Last update: 01/07/2019
Geneva is a Swiss city considered international. There are many important things that are decided on the spot and the city manages to bring people from all over the world together around common causes. Check out what to do in the friendly city of Geneva.
THE CITY OF GENEVA
Geneva is a Swiss city located in the west of the country, practically on the border with France. Due to its territorial location, the official language of the city is French. It is the second largest city (population: 200,000 inhabitants) in Switzerland, behind only Zurich. The city center is super charming, with cobblestone streets designed for pedestrians, charming architecture and an extremely pleasant atmosphere.
Geneva is situated on the banks of the River Rhine and Lake Geneva and is considered one of the cities with one of the best qualities of life in the world. In addition to being an important financial center, Geneva is an important center of diplomacy and international cooperation, as there are several international organizations present in the city, such as the UN, Red Cross and UNESCO. Geneva is known as the “City of Peace” as it has hosted several conventions that have resulted in treaties relating to International Humanitarian Law. Like the main Swiss cities, Geneva has a very high cost of living and, as a tourist, you can feel this in your pocket, especially when it comes to accommodation in the city. Anyway, Geneva is a city worth visiting. It is quite compact and it is possible to visit its main attractions in a few days.
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WHAT TO DO IN GENEVA AND THE SURROUNDINGS
To help you find your way around the city and organize your tour schedule, we've put all the suggested attractions on the interactive map below. We have separated the attractions in two colors to indicate that they should be checked out on different days: in green, is the “international area” and in blue, downtown. Check out our tips:
DAY 1: CERN & INTERNATIONAL AREA
1. CERN
Formed by a collaboration between 22 countries, CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) is located in the Swiss city of Meyrin (next to Geneva), on the border with France. CERN's main role is to provide the particle accelerators and other infrastructure necessary for the investigation of sub-atomic particles that explain how the universe is formed. It is there that the famous LHC, Large Particle Collider, the bigger and most powerful accelerator in the world. It is capable of accelerating particles to 99,99% the speed of light, and is considered to be the most complex experimental facility ever built and the largest machine on the planet. It is possible to visit some exhibitions and take guided tours for free.
- Address: Route de Meyrin 385, 1217 Meyrin, Switzerland
- Entrance: free
Read about our visit: CERN: Particle Accelerator and Nuclear Research in Switzerland
2. INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE RED CROSS
The International Museum of the Red Cross is an exhibition venue for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. This international humanitarian organization is not linked to any specific country and counts on the engagement of volunteers from all over the world. The Movement's primary objective is to preserve human life, without discrimination based on race, sex, religion, social class, nationality or political position. The museum was founded in 1988 and underwent a major renovation between 2011 and 2013. Currently, its main exhibition, “The Humanitarian Adventure”, presents three contemporary issues through three distinct spaces, each one created by a different architect: “ Defending Human Dignity” (by artist Gringo Cardia, from Brazil), “Reconstructing Family Ties (by artist Diébédo Francis Kéré, from Burkina Faso), and “Reducing Natural Risks (by Shigeru Ban, from Japan). The main objective of the exhibitions is to remember that human relations are at the heart of all humanitarian action.
- Address: Avenue de la Paix 17, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
- Schedules: daily from April to October from 10 am to 6 pm / from November to March from 10 am to 5 pm
- Entrance: CHF 15 / free with Geneva Pass
3. PRAÇA DAS NATIONS AND “BROKEN CHAIR”
Place des Nations is a super friendly square in front of the Palace of Nations (more on that later) with water fountains coming out of the ground and a huge sculpture called “Broken Chair” (translated from English: “Broken Chair”). As the name says, it is a sculpture of a chair with a broken leg. It is the work of Swiss artist Daniel Berset, made of wood, 12 meters high and weighing 5.5 tons. It symbolizes the repudiation of landmines and cluster bombs that caused (and still cause) so much pain and suffering for countless people around the world.
4. PALACE OF THE NATIONS - UN
Opposite Praça das Nações is the Palace of Nations, a building built between 1929 and 1938 that serves as one of the headquarters of the UN, the United Nations. The venue hosts thousands of intergovernmental meetings every year. In front of the building, there are all the flags of the countries that are part of the organization, forming a beautiful corridor of colored flags. It is possible to visit the building inside and take a guided tour of the main rooms, including the beautiful UN conference room. See all information on how to visit in this link.
