Geneva

Geneva City Guide: What to See, Do, and Know

Geneva is Switzerland’s second-largest city and its most international: home to the European headquarters of the United Nations, the Red Cross, and dozens of other international organisations, with a population in which foreign residents make up a large share. For visitors, it combines a hilltop Old Town, a long lakefront, excellent museums, and easy access to both the Alps and France. Two days is a good length for a first visit.

Top Things to See in Geneva

The Jet d’Eau and the Lakefront

Geneva’s symbol is the Jet d’Eau, a fountain that shoots water about 140 metres into the air from the harbour. You can walk out along the jetty to stand near its base (expect to get wet if the wind turns). It is switched off in strong wind and freezing weather. The lakefront promenades on both sides of the harbour are the city’s main public space, with the Flower Clock at the edge of the Jardin Anglais.

The Old Town (Vieille Ville)

The Old Town sits on a hill above the lake, a quiet area of cobbled streets, antique shops, and cafés around the Place du Bourg-de-Four. St Pierre Cathedral is its centrepiece: climb the towers for the best view in the city, and visit the archaeological site underneath, which reveals layers of settlement going back to Roman times. Nearby, Maison Tavel, the oldest house in Geneva, is a free museum of city life.

Parc des Bastions and the Reformation Wall

Just below the Old Town, the Parc des Bastions holds the Reformation Wall, a long monument to John Calvin and the other leaders who made Geneva the “Protestant Rome.” The park is also known for its giant outdoor chess boards, which usually have a crowd of spectators.

International Geneva

The Palais des Nations, the UN’s European headquarters, offers guided tours on most weekdays; book ahead and bring your passport or ID. Outside, the Broken Chair sculpture on the Place des Nations is a monument against landmines. Across the road, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum is one of the most moving museums in Switzerland.

CERN

The world’s largest particle physics laboratory is on the edge of the city and easy to reach by tram. Its Science Gateway visitor centre, opened in 2023, has free exhibitions that make the science surprisingly accessible, and guided tours can be booked in advance.

Museums in Geneva

The Musée d’Art et d’Histoire is the city’s largest museum, and its permanent collection is free. The Patek Philippe Museum tells the story of Geneva’s watchmaking tradition through an extraordinary collection of timepieces. The Ariana Museum, next to the UN, specialises in ceramics and glass in a striking 19th-century building.

Swimming and Summer in Geneva

The Bains des Pâquis, a public bathing spot on a jetty in the lake, is Geneva’s favourite summer hangout, with a simple café and views of the Jet d’Eau. In winter it stays open for saunas and is famous for its fondue. Genève-Plage and the lakeside beaches on the south shore are other good swimming options. Small yellow shuttle boats called Mouettes cross the harbour and are part of the public transport network.

Carouge

A short tram ride south, Carouge was built in the 18th century by the Kingdom of Sardinia and still feels more Mediterranean than Swiss, with low colourful houses, courtyards, artisan workshops, and a relaxed café scene. It is a pleasant place for an evening meal away from the city centre.

Events Worth Planning Around

The Escalade, in December, celebrates Geneva’s defeat of a surprise night attack by the Duke of Savoy in 1602, with a costumed procession in the Old Town and the tradition of smashing a chocolate cauldron (marmite) filled with marzipan vegetables. In summer, open-air concerts, lakeside festivals, and the Bains des Pâquis events fill the calendar.

What to Eat in Geneva

Geneva’s cooking leans French. Look for perch fillets (filets de perche) from the lake, served with fries and lemon butter, and longeole, a local pork sausage flavoured with fennel. Fondue is everywhere in the colder months. Geneva is one of the most expensive cities in the world for eating out, so weekday lunch menus and the take-away counters of supermarkets are useful for budget travellers.

Getting to and Around Geneva

Geneva Airport is only a few minutes by train from Cornavin, the main station. Arriving passengers can take a free public transport ticket from the machine in the baggage hall, valid for a short period to get into the city. Direct trains reach Lausanne in about 40 minutes, Bern in under two hours, and Zürich in under three hours.

If you stay in a hotel, hostel, or campsite, you receive the Geneva Transport Card, which gives free use of trams, buses, trains within the city, and the Mouettes for the length of your stay. Most of the centre is also easily walkable. See our getting around Switzerland guide for intercity options.

Where to Stay in Geneva

The Pâquis district, between the station and the lake, has the widest range of budget and mid-range hotels and some of the best inexpensive food in the city. The Old Town and the lakefront are more atmospheric and more expensive. Eaux-Vives, on the south shore, is a lively residential area with good restaurants, and Carouge is a charming alternative. Hotels fill up and prices rise during big international conferences and trade fairs, so check dates before booking. For longer stays, see our guide to living in Geneva.

Day Trips from Geneva

Lausanne and the Lavaux vineyard terraces are the easiest Swiss day trip, and Montreux and Chillon Castle are a little further along the lake. Across the border in France, the Salève cable car offers a panoramic view over the city, the medieval lakeside village of Yvoire can be reached by boat in summer, and Annecy and Chamonix make popular full-day excursions. Bring your passport or ID for trips into France.

How Many Days in Geneva?

One day covers the lakefront, the Jet d’Eau, the Old Town, and the Reformation Wall. Two days adds International Geneva or CERN and an evening in Carouge. Three days leaves time for a day trip. Geneva also works well as the start or end point of a trip, flying in here and out of Zürich, as described in our Plan Your Trip section.

Related: All Destinations | Lausanne | Bern | Living in Geneva | Swiss Cities Circuit