Geneva Lake Reviews

Lake Geneva is a quaint area with a beautiful lake and cute beaches. Make sure you get out on a boat and see the beautiful homes!

We took a tour by boat around Lake Geneva, and it was fantastic. The views were stunning and the mansions really remarkable.Everyone should go on at least one of the tour boats. The guides were very entertaining and surprisingly young- college age. I was very impressed by the cleanliness of the lake and town. It remanded me of a very big Cooperstown in upstate NY. We will be back!

After traveling through downtown Lake Geneva to get the Lake Geneva Public Beach, it was somewhat of a disappointment. The beach over so crowded one could not move. We won't go back!

Wow! This is a very nice and clean lake and beach area. A nice place for couples or families to go and enjoy the day...

In October the beach is free. The lakefront in downtown Lake Geneva is the major attraction in this area. Lots of people, shops, restaurants, and just items of interest within about a 3 square mile area along the lake front. So beautiful and lots of fun. Make sure you go into the lakefront mini mall called the Riviera building and enjoy some flavored popcorn at Nina's Popcorn shop. We had salted caramel kettle corn that the kids are still raving about. Yum! Take the Lake Geneva Sundowner cruise to watch the sunset...absolutely beautiful. Get there early and sit on the right side of the boat for best shoreline views.

Pros: interesting shops, with good art work, con: most of the stores have high markups.
Pros: plenty of parking con: pay, pay, and pay - an elaborate parking scheme in quarters up to a 5 hour limit.
Pros: the park around the harbor is very nice, con: hard to find a bench without someone laying in it or moving the benches together like in camping.
I guess we are use to the many Michigan beach towns with a variety of shopping and activities with plentiful free parking.

A quaint resort town with a lot of charm. So much to do every weekend and the Christmas holiday season is beautiful in this little town. The Venetian festival is wonderful. There r plenty of restaurants for every taste and price. A great weekend road trip.

My daughter and I spent the weekend in town, and walked down to the Lake from a few different points. It’s beautiful, and in a beautiful part of Wisconsin. It was too early in the year to go into the lake, or take a boat ride, but we sure enjoyed it’s beauty. We also learned two things new- it’s the second deepest Lake in Wisconsin at (I believe) 135 feet at its deepest part! The other thing we learned is it’s actually called ‘Geneva Lake’, not Lake Geneva. We’d definitely like to come back in the summer and actually go out on it!

Always something to do. Zip-lining was a blast and The Boat House and Grandma Vickies are great places to eat!

The lake geneva area is amazing. Quaint downtown. Super clean lake with an incredible amount of water sports options. Great little beach, walking paths etc... There is so much to do you won't know what to do first. Great place to visit.

The lake is in a great area and it is what really makes the area special. There is a public beach, a path around the entire lake (about 26 miles), a cruise line and there is the city of Lake Geneva that has a lot of quaint, eccentric or one of a kind of stores and restaurants. This is a fun place to take the kids, as there are a number of things to do with them. I must admit that I never realized that the lake itself is actually "Geneva Lake" and I have been around for a few decades!

It's a well know place to visit to see fall color in Wisconsin. I would try visit even next summer. It's beautiful. Plenty parking space, lots of lake facing benches. Wisconsin take care of everything to keep tourists happy. Take a sunset walk, try a local restaurant and take few pictures back home.

Had a hour or so to kill for lunch while working in Harvard, IL so decided to take a quick drive over to lake and relax for a while. The scenery is beautiful and the water looks gorgeous. It was a beautiful day and this place was definitely worth but trip. Would have loved to do one of the boat trips but time did not allow. Will definitely return to the area as it is beautiful. There are also plenty of great restaurants nearby if you need to grab a quick bite. I recommend anyone in the area looking for a place to have a nice relaxing day to come here.

Geneva Lake is Spring fed 4500 acre lake with clear water and is an average of 135 feet deep. It's a beautiful body of water!

Our family loves Geneva Lake and the Rivera beach. My grandkids have had so many sandcastle during our summer visits. In fall, it’s pretty with all the pretty colored trees in the background. On clear nights, sunsets are beautiful!

Lake Geneva is a very comfortable place to relax and get away from the big city life. Friendly people, nice facilities, and clean air. We have been there in all four seasons and it is worth the trip any time of the year.

BEWARE of the PARKING TRAP!!
Like a speed trap...$30 fine for expired meter or not realizing $ required!! And. NOT well posted!!!...at some locations.
Otherwise, seems to be a very nice large resort town. Nice shopping.
But, $4.00/hrs to park.

Although I was here in August, I was not very impressed with the beach (very, very small and crowded) and the town itself seemed very small. I expected more places to eat and shopping. I wasn't able to walk the full path in front of the mansions, I did love what I saw - it is funny that you walk in the yards of these giant mansions.

As an anniversary gift we were given a private tour of the lake on the Lorelei. Ed, the captain was friendly and informative and his wife, Pat served great cocktails. This lake is absolutely beautiful and the lake estates are something to behold. Very enjoyable experience.

I love Lake Geneva no matter the season. It is beautiful and peaceful. The beach is great in the summer and the winter! I'm always happy when I go here!

I loved spending a day on Geneva Lake in October. The fall colors were stunning, and the lake itself is beautiful. We took a boat tour and still talk about how much fun we had.

Either walking by the Lake or taking a boat ride on a nice day it is a perfect way to relax. Lots of eating opportunities off the lake.

The lake is divine, very calm and surrounded with a Forrest. It's a little windy but it's worth the visit.

This lake is in the middle of Geneva town with easy access from either side, ferries run up and down the lake especially in the summer months. The Jet d'eau water spout is worth visiting as well but make sure you check which way the wind is blowing before you get too close or you will get absolutely soaked.

Fun time on the lake with family and friends. Weather was cold but company was warm and friendly. The Lake gets filled up on the weekends but is a good time.

Lake Geneva is a beautiful, serene, and large lake. There are many golf courses, resorts, and restaurants within just a few miles of the lake itself. Supper clubs dot the surrounding areas, and a genuine Wisconsin experience can be had. However, there are some huge negatives. First off, the locals HATE tourists - (not exclusive to Lake Geneva of course) - so much so that there have been times when I wasn't served in a bar because they knew I was from Chicago. Local staff members are often rude and dismissive, despite the fact their economy relies on tourism. Don't even think about fishing without a license, and do not plan to walk around downtown after dinner time without being questioned by the police in a derogatory manner. Additionally...remember when I mentioned there are lots of things to do within a few miles? This is certainly true; but with one main roadway through downtown, it is impossible to go through, around, or about town without great traffic delays. If you plan to visit the town proper, be sure to plan for a several hour delay if you have to pass the main areas.

We come here on a regular basis with our daughter. The town is sweet and family friendly. Nice little shops and plenty of various restaurants. Would recommend everybody to come here at least once. A lot of different activities like boating, jet skiing, walking by the lake or taking the ship tour around the lake. Every day on Lake Geneva is really special.

I enjoyed Lake Geneva with their food establishments, shops, and vistas. IF you can find a parkjing spot, walk around and take in LG yourself. You might consider taking a boat tour excursion. They have several that do part of the lake, all of the lake, or watch them deliver mail to boat docks. I've been told this is the last place in the US that still delivers the mail via boat, on a regular basis. They have college aged kids jump off the boat onto a dock, deliver mail, take any outgoinig mail, and get back on the unstopping boat before it leaves the dock,

We started out by taking the 2 hour boat full lake tour. That was fantastic! The homes and history there is so interesting. The downtown area has many quaint shops and restaurants. We truly enjoyed visiting that area and shopping. It's a lovely "small town America" feel.This was a great weekend getaway for us. The trees were absolutely stunning! I am sure the summer time is fun, but this time of year is just breathtaking! I highly recommend Lake Geneva for a nice getaway!

We enjoyed the trip around the lake with some history of the homes past and present. We would really like to come back in the summer for the mail boat tour, sounds like fun! Lots of rental choices on the lake, speed boats, jet-skis, pontoon boats, or bring your own. We had a great time on the tour boat, sit back, relax and enjoy the views.

Beach, walking paths, nature, zip lining, boating, shopping, beautiful views! Wonderful places to stay - Grand Geneva, Geneva National, the Abby, B&B's, hotels. It is all there.

We recently visited Lake Geneva for the first time and we loved it's charm and beauty. Our first visit was just to let the kids play on the man-made beach and to get ice-cream in town (at the delicious Kilwin's) and then our next visit was on a sundowner tour of the lake and it's gorgeous lakefront homes. We got a tip from a local that the beach is free after 5, so we waited a while to just have a free hour in the sand and water.

The boat tour was in perfect weather and our captain gave us a great tour of about an hour around a small part of the lake with homes of families such as the Wrigleys of Chicago. Upon getting home, I saw an article that told about the 100th anniversary of the Lake Geneva Mail delivery boat. You can also take a morning tour that includes the mail "jumpers" delivering mail as the boat tour happens... wish we could have done that!

The lake is about a one and half hour drive from Chicago. We stopped on the way to have a look at the beautiful old Yerkes Observatory at Williams Bay (only open for tours on certain days), then continued on for lunch at the Grandview Inn which has spectacular lake views. We had a fun wander through Lake Geneva township and shops before heading back to Chicago.

The lake and views are very nice. Definitely do the boat tour around the lake. The Dow town ambiance is nice on a summer day.

I received parking ticket in the mail WITH LATE FEES. There was never a parking ticking on my vehicle when I returned to it. I was willing to pay the ticket but was disagreeing about the late fees because the notice I received thru the mail was my first knowledge of it. The lady in charge refused the waive the late fees.

We were at a resort on Geneva Lake for a wedding. The area is beautiful with so many different things to see.

Geneva lake is beautiful so many beautiful homes so many activities jet skiing several different boat tours on the lake speed boats is awesome and it's so serene you could spend all day out there

Beyond the thunder dome busy on summer weekends. It is a beautiful lake surrounded by magnificent homes. Take the boat tour to really see the lake or take the 20 plus mile walking path around the entire lake. The town has the usual rubbish tourist stores. Overpriced restaurants and the usual ice cream shops. Nevertheless it's a great place to take the wife and or the family. Rent a boat but watch out for choppy waters on the weekends. Good golfing and pleasant walks.

A terrific vacation spot located close enough to Chicago for a day Trip. There is a lot of touristy stuff but it is a wonderfully charming place to see and is a breathe of fresh air.

This town caters to vacationers. It has both high end shops and discount shops, a wide variety of restaurants, and a beautiful lake. The locals are very friendly. Great place to visit.

This is a excellent place to just stop and take a walk. Make sure it is on a off day because this place can be very busy. It is a pretty place and a easy walk. A most see if you are in Wisconsin.

Taking advantage of wonderful weather we went on the mail boat tour. I was concerned about 2.5 hrs. but every moment was wonderful. Be sure to sit downstairs and up front for the full action of the teens jumping on and off delivering the mail. Later we went to the Yerkes Observatory- what a find. We stayed at the Grand Geneva Resort in a Holiday Inn Time Share- Building 6 room 648 a corner unit was great. I said to my husband that I could spend the summer there. If you need lot of space rent one with a fireplace. The Geneva Inn was a picture delight for dining outside. Next time we will do a winery, the Dancing Horses... It was a delightful 4 day stay.
Parking in town is amazing. Pay for street parking with a credit card that will send a message to your phone as to whether you want to add more time to the parking meter using your phone!

