12 Travel Secrets in Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva is one of those cities in Europe that absolutely blew my mind. These are my carefully selected 12 hidden secrets & best places to visit in Geneva and includes gems like Bains des Paquis, CERN, Chez Ma Cousine and tips for the Geneva Festivals.
Too many boring travel guides are available these days for Geneva and are often all the same, that's why I dug deep into Geneva to bring you the best hidden spots take make your trip much more memorable.
Places
1. Bains des Pâquis
Most popular place in the city with great activities in Lake Geneva. Don't forget to checkout the summer Sunrise festival every morning at 6:00am
2. Jet de Eau
Most famous fountain in the world blasting 500 liters of water 140 meters into the air every second.
3. CERN
Largest particle physics laboratory in the world including the LHC or large hadron collider and birthplace of the WorldWideWeb.
4. Bike Rentals
Grab a FREE bike at Geneveroule, just show your ID and a 20 swiss francs deposit and you are good to go.
5. Geneva Old Town
Ride your FREE bike to Geneva Old Town while cruising down little alley ways and cobblestone roads.
6. Chez Ma Cousine
Great Swiss restaurant with affordable prices since dining out is very expensive in Geneva.
7. Fêtes de Genève
Summer festival in Geneva at which you can enjoy the amazing fireworks and funfair at the harborfront.
8. United Nations
Geneva houses the United Nations official headquarters, outside you'll find a giant chair which symbolizes the opposition against landmines.
9. Mont Blanc
Not many tourists know, but on a clear day you can actually see Mont Blanc from the waterfront, the largest mountain of Europe.
10. Cheese Fondue
No trip to Switzerland is complete without trying the delicious cheese fondue, you can actually enjoy one of a decent price at Bains des Paquis.
11. Java Club
Hottest nightclub in Geneva but drinks are very expensive, $33 for a Corona is no exception thus pre-drink responsibly.
12. Budget Convenience Store
In general, Geneva is very expensive but at this convenience store at Rue de Zurich & Rue de Paquis you will find many cheap products that will help you survive this pricey city.
Start your adventure in Geneva at Bains des Paquis especially on a sunny day, where the whole city comes together to enjoy to pure waters of Lake Geneva and watch live music during the Sunrise Festival at 6:00am every day.
famous Jet d'Eau in Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva is most famous for Jet d'Eau, the giant fountain in the middle of Lake Gevena and is considered the most iconic fountain in the world. This 140 meters tall fountain can be seen from miles away while, 500 liters of water blast through the air every second.
During the evening you can hangout at Bains des Paquis while you enjoy some traditional Swiss cheese fondue and make friends with many locals.
meeting locals during dinner at Bains des Paquis
Geneva celebrates its hugely popular summer festival held on August 4th until August 14th and ends with a massive fireworks show.
My hidden secrets are lunch at Chez Ma Cousine, an afforable restaurant in the old town of Geneva and the budget convenience store on the intersection of Rue de Zurich & Rue de Paquis.
bains des paquis during summer in Geneva
Other places of interest are United Nations headquarters, the FREE bike rental shop called Geneveroule where you only have to provide a 20 Swiss franc deposit to borrow a bike and last; watch Mont Blanc from the Lake Geneva waterfront (unknown secret to most tourists).