This list of the best places to see in Geneva, will help you not to miss anything important in one of the most essential cities in Switzerland.
Located at the exit of the Rhone River to Lake Geneva and overlooking the great mountain range of the Alps, Geneva is famous among many other things, for the manufacture of precise Swiss watches, for having the UN headquarters and for its delicious chocolate .
In addition to strolling along the shore of Lake Geneva, you cannot miss the cathedral's viewpoint, get lost in the beautiful historic center and the Carouge district, relax in one of its well-kept parks and have a drink in the Bains des area Pâquis, among many other things.
Remember that if you are going to spend a night in Geneva, at the time of check-in at the hotel you will be given free of charge the Geneva Transport Card, which includes public transport and if you fly directly to the city, before using the train to arrive To the city, you can go through the vending machines and pick up a free ticket with which you can make trips up to 90 minutes.
Based on the experience of the time we spent in this city during our train journey through Switzerland, we have made this list of what we believe are the 10 places to visit in Geneva essential. We start!
1. St. Peter's Cathedral
St. Peter's Cathedral, built in different styles and with a spectacular neoclassical porch, is one of the places to see in Geneva more representative Its construction began in the 12th century and was the mother church adopted by Juan Calvino, one of the leaders of the Protestant Reformation.
Inside, in addition to seeing an old wooden chair used by the famous French theologian Calvin, you will find the largest collection of Romanesque and Gothic capitals in Switzerland and incredible stained glass windows from the 14th century. The visit can be completed by going down to the basement to see the remains of the first churches that were built in this location, which are a perfect complement to the visit to the cathedral.
Although our favorite place in the cathedral is up the 157 steps of the towers, which will take you to a viewpoint with panoramic views of the city, the lake and the Alps.
San Pedro Cathedral
2. Jet d'Eau
The Jet d'Eau fountain, located on the jetty of Eaux Vives and with jets that can reach 140 meters high, is one of the most famous monuments to see in Geneva.
In its origins in 1886 it was used as a safety valve of a hydraulic power network, until in 1891 it was moved to the current location to become another of the tourist attractions of the city, which we are sure, will not leave you indifferent.
This powerful jet of water, which leaves at a speed of 200 kilometers per hour, can be seen from many points of the city and is considered as one of the largest water sources in the world and how could it be otherwise, a of the visits in Geneva that you cannot miss.
A good option to get to know the city and get close to the Jet d'Eau is to book this panoramic tour that includes a walk along Lake Geneva, one of the most beautiful in Europe.
Jet d'Eau
3. Carouge neighborhood
Less than 10 minutes by tram from the historic center of Geneva is Carouge, our favorite neighborhood and one of the most charming places to visit in Geneva.
Known as the Italian quarter, Carouge was centuries ago an independent city of Geneva, which belonged to the house of the Dukes of Savoy. This powerful house hired the best Italian architects to design a Mediterranean city in the style of Nice, to also compete in beauty with neighboring Geneva.
Today, its lively streets full of charming corners, small restaurants and cafés with terraces, fashion shops, art studios, make it a perfect neighborhood to walk around.
Among the most essential places in the neighborhood is the Place du Marché, which every Wednesday settles a market of fresh fruits and vegetables, St-Joseph Street with its famous umbrellas and the bike ride or walking along the banks of the Arve River.
A route through the neighborhood can be finished by trying the local cuisine in the charming Cafe du Marche and put the icing with a dessert in the chocolate shop of Mr & Mrs Renou.
Carouge neighborhood, one of the places to see in Geneva
4. United Nations Headquarters
The Palais des Nations, or Palais des Nations, houses the second UN headquarters in importance after that of New York and is another of the essential places to see in Geneva.
This huge building, located in the Ariana Park in front of the Plaza de las Naciones, is completely armored and you can only see the flags of the 193 states that are part of the UN and the palace from afar.
If you book in advance on this official website you can take a guided tour inside, to see rooms such as Human Rights, which stands out for its large dome decorated by the Spanish artist Miquel Barceló.
In addition to this, in the Plaza de las Naciones, it is interesting to stand a while in front of the Broken Chair monument, which claims the rejection of anti-people mines and cluster bombs and is one of the icons of this area of the city.
