36 Hours in Geneva, Switzerland

If you’re in Geneva, Switzerland during the months of July through September, you’re in luck. Residents in Geneva live for two seasons – winter and summer. Winters revolve around skiing in the mountains just an hour or two away while summer revolves around the lake, Lac Leman. The iconic fountain, known locally as the Jet d’Eau, is over 450 feet tall, and serves as a perfect landmark for all your explorations.

Last week I had the opportunity to share Geneva with Anne, who stopped briefly in Geneva between visits in Paris and Lucerne. I was more than happy to share my perfect Summer itinerary with her. This itinerary can work for anyone visiting Geneva during the warmer months, whether you’re here for a few hours or a few days.

See: The Summer months tend to be quite temperate, rarely getting hotter than 85 degrees though the evening temperatures frequently drop to the low 60s. Be sure to bring comfortable shoes as much of Geneva is meant to be explored by foot.

Explore the city and surrounding areas on two wheels compliments of Geneve Roule. May through October this company offers free 4-hour bike rentals at eight different locations around Geneva. You merely walk into the shop, request a free bike, provide them with 20CHF deposit and an identification card. Four hours later, when you return your bike, they give you your money and ID card back. Dedicated bike lanes, sidewalks, lake paths and gardens make Geneva a very bike friendly city! Make sure you see the flower clock in Jardin Anglais, ride past the Jet d’Eau, around to the other side of the lake where you can explore the botanical gardens.

Explore Old Geneva via foot as you wind through the cobblestone streets, admire the 15th- century architecture and dust up on your Reformation history while touring Cathedrale Saint-Pierre, dating back to the 12th century. Visitors can climb to the top of the clock tower to enjoy panoramic views of the mountains, lake and city on clear days.

Treat yourself to a relaxing afternoon in the sunshine and take a dip in the lake at one of Geneva’s lake beaches.  Families, couples and solo travelers alike can enjoy a relaxing afternoon at either Wake Board Center or Geneve Plage. Families and locals alike tend to love Genève Plage because it offers a water slide, Olympic size pool, baby pool, five diving boards, and two floating platforms. The Wakeboard Center tends to draw a more adult crowd due to the two bars, restaurant and both paddle board and wake board rentals.

Drink: While Geneva is a quieter town than London or New York, there are ample bars and clubs if that is what you want. There seems to be something for everyone, especially in the Summer. Below are three different bars where we often find ourselves enjoying a glass of wine or Summer evening with friends.

L’Atelier Cocktail Club – An extensive cocktail menu, friendly staff, plenty of indoor and outdoor space along with a great happy hour special (5-7pm) makes this a popular spot.

Soleil Rouge– A Spanish inspired wine and tapas bar which features a rotating menu of 20 different wines available by the glass. This tends to be a crowded and popular spot so show up early if you want a coveted outdoor table.

Les Voiles – This lake front club is a mix of a Miami beach club and European dance club. The music is European house music, and though the drinks are more expensive , the lake front views, especially at sunset, make it worth the money. There are multiple dance floor areas along with some lounge areas for those who would rather relax and chat.

Eat: While Geneva may not have the most-extensive restaurant scene and Mexican has proven impossible to find, there are a handful of restaurants that are quickly becoming our local favorites.  Due to the multitude of nationalities in the city you can find just about any cuisine you want, especially French, Italian, Turkish, Lebanese, & Swiss. The below are just two of our favorites that we’ve shared with visitors since arriving.

Cottage Café – The perfect spot for breakfast, lunch or dinner, this small café is situated in a small park, just steps from the lake. Serving food Tuesday through Saturday from 7am until 9pm, the menu includes small plates that are inspired by seasonal ingredients. My favorites are their zucchini stuffed with lamb, figs and goat cheese, grilled octopus, and tabouleh.

Le Crise – A hidden gem in Eaux-Vives, there is no menu, but instead a waiter or the owner who comes to your table to greet you and present you, orally, with the evenings 5 or 6 appetizers followed by the 4 or 5 main courses. The atmosphere is funky and eclectic, but the music is always fun and the food is incredible. Our favorite dishes are the escargot, duck confit and the lamb. Come for the food but stay for the party that begins around 10pm each night when the music gets turned up, and the dancing begins.

Fete de Geneve: For 25 days each Summer the lake front becomes home to a music festival and fair, attracting tourists of all ages. Evening fireworks, fair rides, food, drinks, and multiple music stages take over the lake front area from July 17th until August 10th. If you happen to be in Geneva during that time period spend an evening enjoying the scene!

If you find yourself traveling through Geneva, feel free to email me with questions as I’m happy to help!