Fantastic scenery, the lake was beautiful, the sky is so amazing in the evening over the lake, if you love sunsets, you would love this.

Be very careful when parking in or around downtown Lake Geneva. Most of the parking is paid parking that is enforced 7 days a week, but it is VERY POORLY marked. The fine for "expired meter" is $30, but there are no meters!

I met some friends for lunch on Sunday, April 6th, and parked in the 700 block of Main Street. There was no meter nor anything else to indicate that it was paid parking anywhere around the parking space. I spent about 40 minutes in the restaurant and when I came out there was a parking ticket on my car. The time stamp showed it had been issued 3 minutes after I had parked!

The enforcement officer must have been hiding around the corner or something! The lack of anything to alert a driver that the space required payment coupled with the hyper-rapid enforcement makes me think this is a parking scam the city uses to fleece visitors.

This was my first visit to Lake Geneva, and because of this it will most likely be my last. It looks like a charming town, but I really dislike being ripped off

beautiful place to be anytime of day or night love the tranquility of the lake and recommend it to everyone

I have lived in this wonderful town of Lake Geneva for 28 years now and a highlight is being able to walk the lake path. It's nearly 26 miles around and some people have made an entire day of it and walked the whole way. My husband and I divided up our walks, but saw every section. The variety of homes, architecture, history, style is surprising. The state law provides public access to a walkway around the lake. The walkway is supposed to maintained by the property owners and open at all times. Over the decades, there have been a few battles by the property owners to restrict public access, but in this area Wisconsin has remained admirably progressive. You do have to stay on the path, but that's fair. Hey, people can walk past my house.....why shouldn't we be able to walk past the Wrigley mansions? I rated this a 4 instead of a 5 because there is one section on the south part of the lake where one subdivision has managed to route the walker away from the lake and through the subdivision. So, for this short part of the walk, access to the lake view is denied. I'm not sure why that is allowed, but really can't complain since it's the exception to the rule. Whichever direction you head from downtown onto the path, you won't be disappointed. Our favorite route was heading west from Library Park towards Williams Bay. That's about a 3-hour walk. We had two cars at the time and would park one there and drive home. There are several good restaurants and nice shops in Williams Bay. But any part of the walk is very interesting, any time of year. (As I said, I live here so the date of visit part of this review does not apply, but the site doesn't provide that option of input.)

The lake is huge and you can rent a boat on almost every corner. We ate at Anthony's steak house but it does not open till 4:00

The lake is gorgeous and continues to be honored by patrons who keep it clean. The walk around the lake is 26 miles and has designated paths for the hiking enthusiast. If you like Lake Geneva, you'll love the lake in Williams Bay and Fontana which have less traffic.

Stayed at the Grand Geneva Resort for a business trip / family vacation. Excellent rooms, great service, dining, and shopping opportunities. The golf courses were in excellent shape and the water park was a great time.

Its a quiet place wherein one can spend some quality time with family and friends. Away from the hustle bustle... peaceful.

The lake is beautiful and very big. Mansions line some of the edges of it and a nice sidewalk to walk right near the lake.

The walking tour is an excellent way to hear about the history of Lake Geneva. It used to be on Thursday evening,
this year it is Saturday morning. You meet outside of the Rivera in downtown Lake Geneva next to the lake. I think it starts at 10am and costs $10.

Beautiful Lake Geneva has so much to offer. The various boat cruises are great!!!. Swimming on the main beach, so refreshing. Take your own boat out for the day and dock at the restaurants to eat. Hiking the path around the lake, great. Even the town in general, touring the streets looking at the homes, shopping, eats, and even antiques. Did I mention the surrounding area Como, Delavan? Totally loved it for summer fun. Elkhorn has a quarterly antique flea market which is Fabulous. Take the Mail boat cruise which is unique and the best way to see mansions up close. The young people deliver the mail jumping off and back on the docks as the boat goes on.

It is a Great Lake with tremendous history. We took a Lake tour and thoroughly enjoyed seeing the mansions and hearing the history of them. Great place not far from Chicago.

Nice lake and scenery, many shops, many restaurants and be set to spend many $$$$$$$. We have travel throughout the States and this is not an inexpensive place to visit. You cannot shop or eat at a relaxed pace due to the damn parking meters. They charge $1.00 an hour for every spot in the downtown area and they have active meter attendants! That is not being tourist friendly! This is our first visit any will probably be our last.

We go to Jimmy Johns everyday from Burlington. Great food all around as they have everything. For Pizza you must go to Gino's East. The lake is one of the best for Bass fishing all summer long.

So pretty. I really enjoyed my visit. I will come back again. Amazing little town, cute stores, great for all ages. Must visit, even if for a day in the summer.

Lots of fun little shops. The Lake trail is a great day hike. Good restaurants. Also a lake boat tour is a must.

Beautiful place. Love it so much we go every year. We take the 2 hour full lake tour. Beautiful 😘..

While driving through town we stopped for Literally a couple of minutes for a picture by the lake and had a twenty dollar ticket on the car. Zero Grace period? Very unwelcoming.

This lake is a beautiful spot for relaxation and renewal. You can take a boat tour, rent a boat or jet ski, walk the path around the lake, or simply sit beside this serene spot! A great place to vacation, or just a weekend getaway!

The beach area is very clean and the sand is quite powdery for a lake. This is a great place to bring your family. There are many restaurants to choose from and plenty of attractions to keep you busy.

Very crowded, clean beach. Nice look out. Lots of places downtown to eat, look, shop and explore. Plan lots of time.

my family has been coming to this Lake in Wisconsin for over 60 years from Philadelphia. Deep, clean fresh water. Not muddy at all. So much nicer and refreshing than the ocean.

Geneva Lake is a gem located in the Kettle Moraine. It is big, beautiful, and fun!! There are beaches, jet ski, boat rentals and boat tours. It is also fun to walk a portion or all of the trail that goes around the entire lake.

We didn't get to see as much of the lake as we had hoped but we drove around the area and saw many of the sites. Beautiful ice sculptures.

It is a bit busy on weekends in the summer but there isn't a cleaner lake anywhere. Visit the town of Lake Geneva. Go to Fontana and have a beer at Chucks and walk around the Abbey. Go to Williams Bay and have breakfast at Daddy Maxwells. Go to any of the beaches. Spot a car and walk the shore path from Fontan to Williams Bay ( 1-1/2 hours) , Williams Bay to Lake Geneva (3-ish hours) or the entire lake (12-ish hours.) Go see The Dancing Horses and petting zoo. Take a ride on one of the sightseeing boats and learn about the wealthy Chicagoans who had homes there, and learn about the influence the Chicago Fire had on the lake. Go to the Lake Geneva Museum.

It will not be wrong to say that being on the lake for some time will remove the fatigue accumulated through out your life. It is a large size lake situated in beautiful surroundings. The word famous flower clock is located on its side.

This lake is very clean, with nice clear water. It has gorgeous homes to view also. It is not a mountain Lake, it is in a city but it has everything you want in a lake! If you swim, loaf on the beach, boat, water ski etc. boat and or fish this is as good as any.

we had such a fun time watching the folks walk around on the frozen lake as it was thawing teenagers are so amusing. The shops are super cute . I would avoid the Olymic Family resturant it put a bad taste in our mouth for the lunch we had and colored our visit.

This place was amazing. The whole town is charming. Be aware though that this place is packed with tourist. Beautiful fall colors all throughout. What a lovely visit. We will soon be back!

I never thought I would enjoy a lake destination during the winter, but the Lake Geneva area proved me wrong! The lakes were frozen, Winterfest was in full force, and hot cocoa was available everywhere. It was a winter wonderland!

Beautiful lake only a hour away from Chicago. Illinois back yard. Take a long walk along the PUBLIC trail that surrounds the entire lake shore. Stroll past beautiful lake mansions. Walk for miles or walk a section but take a walk on the lake. It's free and very cool.

Most beautiful lake around. The water is still clean, and temp is perfect. Shore path takes you around the lake, all 26 miles

Very convenient to the hotel which is right on the lake. Hotel is in walking distance to downtown Lake Geneva.

Go here during the week if possible.mvery crowded on the week ends in high season. Take the queen mary boat tour. Full bar on board and nice history of the mansions on the lake

Nice lake on the edge of the village with the same name. It has a small sand beach as well as a walking path sorrounding it. There is also a public park where in summer open musical performances take place. In the place there are several restaurants and hotels.

We loved getting the kids on Waverunners and speed boat rentals for tubing. For your best experience we suggest going on a weekday to avoid the weekend crowds.

Beautiful lake with all kinds of activities for young and old alike! Boat or jet ski rentals, dining, hotels. Perfect for summer fun

My husband and I took a trip to and around the lake - on the road and in the boat - to reconnect with childhood memories of spending every summer on the lake. It was a great time of reflection and remembrances of a childhood!

We took a drive around the lake and stopped at a couple of the small towns that dot the shoreline. It is a very relaxing place to visit, but can be quite busy on weekends.

We were within walking distance of everything. Kids love walking to KFC Burger KIng and McDonalds. Many other restaurants and stores were just around the corner.

We walked by the edge of the lake with our daughter and her family. It is gorgeous in the fall with beautiful colors. Grandsons even enjoyed!

We stayed in Chicago and were looking to get away from the city and found this great little place after spending some time in Milwaukee thanks to the trip advisor app. It was a very quaint little town and the houses were beautiful to look at.Only about an hour and a half from the city but well worth the drive to see something new!

great town nice lake with amazing view lot's to see and do or just relax on the pier and enjoy the nice view with all the trees changing color it's amazing.

The lake is unchanged for at least the last 50 years. Busy on the weekends and less busy during the week. We used Big Foot Beach on Monday and Tuesday and had an enjoyable visit with no crowds and beautiful weather in early August. Nothing fancy but nice.

No it wasn't great. It was an inexcusable disappointment! Not sure what more I can say, other than our reservations were cancelled on us 3 hours prior to arriving because they overbooked! Did I mention this is a destination resort? And they did nothing to find us comparable losing for a prepaid res made 6 months in advance.

This is my Father's business and he tries had to like or I should say get along with his clients. I pretty sure we have all had that one person we disliked but had to work with them? So please only positive reviews :)

Beautiful area for a weekend get away from Chicago......or any other big city........as long as you don't go there over a weekend. The lake is beautiful as well as many of the homes surrounding the lake. Several fine golf courses are within 30 minutes of wherever you are staying. Inadequate parking in town and around the lake make this area much more congested than the area you were trying to get away from.

We went to lake Geneva for the day. We looked around a bit, drove around the lake a bit, and looked at all the expensive houses along the lake.

Snake Road is a Rustuic road that doesnt down along the Lake Geneva just west of Lake Geneva. We took Snake Road, if you go, Go slow on Snake Road!

