Discover 13 things to do in Geneva

Geneva is the second largest city in Switzerland, after Zürich, but with its 200k inhabitants, it still has the advantages of a small city. If you’re visiting Geneva, check out these 13 things to do in Geneva!

1. Jet d’Eau

The hallmark of the city, the Jet d’Eau is a fountain that emits pressurized water up to 140 m. It’s mostly on during summers and gives Geneva its famous skyline. The Jet d’Eau is frequently illuminated at night and can be accessed for free from the harbor area.

2. Paquis area

Great place for cheap (for Suiss standards) food and many tourists, it’s also one of the most insecure parts of the city. It’s nonetheless interesting to visit, especially when approaching the lake. Some remarkable places are the location were Sisi the Austrian Empress was assassinated, and the Brunswick Monument.

3. Old Town

Not too far from the main station, crossing the Rhône, one will reach the old town of Geneva. One can walk on the nice streets of the city, and get into different attractions, such as the St. Peter’s Cathedral, built in the 12th century, the Passage de Monetier, one of the many underground passages of the city, or the Place du Bourg-de-Four, a nice square to take a drink.

4. Reformation Monument and Parc des Bastions

One of the main points to see in the Old City is the Parc des Bastions, where you’ll find the Reformation Monument. It shows scenes of the history of Geneva and the figures in the center of the monument are Calvin, Farel, de Bèze and Knox.

5. See the famous clock made of flowers

The best parts of this attraction: they are in the city center, so you won’t miss them, and the clock changes its flower composition every now and then, so it never gets boring.

6. CERN

Once every few years, the Large Hadron Collider closes for maintenance and during one day one can visit it. If you’re not of the lucky people who manage to get in, you can still learn what CERN does in the CERN museum. With multiple exhibits, workshops, and activities, the CERN museum is an outstanding place to spend an afternoon both for curious adults and kids.

7. The United Nations

The Broken Chair is a famous monument against landmines, located right in front of the UN building, and a classic destination for those visiting Geneva. You can also have a guided tour through the United Nations building, but make sure to reserve in advance, as the tickets get sold out fast.

8. Jardin Botanique

Not too far from the Secheron station, one reaches the botanical garden of the city. The gardens have a long history of almost 200 years, and show a great biodiversity of plants, with more than 11,000 species.

9. Discover the many (free) museums

One of the pleasant surprises of Geneva were all the museums that you can visit for free. Some examples are the Musée d’ethnographie de Genève (ethnography), the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire (art and history), and the Musée d’histoire des sciences de la Ville de Genève (science history). Perfect for a rainy day visit. There’s also many others that require a small fee, but are still worth the visit, such as the Patek Philippe Museum with its collection of watches.

10. Meet the monster of Frankenstein

Did you know that Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein, wrote her novel nearby Geneva? To commemorate this, a statue of the monster stays unperturbed in Plainpalais.

11. Enjoy the delicious boulangeries and chocolateries across the city!

You cannot go wrong: pick up a bakery or a chocolate store and enjoy a dink with a pastry. They are absolutely delicious!

12. Discover the Parc aux animaux du Bois-de-la-Bâtie

If you like animals, drop by the Parc aux animaux du Bois-de-la-Bâtie. It’s a small free zoo with many types of birds, goats, rabbits, and other small animals. They are open 8:00 to 20:00 and are an excellent destination for both kids and adults!

13. Jonction

One of my favourite spots in the city – where the Rhône and the Arve merge. The difference of color between the two rivers makes this meeting point absolutely spectacular! There’s two good spots to see it: one is in the point of the Jonction itself, which one can reach walking from the Jonction tram and bus station. The other is the Pont Butin, a bridge where the trian also circulates, and which can be reached via a short hike from the Jonction station (around 20-30 min).

End notes

In conclusion, Geneva is a beautiful city with many nice places to visit. Like other Swiss cities, it has a calm atmosphere and it’s particularly beautiful in summer, when one can go to swim in the lake or in the river, one of the favourite activities of the locals.