remote high-alpine plateau, one of Switzerland's last wilderness areas. Accessible late June–October. Otherworldly landscape above Vrin valley.
Vals Valley Circuit
A scenic loop through the dramatic Vals valley, past traditional stone-built hamlets and mountain pastures. Ends at the famous Peter Zumthor thermal baths.
Boutique Stay
Brücke 49
Intimate, design-forward guesthouse in the hidden village of Vals. Stone walls, local cuisine, and steps from the legendary Therme Vals. A rare find.
Luxury
7132 Hotel
Peter Zumthor's iconic thermal baths meet Kengo Kuma's architecture. Arguably Switzerland's most architecturally significant hotel experience. The baths alone are worth the trip.
Alpine Lodge
Berghuus Radons
Off-the-grid mountain refuge in a tiny traditional village above Ilanz. No roads, no crowds — accessed by cable car. Pure alpine escape with honest food.
Zürich
City · Lake & Culture
🚗 ~2h 45 min · by train 2h50
Uetliberg to Felsenegg Ridge
Zürich's own mountain ridge with panoramic lake views. The ridge trail connects the summit to Felsenegg via the famous "Planetenweg" planet trail. Perfect half-day.
Triemli – Hohenstein – Uetliberg
The most-loved difficult trail in the Zürich canton. Leaves from the city tram terminus at Triemli, climbs through the Hohenstein forest and medieval castle ruins before reaching the Uetliberg summit (870m) with sweeping views of the city, lake and Alps.
Küsnachter Tobel – Wulp Castle Ruins
A family-friendly gorge walk from Küsnacht station into a forested ravine with several small waterfalls, ending at the medieval ruins of Wulp Castle. Quiet, well-marked, and very easy to reach by S-Bahn from Zürich HB in 15 minutes.
Design Hotel
B2 Boutique Hotel
Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves line the legendary library bar inside this repurposed 19th-century brewery. Each room is unique. The rooftop sauna overlooks the city.
Design Rental
Architect's Loft
A curated design apartment in Zürich's creative quarter. Exposed concrete, bespoke furniture, a full kitchen. Perfect base for exploring the city's art and food scene.
Bordeaux
France · Wine Country
🚗 ~5h · TGV 2h05 from Paris
Entre-Deux-Mers Vineyard Trail
Wind through rolling vineyards between the Garonne and Dordogne rivers. Medieval abbeys, limestone cliffs, and village wine cellars dot this beautiful gentle trail.
Dune du Pilat & Forêt des Landes
Climb Europe's tallest sand dune for sweeping Atlantic views, then walk the pine-forested shoreline. Spectacular at golden hour. 1hr from Bordeaux city.
Boutique Stay
Maison Fernand
A beautifully restored townhouse B&B in Bordeaux's golden triangle. Personal service, beautiful breakfast, and an intimate atmosphere that larger hotels can't replicate.
Luxury Spa
Les Sources de Caudalie
World-renowned vinotherapy spa set among grand cru vineyards in Pessac-Léognan. Wine-barrel soaks, Michelin-starred dining, and vines stretching to every horizon.
Apartment
Appt Centre Historique
Well-appointed apartment in the heart of UNESCO-listed Bordeaux. Walk to Saint-Pierre, the wine bar scene, and the Cité du Vin from your front door.
Boutique Hotel
Le Clou de Louis
Small, characterful boutique hotel with a distinct personality. Each room is individually designed with antique finds and local artisan work. A Bordeaux insider favourite.
Countryside Villa
Casa Cazorla
A grand countryside estate rental ideal for groups. Sprawling grounds, a pool in summer, and vineyard views. Privacy, space, and the Bordelais countryside at its finest.
Le Fooding Pick
Ressources
One of Bordeaux's most acclaimed tables and a Le Fooding award winner. Creative, produce-led cooking that pushes the city's culinary conversation forward — without the pomp. Book ahead.
Le Fooding Pick
Déméter
A buzzy, good-vibes neo-bistro tucked into the Saint-Pierre neighbourhood. Market-driven plates, natural wine, and the kind of easy neighbourhood energy that Bordeaux does so well on a Friday night.
Côte d'Azur
France · Riviera
🚗 ~3h to Nice
Massif de l'Estérel – Cap Roux
Blood-red volcanic peaks plunge into turquoise Mediterranean coves. One of the most visually dramatic coastal hikes in France. The summit view over the Riviera is unforgettable.
Sentier du Littoral – Villefranche to Eze
Coastal path hugging the dramatic corniche between Villefranche-sur-Mer and the medieval hilltop village of Eze. Private coves and Mediterranean panoramas all the way.
