The 16 things to do in Geneva

Visit Geneva: what are the best things to do and see in the second city of Switzerland?

Geneva is renowned for its quality of life, for its incredible natural setting with Lake Geneva but also for its snowy summits of the Alps in the background. Geneva is the city par excellence where everything seems to breathe well-being, luxury: there is only one to see the number of jewellery shops, hotels of great standing and banks.

But Geneva also has a different face. Indeed, far from all these clichés commonly conveyed, Geneva lets itself discover for its old town, its houses with the facades of the eighteenth century, its cathedral Saint-Pierre, its museum in the Old Geneva.

To visit Geneva more simply, you can take the Geneva pass that will allow you to free access to the main attractions of the city! Let's see together the main spots to discover and things to do in Geneva.

1. The Lake Geneva and the jet of water

Is it necessary to mention this place borrowed from magic and tranquility? Lake Geneva, also known as Lake Geneva, is a huge natural lake between the France and Switzerland.

A true tourist attraction, the water jet is the emblem of the city of Geneva. From the top of its 140 meters, you are advised to go to watch it also in the evening, from the Quai Gustave-Ador. We guarantee a magical atmosphere thanks to the sophisticated lighting that illuminates it.

2. A boat trip on the lake

A pleasant activity during the beautiful days, a boat trip to Lake Geneva will offer you stunning views of the Swiss and French Alps. On board the boat, you will also enjoy a panoramic view of the coastal towns of the lake.

With or without skipper, you can opt for the boat rental in Geneva . This will allow you to navigate as you like on an afternoon or day.

3. Place Neuve

Located in the very heart of Geneva, this square is surrounded by important buildings such as the Grand Theatre (the Opera), the Rath Museum which is renowned for its exhibitions and collections, and the Bastions Park.

In the centre of Place Neuve, you can admire the bronze statue of General Henri Dufour, the first director and cartographer of the Swiss geography.

4. The Art and History Museum

The Museum of Art and History was inaugurated in 1910, but its construction was final only in 1940. It is a museum of multidisciplinary art and therefore it is possible to see exhibitions and collection pieces in both paintings, architecture, archaeology, sculpture and applied arts.

Don’t forget to go to the most famous work of this museum, namely “The miraculous fishing” of Witz, which is one of the two parts of the retable found at the altar of the cathedral of Geneva.

5. L’Horloge fleurie

Probably the most photographed clock in the country, the flower clock is composed of 6500 plants and flowers. This is the city’s most famous clock. It is located in an English garden. Don’t miss her jet of water!

6. St. Peter's Cathedral

At the top of the Old Town, St-Pierre Cathedral, a Protestant cathedral, is the oldest religious building in the city. With its 157 steps to reach the north tower, you will be able to enjoy a fantastic view of Lake Geneva but also throughout the city.

This cathedral was built from 1160 and the restorations remain so that everyone can enjoy this gigantic monument (it is sufficient to observe the bell called Clémence, which weighs more than 6 tons). It should be noted that under the cathedral, an archaeological site gathers discoveries that can be visited.

7. Le Palais des Nations

Symbol of Geneva but also of peace in the world, this palace does not leave indifferent! Come and discover the formidable ceiling of the Human Rights Hall and the Alliance of Civilizations. Come also to feel the vocation of the great men by discovering the Broken Chair.

The Palais des Nations, United Nations Headquarters since 1946, offers a splendid panorama of Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc.

Today, he is the second largest United Nations headquarters after New York, of course. The Assembly Hall can accommodate up to 25,000 delegates every year to organize peace in the world. The area of this palace is roughly the same as the Paris Opera.

Finally, the Palais des Nations has a park in which gigantic monuments are gathered, including the famous “Armosphere Sphere”, an international symbol of astronomy but above all of Knowledge.

8. The Carouge district

For those who love the bohemian atmosphere, Carouge is surely the “Greenwich Village” in Geneva.

A district of craftsmanship par excellence, you will meet artists, artisans and other colorful characters who make all the charm of this small Geneva neighborhood.

Come and enjoy a good coffee in one of the many restaurants and cafes, day and night.

9. CERN

About 20 years ago, the Internet was born and it was at the CERN that this incredible phenomenon came to stifle our habits in Europe.

Today, nearly 10,000 physicists work there every day to try to pierce the secrets of the universe and the Big Bang. It is the world’s largest physics laboratory, recognisable to its impressive emblem, the “ Globe of Science and Innovation”.

10. The botanical garden

It is a huge green space that spans almost 28 hectares, a haven of peace as Geneva can offer, in the middle of the city jungle. Between beauty and tranquility, this park has an incredible variety of flowers with nearly 16,000 species coming from all over the world.

In addition, don’t hesitate to discover the secrets of this unique garden in its kind with the arboretum, the animal space, the greenhouses, a herbarium of 5 million samples, not to mention the public library of the Conservatory of the garden that contains almost 220,000 books.

11. The Grottes district

Behind the train station in Cornavin, there is a neighborhood not quite like the others, namely the Grottes district, also known as the Schtroumpfs district. But why?

Indeed, this district is composed of small architecture houses that are both complex and extremely colourful, with innovative lines of design.

So, if you look closer, you will be able to observe a balcony that resembles a butterfly, a wrought iron railing with plant patterns or posts that come straight out of a fairy tale. A kind of miniature construction that would have made Gaudi happy!

12. Philippe Patek Museum

This atypical museum is spread over 4 levels. It retraces the history of Geneva’s watchmaking, but also the history of enamelry, between the sixteenth century and the twentieth century.

You will be able to discover exhibitions with music automatons, watches, miniature portraits on enamel...

13. The Bains district

This neighborhood is synonymous with a certain art of living. In fact, this district houses the largest museum of contemporary and modern art in Switzerland, called MAMCO (Musée d’Art Moderne et COntemporain).

A avant-garde place that invites you to consider art from a somewhat different angle. Don’t forget to drink a drink in one of the lively bistros in the neighborhood!

14. Rafting on the Arve

For athletes who love water activities, opt for a rafting exit on the Arve, which arrives straight from the Mont Blanc glacier and crosses Geneva for about 7 km. After a full briefing, taste the sensations and adrenaline that rafting provides, the ideal activity to be done with family or friends.

15. Wine tasting in tuk-tuk

Wine lovers, let yourself be charmed by a tuk-tuk ride to discover the vineyards of the city with Taxibike. On the way, you will enjoy local wines, under the expert advice of producers and wine professionals.

16. Nightlife

Geneva is full of places to go out and is a very busy city at night. Discover the best addresses for to Geneva .

Geneva: How to get there? Where to sleep?

Geneva is located on the French border, not far from Annecy on the shores of Lake Geneva. It is easily reached by car from Lyon, Grenoble or Dijon. It is possible to reach Geneva by train from Paris and other French cities.

Also note that direct flights are operated from Nice, Bordeaux, Lille, Toulouse, Paris and Nantes with low-cost airlines such as easyJet. To find the best flight to Geneva, use the price comparison Ulysses .

It is important to know that Geneva is a business city and hotels often display complete weekly. It is necessary to choose its own right area where to stay .

On weekends, however, hotels offer promotions on prices. So there are regularly good plans to enjoy. Perform a search on this Compare hotels .