In this area full of government buildings, the International Museum of the Red Cross and Red Crescent also stands out, highly recommended visits if you have extra time in the city.
A convenient option to visit the places furthest from the city center and save time is to book the Geneva tourist bus that stops at the UN headquarters.
United Nations Headquarters
5. Maison Tavel, one of the places to see in Geneva
La Maison Tavel, located in the historic center, is the oldest private house in the city and one of the most interesting places to visit in Geneva.
This medieval house destroyed by a fire in 1334 and belonging to a powerful family in the city, works as a museum since 1986 showing the development of the city and daily life since the Middle Ages. In addition to touring the rooms decorated in detail with objects and period furniture, there is a large model of the entire city of 1850.
Our recommended hotel in Geneva
The Ibis Styles Geneva Gare is located next to the Geneva train station and Notre Dame Cathedral. In addition to its magnificent location, the hotel has a 24-hour reception, friendly staff and one of the best value for money in the city.
6. Parc des bastions
The Parc des Bastions, located at the foot of the historic center and a few meters from the great Place de Neuve, is another of the most important places to see in Geneva.
In this case, the park's most prominent place is the Reformation or Reformer Wall, which was built in the early 20th century in honor of the men who helped create and spread the Reformation and Protestantism such as Calvin, John Knox , Farel and Teodoro de Beza.
In addition to seeing the wall, the park is a good place to walk quietly, have a picnic in the shade of its trees or make a game on one of its large chess boards.
To access the park you will have to go through the Place de Neuve that has several prominent buildings such as the Conservatory of Music, the Rath Museum and the Grand Theater.
Parc des Bastions
7. The Jonction
About 20 minutes walking along the bank of the Rhone or 10 minutes by tram is La Jonction, the point where the Arve River and the Rhone River meet, where if you go up to the viaduct located in front of La Jonction, you can see perfectly how they mix the waters of different color and current of the two rivers.
In addition to being able to see this natural phenomenon, this area has been transformed into a space alternative, equipped with hammocks, wooden platforms and a series of beach bars that are ideal for sunbathing, bathing or picnicking on a sunny day.
La Jonction, one of the places to visit in Geneva
8. Historic center
A stroll through the historic center, the Vielle Ville in French, located around St. Peter's Cathedral, is one of the best things to do in Geneva.
Get lost in the narrow cobbled streets such as the Rue de l'Hôtel-de-Ville and the Gran-Rue, discover charming squares such as the Place du Bourg-de-Four and the Place du Molard, sit on terraces of restaurants and historic cafés , entering antique stores and art galleries or simply, drinking from its sources, is a real pleasure for the senses.
Geneva historic center
Recommended travel cardsRemember that in order not to pay commissions and always have the current change we recommend you use the N26 card to pay and the Bnext and Revolut cards to get money at the ATMs. They are the ones we use, They are free and will save you a lot.
You can find more information in this article about the best cards to travel without commissions.
9. English garden
The English Garden, located on the shores of Lake Geneva, is one of the green spaces of Geneva, perfect for relaxing and disconnecting from the sometimes busy city life.
The park's most famous place is the Fleurie Flower Clock or Horloge, a tribute to the traditional Swiss watch industry and one of the essential places to see in Geneva.
This five meter diameter watch is made up of plants and flowers of all kinds that are changed in each season of the year and is also one of the most accurate watches in the world, being connected to a satellite that adjusts the time.
Other highlights of this garden are the National Monument, two bronze statues representing the reunification of Geneva with Switzerland, and the Quatre-Saisons fountain.
English garden
10. Bains des Pâquis
Bains des Pâquis, located on a pier a few meters from the Jet d'Eau Fountain, is one of the places with the best atmosphere to visit in Geneva.
Here locals and tourists gather to sunbathe, enjoy good views of the city and Lake Geneva, take a dip in the pool in summer or in the sauna in winter, have a beer or eat a delicious fondue, which according to They count, it is the best in the city.
If you feel like helping us complete the list of the 10 places to see in Geneva essential, add yours in the comments.