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat Loop
The Côte d'Azur's most iconic short walk: a loop around the millionaires' peninsula between Nice and Monaco, passing the lighthouse, emerald coves, and the discreet gardens of Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat. One of the best-reviewed trails on AllTrails in all of France.
Pic de Courmettes
A steep but spectacular loop in the Préalpes d'Azur Natural Park above Grasse, reaching 1,248m with 360° views from the Alps to the sea. The #1 rated hike in the park (320+ reviews). Dogs not permitted. Start from the Domaine de Courmettes car park.
Design Hotel
Hotel du Couvent
A beautifully converted 17th-century convent in the heart of Nice's old town. Cloistered courtyards, an exceptional pool, and rooms that feel like a discovery. One of the Riviera's great design hotels.
Private Villa
Luxury Townhouse
An exceptional private townhouse rental on the Riviera. Curated interiors, a private terrace, and the kind of privacy that makes the French coast feel like yours alone.
Boutique Hotel
Hotel Amour
The Parisian cult favourite lands on the Côte d'Azur. Same irreverent spirit, artful interiors, and buzzy restaurant energy — now with Mediterranean sun and a rooftop terrace.
Art Foundation
Fondation CAB
Rooms within a contemporary art foundation in one of France's most celebrated artistic villages. Wake up to works by major artists. A genuinely unique cultural stay.
Le Fooding Pick
Colita
Le Fooding's "So good" pick in Nice. Armand Crespo's hacienda-style restaurant near the port where everything is cooked over open flame — from San Remo gamberi to flame-grilled octopus and a knockout charred artichoke. Latin-inflected, ferociously good.
Le Fooding Pick
Les Œillets
A lovestruck wine bar with giant terrace, mega concrete bar, and an almost sulfite-free cellar. Small plates — herby cheddar croque monsieur, egg mayo, 24-month Serrano ham — and a colossal strawberry sundae to finish. Neighbourhood perfection.
Lyon
France · Gastronomic Capital
🚗 ~2h from Geneva
Fourvière – Vieux-Lyon – Saône Circuit
Lyon's most beloved urban hike: from Pont Wilson up through the UNESCO-listed traboules of Vieux-Lyon to the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière — with a panorama stretching to Mont Blanc on a clear day — then down via the ancient Roman theatre and the Saône quays. Effortlessly beautiful.
Croix-Rousse – Parc de la Tête d'Or
From the bohemian "village" of Croix-Rousse, past the Gros Caillou glacial boulder and its panoramic Rhône valley lookout, descending to the 117-hectare Parc de la Tête d'Or — Lyon's grand English garden with a lake, botanical garden and rose garden. A true city-in-nature experience.
Design Hotel
Hôtel de Verdun 1882
A beautifully restored 19th-century building in the antique dealers' quarter of the Presqu'île, featured by Le Fooding as one of Lyon's standout places to stay. 30 rooms, all different, with an eye for detail and period character.
Le Fooding Pick
Micro Sillon
Le Fooding award winner and the most talked-about wine bar in Lyon. Brilliant natural wine list, good-vibe cooking, and the kind of lively terrace energy that makes you stay far longer than planned. A perfect Friday evening address in the 1st arrondissement.
Le Fooding Pick
Sapnà
The other Le Fooding award winner in Lyon — a neo-bistro with serious kitchen ambitions and the warm neighbourhood feel of the Martinière quarter. Produce-driven, precise, and genuinely exciting. Good vibes, great food, and a wine list that earns its own applause.
Annecy
France · Venice of the Alps
🚗 ~1h from Geneva
Lac d'Annecy Loop
The most popular hike in all of the Haute-Savoie: a full loop around one of Europe's clearest lakes, passing the Bay of Talloires, the village of Menthon-Saint-Bernard, and mountain views at every turn. Walk the whole circuit or pick any section from the many access points around the shore.
La Tournette via Col de l'Aulp
The "Throne of Annecy" — the highest peak above the lake (2,351m) reached via fixed chains, ladders and cables on the final ridge. Breathtaking views of Lake Annecy, Mont Blanc and the full Alpine panorama from the summit rock. Only for confident, sure-footed hikers. Avoid in wet conditions.
Boutique Stay
Hôtel du Palais de l'Isle
Sleep in the heart of Annecy's medieval old town, right on the canal with views of the iconic Palais de l'Isle. Cobbled streets, flower-lined bridges, and the lake a 5-minute walk away. One of the most photogenic locations in France.
