Geneva holidays

How to reach Geneva

Flight time: Flights to Geneva from London take around 1 hour 40 minutes.

Transfer time: Landing at Geneva Airport, 5km northwest at Cointrin, the train station is clearly signposted off to the left: all trains stop at Geneva’s main station (6min) before continuing to towns across Switzerland.

Price: On arrival, use the machine in the baggage reclaim hall to obtain a free ticket valid for 90 minutes on all public transport, including the train into town.

Best time to visit Geneva

This will depend on what you want to do during your holidays to Geneva; some events are seasonal, and the weather may also play a part in your decision.

June to August: During Geneva’s high season, the city takes on a life of its own with outdoor festivals and lakeside activities. Average temperatures are around 18–24°C, with plenty of sunshine, making dining out at one of the many lakeside restaurants an appealing option.

September to November: Although it’s shoulder season, the city’s international status means that it’s still quite busy. Average temperatures range from 10–15°C, but the crisp autumn air is perfect for taking in the city’s many lovely parks.

December to March: Although it’s winter, the city rarely sees much snow and temperatures hover around 0–5°C. However, Geneva is a major gateway to nearby ski resorts so it gets very busy. The festive markets add another layer of atmosphere to the city during this period.

April to May: Spring brings very mild weather, with temperatures between 10–18°C; this is the ideal time to explore the city's many museums before the summer crowds pitch up.

Practical information

• Spoken languages: French is the main language in Geneva, but English is widely spoken.

• Local habits and customs: The Swiss are known for their punctuality and politeness, so being on time and respectful of local manners will go a long way. It’s not customary to tip; if you’re impressed by the service, round up your bill to the nearest franc.

• Currency: Switzerland uses the Swiss Franc (CHF). Credit cards are widely accepted, and ATMs are plentiful.

• Getting around: Geneva’s bus and tram network is extensive, integrated, very straightforward to use and relatively inexpensive. Trams predominate in the centre, with routes threading off into the suburbs where they connect with myriad bus routes. Many hotels offer guests a free Geneva Transport Card, which gives unlimited access to public transport.

• Electricity and plug types: Switzerland uses Type J plugs, with a standard voltage of 230V. UK travellers will need an adaptor.

• Time zone: Switzerland operates on Central European Time (CET), which is 1 hour ahead of GMT.

Best things to do in Geneva

Take in the cultural attractions of this most urbane of European cities, wander the elegant streets, and then head down to the waterfront to relax and recharge your batteries.

Viewpoints and panoramas

• Jet d’Eau: Iconic lakeside fountain that spurts a single jet of water an incredible 140m into the air; it’s quite the sight. Best spots for a photo are the Pont du Mont-Blanc and the Promenade du Lac alongside the lake’s left bank.

• Mont Salève: Head out to the first ridge of the Alps rising southeast of Geneva, where a cable car whisks you to the summit and glorious views.

The best districts

• Les Pâquis: Engaging street life abounds in this multiethnic district where restaurants serve cuisines from around the world.

• Carouge: Its low Italianate houses and leafy streets now house fashion designers and small galleries, and the area’s reputation as an outpost of tolerance and hedonism lives on in its numerous cafés and music bars.

Museums

• Musée de la Croix-Rouge: Museum-with-a-conscience whose interactive displays reveal how the Red Cross has helped to alleviate the suffering of conflict.

• UN tour: Not a museum as such but a chance to see multinational diplomacy in action amid the halls and corridors of the UN’s European home.

• Musée d’Art et d’Histoire: This gigantic museum covers, in encyclopedic fashion, the whole sweep of Western culture from antiquity to the present.

Parks and gardens

• Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques: Boasting 70 acres of gardens and one of the world’s largest collections of preserved plants.

• Parc des Bastions: A tranquil area of shady greenery, enlivened by open-air games of chess that are played out in the shadow of the big gates onto the Place Neuve.

• Parc la Grange: Beautiful riverside park where areas of expansive greenery are festooned with an astonishing 40,000 rose bushes.

Historical monuments

• Cathédrale St-Pierre: Geneva’s Calvinist heritage is laid bare in the stark interior of this historic church.

• Russian Church: Forming the focal point of a neighbourhood of grand townhouses known as Les Tranchées, this atmospheric church was built in 1863 with money donated by Grand Duchess Anna Feodorovna Constancia, an aunt of Queen Victoria and a longtime Geneva resident.

• Mur de la Réformation: A stark, 100m-long wall erected in 1917 and dominated by forbidding, 5m-high statues of the four major Genevan reformers: Guillaume Farel, first to preach the Reformation in Geneva; Jean Calvin, spiritual father of the city; Théodore de Bèze, successor to Calvin; and John Knox, founder of Scottish Presbyterianism.

