Switzerland Port of Pully, Lake Geneva, Canton of Vaud

Port de Pully sits on the north shore of Lake Geneva just east of Lausanne, a compact marina tucked between the lakeside promenade and the first slopes of the Lavaux vineyards. The harbour holds rows of sailing boats and small motor yachts, framed by lawns, a lakeside park and the cosy Restaurant du Port with its big terrace. From the quays you look straight across to the French shore and the Savoy Alps, while behind you the residential streets of Pully climb the hillside, keeping the port feeling like a neighbourhood spot rather than a big-city marina.

For photographers, the port is a great place to play with water, light and layers of landscape. The curve of the breakwater, the forest of masts and the reflections of hulls on calm mornings or evenings all lend themselves to graphic compositions. On clear days the snow-capped Alps line the horizon, and at dusk the sky often turns pastel over the lake while warm light lingers on the boats and nearby houses. In summer, CGN boats glide in and out, adding classic paddle steamers or modern ferries to your frames and giving a strong sense of place.

To make the most of it photographically, aim for golden hour when the low sun rakes across the water and picks out texture on the boats and stonework. Work with a wide-angle lens on the quays to exaggerate leading lines from the pontoons and breakwater, and then switch to a short telephoto to compress the distant Alps behind the masts. On still days, keep your shutter speed fast enough to freeze tiny ripples in the reflections; on breezier days, a tripod and ND filter let you blur the lake into a smooth surface while the boats and mountains stay sharp. Try a few images from slightly higher up the slope above the port as well – even a small change in height gives you more layers of lake, village and mountains in a single frame.

Getting to Port de Pully is easy from Lausanne and the rest of the Lake Geneva region. Regular regional trains run between Lausanne and Pully or Pully-Nord stations; from Pully station it is only a short walk downhill to the lakeshore and Route du Port.

A lakeside footpath also links Lausanne-Ouchy to Pully in about half an hour on foot, following the waterfront all the way.

For something more scenic, CGN boats stop at Pully on several of their routes, so you can arrive directly at the pier from Lausanne, Vevey, Montreux or other ports around the lake.