Le Fooding Pick
Choral
Le Fooding's standout Annecy pick. Alban Chanteloup (ex-Clos des Sens) plays a two-movement lunch from a pared-back room of terrazzo floors and concrete walls. The cooking is precise and seasonal — bright seared tomatoes, tuna with New Zealand spinach, roasted plum dessert. Quietly exceptional.
Le Fooding Pick
Bloomer
The antidepressant all-day spot that Annecy needed. Run by James Bloomer and Pierre Marcolin, with chef Paul Belison (ex-Datsha Paris, ex-Elements Bidart), this bright café with leather banquette and semi-open kitchen serves from morning till night. Great for solo dining and group tables alike.
Marseille
France · Mediterranean Port
🚗 ~3h 30min
Calanques – Sormiou to Morgiou
The jewel of Mediterranean hiking: turquoise limestone calanques, secret swimming coves, and dramatic white cliffs. One of France's great natural wonders, 20min from the city centre.
GR2013 – Marseille Metro Periphery
An artists' trail commissioned for Marseille's cultural capital year, circling the city through garrigue, abandoned quarries, and unexpected urban edges. Unique in concept and execution.
Port-Miou – Port-Pin – En-Vau (Cassis)
The #1 rated trail in Calanques National Park and one of the most breathtaking coastal hikes in Europe. Starts in Cassis and links three legendary calanques: Port-Miou, Port-Pin, and the jewel En-Vau — with its turquoise water, towering white cliffs, and pebble beach. Crowded in summer; go early.
Architect Rental
Jogging Samena
A thoughtfully designed rental property by a local architect near the Marseille coast. Raw materials, precise details, and a calm atmosphere very different from standard holiday rentals.
Boutique Guesthouse
Les Chambres de la Relève
An intimate guesthouse with a distinct Marseillais personality. Tiled floors, colourful walls, and generous hosts who know every corner of the city. Exceptional value.
Unique Apartment
Maison Empereur
A rare stay behind France's oldest hardware store, a Marseille institution since 1827. The apartment channels the same spirit: authentic, functional, and full of character.
Budget B&B
Pension Edelweiss
Old-school Marseille hospitality at its most honest. Generous breakfast, simply furnished rooms, and a warm welcome in a classic Mediterranean pension. Loved by locals and travellers alike.
Le Fooding Pick
Regain
Le Fooding award winner and the most exciting restaurant in Marseille right now. Seasonal, terroir-driven cooking with a distinctly Provençal soul — elevated without being precious. Good vibes, an impressive natural wine list, and a room that buzzes exactly the right way.
Le Fooding Pick
La Mercerie
Harry Cummins' acclaimed neo-bistro on Cours Saint-Louis is one of Marseille's most consistently good tables — casual but cooking seriously, with a brilliant nose for ingredients and the sort of easy neighbourhood warmth that makes you return. Also a Fooding award winner.
Biarritz
France · Basque Atlantic Coast
🚗 ~5h 30min
La Rhune – Basque Sacred Summit
The spiritual peak of the Basque Country, straddling the French-Spanish border. Wild ponies graze the slopes; the Atlantic coast and Pyrenees panorama from the summit is breathtaking.
Coastal Path – Biarritz to Bidart
Follow the dramatic Basque clifftop path with crashing Atlantic waves below and surfers in every bay. Pass through Bidart's charming village centre for a return by bus.
Biarritz – Saint-Jean-de-Luz Coastal Path
The Talaia coastal trail at its finest: 18km of clifftops from Biarritz's lighthouse south through Bidart and Guéthary to the beautiful Belle-Époque bay of Saint-Jean-de-Luz. Surfers below, Pyrenees behind, Atlantic in front. Return by train from St-Jean-de-Luz.
Villa Hotel
Villa Magnan
A handsome villa-hotel near Biarritz's famous lighthouse. Refined interiors with a Basque spirit, a beautiful garden, and the city's surf culture and casino lifestyle right at your doorstep.
Boutique Hotel
Le Garage
A converted former garage turned boutique hotel with genuine industrial cool. Surf boards in the lobby, a lively bar, and rooms that mix raw materials with warm Basque hospitality.
Le Fooding Pick
Chéri Bibi
The number one restaurant in the Basque Country according to Le Fooding — award winner with "So good" distinction. Fanny Lemarié's creative, plant-forward cooking channels the landscape and sea spray of the Basque coast. Marble counter, Brotherwood furniture, natural wines, one of a kind.
Le Fooding Pick
Dialogues
The farm-to-table successor to Anthony Orjollet's legendary Époq, now run by three alumni of Lyon's Culina Hortus. A cave à manger and chef's table with vibrant, veg-forward Basque cooking — slick interiors, a dreamy fresco, and produce that tastes exactly like the land it came from.