Lake Geneva is a beautiful and clean lake. It's nice in the winter time as the town isn't crawling with tourists. There are lots of shops in the downtown and the lake front is just gorgeous. Lots of places to stay around here and lots of places to eat. I just love Lake Geneva, its a great palce, and the lake is awesome, 2 more months and you can probably drive your car on the lake and do some ice fishing.

Every winter in February, they also have the ice sculpture contests, which is a really fun time if you dont mind the cold.

Lake Geneva is the place and has always been the place where people from Chicago go, to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. SO close to the CIty of Chicago makes for easy quick get away to Lake Geneva.

Lake Geneva is an absolutely beautiful lake that caters to tourists, but yet not too touristy. The lake is crystal clear and beautiful. There is plenty to do here and a small beach to enjoy as well.

We took a ride on the mail boat to get a tour of the lake. It was a great experience, getting the tour with a guide to hear about the history of the lake.

Lake Geneva is a nice large lake I did some fishing you have to search out spots on land or rent a boat . Boat rental costs were on the high side a charter is more cost effective really beautiful place.

We did a boat tour and it was awesome. The weather was great and the houses on this lake are incredible...worth the look around!!

I grew up in a shore town and Geneva Lake/Lake Geneva puts it to shame in terms of being organized to help visitors. We loved this pristine town where a map clearly showed where pay and free parking could be found. Public restrooms, great restaurants, a pristine public beach, a free footpath all around the lake. I don't know how the town did it, but they managed to arranged this footpath which goes through the back yards of private homes--and the homeowners have to maintain the path!. We walked a few miles around but talked to some people who have hiked the entire path of 20ish miles in one day.

Took two boat trips and did some walking around the lake. The lake looks pretty clean. (We did not go in the water).

Geneva Lake is a gorgeous lake in southern Wisconsin. There are many things to do for the outdoorsy type, but simply driving around and taking photos is a worthwhile.

Visited from Michigan for 3 nights, 4 days. Lake Geneva reminds this Michigander of Traverse City minus the cherries, but Lake Geneva is much more affordable. Great shops, fabulous food and many, many things to do. Boating, jet skiing, ziplining, parasailing, or just relaxing--it has it all. It's located close enough to outlet malls if that is your thing or a visit to the Jelly Belly distribution center for a free tour. I would definitely visit again--in fact, after I got home from my most recent trip, I tried to find another friend who wanted to go with me in August!

A gorgeous lake.... very neat and tidy. Very clean and picture perfect! Lots of fun activities to do on the water!

We learned during our recent trip that Geneva Lake is designed for boaters not swimmers. The public beaches are very small and charge a fee. There were many boat rental options and of course the Lake Geneva Cruises.

Lake Geneva has so much to offer. We bring our boat out every year to spend a day on LG. Big Foot beach is a great place to anchor and chill. Lots of places to visit to get some food and a drink. Can be rough for smaller boats but worth a trip!

Surveyed the shoreline by cruise boat. The sunset was great and homes impressive. The huge expanse of water has a continuous hiking path which takes you all the way around in about 11hours.

The last two times we were in LG parking on Sunday was free. So, today we were there, and of course NO SIGNS anywhere explaining how much or what days to pay. But since it was Sunday, and I was here before on Sundays, I knew it was FREE. We walked down the street about five minutes, as I realized it may have been free in the past because we were here off season. By the time we got back to our car (maybe 10 mins passed), we had a TICKET!!! This is insane. It doesn't take much to have a sign clearly stating parking rules. BUT, I realize that by doing this, in the off season, they probably make a lot of money on Sundays even though it's not required.

The Lake has a path that goes all the way around the lake, about 21 miles in all. The path goes through the back yards of residents and thus, is not easily used for running or biking all the way around the lake. However, certain stretches of 3-5 miles can be ridden or run.

The Lake is beautiful with clear water and there is always something occurring in each section of the Lake.

The eastern side of the lake is busier. If it seems overcrowded, you can go to the western side for more tranquility and less water traffic.

The water is clear and 80 degrees in August. It can get a little rough due to all of the boats. There are boat rentals, tour boats, and even a catamaran.

This is the place if you are looking for a great day on the water.

We visited Lake Geneva as a day trip for Mother's Day and had a great time! Parking is abundant (metered), the downtown area is filed with shops, restaurants and bars and between the shore path, Riviera beach, boat rentals and boat tours Lake Geneva is a great place to visit! There are also plenty of hotel options in and around Lake Geneva so finding a place to stay will never be a problem. Make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes, especially needed for the shore path, and a camera as Lake Geneva is a beautiful place to take pictures!

Parking fines are a racket. We parked, tried to read sign. Had no clue we had to pay. Got ticket for $30. Terrible, terrible. I'll never go back. We spent money at a business and that's how they treat you. Sign was too high to read. Very upset!!

Beautiful lake and town. Lots of restaurants, bars and shopping. Had a great lunch at Scuttlebutts. Stayed with friends that live in area.

We had a great time, but the weekends are crazy busy. You have to pay $7 per person to step foot on the beach, so getting to the water is near impossible without paying to park the car, then paying to enter the packed beach. We rented a boat for more privacy and some peace and quiet. There are a couple nearby parks that are great for sitting and relaxing as well. The path around the lake is also nice. If you are looking for an affordable, calm weekend don't go here unless you have a house here as hotels, parking, eating, etc are expensive. It was great for one weekend, but in the future I will go somewhere a little less well known.

Love that this lake is an easy drive from where we live. Its just a straight drive up IL Route 47, an hour drive up to and hour and a half in heavier traffic coming home. It is a beautiful lake town with plenty of restaurants, little shops and hotels for different budgets. It has enough activities to suit most visitors. Summer is always pleasurable, if you like to be among the crowds, but we have been traveling up their more in early fall after the schools are back in session. So peaceful and easier to maneuver the streets at that time of year. Weekdays are even quieter and makes you feel as if you are a local.

Enjoyed the narrated boat tour explaining the history! Very interesting to hear who owns all the houses around the lake.

After visiting the beach, swimming in the lake, and walking around the docks, we wandered around looking at the stores and eating wonderful homemade ice cream.

We would definitely go again. Next time we might do the boat tour to ogle the huge homes.

Nice place for walks around the lake in summer, and winter activities in the cold months (ice fishing, ice skating, etc). Can be a little crazy downtown during the summer, but worth it. Don't expect world class food, but good local eats (bereft of any international cuisine). Steaks, chops, brats, burgers, and bar food OK. Great for young families, and couples but families with teenagers may be difficult, unless renting boats, jet ski's, zip line, etc ($$).

Nice place to visit in Geneva
We kept going to this place almost weekly for the last 15 years with family and friends
Sure will keep doing it

Lake is beautiful. Take the 10:00 AM mail delivery boat tour if at all possible. It is well narrated about the history and homes around the lake and great fun to watch the "mailman" jump from the boat to deliver the mail and then jump back on as the boat does not stop.

Watch your speed on the way into Lake Geneva, speed traps everywhere !!!!! I found free parking on the side streets corner of main st and madison or main st and Warren both are passed the geneva library. The library is a cool place to see and take pics. It is a historical library. I think the ghost busters been there before 😂 .
I say had over to kilwins ice scream shop get an ice scream and walk over to the lake and find a bench to sit. The lake front is a nice place to walk 🚶 and people watch. You can also bring your dog by the lake. ( FYI. There is a beach area to swim and to have a picnic.) Regards to food, there isn't really anything different to try besides american style food hamburgers, pizza and hotdogs. Unless you try wisconsin cheese kurds.
There are boats and wave runners to rent. This is also a boat cruise with dinner. There are also many small shops to look around and see different types of items. Off of Main st is where you basically want to walk around. I say it is a GO . GO HAVE AN ICE SCREAM AND A SMILE. I personally wouldn't stay there for more than one day.

On a hot day we wished we had also brought our suits for the beach instead of only taking one of the tour boat tours. The town is enjoyable for dining, shopping and people watching. Good Daytrip!

There is a public path on private lots that circles the lake. It is an excellent experience. We only walked about 30 minutes but it is fun to see how every home owner does it differently. One path had a fence with inspirational saying, a book you could write in. Others were basic paths. Would love to just walk around the entire lake one day

Very Busy, but lovely place to visit. difficult packing your car in the day.2 hr trip round the lake & some lovely houses to see.

This is our first trip in a 5th wheel to Lake Geneva to visit family. We are actually staying at Coachman Terrace RV Park near the lake...a great place to stay if you are in a motor home. My sister gave me a tour of the town...loved it. The homes on the water are actually humongous mansions...just gorgeous! The homes in town are quaint, old fashioned homes with large trees lining the street. This is the kinda town people wish they lived in. While it is a touristy town being on a very nice lake for water activities, it is also full of great restaurants and shops of every kind. I like the charm of visiting this place and my sister loves living here. They are never bored, and I can see why! Tomorrow we are going kayaking and today we took a 2 hr. tour of the lake on a lovely old fashioned steamboat...which I highly recommend!

We were so happy that one of the boats was still operating. The ride was very smooth, and the captain did an excellent job telling about the history of the region and the owners of the various mansions and camps around the lake.

Be sure to take a boat tour of the lake. The 2-hour tour was wonderful. Great views of the lovely homes and estates around the lake. The narration was informative and interesting!

Went there with friends to take advantage of an on line scavenger hunt that one of them won and thoroughly enjoyed the entire area the weekend before Memorial Day. Daytime temperate and evenings still cool but locals warned us that the influx starts on the holiday weekend for the summer and doesn't abate until early October.

We have visited Lake Geneva many times over the years. This weekend we were there for a family wedding at the Riveria Ballroom. There are shops of all kinds,big and little, fancy and simple and all kinds of restaurants. There is something for everyone of all ages. The lake itself is beautiful and theere are many opportunities to either get a boat ride or sport vehicle for rent. Not to mention the great beach right there next to the Riveria. The only drawback is that parking can be a nightmare. My suggestion, cab it ! Some guests didn't make it to the wedding ceremony due to the extended search for parking. Some went back to their hotels, left their cars and called for a cab to get them to the wedding.

It is a nice place to visit, it was snowing and raining but I had fun, walking , enjoying beautiful lake, lakes are the beautiful places in switzerland you must visit .

Enjoyed sitting on a bench watching the kite boarders handle the waves. The sunset that evening was gorgeous. Such a beautiful lake and atmosphere.

Geneva Lake beach is awfully busy especially in the summer. After five p.m it's free to get in which is always nice. When entering the beach there isn't much room to lay your things down especially when there are so many tourists already there. It's very cramped and not spacious at all. Although it is a clean beach to swim at and there are a lot of life guards on duty. You can swim out to the two piers that they have there and get a closer look at the boats that are parked near them. This is a great beach of you want to have a nice time with family or friends.

We went on the boat tour that delivers the mail to the residents that live on the lake. It is a 2 and a half hour tour that circles the entire lake. This was the best time and money spent. Captain Ames and the young men that jump off of the moving boat to deliver the mail at each pier is very dramatic and entertaining throughout each delivery. Awesome young men both in their athletic prowess and eloquent speaking skills reinforce what it takes to be leaders.

Rented a boat and spent the day on the lake just a 10 minute ride from Grand Geneva resort. Rented a pontoon and tubes and the family had a great time.

