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Geneva, Switzerland: your 1 day itinerary

Geneva is a beautiful Swiss city with so much to see and do. It has a historic old town with charming streets and squares, a lakeside setting, beautiful parks and gardens, and world-class museums.

But if you only have one day in the city, you might wonder what to prioritise. If so, don’t worry – this post will help you!

Below is a one-day itinerary to help you make the most of your visit. Given your limited time, it focuses on three areas: the central old part of the city, the lake area, and the Palais des Nations area.

Underneath you’ll find more details on these key areas, but you should check out my full post for more information to help you plan your day out.

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A graphical representation of the itinerary for Geneva

Top tip: If you only have a day, you’ll want to maximise your time. You can buy the Geneva City Pass which gives you free public transport for 24 hours, and over 60 offers (free or discounted entry to museums and lake cruises etc) to use during your visit. This is particularly good value for money if you want to do and experience several of the things mentioned in this post.

One day in Geneva: top things to do

The Old Town: Start your day in the historic Old Town. This is about a twenty-minute walk from the main train station.

The Cathedrale Saint-Pierre: One of the highlights of the old town is the 12th century Cathedrale Saint-Pierre. It was founded in the 4th century as a Roman Catholic cathedral but converted to a Protestant church during the Reformation.

Geneva Cathedral

If you pop inside, you can see the chair used by John Calvin, a 16th century Protestant reformer. You can also climb to the top of the towers to get views out across the city and lake.

The Jardin Anglais: When you walk from the train station you can go to the 19th century Jardin Anglais via the Mont Blanc bridge. The garden is by the lake and has manicured lawns, fountains, sculptures and pretty flower beds.

It also has the L’Horloge Fleurie, a flower clock (with a 2.5 metre long second hand!). It commemorates the city’s role in the watchmaking industry.

L’Horloge Fleurie,

The Place du Molard: This square is surrounded by picturesque medieval buildings, cafes, and bars. It has a fountain in the middle and a 16th century tower.

The Parc des Bastions: This is another beautiful place to visit in the city. It has a tree-lined boulevard and neat lawns to stroll around.

You’ll also find the Reformation Wall here, a wall which stretches for 100 metres and features the leading figures of the Protestant Reformation.

The Place du Bourg-de-Four: This square is near the cathedral and is ideal for a lunch stop. It’s the oldest square in the city and one of my favourites. There are cafes and restaurants here, and an 18th century fountain in the middle.

Lake Geneva and the Jet D’Eau: On a day out in Geneva, spending time by the lake is a must. Either stroll along the Promenade du Lac Leman or hop on a boat. You’ll get to see the Jet D’Eau water jet, which spurts 140 metres into the air.

The Jet D'Eau in Geneva

The Palais des Nations: You can catch a bus to the Palace of Nations, the former headquarters of the League of Nations, and an important centre for international diplomacy. It’s in the beautiful Ariana Park with views of the Alps. Depending on which day you visit, you may be able to take a tour around the building.

The Broken Chair Structure: Near the Palais des Nations is this 12 metre high structure, which represents the movement against landmines. It’s a striking sculpture and worth seeing.

The Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques de Geneve: This early 19th century garden is the country’s biggest botanical garden. It covers an area just short of 70 acres and contains several different gardens within it.

Geneva’s museums: You’ll be spoilt for choice if you fancy visiting a museum in the afternoon.

Choose between museums that include The International Red Cross and Red Crecent Museum (dedicated to the organisation’s work), The Musee d’art et d’histoire (an art and history museum), and CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research Museum which tells the story of the largest particle physics laboratory). 

There’s also a museum on the history of watchmaking, a glass and ceramics museum, and a museum for modern and contemporary art.

If you have longer in Geneva…

The above covers the things you should prioritise on one day in Geneva.

However, if you have longer, you could visit another part of the city, go on a boat trip, take a trip out to the Mont-Saleve cable car, or swim in the lake.

There are also plenty of places to go on a day trip to nearby. Montreux, Lausanne, and Neuchatel are top recommendations.

For more information on one day in Geneva, see my fuller post.

Written by Emma Marshall

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