Geneva: Lakeside Beauty, Culture & Swiss Delights

1. Old Town Geneva

No visit to Geneva could be considered complete without visiting the delightful Old Town Geneva, called Vieille Ville in French. Here you can spend a few happy hours exploring narrow cobbles streets on foot to discover several museums and historic buildings with wonderful ancient stone facades. Some of the highlights of the Old Town include Maison Tavel, Place du Bourg-du-Four, Saint Peter’s Cathedral and the lovely Treille Promenade which overlooks the Bastions Park. There are also many restaurants, cafes and squares hidden away in the maze of little passages. Reaching the Old Town, which is located in an elevated part of the city, requires a reasonably steep walk, which is probably why you will find the world’s longest wooden bench (121 meters long) situated on the Promenade. Here you can sit down, relax and soak up the Old Town atmosphere, surrounded by outstanding views.

2. MAMCO (Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art)

You will find MAMCO holding court next door to the Patek Philippe Museum in what forms a central hub of museums and up-scale coffee shops, close to the huge open-air Pleinpalais square. The entire area is a great place for art lovers to spend a day admiring the visual arts on display at MAMCO and the adjoining Center for Contemporary Art. You should plan to spend at least two hours at MAMCO and it is recommended that you join a guided tour to best appreciate the large variety of art works – free guided tours available in English at 7pm every Wednesday. The museum is home to a large permanent collection as well as quarterly-changing temporary exhibitions.

MAMCO, Rue des Vieux-Grenadiers 10, 1205 Geneva, Phone: +41-22-32-06-10-22

3. The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum

Our world would be a sadder, more desperate place without the daily life-saving activities of The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum. You can expect your visit to this museum to be different from any other museum you may have visited in the past, as you learn about humanitarianism and the part played by the Red Cross is coming to the aid of people in need. The intention of the permanent (and temporary) collections will always be to evoke emotions and empathy by showcasing artifacts, posters, photographs, films and other objects. You can tour the museum in your own time with the aid of an audio guide or join one of the twice-daily guided tours.

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum, Avenue de la Paix 17, 1202 Geneva, Phone: +41-2-27-48-95-11

4. Jardin Anglaise (English Garden)

Geneva’s lovely English Garden is situated along the shores of Lake Geneva where it tempts visitors to come and trade the hustle and bustle of the city for a serene and relaxing green space with wonderful views of the lake. The garden was established in 1855 and has become a popular venue for locals and visitors to meet, stroll and enjoy open-air concerts in summer. You can admire the beautifully-tended floral displays of flowers and the imposing brass fountains or enjoy a snack or drink at one of a few interesting cafes. One of the best-loved highlights of the garden is the Horloge Fleurie, an enormous (functioning) clock made up of a huge variety of flowers, which is over 16-feet in diameter, which pays tribute to Swiss watch-making skills.

Jardin Anglaise, Quai du Général-Guisan 34, 1204 Geneva, Switzerland

5. Bains des Paquis

The Paquis Baths are located on the edge of Lake Geneva, right in the heart of the city, and are open to the public every day of the year, weather permitting. The public swimming baths have existed since 1872 and are a very popular meeting place and recreational area for locals and visitors in the know. The original wooden baths were renovated and replaced in the 1980’s, using a simple and harmonious style which blends into the landscape. Today you can enjoy swimming all year round (if you wish) and from May to September you can also enjoy the sauna, Turkish bath and Hammam (one of which is reserved for ladies).

Bains des Paquis , Quai du Mont-Blanc 30, CH – 1200, Geneva, Phone: +41-2-27-32-29-74

6. Batie Woods

When you need to escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a few hours the lovely Batie Woods are an ideal recreational area located close to Geneva’s city center. The large wooded area has been a public park since 1868 and offers city dwellers a great place for both relaxation and outdoor activities. There are several footpaths for walkers and hikers, and there is also a dedicated cycling trail for bicycles and electric bikes. Children may ride their bikes anywhere in the park and can have lots of fun at the large children’s playground, petting zoo and wading pool. You can stop for a cup of coffee or a snack at one of two cafes and sun loungers are available in summer.

Batie Woods, Chemin de la Batie 28, Geneva, Switzerland

7. Centre de Art Contemporain - Geneva Contemporary Art Center

The Geneva Contemporary Art Center was established in 1974 and is the first contemporary art institution in French-speaking Switzerland. Unlike a museum, the center does not hold any permanent art collections but instead showcases the work of international and local emerging artists, with a view to involving the public in the evolution of art. Art enthusiasts can visit the center from Tuesday to Sunday to see a regularly-changing selection of multi-disciplinary art forms or to visit the extensive reference library. Entrance is free on the 1st Sunday of each month. The center is located in the same premises as the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MOMCA), making it easy to visit both exciting exhibition spaces together.

Centre de Art Contemporain, Rue des Vieux-Grenadiers 10, 1205 Geneva, Phone: +41-2-23-29-18-42

8. Conservatory and Botanical Garden of Geneva

The City of Geneva invites you to come and spent a few relaxing hours admiring the beautiful gardens and the vast collection of plants on display at the Conservatory and Botanical Garden of Geneva. You cannot fail to be impressed by the remarkable collection of plants which has been acquired from all over the world and is showcased in several themed gardens, rockeries and green houses. If you have limited time at your disposal (or if you are visiting with children) you can check their website to find which highlights to include in the amount of time you have. Some of the most popular exhibits include the Garden of Scents and Touch, the Historic Rose Garden and the Evolution Path, while children always love visiting the animal park.

Conservatory and Botanical Garden of Geneva, 1202 Geneva, Phone: +41-2-24-18-51-00

9. Ile Rousseau

The City of Geneva is suitably proud of the illustrious writer and philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau who was born in the city and spent a considerable part of his life there. To honor and celebrate him, a small island in the Rhone River was dedicated to his memory and now forms a lovely public park. You can easily reach the park on foot to spend a peaceful time enjoying outstanding views of the city while you have a drink or snack at the café or just relax under a shady tree. You will see a large bronze statue of Rousseau which was created by sculptor James Pradier and erected on the island in 1835.

Ile Rousseau (Rousseau Island), 1204 Geneva

10. The Institute and Museum of Voltaire (Institut et Musee Voltaire)

The Museum of Voltaire is housed in the lovely historic home (Les Délices or The Delights) of the famous philosopher and author, which was acquired by him in 1755. Today the home is both a research center and a museum dedicated to The Age of Enlightenment and Voltaire’s life. The beautiful building was extensively renovated in 1994 and you will be able to see a large permanent collection of paintings and manuscripts as well as furniture belonging to Voltaire which is realistically displayed as if the philosopher had just left the room. The Museum area is open to the public from Monday to Saturday from 2pm to 5pm. The Institute’s extensive reference library of scholarly works and sheet music can be viewed by appointment.

The Institute and Museum of Voltaire, Rue des Délices 25, 1203 Geneva, Phone: +41-2-24-18-95-60