Choose from 31 Fun Things to Do in Geneva
Geneva Flower Clock
This is no mere monument – the Geneva Flower Clock is also a fully functioning clock, among the largest of its king in the world, with a diameter of 5 meters and a seconds hand reaching over 2.5 meters long. The impressive floral arrangement now features eight dials and is replanted 4 times a year, with local landscapers creating ever-more elaborate designs each time, utilizing seasonal blooms and on-trend color schemes.
Geneva Contemporary Art Centre (Centre d'Art Contemporain Genève)
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Lake Geneva (Lac Leman)
- Lake Geneva is located in French-speaking Switzerland.
- Many boat tours and trains are wheelchair accessible, but it's best to check with operators in advance.
Geneva EthnograMuseum (Mus ee d'ethnographie de Genève)
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Museum of Natural History (Museum d'Histoire Naturelle)
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Martin Bodmer Foundation (Fondation Martin Bodmer)
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Ariana Museum (Mus ee Ariana)
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Cath edrale de St-Pierre
From Roman mosaics in the foundations to the neoclassical columns of its facade, the Cathédrale de Saint-Pierre is not only Geneva’s main house of worship, it is also a fascinating time capsule of the different influences that have dominated the city over the centuries. Depending on how you approach it, you could be forgiven for thinking the cathedral is actually a group of smaller buildings huddled together, as successive building programs – most notably Romanesque and Gothic – never completely wiped out previous traces.
Saint-Pierre is associated above all with the Protestant reformer John Calvin, who preached here in the 16th century; his rather uncomfortable looking wooden chair is still on display. And if you’re feeling energetic, just nearby is the entrance to the cathedral’s north tower, which will reward your 157-step climb with one of the best views of Geneva.
Practical Info
The cathedral, in the center of the Old Town, can be visited free of charge, though there is a small fee for climbing the tower. There is also an admission charge for the archaeological site in the cathedral’s foundations, featuring late Roman mosaics and the remnants of Geneva’s oldest Christian shrines, which is reached by a separate entrance.
Palace of United Nations (Palais des Nations Unis)
The Palais des Nations Unis - or Palace of United Nations - is a monumental structure worthy of the European home of the United Nations, the international organization’s most important seat outside of New York. The neo-classical complex was originally built in the early 1930s as the headquarters of the League of Nations, the predecessor to the UN. These days it hosts major global conferences as well as numerous smaller meetings at which diplomats work at the coalface of day-to-day international relations.
Highlights of the guided tour include the enormous Assembly Hall, the Council Chamber and an exhibit of official gifts. A short film detailing the work of the UN puts it all in context. There is no charge to enter the surrounding Ariana Park. Here peacocks roam freely and the landscaped gardens offer splendid views of the lake and nearby Alps.
Practical Info
Take tram numbers 13 or 15, destination “Nations”. Enter at the Portail de Pregny (Pregny Gate) and remember to bring your passport. The Palais des Nations Unis can only be visited on a guided tour, which takes approximately one hour.
Geneva Old Town
Geneva’s Old Town (Vieille Ville) contains some of the city’s foremost attractions, including the Barbier-Mueller Museum, the Cathédrale St-Pierre and the Maison Tavel. It is also the site of the International Museum of the Reformation, which underlines Geneva’s importance in the great religious upheavals of the 16th century, particularly through the work of French theologian John Calvin, who lived and preached here.
But this historically significant district offers much more than just indoor pursuits; exploring the area on foot is a pleasure, with a number of the narrow, winding streets closed to traffic and numerous cafes offering refueling stops along the way. The beautiful Place du Bourg-de-Four is the traditional center of the Old Town and a great place to enjoy an early evening drink.
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From the main railway station, Gare de Cornavin, take bus number 5 to Palais Eynard and make your way downhill through the Old Town on foot.
English Garden (Jardin Anglais)
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As central as it gets, the Jardin Anglais is situated where the Pont du Mont Blanc alights on the southern shore. It’s a short downhill walk from the Old Town.
Prangins Castle (Château de Prangins)
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Carouge
Carouge is where Geneva goes to unwind. It was ever thus: what is now a suburb started life outside the then city walls in the mid 18th century as a parcel of land belonging to the King of Sardinia, who hoped it would provide refuge for Catholics and other minorities from puritanical Protestant Geneva. The area still bears the imprint of the Italian architects he drafted to design the area.
This charming district has developed over the years into something of a bohemian center, with all sorts of artisanal activity going on during the day and a wide selection of bars and restaurants to occupy you through the night. The Place du Marché forms the heart of the district, with its quirky Italianate church at one end and a regular produce market which has been in operation for over 300 years.
Practical Info
From the main railway station, Gare Cornavin, take tram number 12 or 13 and get off at Marché, the center of Carouge.