Don't waste your time with this amateur bush league guide. I had an appointment to fish with this guy the morning of july 29th at 6:30 am. It was my 52nd birthday and planned to spend the day fishing with my son.After I got up at 3:45am in the morning and drove 2 hours to the lake I see this guy leaving as I walked up to pier. I called him on the phone to see what's up, and it was clear he double booked the day. He said that he doesn't recall making the appointment, but I can assure you 100% that I booked this trip on Friday July 25th at 6:00pm. DID YOU EVER HEAR OF A CALENDER NUM NUTS!! No apology, no remorse, the answer I got from this clown was Sh** happens". If your family was in danger with this guy as he forgot safety measures. would you want to hear ....Sh** happens.Stay away. There was another guide there. Chuck who helped me out that morning and set me up with Dan at Lake Geneva Bait store. I highly recommend both these guy over Mr wanna be. They have more professionalism in their right thumb than this idiot.

Whew, busy, lots of folks jamming into one place. I expected this on labor day weekend, but still.

On the nicest day of Labor day weekend, traffic was backed up for miles. Find the back way into the city and plan to walk a bit. If it's nice day, no biggy.

The main thing I didn't like was it was obvious folks from the big city were dominant here, the city attitudes were abound. On Sat. night I didn't always feel safe. I didn't see police walking or even driving around much. Just my opinion.

Food is expensive, but not outrageous.

We did go out on the lake too, and be prepared for rough waters no matter where you go on the lake. And, IMO, rude boat drivers. I thought there was a law to stay 150' away from other boats, on this lake plan on boats flying past you 25-50' away, and some of these are very large boats putting out a big wake. We were on a pretty big boat, I felt sorry for those on normal size boats.

I was happy when we headed back to Minnesota :)

Lake Geneva is a quaint little european town located just north and outside of Chicago (in Wisconsin) and as the name suggest it is all about the lake here.

There is not much to do here other than boating. No other MASS entertainment offered. So must love water and probably should plan to bring your own or pre-rent a boat to ensure you get one.

There is a nice walking trail along the lake that passes through the back yards of people houses you cannot afford.

For a small town there are lots of places to dine.

One more thing, the lake-front is perhaps 90% filled with homes, so keep that in mind - there is limited space on Lake Geneva for enjoyment.

Parking is very unclear and parking fees are outrageous. $50 for parking in a spot that isn’t marked is ridiculous. Apparently they are marked per block and there is a single kiosk to pay, but if you are a first time visitor, you don’t know that. I’ve never seen a set up like that before so we had no idea. For a tourist location, this leaves a very unwelcoming feeling, but hey, you made quite a bit of money, so that’s what matters, right? Won’t be back.

Metered street spaces and parking lots in downtown Lake Geneva will be free until February 28, 2018. The pay stations are covered -- there's no way to pay, even if you wanted to.

The Mail delivery boat tour is a must. Fun for everyone. The captain and the mail jumper do an excellent job explaining all the highlights around the lake. Get there early to get the best setting.

Lake Geneva is the perfect place for all ages, there is something for everyone, water or land lovers. It's scenic beauty is wonderful to enjoy. So many activities, great food and wonderful lodging to enjoy. I would highly recommend this destination.

Several visits in last 20 years and the place seems to be waning. Many storefronts closed, restaurants just so so, a few new shops but lots of dated merchandise. There used to be a quaint attractiveness but it is gone. Overpriced and lacklustre.

See how the "other half" lives and why Lake Geneva has been a favorite of the very rich and famous for nearly 200 years. Add in a family oriented atmosphere with great food and you have one of the midwest's hidden gems.,

Lake Geneva has nothing really new for repeat visitors. Rented a boat for a couple hours and explored the lake. This was amazing and well worth the $$$. Some amazing properties to view and appeared to be a better value than the jet skis. The guided boat tours available from the dock seem geared toward older crowds and a bit repetitive as the routes are so similar. Surprisingly some boats have plastic lawn chairs to sit on so go look at the boat before getting a ticket. 2 hours in a plastic lawn chair...umm no thanks. The beach is on the smaller side and felt more like a kids water park than a public beach.The water is clear and was warm today. Take your parking ticket with you as you can add more time via smart phone rather than returning to a meter. This can be helpful when in the middle of the lake on a boat or if you don't want to interrupt an activity. Parking is a buck an hour which seems reasonible. The pier has some basic counter fried food snack options so think popcorn, nachos hot dogs and ice cream being most popular. Bathrooms at the pier are public, free and kinda scuzzy. To be expected when public bathrooms are scarce or only for restaraunt customers. Near the back entrance to the Kilwins is a small interior corridor that has 2 bathrooms that require key codes. In an emergency Try 52. Shopping in Lake Geneva is basically trinkets, t shirts and imported novelties. If you are into this type souvenir hunting you will enjoy the repeat selections. Small town so parking is always Only a couple blocks away. The old Movie theater is closed now, arcade is closed, interesting little comic book/toy shop is closed too. Eateries, fudge, ice cream and candies are plentiful at every turn.

we rented a boat right across the street from Bella vista where we stayed ...it was a blast
be carefull on weekends ..very crowded

We took a drive around the street that faces the lake and then parked. We walked around. Stopped at some of the little shops. Use your credit card at the meter and enter your cell phone number. It will text to ask if you want to add more time. A lot to see.

The longer boat tour that shows & explains the attractions (i.e. homes) around the lake is great--we've been their several times with family as well as friends. Nice shops at the boat dock. Plenty of benches to sit around he lake and enjoy the scenery.

If you're going during tourist season I'd recommend going during the week instead of weekends because the parking by the lakefront fills up really fast & you'll end up having to park several blocks away (the only good thing about that is a better opportunity to see all the little shops away from the lake itself--just be prepared for a lot of walking!).

Another relaxing fun filled tour around Lake Geneva with Scott! Not only did we catch alot of fish and " Some Really Big Fish" we learned alot about all the beautiful homes around the lake. Great experiance, great guide, great equipment.

Took a leisurely walk to the Library from the Riviera On Lake Geneva and thoroughly enjoyed the view and quietness of the early morning. Can be a great game of people, pets, and family watching on a nice day. Very beautiful place though the beach here is small and costs a fee to enter!

We enjoyed seeing the nice houses around the lake, but it was even better after getting on the lake. It was a nice size which allowed room for water sports. We saw fishing, tubing, and water skiers.

Geneva on the lake is one place I have been going for the last 45+ years! Great place to walk around on a sunny afternoon. Stop at Eddies Grill for one of the best foot long hot dogs ever! Drop over to Madsen donuts for some delicious warm donuts fresh from the oven. They've been around since 1938 so they know what their doing. For more upscale dinning stop over to the Sandy Shanty- excellent food! Take in the beautiful view of Lake Erie where you can even rent paddle boats or try the zip line in their amusement park. People watching is great too! Perfect little vacation with miniature golf. And little gift shops. Not fancy but Sure is relaxing and a fun time!

The Grand Geneva is close to everything in the area and easy to get to.A tour of L ake Geneva gave history and beautiful scenery.

We had a great day swimming and hanging out at the beach! It was a bit windy but the beach wasn't crowded and we loved hanging out swimming

You would think the lake would only be for the summer, but that is not the case. It is great to walk out on or ride a hovercraft on or go ice fishing.

I’ve been there last January it is must visit place in Geneva I really enjoyed walking around there
You will enjoy the view of the fountain and you can feed the birds there
You can take a short round in the lake by small boats you can find a lots of there

If you ever get the opportunity to go out on Geneva lake in Lake Geneva by all means go. It is a beautiful beautiful lake with astounding homes and fabulous guided boat tours

This is a beautiful Lake. Real nice shops near by. You can go swimming in summer. Just a real nice lake all around. You have to pay for parking, but it's worth it

My wife decided at the last minute that she wanted to go to Lake Geneva for her birthday during the Fourth Of July weekend. The lake is an interesting place to see. There are a lot of things you can do depending on what you want to do. We just walked around the lake. You can take a cruise, you can use the beach,etc. The downtown area by the Lake is another place to visit with all of its shops.

Mail Boat tour, lunch at Popeyes on Lake Geneva, and shopping. Great day, fun tour, excellent food. Thanks for the opportunity.

I am from the Netherlands and I was visiting my friends, who live in Chicago. They took me on a Sunday drive, for something special, they said.
And they were absolutely right! First, the drive up to Lake Geneva was absolutely stunning. We went up to Lake Geneva in November. If you take the scenic route from Chicaco to Winsconsin, you will be amazed by all the beautiful fall colors from the woods this time of year. I had never herd of Lake Geneva Winsconsin but it was worth the trip.
It is known and popular by people from Chicago and Milwaukee but other than that is has not been discovered by the large amounts of tourists from the USA or from outside the USA..
But it sure is a little gem! It is a freshwater lake that covers about 22 km. There are lots of activities whole year around, every season is different, In spring and summer you can go on the lake, swim, take boat tours, go fishing, biking etc. In wintertime you can enjoy skiing and the beautiful atmosphere of christmas decorations, To see what is going on at the lake I would advise you to visit their web page.
You can Rent bikes, boats, kayaks, snowshoes and skis.
In the streets around the Lake there are several unique shops and also you will find the famous fudge stores here. There are also some great restaurants for lunch or dining.
If you want to spent more than 1 day here you can make a reservation at one of the several hotels around the lake.

We stopped off here for lunch on our way to Lake Delevan. A lovely little town with lots of interesting shops. Good lunch at Scuttlebutts.

We have so few great summer days in the Midwest. But when they do come, spending it in Lake Geneva is one of the best. It has something for everyone. Our perfect day in the city consists of
- a hearty breakfast and coffee in one of the cafes
- 2-4 hours on a rented boat (Ernies or Leatherlips). The lake can get a bit choppy and sometimes crowded. But the traffic is 'civil'. This is not a lake of drunks on boats - but true water people.
- lunch at speedo's
- walk along the shops or the summer festivals they regularly sponsor
- if we still have energy a bike ride along the lake trail.

We've made lots of great memories here.

The lake is wonderful for wave runners and boats and jet skis and tubing and wake boarding and skiing and sun tanning. Also good for fishing. The beaches are nice and the lifeguards actually do their jobs. The water is clean.

Lake Geneva is an amazing experience from the fine dining, cool shopping water sports, beautiful Geneva Lake to all of the cool events like Winterfest, Oktoberfest and The Great Electric Christmas parade.

The guides/crew narrated some interesting history. The boat was nicely maintained 2 level vessel, even the bathrooms were in good shape. There were multiple areas to sit on the boat, in sun, shade or protected from the elements. Chairs are plastic lawn chairs which was concerning, but worked ok. Note, they only tour the east half of the lake.

Lake Geneva is the best body of water within a 3 hour drive from Chicago. The water is clean and clear, though never gets very warm. Great for boating, swimming and a day trip with the family. Lots of shopping as well as wonderful choices to dine or just to enjoy an ice cream cone. A public walking path winds completely around the lake for those who are ambitious enough
to take on the distance. A boat ride from the Riviera will show the the beautiful homes, new and old, that line the shores of Lake Geneva. Enjoy!

