What to See
5 highlights📍 Tap the pin for directions
Jet d'Eau — The Water Jet
Geneva's most recognizable landmark — a 140-meter jet of water shooting from Lake Geneva into the air at 200km/h. Best seen from the Jetée des Eaux-Vives (the walkway that extends into the lake). Up close you get soaked; the view from a distance, with the Alps as backdrop on clear days, is the classic Geneva image.
Lake Geneva (Lac Léman)
The lake is Geneva's greatest asset — vast, blue, and framed by the Alps and the Jura mountains. Walking the lakefront promenades (Quai du Mont-Blanc on the Right Bank; Quai Gustave Ador on the Left) is free and spectacular. Paddle boats and lake cruises are available from the waterfront, and CGN ferries connect to Lausanne, Montreux, and other towns along the lake — one of the most beautiful ferry routes in Europe.
Old Town (Vieille Ville)
Geneva's compact historic center sits on a hill above the lake — the 12th-century St. Peter's Cathedral (climb the north tower for views), the Parc des Bastions with its Reformation Wall (a long carved relief monument to the Protestant Reformation, featuring Calvin and others), and narrow cobblestone streets of medieval townhouses. Walkable in an hour, pleasant for longer.
UN & International Geneva
Geneva is the seat of numerous international organizations. The UN's Palais des Nations offers guided tours of the Assembly Hall (book online). The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum is one of the most powerful and thoughtfully designed museums in Europe — an hour there will affect you.
Swiss Chocolate & Fondue
Geneva has excellent chocolate shops — Favarger and Du Rhône are long-established local chocolatiers worth seeking out. For food, fondue (cheese) and raclette (melted cheese scraped over potatoes and charcuterie) are the defining Swiss experiences. Both are hearty and best suited to colder months. A good fondue restaurant in the Old Town is the right setting.