Switzerland is a fascinating country! Since it is surrounded by 4 countries: France, Germany, Austria and Italy, it is full of diversity and depending on where you go, you might hear German, Italian or French. If you wish to practice your French while you visit a beautiful city, Geneva is the place for you. Geneva might seem like an impersonal and business centred city but it is much more than that! We have compiled 12 of the best things to see and do in this gorgeous city surrounded by the epic and sublime Swiss and French Alps. Have a great weekend in Geneva!
Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Genève
If you are interested in (very) old architecture and history, this cathedral is a great place to visit since it dates back to 1150. It is a Romanesque church with some Gothic elements located in the old town. The famous John Calvin who introduced Calvinism to the world preached his sermons here in the 1500s. If you want a great view of the old town and the lake, you can climb up one of the towers (which were actually never completed).
Patek Philippe Museum
This is the perfect place for watch fans. Patek Philippe is one of the most renowned watchmakers in the world. You will see some of their most famous and beautiful models dating back to 1839 but you will also see some watches that date back to the 1500s. Of course, you do have to pay to get into the museum. If, however, you do not want to pay but still love these watches, there is a Patek Philippe store in Geneva so you can go browse the new models without paying a cent (or should we say franc)!
Bains des Pâquis
The Bains des Pâquis is a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the sun and the beautiful clear water of the Leman lake. The baths first opened in the 1872 and were first opened to the public in 1890. You might be surprised to know that they are open every single day so you can enjoy them in the summer and in the winter! They have tons of activities: a beach, swimming lessons, a sauna, Turkish baths, massages, you can have a bite to eat, people watching, etc. It is also quite affordable so you won’t break your bank. If you are looking to do something very “Swiss”, this is the perfect thing to do!
Palais des Nations
Did you know the United Nations Offices (UNOG) were located in Geneva? If you want to learn more about this noble organization, this is the place for you. You can get a guided tour to understand exactly what goes on in the offices and what kind of activities occur. Fans of politics and history will enjoy discovering all the rooms where the important meetings occur. You can also enjoy walking through the surrounding parks and act as though you are a foreign diplomat.
Jardin Anglais
The English garden in Geneva is another beautiful place to just stroll around or sit and enjoy the fresh air and beautiful view of the lake. You have to cross the Mont-Blanc bridge (unless you are already in the old city) to get to the park which is located directly on the lakeside. The park has a huge watch made with seasonal flowers and grass. Geneva is a great place for people who love the outdoors and parks like this one is a great example of their love for green spaces.
Quartier des Grottes
This neighbourhood is located on the north side of the lake behind the train station. This is the more bohemian, young and cool neighbourhood that is unlike anything you see in Geneva (Geneva is known to be more posh and clean). It was first inhabited in the 1960s by anarchist communes and squatters but turned into a great and affordable place to live. It is a great place to discover independent shops, cool cafes, and great restaurants as well as the famous Schtroumpfs: funky houses with colourful facades which might remind you of Gaudi architecture.
Boat tour around Lac Léman
Switzerland is one of the most beautiful countries in the world nature wise. Their mountains, valleys, lakes and forests are a true paradise. All their lakes are clean and the Swiss love to swim in them and go out on their boats to enjoy the nice breeze. Leman Lake is a huge lake that is divided between Switzerland and France. From Geneva, you can easily go to Lausanne, Vevey, Montreux in Switzerland and Évian-les-Bains in France. There are numerous ferries you can take from Geneva to explore the lake or use it as a mode of transportation if you’re tired of the train.
Musée Ariana
Since you’ll be going to the United Nations Offices, you can easily walk over to the Ariana Museum since they are both located in the huge Ariana park. The museum is a beautiful Neo-Baroque building with a huge fountain in front. The museum is mostly comprised of ceramic and glassware pieces (about 20,000 of them) including some Chinese and Japanese porcelain from the 1500s. You can spend a whole afternoon in this park, going from museum to park to the United Nations Offices. Don’t forget to take a look at the Botanical Gardens also!
Plainpalais market
Markets are always fun to explore whatever city you’re exploring. Geneva’s flea and farmers’ market is open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. You can find all sorts of things here: antiques, crafts, books, jewellery, clothes, food, etc. They have international street-food so you can taste all the flavours from this cultural melting pot of a city.
Parc de la Grange
The Grange Park is a bit further than the Jardin Anglais, located on the shores of Leman Lake. This is Geneva’s biggest park and has a lot of history. People have lived in this park for 2,000 years (the last resident of the park bequeathed it in 1918)! There is old Roman ruins and during the summer, there are outdoor plays. There are tons of roses and a few spots to eat snacks so you can really spend an afternoon just reading a book or slowly stroll through.
Musée d’Art et d’Histoire
This museum is one of the biggest ones in all of Switzerland. The museum was lucky to have many private donations from collectors. The museum touches a variety of art: fine art, archeological findings, pottery, Greek and Roman art, Egyptian art, etc. We hope you are blessed with some warm and sunny weather during your Geneva escapade but if you do encounter some rain or colder weather, this is a great place to spend an afternoon.
Hike the Mount Salève
The Swiss are active and outdoorsy people. Hiking, swimming, biking, the Swiss like to move! Salève is known as the “Balcony of Geneva” because of the great view you get once you get at the top. Depending on your physical abilities, this hike should take you about two hours. If you are not the type of person who enjoys hiking up a mountain, you can be whisked up by cable car. There is also a restaurant at the top so if you forgot to bring some snacks or water, you won’t be dehydrated.
CERN
Do you have a passion for science? If you answered yes then this is the place for you! The CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) is a great place to learn all about nuclear research and the historical experiments that have occurred over the years. You can visit part of the establishment with a tour guide that will answer all your questions. This centre is not located in the city centre but you can easily take a 30-minute cable car ride.
Which part of the city would you visit first during a weekend in Geneva?