No need to travel to the East Coast with Lake Geneva less than two hours northwest of Chicago. Enjoy sailing on the lake, the free shore path walk, a round of golf or the many wonderful restaurants. A great family or couples vacation spot. While the summer is beautiful, late Spring or Early Fall exhibit Lake Geneva at its best and least crowded.

It was fun to play in the lake. My fiancé was freaked out by the seaweed that floats around. It was a little disturbing feeling it rub against my leg when I was in deeper waters - clearly an adjustment for city folk. I wish there was a little more beachfront because it was quite crowded. We paid $14 and were there for an hour.

The view of the lake was stunning. Unfortunately for us a storm quickly rolled in so we didn't get to enjoy any activities which included pretty much Ny water activity/sport you can think of.

Lake Geneva is very much a tourist destination in the summer months and becomes crowded with out of state travels from Illinois; many of whom have summer homes on the lake. There are plenty of opportunity to check out the many small stores that are near the lake, walk the lake path, or get something to eat in the Lake Geneva area. Because Lake Geneva is inherently a smaller town, it can get very crowded in the summer months (and during Winter Fest in early February).

The lake is the main thing in Geneva .just head for a long walk around the lake or go on a boat .The large boats are the cheapest but they are full of tourists who are mainly jumping around for pics all the way rather than enjoying the scenery. I have opted to go on a small boat to maximise the experience ( more expensive)
Don’t expect a lot from food variety and cuisine as it’s very basic

I recommend maximum two days in Geneva

We have been going to Lake Geneva for 4 years now. We will continue to go every year because we LOVE it SO much! It is such a beautiful place and the little shops and restaurants are top notch. Just this year we discovered the trail along the lake. It was a beautiful Fall day and we really enjoyed walking along the path. It was BEAUTIFUL! There is so much to see and do in Lake Geneva. Plan a visit there, you won't be disappointed!

We travel to Lake Geneva a couple of times during the summer and even did a winter visit which was really cool! We love to walk the town, visit the shops, and hit the beach. We decided we wanted to share this place with our Texas relatives and chose Lake Geneva as our destination. It was lovely! We all took the boat ride so they could hear and see the amazing history. We had our Wedding at The Ridge and it was a very nice hotel that has and still is being remodeled. (They told me they were going to add another elevator which is so needed!) We brought our dogs and the only hotel in the area that allowed pets was the Grand Geneva. We always passed this place (We never stayed overnight) on the way back home and wow! This place was HUGE! Very nice hotel and the Chop House is probably the best restaurant in Lake Geneva! If you like to take winter vacations then I recommend this place! They share their grounds with the Timber Ridge Lodge that has an indoor waterpark they also have a ski slope and stables! We like to drive on the lake and ice fish during the winter and enjoy a nice cheese soup (Although our favorite place closed this year). Apparently the rent is very high and the town is seasonal so you might fall in love with a store one year and never see it again the next.

If you have an extra day, weekend or more you should spend it in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. There are so many activities not only here, but in communities very close by. All year long there are events like, in August, wonderful Corn and Brat festivals. But don't pass up the winter as there are activities and events then as well.

Although we didn't get to experience everything as we had limited time and transportation (on a great bus trip) - loved the lake! Took the mailboat tour, saw Black Pointe Estate, stayed at The Abbey did a few other things and ate at a couple of local places.

hope to get up there again and see the observatory, walk more of the shore path and do some other things. Just enjoyed watching the boats on the lake!

My daughter and I took the Full Lake Boat Tour which was about 2 hours. It was a picture perfect day to be out on a boat! We enjoyed the narration regarding all the famous homes around the lake. Several years ago I took the mailboat cruise and that's also a good tour!. Geneva Lake is a beautiful lake!!

On a beautiful summer day, we enjoyed an hour-long boat tour where we got to see some of the beautiful houses lining the lake. The tour guides were very informative about the various properties. My only complaint is that several families traveling together on the boat let their grade-school-age kids run wild, making it hard to hear the commentary.

A beautiful sunny day called for a boat tour. The houses surrounding the lake were beautiful and the two college students telling us stories about them did a fantastic job. They were informative, funny and interesting. After living in Chicago for 18 years, it was time for a relaxing experience on the lake!

This might be the cleanest lake I have ever seen. Even at the water's edge in near the downtown, one can clearly see the bottom of the lake.

Went to Lake Geneva for my birthday celebration. Much to see and do. Take the Lake Cruise on the Walworth. If you are not familiar with the area, it is really informational and also it is a beautiful boat ride. Great restaurants and shopping. A nice change for us as we usually go to Door County. Will come back again to do more exploring.

Geneva Lake is so peaceful and relaxing! There are strips of restaurants and stores all around. If you want to stay over night make sure to do your reservation before hand because it gets packed quickly,

I love to come up to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin and spend time there, especially doing some of the water things with the grandkids, i.e. the tour boats, or the play areas at the beaches. Besides the City of Lake Geneva, Geneva Lake also has the villages of Fontana-on-Geneva-Lake, and Williams Bay. Geneva Lake is about 7 1/2 miles long and its maximum depth is 144 ft. It is interesting to note that the early settlers decided to allow for a path along the entire shoreline by saying that 20 ft. from the shoreline along the entire lake should be public domain. Take a tour boat or a lunch cruise on the lake, and you can actually rent boats. The lake can get quite busy with boat traffic.

This is a gem of a lake and surrounding area. So much to do and something for everyone. Besides lake activities the town has a great vibe to explore with theater and museum and great restaurants too!

Lake Geneva is a great resort town. The Lake is spring fed and clear, up to 140' deep and 22 miles around. There is a walking path around the entire lake. The town has numerous restaurants and stores. Great for weddings, vacations, friends gathering or just a get away. Summer weekends are busy, but Sunday pm - Friday mid-day the lake is not crowded.

The nice thing is that you can see this lake from any point you want. Even though most of the properties along the like are in private hands there is a walking path going through all of them accessible to the public. 23 miles so get comfortable shoes and make sure you have entire day for this walk.

Fun and beautiful! I've been coming to Lake Geneva for many years and it is a magnificent getaway not to far but far enough from home for my family and I.

Nice garden nice view. Peaceful you can enjoy the view BUT ----Bring your food with you. This place has no food RESTURANT. Only couple of cafe only served drinks. ------

I've been going to Geneva Lake for 40 years. I have always loved it but it is better than ever now. The communities on and around the lake are working hard at keeping their beaches clean and their atmospheres charming. Geneva Lake is great for recreation, family fun and for night life.

We had a really special day on Lake Geneva. We got a day pass for all the ships and spent the time visiting a variety places starting in Evian (France) and then visiting Lausanne, Vevez, Montreux, Bouveret (Switzerland). We spent a wonderful day getting taste of the areas. Highly recommended but plan your time table to get the most out of your day.

Wow!! We live in Florida , so spending time here was such a treat. The lake is just gorgeous, the homes that you walk past when walking around the lake are beyond stunning!!

Beautiful and serene on a cold winter day...very inviting to visit by sitting and taking in the views or fishing, maybe swimming.

The scenery and rural areas are worth the time spent. There are many great restaurants, hotels ,as well as events in several areas around the lake and the surrounding cities.

Beautiful city and lake but the public street parking enforcement is completely unreasonable. Tickets are issued with fines ranging from $20-$50 for parking on a public street where no signs are visible from the relevant parking spots. I don't mind paying a fine if I break a rule but this is a gotcha scam is apparently designed to raise funds because no signs are visible and many people complain about this without any response from the city. Truly an entrapment situation. How unfortunate. We had a great time but finding a $30 ticket on my car at the end of day when there was no notice provided concerning the need to pay left a very bad taste in my mouth. We spent over $2,000 this past weekend in the city at the hotel, shops and restaurants but aren't likely to return because we feel that we and others were treated unfairly and taken advantage of. City leaders need to seriously re-think the parking enforcement policy. Either erect adequate signage or allow free parking.

We went here for the day while visiting relatives close-by. It was a weekend day, so yes, it was a bit crowded, but we found parking rather quickly. The parking thing is kind of cool - it's like a dollar/hour, but if you find yourself still out and about and need to add more $$ to the meter, just take your parking ticket with you, and you can add onto it at any meter station in town. My hubby even added his cell phone# and he got a text when our time was about up. Kinda cool! The lake is beautiful, and like others have said there is a path about the lake that separates the big beautiful houses from the lake. You can walk as far as you want, just be respectful of the private party and enjoy the views (and peacefulness). There are some parts that smell fishy, but that's just part of being on a shoreline. Enjoy it - we sure did!

The wife and I like Lake Geneva a lot for the sight seeing, shopping and the choices of restaurants to eat in. The Lake it self is absolutely beautiful and enjoyable for all of the boaters and water skiers. If you are looking for a place to people watch, Lake Geneva is the place. We witness a beautiful wedding on one of the hotel's terrace . It was an enjoyable day for us. We are planning to do a tour on the Lake in one of the boat in the near future.

This was a lot of fun, watching the youngsters leap off the boat, gather mail, deliver mail and some how get back on the moving boat without getting soaked by falling in. Mail service by boat has been going on for over 100 years and it was fascinating. The boat ride takes about 2.5 hours and the history lesson that is provided about the Chicago gazzilionaires who settled this area and built mansions is fascinating. Take the trip!!

Be Active and Sedentary On Large, Natural, Clear, Geneva Lake

I want to visit beautiful Geneva Lake again! We (two fit, active young-spirited seniors) spent Thurs. and Fri. before Labor Day there. It wasn't very crowded. Three nights would have been preferable. His #1: Morning Mail Boat Cruise (sedentary 2 1/2 hrs.). My #1: Geneva Lake Shore Path hike (choose your hike length). We recommend both in that order. We stayed in the town of Lake Geneva at Harbor Shores. The lake is across the street. The location was ideal! We could easily walk to The Riviera (marina and beach), shops, restaurants and Flat Iron Park. Driving to towns nearby was easy.

If I had more time, I'd...
--Hike more of Geneva Lake Shore Path from various points. Public Entry: Lake Geneva Public Library, Williams Bay, Fontana, and Big Foot Beach State Park (fee)
--Visit/Hike area nature parks, nature preserves and Big Foot State Park. (Some charge a fee.)
--Explore the towns of Williams Bay and Fontana
--Visit Geneva Lake Museum to learn the rich area history (fee)
--Rent a kayak --Eat at more places with water views
--Take a sunset boat cruise

F.Y.I. Vacationing here is a bit pricey unless you camp and/or cook.

NOTE: Want more details? Read my G. L. area reviews: Geneva Lake Shore Path, Mail Boat Cruise, Harbor Shores, Gino's East, and Pier 290 (all recommended).

I have visited almost 20 states of the United States and LAKE GENEVA states on top of all attractions. It can be called as "Honeymoon Paradise" or even elderly people heaven. Young guys riding top Harley Davidson range to all sort of wonderful cars and bikes you can see here. The 1 hour boating ride on the lake is awesome where you can see lots of millionaires Villa homes. When you are at Chicago or Miluwakee or Madison it is a day trip which you should not miss

Lake Geneva pretends to be a wonderful tourist site but makes is very unpleasant to visit there if you need to park your car. My friend & I got a $20 ticket when we ran into NINE LIVES Resale store to drop off a donation. We were in the store no more than 10 minutes and went out to find a ticket on the windshield. Why is it that so many other similar tourist towns (Geneva Illinois, Woodstock, St Charles) provide FREE parking for their visitors. They are like Nazi's about collecting money --- really so very unfriendly. The last time we got a ticket the meters( which took coins )were covered in snow piles yet the city of Lake Geneva was still giving out tickets. You really ought to rethink this policy as eventually your visitors will stop coming. I don't plan to go back.

