I wanted to take advantage of my stay in Geneva to put together a list of top tips for this beautiful Swiss city. This city, nestled between the lake and the mountains, is truly one of the most beautiful in Switzerland and offers magnificent scenery. I had been there once before, but that was many years ago, and I didn’t stay for more than a day—which is always a bit short to really discover a city.
Unfortunately for me, my stay was quite rainy, so I took refuge in museums to keep my feet dry and the rest of me warm. As for the rest, as you might notice in the photos below, Geneva is a city of fountains; there really are a lot of them in the city (at least, it’s a detail that caught my eye). In any case, it’s a very pretty city to discover, and personally, I plan to return in the summer to enjoy the outdoor activities, both on the lake and in the surrounding mountains.
Before venturing into the city, take a quick trip to the Tourist Office to pick up free maps of the city and the public transport network; it will help you get around.
2 top tips to know for getting around the city at a lower cost, even though many places are accessible on foot or by bike, as the city isn’t that big:
- When staying in a hotel, youth hostel, or campsite in the canton, you will receive the Geneva Transport Card for free, which gives you free access to Geneva’s public transport during your stay, including boat crossings on the harbor (the Mouettes Genevoises, a must-try!).
- If you arrive at Geneva Airport, you can also pick up a free public transport ticket valid for 80 minutes.
_
Table of Contents
What to do, what to visit in Geneva?
Below, I offer a few ideas for outings and cultural visits to do in the city that I tested during my stay, as well as others I’ve heard about.
Visit the Patek Philippe Museum
As an amateur of antique pocket watches, I really enjoyed the private Patek Philippe Museum, which showcases 500 years of watchmaking history across 3 floors in all its forms, and more specifically, the prestigious creations of the Geneva manufacturer Patek Philippe, founded in 1839. This exceptional historical collection of horology and enameling of Genevan, Swiss, and European origin spans from the 16th to the 20th century.
Patek Philippe Museum
Rue des Vieux-Grenadiers 7, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
The tip: Access to the permanent collections of the municipal museums of the City of Geneva is free! I recommend taking advantage of this to visit the city’s Art and History Museum and Maison Tavel
_
Visit Maison Tavel
Maison Tavel is, I think, the essential first step for a historical introduction to the city. Indeed, this private Genevan residence is one of the oldest in the city, a rare example of medieval civil architecture in Switzerland, and it bears the name of the family that owned it from the end of the 13th century until the beginning of the 16th century. Since 1986, the main building has housed the museum of urban history and daily life in Geneva.
Engravings, paintings, maps, furniture, models, and various objects testify to the past of the city and its inhabitants from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. I particularly recommend watching the audiovisual explanation projected on a map of the region right after the reception, which will help you understand the reasons for the city’s location in this specific geographic area.
rue du Puits-Saint-Pierre, 6 Geneva
open from 11 am to 6 pm, closed on Mondays
free admission to permanent collections
_
Visit the Art and History Museum
The Art and History Museum, a multidisciplinary institution, invites visitors on a journey through time and cultures across 5 floors in a building from the early 20th century, designed by the Genevan architect Marc Camoletti. I highly recommend visiting the basement to discover the regional archaeology collection and its superb, nearly 3m-tall oak statue representing an Allobrogian chief, found at the site of the former Gallo-Roman port.
The museum also has a bar-restaurant, Le Barocco, with a very beautiful terrace in the interior courtyard for sunny days.
Art and History Museum of Geneva
2 rue Charles-Galland Geneva
open from 11 am to 6 pm, closed on Mondays
free admission to permanent collections
_
Among the other free museums in the city that I didn’t have time to visit, there is also the Natural History Museum. While passing through the old town, also take the opportunity to take a look at the Gothic Saint-Pierre Cathedral (free admission) as well as the adjoining archaeological site (there is an entrance fee for that one).
Obviously, if the weather permits, a trip to the Geneva Jet d’Eau, the symbol of the city, remains a must to admire its pristine plume reaching 140 meters high!
In the Parc des Bastions, you can make a quick stop in front of the Reformation Wall, backed by the city’s ancient ramparts. It presents, in a lush green setting, the great figures of the Reformation who changed the destiny of the city.
_
My favorite addresses in Geneva
Of course, I cannot talk about a city without mentioning its gastronomy and its specialties (even though I am very far from having tasted them all). To bring back some regional specialties, I recommend going to the Globus department store, a sort of Swiss Galeries Lafayette (48 rue du Rhône – open every day except Sunday), which has a very, very tempting fine grocery section…
Café Remor
A great spot is Café Remor (place du cirque 3, 1204 Geneva). An affordable place with the look of a bistro from another time, offering very nice homemade pastries and hot chocolate.
place du cirque 3, 1204 Geneva
_
Martel Chocolatier
Another gourmet address, less budget-friendly but a bit classier and very appreciated by the locals, is Martel (4 Rue de la Croix d’Or 1201 Geneva), a great chocolatier in Geneva. I especially recommend trying their homemade hot chocolate, which is truly divine.
Martel
4 Rue de la Croix d’Or 1201 Geneva
_
And you, do you have any tips or favorite addresses to recommend in Geneva?
Photo credits: Mademoiselle Bon Plan Photos are not royalty-free, photographer's authorization required before any use
