Geneva is a beautiful city sitting on Lake Leman. One of its most famous landmarks is the Jet d’Eau fountain which seems to appear in most tourist shots. But there is so much more to this city to appreciate, not just the lake.

We opted to stay at the Eastwest Hotel which is just a short walk to the lake, so well positioned to walk around the main tourist areas. We booked a Superior Double Room which was a reasonable size and the hotel itself is in a very quiet area.

We think you will love this city, and there is plenty to see from our overview below.

  1. Jet d’Eau – shooting up water at an incredible force of 200km/h this is a key highlight on Geneva’s lake. But it doesn’t go all year round, so hopefully you will be lucky enough to see it when you visit Geneva. There are so many different angles to get great shots of the fountain, so good luck.
  2. Flower Clock – located in the English Garden the flower clock is a reminder of the city’s watch making tradition. The clock has ticked since 1955 and boasts the world’s longest second had (2.5m).
  3. Cathedrale de St Pierre – the cathedral is mainly Gothic with an 18th century neoclassical facade. You can climb the 157 steps to the northern tower and take in incredible views across Geneva. Don’t forget to visit the crypt under the cathedral. Well worth the visit.
  4. United Nations – you can take a guided tour through the building which lasts about an hour. Opposite the United Nations you will see a broken chair. This symbolises opposition to land mines and reminds us of the dreadful injuries caused to so many innocent people due to land mines.
  5. Reformation Wall and Park – 10 statues make up the monument which represent statesmen, pioneers or protectors of the Reformation. The four most important of those are Beze, Calvin, Farel and Knox.
  6. Monument Brunswick – located on the right bank of Geneva and located in the Jardines des Alps this mausoleum honours Duke Charles II of Brunswick. It faces the lake and the Jet d’Eau.
  7. Old Town – dominated by the St Pierre Cathedral the Old Town offers an opportunity for a pleasant stroll down its pedestrian streets lined with shops, period buildings, museums and quaint cafes.
  8. Pacquis pier – the lighthouse at the end of the pier was built as an experiment to test the use of a primitive form of electric lighting in 1857. The test lighthouse was abandoned with the present tower being built in 1896 at a time when commercial shipping took place on the lake.
  9. Hotel de Ville – the Hotel serves as Geneva’s Town Hall, but more significantly many historical treaties were signed here. Tours of the Hotel are available.
  10. Les Canons – an open air military museum with vintage canons on display and with colourful battle-themed mosaics as a backdrop. There is a great restaurant near here called Restaurant Les Armures which serves excellent food. We highly recommend it, but acknowledge that everyone’s tastes are different.
  11. Vielle Ville – the steep cobblestone streets and stairways twist around the hill leading up to the Cathedrale de St Pierre. There are plenty of shops, restaurants and bars as well as fountains, terraces and lookouts to explore.

Travel Tips

  • Take a few days to enjoy Geneva as there is a lot to do and stay in a hotel which is within walking distance to the Old Town so that you are close to the shops and lovely restaurants.

Travel Alerts

  • No travel alerts for Geneva. It is a very safe city and easy to navigate.

Travel Adventures

  • CERN – The European Organisation for Nuclear Research operates the largest particle physics laboratory in the world. It is a very popular tourist attraction so you need to book about a month in advance!
  • Jardin Anglais – with its monuments and view of the lake this is a popular tourist spot.  Of course its most popular attraction is the Flower Clock.
  • Promenade des Bastions – this park is situated below the Old Town in the heart of the city, with its main attraction being the beautiful promenade line with trees.
  • The Favarger Chocolate Factory – if you love chocolates you will want to visit the factory. The price will vary depending on how large your group is, but please note that children under 10 are not permitted on the tour. You can book directly through them if you are interested. If a tour is not something that interests you, we are sure you will find something delicious to buy in the store.
  • Patek Philippe Watch Museum – regular tours are offered in a range of languages. This is really interesting if you are keen to know more about swiss watch making.
  • Mont Saleve – if you want the best view ever of Geneva then take the cable car up to Mont Saleve. The mountain offers other activities as well such as paragliding, mountain-bike riding and trekking. Well worth the trip.
  • Carouge – easily accessible by tram this is a small suburb of Geneva with quaint houses, lively streets and shady squares. On Wednesdays and Saturdays it also holds local produce markets.