Beautiful lake. Small shops, lots of history. Enjoyed the restaurants. We went off season it was quiet. Took a very relaxing boat cruise around the lake. Carriage ride around town.

Very laid back place. Ideal for just chillin. Restaurants and Shopping close by. Walking around was pleasant experience.

Lake Geneva was crowded in the main section, but we found a place where there weren't as many people. The weather was very hot so I would recommend wearing a sun hat and sunglasses to reduce the risk of a headache. It's a nice area to explore. The downtown is pretty.

Took a boat tour along the lake. The lake is very nice. Larger than I thought it would be also saw several beautiful homes

We came here with our daughter and son in law for a relaxing time to get them out of Chicago for a long weekend. We stayed at the Grand Geneva Resort which was amazing!
We played golf, pickleball, walked around the town and ate great food!
The town is darling! Family friendly and dog friendly. Cute shops and each restaurant we ate was delicious!
The weather was beautiful!
We would recommend this place for a long weekend! Darling and fun!

We went for a two day getaway and had so fun.You can do as little or as much as you want. If you are the type that needs to be on the go, look in the Lake Geneva vacation guide or online for events. This is a great place just to unwind from a busy life style, too. There's something for everyone here!

The lake is an awesome, large, clear lake. It is great for sporting and fishing. I threw a few lines in off the marina and caught some nice large mouth bass. My kids must of caught 15 sunfish.

Geneva Lake is a naturally created lake (formed by ancient glaciers) as opposed to a man-made structure formed by damming a stream or river. Therefore, it is very clear and affords great opportunities to view the beauty of the lake bottom in many places. Fish species are diverse because of warmer and cooler waters of the shallows and deeper (up to 130 feet) depths, respectively. Just over 5000 acres in size, the clear waters of this lake provide many recreational opportunities from boating, swimming, fishing and sightseeing. The historic and magnificent (if not obscenely ostentatious) summer-homes of extremely wealthy business families (usually with roots from Chicago) are must-see features of a variety of boat tours. Resorts and moderately- to upper-level priced and maritime-flavored amenities surrounding Geneva Lake have given rise to this area being referred to as the Hamptons of the Midwest. With enough research ahead-of-travel, one can find a great way to enjoy Geneva Lake for a weekend (which is probably long enough) within a relatively wide range of budget considerations.

Loved, loved, loved Fontana and Lake Geneva! It’s similar to Traverse City, Michigan without the cherries. Great restaurants, fabulous shops and lots to do.

This lake reminds me of Lake Tahoe. Only smaller. The water is so clear it is unbelievable. We do not have lake water like this in the south. We are not accustomed to these spring fed lakes. Simply beautiful!

I have been visiting Lake Geneva all my life. When I was 6 I moved to Hebron, IL which is only 15 minutes aways from the beach if you keep straight on IL 47 until it turns to 12? in WI.

Hebron doesn't have much, so most people from Hebron spend a lot of time in Lake Geneva. My bugdetting family has spent much time at the beach after 4 when it's free (I'm one of seven, so that's a lot of kids to pay for).

The beach is by far my favorite part. The water is clear, stays warm, and you can pretty much go there anytime. I'm a night swimmer and Lake Geneva is the perfect place for that.

There is also a lot to do and you don't have to spend a lot. I personally prefer to go close or after 6pm to avoid the cost of parking meters. However, everythign got digitalized a few years back which has made that situation a lot more bearable.

There's a lot of ice cream places and cheap eats. The restaurants include popular chains like Potbelly, Subway and KFC, to more one-of-a-kind places like Simple and Baker House.

You can also roam the Lake Geneva trail that circles the lake. I've never done it, but I know a lot of people who have wandered on parts and have completed the whole thing -- a complete circle can take about a whole day!

The path isn't paved the whole way, but the lake is protected as private and law says that somewhere between 10 and 20 feet from the shoreline is public property. This ticks off lakeside property owners, but there's nothing that they can do about it.

Walking around town is another cheap pasttime, but if you have money there are tons of shops to visit, boats to rent, resorts to stay at, and all around I really enjoy what Lake Geneva has to offer.

Lake Geneva also has Winterfest for the more frigid months. Be weary about on the lake parking. Mainly, use common sense, but a few cars sunk this past Winterfest.

Visit Lake Geneva, you won't regret it!

One of the most enjoyable and beautiful walking excursions in Lake Geneva is to walk along the lake or see how far you can get around the 21 mile lake. On either side of the lake are beautiful houses that you can check out up close. The trail is is not challenging to traverse and ends up being a great workout. There are places along the lake where you can take a break and have a mindfulness experience watching the lake's waves and beautiful scenery.

Very expensive to rent boats, wave riders, etc
Not much beach space.
Parking was a pain.
But our kids enjoyed it, swam in lake, etc.

Great place to visit with many, food, gifts and water activities. Being able to walk around to everything is very convenient.

For us lake Geneva is just a couple hours away, but talk about seeing how the other side live! The mail boat tour was a great way to really get some history of the lake and some of the best views of the beautiful estates and the wooden boats that go with them. Some very good places to eat, shop, people watch, take a drive, enjoy the scenic beauty of such a large spring fed lake 170' deep in places! Worth the time!

Lake Geneva has alot to offer.
Shopping, Great Restaurants, Boating, Sunset Cruises and other cruises, Bars, Watercraft rentals.

A Must check out... I go once a month, always a great time.

It almost similar to the Alpian lakes in Switzerland. .except you won't have a snowcapped mountain background view.
Very clean water... Best option is to take a 3-4 Hr boat rental.. you can stop near a quite cove and take a dip.. most of the places it's pretty deep.. In August water temperature is perfect. . Watching the huge mansion houses on the shore is another interesting thing to do...

Lake Geneva is very beautiful - with a 22 mile path that goes around the entire lake. If you take the path south from the town of Lake Geneva you will see some huge, gorgeous properties. We only walked a couple of miles before turning around - so there is certainly more to see than we were able to get to. Really enjoyed the peaceful walk around the lake.

Lake Geneva is gorgeous and the fancy mansions are the least of it. The lake itself is pristine and wonderful.

Our son was married in May 2023 in Lake Geneva at a huge and lovely ceremony at the Riviera. We had many out of town family members and friends who had relaxing multi-night stays at The Cove and Mill Creek Inn, as well as other nearby lodging. Celebration on Wells did a fantastic job of catering our Saturday night rehearsal and Sunday reception dinners. Our multiple trips to Lake Geneva to plan the events were satisfying as well, with catering and lodging visits plus restaurant meals from many other local providers. We also got terrific advice from the Visitors Center and the Visit Lake Geneva office. Other than the weatheron the wedding day, the experience was positive. with one exception.

While visiting with old friends at a leisurely breakfast the day following the wedding, we returned to our vehicle to find that we had been ticketed for a parking violation. Normally, we would have chalked that up to yet another wedding-related expense, if it had been a reasonable fine, but a $50 fine is outrageous for a first-time street violation on a mid-May morning Monday out of prime tourist season. No other city in Wisconsin gouges visitors like this.

This lone incident has soured our experience. We suggest that the city rethink its parking fines and the word-of-mouth impact it has on your downtown merchants and future business prospects.

It is a lake with much to do all year round. Whether it be summer boating adventures or ice sculptures being made in winter, it is a nice place to hang out. It is fun for the whole family.

If you want to relax after the long day of walking around the town, Geneva Lake is a great spot. It has a very wonderful view of the Victorian houses and boats aside from the lake. There are benches where you could sit and relax-- people watch or even wait for the boats to dock from a tour around the lake.

My husband and I have a time share and are using to go to areas that we have never been before. Neither one of us had ever been to WI so we picked Lake Geneva. Our resort wasn't on the lake, but it was within minutes away. On our first day we took the Mail Boat tour. I highly recommend this. It is a fantastic way to see the entire lake and all the beautiful houses and property. We will definitely be back! We want to try the walk around the lake!

Lake Geneva is a very nice, friendly and clean town. It has the feel of something from the 1940s or 50s, but is modern at the same time. Lots of different shops and restaurants to satisfy everyone. One nice thing is that many of the downtown buildings retain their original architecture, which pays homage to its history. All the businesses we visited were very friendly and didn’t have that “you’re just a tourist” attitude.

The lake has plenty of activities, with several beaches, fishing and boating choices. Several boating tours are available and worth taking.

There is plenty of parking but it is all metered parking so expect to pay for it. But there was always a place to park and the meter kiosks are easy to use, taking cash or credit cards.

We will most likely be back to see things we missed. It was a nice break from busy Long Island, NY.

Nice beach lake was clean spent the day playing swimming and relaxing. Bathrooms were clean and a shower to wash off

This place is amazing for a view of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. It is a very beautiful lake with a lot of options for things to do. It is pricey so be prepared. It is also mostly for the motorboat/speedboat crowd and is not exactly like canoeing in the Boundary Waters

Enjoyable, and the young man talking about the estates was entertaining. Get in line early because the good seats are on the right side of the boat.

There are places that are like nowhere else on Earth. Lake Geneva is one of those places. The experiences range from exhilarating water sports in the summer, incredible colors in the fall, summer walks and boat rides, to dining, theater, history and much more.
Spend a weekend sitting by a fire and watching the sun go down, or boating on your favorite water craft, and it will feel like a week of vacation here.
The word love is often overused when referring to destinations. I have to say that I truly do love Lake Geneva and everything it has to offer.

Geneva Lake is gorgeous at any time of year. Unfortunately, it seems like everyone on Earth knows this as well. It is crowded beyond belief in the summer. The traffic gets backed up and parking is hard to find. The lake supports lots of water traffic, such as large yachts, sailboats and waverunners. When I paddle boarded the waves from the boats were ferocious from all of the traffic. It is gorgeous, just expect high crowds in the high season.

Great views, clean lakefront. Pretty fountain and picturesque property. Was chilly but peaceful before high season!

wonderful wonderful place with so much to do! Boat rental is a must and so much fun for families of all ages! beach is beautiful in the summer and lovely quaint shops in the downtown are fun to check out!

It is a must to walk on promenade on lake Geneva when you are in Geneva.It is an awesome experience when you just take a stroll by lake keeping the iconic water fountain in background.

Geneva Lake is the perfect summer escape. We only visited for one day, but would like to return for longer. While there we saw people walking the nature paths, sunning in the grass, paddle boarding, boating, water skiing, fishing, swimming, playing on the beach, picnicking and chasing Pokemon. Everyone seemed to be delighted with the warm weather, gentle breeze, and fabulous setting. Vendors sold food, and restaurants had patio seating..

We recently (February 2015) spent a weekend at a hotel with a balcony overlooking the lake. Watching the activity on the lake provided entertainment as people were driving trucks and cars on the lake, others were cross country skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, and just walking on the ice.