- Address: Palais des Nations, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
- Schedules:
- September to March: Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 12:00 (tours start at 10:30 and noon) and from 14:00 to 16:00 (tours start at 14:30 and 16:00)
- April to August: Monday to Saturday from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (tours start at 10:30 am and noon) and from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm (tours start at 2:30 pm and 4:00 pm)
- Entrance: CHF 12
DAY 2: CENTER OF GENEVA
5. PONT DU MONT-BLANC & LAKE GENEVA
One of the most pleasant places to enjoy Geneva is on the shores of Lake Geneva, called Geneva, which has an area of 580 km². It can be admired from various points of the city and a tip is to cross Geneva across the Pont du Mont-Blanc, which has 252 meters, and was initially built in 1857 and rebuilt in 1896.
Check out boat trips on Lake Geneva:
- Geneva tour and boat tour
- Geneva and Annecy Tour with Optional Lake Geneva Cruise
- Independent Yvoire Tour and Lake Geneva Cruise with Private Transport from Geneva
6. ENGLISH GARDEN AND FLOWER CLOCK
Anyone who crosses the Mont Blanc bridge from the international side to the city center will soon find the beautiful English Garden, which offers beautiful views of Lake Geneva. It was opened in 1854 and is one of the most visited green areas in the city. In this garden are some highlights: the fountain of the four seasons, a work by the Parisian sculptor Alexis André, a bandstand from the 19th century, and the famous Flower Clock. Installed in 1955 and measuring 5 meters in diameter, the L'horloge fleurie is the second largest in the world of its kind. The watch is a tribute to the city's watchmakers. Usually around 6500 flowers and bushes are used as decoration for this clock and the decoration is changed with each change of season.
7. WATER JET
Jet d'Eau is a large water source located on the shores of Lake Geneva and one of the city's postcards. The Jet d'Água can be seen up to an altitude of 10 km high! The first jet was installed in 1886 and was moved to its current position in 1891. In 1951, the jet we know today was installed. Their numbers are surprising:
- 500 liters of water are spouted per second
- The jet reaches 140 meters high
- The water leaves at a speed of 200 km/h
- About 7 thousand liters of water momentarily in the air
8. CATHEDRAL ST PIERRE
St Pierre Cathedral, also known as Geneva Cathedral is the most important church in the city. Its construction took place during the Middle Ages, between the years 1150 and 1250. It became very famous for having been adopted as the church of Calvin, the father of the Protestant Reformation. It was restored at the end of the 19th century in a neo-Gothic style.
The most beautiful part of the church, without a doubt, is the Macchabées Chapel, built between 1400 and 1405. There is also a archaeological site in the basement that can also be visited. You can go up to its tower (for the forts, there are 500 steps) and have a beautiful view of Geneva. Nearby is the International Museum of the Reformation, which tells more about the Protestant Reformation movement.
- Address: Place du Bourg-de-Four 24, 1204 Geneva, Switzerland
- Schedules:
- between June and September: Monday to Friday from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm / Saturday from 9:30 am to 5 pm / Sunday from 12 pm to 6:30 pm
- between October and May: Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 17:30 / Sunday from 12:00 to 17:30
- Entrance: free / CHF 8 archaeological site / CHF 16 combined entrance to the archaeological site and Museum of the Reformation / CHF 5 access to the tower
9. BOURG-DE-FOUR SQUARE
This charming square in the center of Geneva (which was once a cattle market) was one of our favorite places to visit. We enjoyed it so much that we had lunch here at one of the many restaurants that line the entire length of it, and came back for coffee in the middle of the afternoon. For those who want to taste a delicious potato rösti, a typical Swiss dish, our tip is to visit the restaurant Bourg-de-Four Cafe.
10. CITY HALL
The City Hall of Geneva (Hôtel de Ville, in French) is a place that is worth a stop, even if it is a quick one. The building, built in the 16th century, houses an outdoor area (Ancien arsenal) with very beautiful colored panels that tell the history of Geneva and some cannons; and an inner courtyard that can be easily accessed by the public. The building has a 15th century tower known as the Baudet Tower, which is the oldest part. A curiosity concerns about the Alabama room. It was there that, in 1864, the First Geneva Convention was signed, which gave rise to the International Red Cross and which, in 1920, hosted a general assembly that gave rise to the UN.
