Stand on the Pont des Bergues and the lake ends in front of you: on one side the Rhône begins its run out of Lake Geneva, on the other the Jet d'Eau throws its plume into the air above the Rade. Walk ten minutes uphill and you are in the Old Town, on the same rise where the Cathédrale St-Pierre and Calvin's auditorium sit, with the archaeological layers of the city underneath them.
Geneva suits travellers who want a compact city they can cross on foot, with a heavy weighting towards museums, monuments and international institutions rather than nightlife or shopping. It also suits anyone using the city as a base: Mont Blanc is visible from most of the city, and the closest French ski destinations are within reach by car.
This guide covers the sights and experiences worth your time, ordered from the strongest down, followed by a one-day plan and answers to the questions visitors ask most often.
Top things to do in Geneva
1. Jet d'Eau
The monumental fountain on the Rade pumps water 140 m into the air and is visible from most of the Lac Léman waterfront. It began as an occasional pressure release for hydro-power generation on the Rhône, and was made a permanent pumped fountain in 1891 because people liked it so much. It is beautifully lit at night.
View it from a distance, since the surrounding half kilometre is soaked with water, or take the pathway leading right up to it if you are prepared to get enjoyably wet. It runs daily 10:00-23:00, is shut off in November for maintenance and during strong winds, and is free.
2. Cathédrale St-Pierre and Calvin's auditorium
At the highest point in the Old Town, the cathedral and its towers embody the high point of the Reformed tradition and explore the origins of Christianity through an extensive archaeological site. The Auditoire, where Calvin taught, completes the complex. An underground passage, reopened when the International Museum of the Reformation was created, connects the cathedral to the Maison Mallet.
The archaeological tour beneath the cathedral is excellent for archaeology fans, explaining the origins not only of the cathedral but the reason for Geneva's location back to pre-Roman times. Climb the tower steps for views of Geneva and the lake. Entry to the church itself is free; the Espace Saint Pierre pass covers all three sites of Cour Saint-Pierre, and the cathedral's website lists free live organ performances.
3. Palais des Nations
Built to house the League of Nations, the Palais is worth visiting for the magnificent Assembly Hall, the large collection of public art, the library and the landscaped grounds. Visits are by guided tours only, and for most of the year there are two or four per day.
Enter the complex at the Appia gate and go through passport and security check, then collect a visitor badge and buy your ticket downstairs. You then exit the building, go left and slightly downhill to Building E, enter through door E39 and wait in the lobby until the tour starts. A souvenir shop sends postcards with UN stamps, and a small cinema shows video clips of the UN's work while you wait. On the tour itself you must follow the guide at all times.
4. Old Town (Vieille Ville)
Aside from the cathedral, the Old Town in general is worth walking around for an hour or two. Among the highlights are the city hall with the cannons in the little square opposite it, Rousseau's birth house, and various antique shops with interesting things in the windows.
Note that the Old Town sits on a hill with quite steep streets leading up to it, which is a consideration for visitors with physical disabilities.
5. International Museum of the Reformation
Installed on the ground floor of the Maison Mallet next to Saint-Pierre Cathedral, the museum presents the main spiritual and cultural elements of the Reformation. Unique objects, manuscripts, rare books, engravings and paintings illustrate the close ties between Geneva and the Reformation, with films, a music room and demonstrations, including many for children.
It is open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-17:00, closed 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January, and open on Easter, Pentecost and Jeune Federal Mondays. For a small supplement you can also explore the archaeological site beneath the cathedral and climb the tower inside the cathedral, which has views of the city.
6. Museum of the International Committee of the Red Cross
In the basement of the ICRC headquarters, the museum shows photos and objects related to the organisation's service to humanity during wars and natural disasters, and presents stories of victims. Much of the permanent exhibition is not an ordinary museum but more of an experience, and you are given an audio guide.
It is open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-17:00, closed 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January, with access for disabled visitors. It sits on Avenue de la Paix, the same axis as the Palais des Nations, so the two combine naturally in one outing.
7. Jardin botanique
The botanical garden shows flowers, plants and trees both from the Alps and from other parts of the world, and the palm house hosts tropical vegetation. In the northern part of the park there is a zoo spread over a quite large area, with birds and Alpine mammals such as goats and deer.
Entry is free. The main entrance is at the corner of Rue de Lausanne and Avenue de la Paix, reached by bus 8, 11 or 25. Its position on Avenue de la Paix makes it an easy add-on to a visit to the Palais des Nations or the ICRC museum.