Day trips in the area

• Mont Salève: Even though it lies across the border in France this is the Genevois’ principal retreat into nature, with views over the city and the Jura hills in one direction and towards the Savoy Alps and Mont Blanc in the other.

• Lausanne: Tiered above Lake Geneva and crowned by a stunning Gothic cathedral, Lausanne is a beautiful city with lively street life and some fascinating museums.

Activities for families in Geneva

Geneva is a terrific city for families, with plenty of activities - both land and water-bound - to keep kids entertained.

• Interactive museums: At CERN, kids can experience the world’s largest science experiment, where physicists seek answers to fundamental questions about the universe - fun and educational.

• Boat trips and rental: The CGN has plenty of cruises, starting from the Mont-Blanc jetty, including Les Belles Rives Genevoises – an hour-long circular tour of both lakeshores. Smaller companies ranged along both lakefronts offer more regular departures; just wander along until you see a trip you fancy.

Free things to do in Geneva

There is plenty for budget travellers, with its attractive lake, beautiful Old Town and many free galleries.

• Markets: Visiting one of Geneva’s open-air markets is a must: the best is at Plaine de Plainpalais, a diamond-shaped plaza where a farmers’ market selling fruit and veg operates on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays; on Wednesdays and Saturdays, the space is given over to a busy flea market.

• Self-guided walks: Pick up an audioguide from the tourist office, covering two informative routes, one through the Old Town and one through the international area. Official guided walks through the Old Town depart from the tourist office.

• Free events: La Batie is a premier annual arts festival, held in late August until mid-September on the waterfront with theatre, street entertainers and music of all kinds. Each June Parc la Grange hosts the International New Roses Competition, and throughout the summer free music concerts are staged in the outdoor theatre.

Nature and outdoor activities in Geneva

Geneva’s lakeside setting and proximity to many mountain ranges make it a great destination for outdoor enthusiasts.

• Canoeing and rafting: Rafting Genève runs canoeing, rafting and kayaking trips daily on the Arve’s 8km of rapids, as well as whitewater trips on the Dranse and elsewhere. They also rent canoes and kayaks and make tandem paragliding jumps off Mont Salève.

• Hiking: Salève is a lovely hiking spot just a short bus ride away from the city centre – so close in fact that it’s known as Geneva’s local mountain even though it’s just across the border in France. More challenging are the Jura Mountains, also just across the border.

• Skiing and snowboarding: Geneva is one of the main bases for trips into the neighbouring ski resorts of Chamonix and Les Gets - you can quite easily head off for a day’s skiing and be back in the city for dinner.

Local dishes in Geneva

Geneva’s dining scene is as international as the city itself, with influences from Switzerland, France and beyond. Whether you’re craving traditional Swiss or something more exotic, there’s plenty to enjoy on your Geneva holidays.

Some typical dishes

• Zürcher Geschnetzeltes: Diced veal in a creamy mushroom sauce, generally served alongside Rösti, shredded potato formed into a large patty and fried golden brown on both sides.

• Raclette: A large half-round of cheese is held in front of a fire, and as it melts it’s scraped (raclé) onto a plate, and served with boiled potatoes, pearl onions and pickles.

Meat dishes

• Saucisson Vaudois: This pork and beef Vaud sausage is famous for its delicately smoked flavour, served boiled or steamed alongside papet vaudois, a purée of potatoes and leeks.

• Cordon Bleu: A Swiss take on this dish typically features a breaded and fried veal or pork cutlet stuffed with ham and cheese.

Fish and seafood dishes

• Perch (Egli): The city’s lakeside setting ensures that fresh fish plays a prominent role in the local cuisine; king of the lake is perch, which is either fried or grilled and served with potatoes and veg.

Sweets and desserts

• Luxemburgerli: Cream-filled pastry bites that are truly drool-worthy; the place to come for these is Sprüngli, one of the country’s most renowned confectioners.

• Chocolate: The country has a long tradition of confectioners producing hand-filled luxury chocolates for special occasions, such as chocolate-covered chestnuts in autumn and chocolate bears at Christmas.

Local drinks

• Swiss wine: Switzerland’s wine industry is modest, but a couple of regions produce some impressive vintages, most notably Lavaux.

• Kirsch: The country’s most famous distilled spirit or liquor, this is a cherry spirit from Zug and around Lake Lucerne.

• Swiss beer: Beer (Bier, bière, birra) on draught (vom Fass, à la pression, alla pressione) comes as a flavourful lager-type brew, always served with a large head of foam.