Deceptive parking and outrageous fines. They have signs showing public parking but the signs stating you must pay a fee or be fined are impossible to notice. A group of ten or more parking spaces has a small sign hidden and unnoticeable about the fee. Fines are $30 and double to $60 if not paid in 10 days. Clearly this is how the city is generating revenue and scamming visitors.

Lovely lake, pretty dock area. Shopping is very close within walking distance of many hotels and dining establishments.

fantastic area. rich history. Very relaxing. I would highly recommend a boat ride excursion anytime of the day

Best time for a close getaway for the holidays. Experienced Zip lining with Lake Geneva Canopy Tours. Best investment of the weekend. Also loved the Abbey Resort to stay and Shore Club for a nice dinner!!

Any Geneva Lake Boat Tour is an excellent means of seeing the historic homes & learning of the history

A lake doesn't get much better in the Midwest than Geneva Lake. Access to Chicagoland by train is efficient. By car it is a little over two hours from the city or most suburbs.
Tour boats run throughout the season, offering ice cream socials, booze cruises or dinner cruises. Many of the featured home on the tours are fantastic mansions built by Chicago's wealthiest families following the Great Chicago Fire.
There are several public beaches available, and plenty of restaurants and lodging at a variety of price points, depending on how close you want to be to the lake. Shopping is varied, and there a number of arty places tucked away to enjoy.
Boat rentals are available, but be cautious. There seems to be a sense of abandon, not caution, among the boating public on this lake. I would not recommend renting a boat on high season weekends when the lake becomes crowded and chaotic. alternatively, it is very peaceful to walk quietly along the Lake Shore Path on weekends and observe the lovely sailing races coming out of the Geneva Lake Yacht Club.

IT's well worth the time and money to see the homes on Lake Geneva by Tour Boat. Most impressive of course are the Wriggly Estates, 6 or 7 of them in total. The History of Lake Geneva is very interesting and your tour guide will keep you asking questions all along the way. Don't miss the opportunity to see this attraction sometime in your travels.

Have done this twice in the past few years. Each time food was excellent. An enjoyable time relaxing, eating and seeing the sights along the lake.

I would suggest taking the boat trip, preferably the mail boat one at 10:00 am. They have jumpers that jump off the boat, run up to shore to grab the mail and get outgoing mail, run back down the dock to jump back on the boat. About 60 stops around the lake in a two hour span. the boat does not stop, just slows. Any of tours give an overall history of the lake and it's rich inhabitants and it is a relaxing two hours on the water. (even when the sun isn't shining!)

We have been coming here for years, a beautiful lake, fun shops to explore and many different restaurants to try. There are boat tours and a nice beach to enjoy. The walking path around the lake is great for some exercise. Great for families or couples, something for everyone.

Wonderful lake atmosphere, took boat ride on Walworth full lake tour. Was awesome! Learned a lot and enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere.

By far the prettiest lake in the Midwest - a must see for anyone who loves to be on the water, boating, swimming, sight-seeing!

I have always loved Lake Geneva, but now I know there parking enforcement is the tax collectors in the Bible! We have gone there quite a few times. We are law abiding people. We stay at hotels with free parking and the hotels are really expensive now, I don't know if it is the time of the year, or it just changed after Covid. We love to shop and patronize small businesses, eat at local restaurants instead of chains. Well, it was raining so bad that we chose to park and pay on the street since we had an 8-year-old, 5-year-old and a 2-year-old with us. We are seniors. My husband could not get the parking machine to work. I said maybe it is free on Sundays but try again. After the third try, it took our credit card. We were waiting inside the building. We walked around the block with umbrellas and met relatives from the area at Popeyes. We spent quite a bit on this trip. We were leery of the two men dressed in black standing around in the rain. We go to our vehicle and every vehicle was ticketed! I guess they work for Lake Geneva, but not to help you with the parking box that either doesn't work or is just too hard to figure. We paid, but it only was for 15 minutes. It was pouring! My husband is a senior and can barely work his phone or a computer. He uses glasses which were soaked from the rain, and he couldn't see out of with all the rain. We would never cheat someone out of a few bucks. This is terrible and we may not go back because of this. They gave us a $30 ticket. I'm thinking if the machine had worked right, we owed them $4. They threaten to ruin your credit, double it after 10 days. If and when someone does a class action lawsuit, please include us.

We took a boar ride to view the Gilded Age mansions from the water - but otherwise, you cannot view it on a scenic drive, nor is there much of a beach for relaxing. The little town is not as charming or interesting as I expected, and waterfront restaurants are mediocre. The walking path offers a nice stroll, but I'd say not to plan much time here except a quick pass-through.

forget it in summer time, very busy with traffic, alot of bars, and people walking about after visiting drinking establishments, food in the down town area, are all over priced and offer nothing to brag about.shops too are over priced, alot of items you can buy for half the price or better, on line or discount stores, they do have some unique storeswith very fine items, but again very expensive. they have a beach in town that alot of younger people go to, too crowded

The lake and surrounding area is beautiful. I highly recommed renting a boat or taking a tour on the lake. Sometimes the lake is calm and on windy days it is quite choppy.

Spent 5 nights at The Cove in Lake Geneva and had a relaxing week. We enjoyed the LG museum as well as the Mailboat tour (although the 2 1/2 hours were a bit long for my 6 y/o granddaughter). We were a bit surprised that you must pay to visit the "beach" ($7 per for those over 10) but it was small and somebody has to maintain it.
Will return for sure but likely in June rather than the busy time of August.

Looking for a pleasant day trip from the Chicago area? Lake Geneva, WI has it all. Restaurants, beach, hiking trails, parks, and boat rentals are all within an easy walk.

If you have a few days to kill walking around the lake is the best way to see all the magnificent homes. If you're short on time, take one of the boat tours which give some good history of the homes and great photo ops.

Dead fish all over the beach with missing eyeballs. Crowded and difficult to find parking. Water looked dirty.

The Mail Boat Tour on Geneva Lake was terrific! The "mail jumpers" were so much fun to watch as they leapt from the boat onto the boat docks to deliver the mail. Then, they leapt back onto the boat while the boat was still moving. Views of the mansions and beautiful homes from the water were a delight.

Took two 11 year-olds on a warm mid-week day in September, for a few hours of fun. First time at LG. Eat at Egg Harbor Cafe, jet ski for an hour, ice creams, swim at the town beach. Everything easy, close, friendly. Will do the same format again, and also find time for the walks and other boats.

We visited the town of Lake Geneva on Geneva Lake. Our hotel overlooked the lake and while we were there for a quiet visit, we saw the many sports enthusiasts taking advantage of this beautiful lake. There was fishing and water sports as well as lake tours going on. I believe the lake is over 7 miles around, and you can walk sections if you want. It will be even more beautiful later in October when all the trees are colorful!

Beautiful lake and nice people. We rented a boat, a tube and had a great time on the lake in a perfect setting. The majority of the people smiled and made you feel welcome!

Nice place in the summer and in the winter.

We can enjoy many water Sports, have a bath, hi Kind around the Lake or visit ice castles, sculptures.

You will get a taste of those rich n famous n their dwelling around the lake.
A lot of places to explore.
Huge lake catering many different pursuits.
Cruise was informative n comfortable.
Worth trying.

Nice lake with great water sports . Its a cute little town and there is much to do. Rent a paddle boat and take a leisurely cruise at your own pace. The weather is some what unpredictable so make sure you have some indoor activities if you are rained out.

We saw "boat skating" , people skating, people walking from one side of the lake to the other and animals on the lake was fun. We finally got on the frozen lake and had out own fun. Scary, yet exciting!

Loved coming to Lake Geneva for a long weekend as part of a corporate trip. Very quaint with good restaurants and places to stay. The highlight is walking around the lake, boating or swimming in this very beautiful and clean lake. Great getaway if you live in Chicago or Milwaukee.

We decided to spend a few hours at the beach in Lake Geneva and then shower and head out to one of the restaurants for dinner. We live about an hour away, so it was a fun day trip.

I was surprised when the announcement came at 4 o'clock that the shower area would be closing in 30 minutes. I am not sure why it closes at 4:30. The lifeguards are there - they were there when we left around 5 pm. We weren't wanting to rush out at 4 and shower - just seems odd that they close up when the beach was very busy. We decided to just rinse off in the outdoor "shower" which is really just an ice cold spray off to remove sand. Not anything you could use to freshen up quickly. It was too cold and there's one, so you would be inconveniencing other people if you wanted to use it for more than 2 minutes!

Seaweed was everywhere as well. For some reason there were PILES of it raked up on the shoreline. Nice to have it out of the water, but odd that it is not removed in some way. Even just one large pile. The water is reasonably clean - it is a lake after all, but the seaweed sort of killed it for us. There is seaweed in the swimming area as well, but it can be avoided. We brought "noodles" and floated in an area where the seaweed was minimal.

Heads up if you want to freshen up - plan on stopping your activity at 4pm and leaving at 4:30 when the shower area closes.

One of the great benefits of living in the north suburban Chicago area is the proximity to many fun, interesting places. One destination that has to be near the top of the list is Geneva Lake.

Lake Geneva, WI is the ultimate midwest resort town and Geneva Lake is its shining jewel. There is so much to see and do around the lake: unique shops, great restaurants, neighborhoods with everything from picture-book arts and crafts cottages to multi-million-dollar mansions . . . all coming together in homage of that very special lake.

Cruise the lake with your choice of many tours. Take a leisurely walk along its perimeter path - which extends over 20-miles around the lake! - past beautiful estates. Note: you can walk the entire path in 8 or 9 hours - if you don't linger to take in the incredibly beautiful views! Hit the beach. Catch a fish. Eat a fish! So many things to do here.

Yes, it's crazy busy on the weekend. So, book a room for a couple nights. Or take a mid-week break and drive up to spend the day - if you're so lucky to live nearby. Whatever the case . . .

You will find that Geneva Lake and the surrounding area is a special place and well worth the trip. Whether you're a short drive away, or visiting from some faraway place.

Geneva Lake, or as many refer to as Lake Geneva, is our favorite easy to get to get away. Close enough to home and yet just far enough away. So many things to do if you want to, or just relax. Several nearby towns also offer nice places to stay and things to do, Fontana Williamsbay & Lake Delavane, to name a few. Many upcoming adventures for the Holiday Season as well, lots of fun.

Delicious food (especially the bacon, cooked just right). Great service and good social distancing rules in place.

The view of the lake from the room was so calming and beautiful! Definitely recommend to request when you stay here. :)

Enjoyable area with all the typical WI tourist stuff. Variety of activities makes the area interesting although it is a bit pricey.