8. Place Neuve and Parc des Bastions
Place Neuve holds the Grand Theatre, renovated after a fire in 1951, the Conservatoire de musique and the Musée Rath. From there you can continue to the Parc des Bastions, which includes a large wall, the Mur des Réformateurs, showing some of the famous people of the Reformation movement.
Treat the two as a single walk: the square gives you the architecture, the park gives you the Reformation monument and a place to sit.
9. Île Rousseau
A small island at the Pont des Bergues, where the lake ends and the river Rhône begins, named after Jean-Jacques Rousseau, with a statue of him there. Entry is free.
It is a short stop rather than a destination, and pairs well with a walk along the waterfront to see the Jet d'Eau from a distance.
10. L'Ile
Worth visiting for the old Tour de L'Ile, the remains of a fortified castle erected in the 13th century. Entry is free.
It is a quick look rather than a long visit, and fits neatly into a walk through the centre.
11. Monument Brunswick
An impressive monument on the Quai du Mont-Blanc, constructed in 1873 as a mausoleum for the Duke of Brunswick as a replica of the tomb of the Scaligeri family in Verona. The quai is also worth visiting for the five-star hotels and the cars in front of them. Entry is free.
Combine it with the lakeside walk rather than making a separate trip.
12. Quartier des Grottes
An area north of Gare Cornavin with interesting shops and, most importantly, a series of residential buildings called "les Schtroumpfs", built between 1982 and 1984, where the architects tried to avoid all straight lines, leading to an unconventional Gaudi-like appearance. Entry is free.
It is close to the station, which makes it convenient on arrival or departure day.
13. Eaux-Vives
While many of Geneva's buildings are similar in style to what you would find in French cities, the Mairie of Eaux-Vives is a good example of the typical Swiss architecture found in cities like Zürich. If you are interested in modern architecture, also visit Rue Saint-Laurent for "La Clarté", an avant-garde building designed by Le Corbusier in 1931/32 and one of 17 Le Corbusier buildings listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Another attraction here is the Russian Orthodox Church built 1859-1866 with its golden cupolas.
This is a district for walking and looking at buildings rather than a single sight, so allow time to move between the Mairie, Rue Saint-Laurent and the church.
14. Carouge
A district of Geneva that once belonged to the Kingdom of Sardinia and hence retains a distinct Italian flavour.
Go for the atmosphere and the streets rather than a checklist of monuments.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start at the Cathédrale St-Pierre and Calvin's auditorium at the highest point in the Old Town, and take the archaeological tour beneath the cathedral if you have the time. Then walk the Old Town itself for an hour or two, looking out for the city hall with the cannons in the little square opposite it, Rousseau's birth house and the antique shops. If the Reformation is your interest, add the International Museum of the Reformation on the ground floor of the Maison Mallet next door.
Afternoon. Head down to the water and cross to Île Rousseau at the Pont des Bergues, then follow the Lac Léman waterfront to see the Jet d'Eau from a distance, keeping clear of the half kilometre that gets soaked. From there, take bus 8 towards Appia for the Palais des Nations, joining a guided tour of the Assembly Hall, the public art, the library and the grounds, and adding the Museum of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the same area if a tour slot allows. If you still have daylight, the Jardin botanique is on the same avenue.
Evening. Return to the waterfront to see the Jet d'Eau lit at night, then walk the Quai du Mont-Blanc past the Monument Brunswick and the five-star hotels.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see the Jet d'Eau?
It runs daily 10:00-23:00 and is beautifully lit at night, so an evening visit gives you both the fountain and the lighting. It is shut off in November for maintenance and during strong winds, so check before planning a trip around it.
Do I need to book the Palais des Nations in advance?
Visits are by guided tours only, and for most of the year there are two or four per day, with summer tours arranged depending on the number of visitors. You enter at the Appia gate, go through passport and security check, collect a visitor badge, buy your ticket downstairs, then go to Building E and wait in the lobby until the tour starts.
Which museums are open on Mondays?
The International Museum of the Reformation and the Museum of the International Committee of the Red Cross are both open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-17:00, so neither is a Monday option. Both are closed on 24, 25 and 31 December and on 1 January, and the Reformation museum opens on Easter, Pentecost and Jeune Federal Mondays.
Is the Old Town accessible on foot?
The Old Town is situated on a hill with quite steep streets leading up to it, which is a consideration for people with physical disabilities. The cathedral sits at the highest point, so plan the climb accordingly.
Pick your dates, decide whether the lakefront or the Old Town gets your first morning, and start building the trip around the places above.