famous road
Route des Grandes Alpes
France's ultimate driving route: ~700 km from Lake Geneva to the Riviera over 16 great alpine cols including Iseran and Galibier. Pin marks the traditional start at Thonon-les-Bains.
0 km · about 5 min drive
EuropeFranceRhône-Alpes
Thonon-les-Bains
Rhône-Alpes, France · Europe
About Thonon-les-Bains
Thonon-les-Bains is worth a stop: 5 minutes from Armoy, right by Route des Grandes Alpes.
Thonon-les-Bains is in Rhône-Alpes, France, with about 32,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Armoy, about 4 km away.
Thonon-les-Bains (French pronunciation: [tɔnɔ̃ le bɛ̃]; Savoyard: Tonon; Italian: Tonone; lit. 'Thonon-the-Baths'), or simply Thonon, is a subprefecture of the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in Eastern France. Thonon-les-Bains is part of a transborder metropolitan area known as GrandRead more
Genève. It is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva (French: Lac Léman, or simply Le Léman).
Where to Stay in Thonon-les-Bains
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Thonon-les-Bains?
Within an hour or so of Thonon-les-Bains: Route des Grandes Alpes (0 km), Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) (12 km), Lavaux Vineyard Terraces (23 km), Montreux (34 km).
Are there any good drives near Thonon-les-Bains?
The nearest famous roads are Col de la Forclaz (Valais), Col des Aravis and Col du Pillon.
Where is Thonon-les-Bains?
Thonon-les-Bains is in Rhône-Alpes, France, about 4 km from Armoy.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 31,684
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- France
- Region
- Rhône-Alpes
- Timezone
- Europe/Paris
- Coordinates
- 46.3705, 6.4798
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in France
Carrying a warning triangle and hi-vis vest in your vehicle is mandatory. Motorway emergency phones connect to official breakdown services only.
Full driving guide for FranceTags
Worth the detour from Thonon-les-Bains
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
natural wonder
Lake Geneva (Lac Léman)
Western Europe's largest lake, shared with France, framed by the Alps and lined with vineyards, castles, and the famous Jet d'Eau fountain.
12 km · about 20 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Lavaux Vineyard Terraces
UNESCO-listed terraced vineyards cascading down to Lake Geneva, cultivated since the 11th century with spectacular views of the Alps.
23 km · about 25 min drive
landmark
Montreux
The 'Pearl of the Swiss Riviera' on Lake Geneva, home to the famous jazz festival, Freddie Mercury's statue, and nearby Château de Chillon.
34 km · about 40 min drive
castle
Château de Chillon
A medieval island castle on the shores of Lake Geneva, the most visited historic monument in Switzerland.
35 km · about 40 min drive
waterfall
Cascade du Rouget
Known as the 'Queen of the Alps,' this dramatic 90-meter double waterfall cascades down a cliff face in Haute-Savoie.
44 km · about 50 min drive
natural wonder
Lac d'Emosson
A high dam lake reached by a steep dead-end road, facing directly across to the Mont Blanc massif. Dinosaur trackways lie on the slabs above it.
48 km · about 55 min drive
landmark
Gruyères
Car-free hilltop town of a single cobbled street rising to a 13th-century castle amid cheese country, with the surreal twist of the H.R. Giger Museum and its Alien-themed bar inside Château St. Germain.
52 km · about 60 min drive
Driving roads near Thonon-les-Bains
- Right hereRoute des Grandes AlpesFrance's ultimate driving route: ~700 km from Lake Geneva to the Riviera over 16 great alpine cols including Iseran and Galibier. Pin marks the traditional start at Thonon-les-Bains.
- 23 kmLavaux Vineyard TerracesUNESCO-listed terraced vineyards cascading down to Lake Geneva, cultivated since the 11th century with spectacular views of the Alps.
- 53 kmCol de la Forclaz (Valais)The pass above Martigny on the road to Chamonix, kept open all year and a natural gateway to the Mont Blanc valleys.
- 56 kmCol du PillonA 1,546 m pass in the Vaud Alps between Les Diablerets and Gstaad, the gateway to the Glacier 3000 cable car and a smooth, scenic link on any western Swiss Alps road trip.
- 56 kmCol des AravisA 1,486 m pass between La Clusaz and Flumet with a tiny chapel at the summit and a postcard head-on view of Mont Blanc framed by alpine pastures.
- 62 kmSanetsch PassA spectacular dead-end climb from the Rhône vineyards above Sion past the Tsanfleuron glacier to 2,242 m; because no through road exists it stays near-empty, and only a cable car continues to Gsteig.
Driving in France
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.85/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€10.00/100km
When to drive here
April to October
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