- Address: Rue de l'Hôtel-de-Ville, 1204 Geneva, Switzerland
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11. PARQUE DOS BASTIOS AND WALL OF REFORMERS
This is a super cool park to enjoy in Geneva and a great attraction for all ages. It is common to see people playing chess on boards with giant pieces, there is a restaurant with a very beautiful structure of iron and glass in the center and the famous Wall of Reformers. This wall is approximately 100 meters long by 5 meters high and was built against the 16th century walls that surrounded the city. The monument is a tribute to John Calvin, leader of the Protestant Reformation. At the center of the wall are the four pioneers of the Reformation: Guilherme Farel, one of the most important names of the Reformation in Geneva; John Calvin, leader of the movement; Teodoro de Beza, rector of the Academy of Geneva (now the University of Geneva); and John Knox, founder of the Presbyterian movement in Scotland.
- Address: Prom. des Bastions, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
12. MUSEUMS
If you have some time to spare in the city, it might be interesting to include some historical museums. Here are some of them:
- MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND ART: Opened in 1910, the museum is one of the most interesting in the city and has a collection ranging from Egyptian art, armor to paintings by artists such as Picasso, Monet, Renoir, Cézanne, van Gogh. Admission is free and the museum is very beautiful. A part of the museum is also installed in the oldest building in the city, the Maison Tavel, which is close to the city hall of Geneva.
- PATEK PHILIPPE MUSEUM: For those who like Swiss watches, this is one of the most important museums in this sense and has a beautiful collection with examples from the 16th century to the present day. Patek Philippe is the name of a famous watchmaker from Geneva.
- MAISON DE ROUSSEAU AND DE LA LITERATURE: Born in Geneva, Jean-Jacques Rousseau is one of the most important philosophers and political scholars of his generation, famous for having written the book “The Social Contract” and for believing that “every man is good, society corrupts him”. The exhibition is on the first floor of this mansion and tells a little about Rousseau's life and work through an audio guide, videos and some items, but it's nothing impressive.
- NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM: It is a good option for those traveling with children. Its exhibits include: insects, butterflies and other invertebrates.
- INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION: The museum aims to tell how the Protestant Reformation movement, led by Calvin in Geneva, took place. It is located in the same building where the city's inhabitants decided to adopt Protestantism in 1536. It is possible to use an audio guide, watch videos, and see up close many items that were part of the history of the reform. Taking pictures inside the museum is prohibited.
TOURS AND EXCURSIONS IN GENEVA AND SURROUNDINGS
ECONOMY TIP: GENEVA PASS
Geneva is an expensive city, so whenever you can save money, save! For those who are thinking of visiting several attractions in Geneva, a tip is to buy the Geneva Pass, a card that entitles enter more than 30 museums and attractions from the city, give discount in restaurants and shops, tours, boat ride by the River Geneva and unlimited and free transport. There are 3 versions of the card: 1 day, 2 days or 3 days. We use and approve! Check out more information at official site.
WHERE TO EAT IN GENEVA
Switzerland is synonymous with incredible cuisine with lots of cheese and wine! Swiss cheeses are varied and simply delicious. O Les Armures is a restaurant that serves typical Swiss cuisine, including delicious fondues! See how our experience was in the post below.
Read more: Switzerland: Fondue Restaurant in Geneva
WHERE TO BUY IN GENEVA
For those who want to do some shopping, the Rue du Rhone it is one of the most traditional in Geneva and has beautiful stores of famous and luxury brands of clothes, shoes, accessories and, of course, watches. For those who want to buy a souvenir like a Swiss Army knife, you can visit the Victor Inox and prepare your own custom knife!
WHERE TO STAY IN GENEVA
BOOK NOW your hotel and save up to 50%. Travelers readers are with a SUPER DISCOUNT! And the best, with FREE CANCELLATION*!
*check the hotels with free cancellation on the website
HOW TO GO FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE CENTER
For those arriving in Geneva by plane, you can go to the city free. You must pick up a transport ticket at the airport after disembarking. It is valid for 80 minutes and allows you to use Geneva's public transport (trains, trams, buses and boats) to reach the city centre. From the airport train station, stop at the first station to reach the center, at Cornavin station. The journey takes less than 10 minutes.
To visit the city, we received support from Geneva Department of Tourism (Geneva Tourism & Conventions Foundation) which provided us with visits to the main attractions and free transport. Accommodation and food were on us.
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Read more about Switzerland:
- Switzerland: Fondue Restaurant in Geneva
- Switzerland: The charming city of Lucerne – 1 day itinerary
- Switzerland: Year-round snow on Mt. Titlis in Engelberg
- Switzerland: Appenzell – cheeses and traditions
- Switzerland: What to do in Zurich – 1 or 2 day itinerary
- Switzerland: Accommodation in Zurich
- Switzerland: Fondue Restaurant in Zurich
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