Geneva is much more than just the United Nations or the Jet d’Eau. The famous water fountain is pretty hard to miss and after walking past it for the sixth time while strolling along the lake promenade you may begin to think it’s slightly overrated.
I can’t fault you for thinking that.
Luckily, I have made a list of my top 10 favourite ways to experience the city.
And, despite Geneva not being a particularly budget-friendly city, it just so happens that my top 10 sights are completely affordable and a great way to explore the city beyond what you see on the postcards.
1. Explore the Old Town
A great place to start your tour of the old town is Bastions. Right by Bastions is the Reformation Wall which was built as a monument to key figures of the reformation movement.
From Bastions, you can make your way to the Place du Bourg-de-Four. This is Switzerland’s oldest square and is a central point of the old town.
Right next to the square is the St. Pierre Cathedral. This cathedral is a must-see in Geneva and if you’re feeling fit you can climb the 157 steps to the top of the tower for a view over the whole city.
Walking through the old town you can explore the many alleyways and try and find the old secret Genevois passageways.
One such secret passage is the Passage de Monetier, however, it is only open during the Escalade celebrations in December, and even then you need to be patient to access this centuries-old route.
2. Visit the Reformation Museum
Learn more about Geneva’s fascinating history with a visit to the Reformation Museum near the old town.
The museum centres around the life of Jean Calvin, a key figure of the Protestant Reformation who lived and worked in Geneva.
The museum documents reformation history and houses precious artefacts such as the Geneva Bible, the first reformed bible to be translated into English.
Even if you are not particularly interested in religion, this museum offers a great insight into 16th Century Geneva and the impact of the Reformation movement.
You can find the museum at Rue du Cloître 4, just below the St. Pierre Cathedral.
3. Shop at the Plainpalais market
Having previously lived in Plainpalais, the market on the pink square is a familiar sight.
The flea market takes place every Wednesday, Saturday, and on the first Sunday of every month.
Closest to the tram stop, are the bric-a-brac stalls. Here you truly have to search and have a bit of luck to find treasures among the junk.
Moving further along the market, you will find some lovely vintage stalls. And if you have no luck with the market stalls you can grab a snack at one of the street food vendors.
For fresh produce, the farmers market in Carouge held on Wednesdays and Saturdays is also a good choice.
However, undoubtedly the best farmers market is in the village of Ferney-Voltaire, just across the border from Geneva.
Every Saturday people from near and far, flock to this tiny village for the amazing fresh vegetables, fruits, seafood, meats, and the selection of french cheeses.
4. Grab a bite at Saj Eat
This tiny, hole-in-a-wall restaurant may not look like much but I can assure you that out of all the Lebanese places in Geneva, Saj Eat is the place to go.
The manakish are made ready to order with a delicious zaatar spread. My personal favourite is the manoush with labne and vegetables.
Take it to go and walk down to the promenade where you can sit down and enjoy your snack with a lovely view of the lake.
Saj Eat is just a 3-minute walk from Cornavin, at Rue des Alpes 18.
5. Swim in Lake Geneva
Geneva has many different bathing spots and discovering them all is half the fun. The UN even has its own private beach for UN staff and employees.
Out of all the bathing spots, Bains des Pâquis is probably the most well-known one and for good reason! It’s conveniently located near the centre of town and right near the famous Jet d’Eau.
However, if you are willing to take a bicycle ride a little further to the town of Cologny, you will be rewarded with the architecturally stunning wooden circles at the quai de Cologny.
To get to the floating islands, grab a bicycle and enjoy the 15 minute ride along the lake. On arrival you can cool off with a refreshing swim in Cologny.
6. Go for a walk around the Botanic Gardens
The Geneva Botanic Jardens are a lovely way to spend an afternoon strolling through the gardens and around the pond. The gardens are free to enter and are located right by the lake.
You can reach them either with public transport to the Secheron station or by walking along the promenade past the Wilson Hotel and turning left after Parc Barton.
Don’t miss the greenhouses on your visit! These are the nicest part of the gardens, housing tropical and mediterranean plants.
The gardens are open year round (the greenhouses are actually quite a nice break from the cold winter air) from 8am to 5pm in the winter, and from 8am to 7.30 in the summer.
7. Treat yourself to Macarons at Ladurée
While these aren’t exactly free or cheap, I strongly believe everyone should treat themselves from time to time and that’s exactly what these delicious macarons from Ladurée are.
These sweet treats are some of the best macarons you will find and visiting the gorgeous shop on the quai des Bergues is a delight in itself.
Grab a few for yourself to try and a box as a gift to bring home.
You can find the shop at Quai des Bergues 33, 1201 Genève.
8. Experience the beauty of la Jonction
The Jonction is where the rivers Rhône and Arve meet. The beauty of Jonction is created by the different colours that the two rivers have.
To get the best view of the joining of the two rivers, take a tram to Junction, walk towards Cimetiére de saint-georges and walk along the path until you see the large bridge.
You can also walk further along the river or go for a swim.
In fact, as in many Swiss cities, the Genevois like to float down the river in Summer. Just make sure to check the weather forecast before you go!
9. Travel back in time with a daytrip to Yvoire
While it is technically not in Geneva, Yvoire is a beautiful, medieval French village located just across the lake.
You can check out my post on Pérouges for another French medieval village that is slightly further away but is also worth the trip.
Yvoire is just a 30-minute drive from Geneva or you can take the ferry from Nyon and is a lovely option for a day-trip away from the city.
It is a living village which has managed to preserve its medieval character over the centuries, giving it its picture-book look.
The best way to explore this city is by walking through the cobblestone streets (Yvoire is car-free so there isn’t really another option) and visiting the small shops that are dotted around the town.
10. Climb the Salève and see Geneva from above
Another typical Geneva activity that is technically in France, is hiking the Salève mountain.
This hike is practically a requirement for any Geneva resident and needs to be done at least once.
There are many routes up and down the Salève but my personal favourite is the beautiful, but challenging, route that passes through the Grotto d’Orjobet.
This route starts at the Le Coin car park, from there you can enter the forest and follow the path up to the cave. From there you walk along the Corraterie.
The Corraterie follows a narrow path through a rocky shelf but the view is absolutely worth the slightly treacherous path.
However, if you feel more comfortable with a guided tour, there are free, guided hikes offered every Sunday by the Geneva Association of Friends of Salève (AGAS).
These tours leave every Sunday at 10am from the Veyrier-Douane bus stop.