My husband and I visited over Memorial Day weekend and camped and rode our motorcycles around Lake Geneva, Geneva Lake and surrounding communities. No doubt, this area of Wisconsin is very pretty and eye appealing. However, it is a cluster - especially over the holiday weekend. I understand this is a "popular' place for others, but we are NOT crowd people. We prefer more quiet and laid back and this is definitely NOT that - people are EVERYWHERE. You cannot get through downtown quickly without stopping for crowds of peopel everywhere. Parking is scattered and expect to wait in long lines for people "waiting" for someone they think is leaving only for that person to retrieve something from their vehicle to go back to their event again while traffic continues to back up. This place is just not our personal and individual idea of fun at all. There are PLENTY of beautiful lakes with beautiful beaches in Wisconsin that aren't a big cluster of people, rude people, people pushing and shoving everywhere, go elsewhere!!!!! I won't disclose our favorite beaches and spots that are so much more quiet and relaxing than this place. We won't be back. BTW: If you have been to WI Dells - the crowds and people are about the same as there - stay away especially over holiday weekends - unless of course you love being amongst a bunch of people all over you pushign and shoving to get to the store, to the other side of the street, to teh beach, to the parking spot, all over the place.....Not for us.

Lovely tour around the lake. The guides offer interesting stories and history of the mansions and the dynasties that built them. Frank Lloyd Wright homes are highlighted.

This is one of the most beautiful lakes I've ever seen. Very clean, spectacular views and, oh yes, those mansions. Love, love, love Geneva Lake and the town of Lake Geneva in general.

Geneva Lake is a spring fed lake. It's very clean and the water is always warm by mid June. The downtown area is very quaint with tons and tons of very unique boutiques, art galleries, restaurants and bars. It does get very busy in the summer time so parking can be somewhat of a challenge but never impossible to find. You do have to pay for parking 7 days a week so don't forget!! Some key shops...Cornerstone Shoppe with lots of wonderful home funishings, clothing and jewelry. Sopra is a fantastic upscale restaurant for dinner. Oakfire is lovely for lunch (authentic Italian pizza and panninos) and Strawberry Fields for a unique selection of beautiful clothing. You can rent boats and jet skies to motor around the lake. The public beach on the other side of the lake near the Abbey is better than the one located in downtown LG and you can walk to Gordy's for a super burger, steak, chicken or fish dish. If you have a boat to drop in the water you can take it over to Pier 290. They will valet your boat and you can have cocktails on their beach area with firepits and an awesome outdoor dinning venue. The Abbey and The Grand Geneva will allow you to experience one of their amazing spa treatments even if you are not a guest. The Timber Ridge Lodge has an incredible water park if you are a family with young children. It's such a lovely place to enjoy a long weekend!!

Many activities here: large excursion boats for touring both the lake and mansions built in nineteenth century, motor boating, sail boating, kayak and canoeing, nice beach, boat docks, very family oriented, and plenty of shops and restaurants nearby.

This is where wealthy Chicagoans went for their summers starting before the turn-of-the-century - 1900, of course. And it's still a great vacation spot.

We visited the lake on our last full day of our trip. This is a busy lake for sure. Tons of people around having a day on the lake. We took the lake tour which was 2 hours long. Good tour with all the history and facts about the lake and the million $ homes around it. Tours leave from the Rivera building.

Easy ride from Chicago suburbs. Lake had nice beach with limited parking. Clean and large choice of restaurants near by. Boat rides of lake available and boats were also available for rent. Lots of little cute shops near by and ice cream shops as well.

We enjoy everything about Lake Geneva. We have walked the entire lake path, zip-lined, taken most of the boat tours, enjoyed Grand Geneva Christmas displays inside & out and have attended many of the weekend events. Lots of wonderful food choices as well!!! This past summer we brought our great grandchildren to the beach to swim and they as we....can't get enough & ask us to bring them back to the beach every time we see them. Relaxing and simply beautiful at anytime of the year!!!
Please note: There are no fees for walking around the lake, town or festivals. You will need to pay for parking at most times and all other activities including the beach.

We drove completely around the lake and at each stop the views were wonderful. My boyfriend got a chance to fish just for fun, but threw them back. He was a happy camper and thanked me for letting him fish a bit during our stay.

Perfect town to get away from it all while still having access to everything! I keep a boat on the lake and enjoy each and every minute. There is always something going on around town year round. The lake is clean and deep so very few weeds. Weekends are a bit crowded but the weekdays are awesome. Come visit the lake!

Whether for a day trip or a vacation, this is a great old fashion lake town where you can relax and escape the city. A lot of restaurants, from fast food to $$$$; but it can get very crowded, particularly on the weekends. Take a lake cruise, our favorite is the 2 1/2 hour mail run each day; get your tickets online well in advance. Kilwin's ice cream/candy shop is a favorite.

Well ... not much has changed. Or at least appears that way.

We walked on the frozen lake (I stood where I would scuba dive 35 years ago) near the beach entrance. Many people doing the same and many further out were ice fishing on a beautiful sunny day. It was also free parking on this day.

We have been coming to Geneva Lake for 30+ years. The lake is the most beautiful lake, very clear turquoise water, very clean and large enough to handle the boat traffic, unlike the Chain O Lakes in nearby northern Illinois.

Geneva Lake is a really fresh, clean lake to swim in. You don't feel dirty afterward (unless you, like me, squirm if seaweed touches you. Even so, you can easily swim in non-weedy areas). The water is warmer than Lake Michigan at all times of the year. The sand at Riviera Beach is pretty soft, and you can find interesting rocks and shells without cutting up your toes. Watch boats cut through the water or gulls flying around. Have a picnic up by the library and go shopping afterward! There is a lot going on down by Geneva Lake, and I would love to visit more often!

This is a beautiful lake with beautiful homes and a lovely beach. It is a great place to visit on a summer day.

Lake Geneva is surrounded by a multitude of quaint little towns that are reminiscent of the wonderful little New England fishing villages found on the east coast. With boating, swimming, fishing, and water sports the lake is definitely the center of attention in this area.

If you are in Wisconsin even for few days, Visit to this place is highly recommended. It has lot of history Attached to it..

Lake Geneva is a resort town with a variety of local and national restaurants and shops. The lake is in a beautiful setting near the southeast border of Wisconsin so it attracts many families from Illinois. Unfortunately, most of the properties around the lake are privately owned, so getting access to or even a glimpse of the lake by car is tough. Fortunately, Elm Park is a small public park on the lake and close to the shops, restaurants and parking. Public restrooms are available in a building called "The Rivera" near the small public beach. The beach has an admission fee: young children are free, but adults cost $7.00/day.

Such a beautiful place!

There were ten adults and one baby on this day trip. We drove from Schaumburg for a picnic by Lake Geneva. We took snacks and drinks and chilled by the lake.

We took a boat tour to see the houses and had subway for lunch.

We didn’t go to the small beach. I did see you had to pay to go onto the beach though. A good idea but also not so much if you want to just take a baby onto the beach for a few mins.

Worth the trip and worth doing a picnic. Good place to stay the night to explore the Lake a bit more but a day trip is just as much fun!

If you are going to visit Lake Geneva bring a ladder with you. The parking signs telling you how to pay to park are so high on a pole that you don’t even see them, much less be able to read them. That stated, I now own $30.00 in a parking ticket, on a residential street. I just returned to my car only to be encountered by Rita the Meter Maid who was a real witch to talk to. I explained to her I hadn’t any idea that you had to pay to park, especially on a residential street and this was our first visit to Lake Geneva. Needless to say there wasn’t any mercy to be had and she ignored me while placing the ticket on my window, instead of handing it to me. How rude! Someone of this caliber, who knows she will be encountering people needs to have an attitude change or better yet, needs to get a job in a one person office. The signs for pay to park need to be lowered to be able to read the instructions! Or maybe the town does this deliberately to rack up money for town. Never going back!

Cool beach. Lots of people travel from Chicago to go there. You can rent boats and jet skis. There are some shops for food there, as well as some little shops. You can ride on the large paddle boats, or fish off the pier. I like this place.

Lots to do at the lake and in the downtown area which is just a block off of the lake. Parking is $1/hour but spots are hard to find -especially up close. The further out of town you are the street parking is free, but then you have to walk a few blocks to get to anything.

Beautiful clear spring fed lake, about 21 miles in circumference. Several boat tour options and boat/kayak/paddle board/jet ski rental businesses available. This attraction is what makes Geneva a place to visit. Will return often!

We had such a great time here. Hike around the lake, take a boat tour, rent jet skis or kayaks, eat some ice cream, have a bloody Mary overlooking the lake.....a lot to do here. Nice hotels and B&Bs can be expensive in the summer. We stayed at 1810 Emerson House in Beloit...about 35 min from lake. Definitely worth the drive.

Lake Geneva is a small place to escape the hustle and bustle of the big city. It offers nice places to stay, plenty of shopping, nice variety of places to eat and good entertainment.

We have visited so often that we now have a routine. From shopping, to eating, to activities, to the beac, to the lake walk, there is always something to do.

This was our first visit to Lake Geneva, but it will not be our last! The town is very historic and worth exploring. The lake is absolutely beautiful!!

My husband and I live in Chicago and are always astounded that an hour and a half away is Lake Geneva with all its glory! It is seriously a beautiful town and what a view! The only problem is that during the summer it is so crowded. Crowds everywhere you look. The small beach area was packed. Just proves that we are not the only ones who appreciate the beauty of this town.

we walked all the way form Rhine river to the lake side and around. It's lite at night with twinkling lights that make it both private and safe at the same time. It was quiet, peaceful and fresh.. We could see the boats in the harbor.
Around the lake side are a few streets with high end shops, expensive watches and clothes. They would be closed for the night if you go too late.
All around the lake side there are benches, trees, and we also found this historical place but didn't know what it were. Splendid all-in-all.

* Do carry a jacket/coat.

Our group was pleasantly surprised with the friendliness and kind spirits we met while staying for a long weekend in Lake Geneva. From our innkeeper Gary at Eleven Gables Inn to the nice outdoor seating restaurants that accommodated our dog, the weekend was very relaxing. The highlight of the trip was of course the gorgeous lake, with perfectly clear water and lovely swimming temperature!! We will be back again!

My hubby and I were there for a business conference. Spent two afternoons at the lake taking it all in. What a fun place but of course, they weather those days were fab too. We walked the paths provided along the shore. How fun is that? Seems strange to be in the backyards of these wonderful houses. Path can go from beautiful, easy walking, shaded to messy, scary to walk on to full sun. We enjoyed it Day one we started in Lake Geneva and the second day we drove to Fontana and walked from there.

Very lovely place! You can walk along the coast with wind breeze and warm sunshine. It is good experience to travel the boat across the lake as well!

My wife and I drove up to Lake Geneva to spend the day and had a very nice time. We walked around the city, visited the farmer's market and had a nice lunch outside looking at the beautiful lake. The weather was nice the lake was beautiful and the town was very clean and inviting. We will definitely be returning and spending some time here!

The lake is the icon for geneva and its a great one with 72 km shore in switzerland very calm and most of the actions happen around the lake has a huge fountain

Geneva Lake is beautifully clean water in a lake that is large enough in which to ski, sail, and provide multiple resort activities such as golf, tennis, or tour boats which provide great historical information about the beautiful lakefront homes. There are accommodations in all price ranges in all three local townships (Lake Geneva, Fontana, and Williams Bay). Only 1.5 hours from Chicago, this is a gem of a place to enjoy any time of year but especially in the Summer.

our first time in this town......cannot believe while living for ever in wiscosin, did we not visit before this...a quiet, friendly beautiful lake town.....we most surly will return....the fall colors were picture perfect