This guide has been written in partnership with Geneva Tourism.
Geneva, Europe’s leading city break destination, is sure to tick all the boxes with a range of activities and offerings. The city’s one-of-a-kind blend of vibrant urbanity and peaceful natural beauty will undoubtedly capture your heart. Here is just a snippet of some of our favourite places to eat, things to do and abodes to stay when you visit Geneva.
EAT
Geneva Food Guide
Indulge in the culinary wonders of Geneva, where Genevan restaurants offer an exquisite array of gourmet options, from traditional Swiss delicacies to innovative international cuisine. Geneva is the third most culinary diverse city in the world, with 11 Michelin-starred restaurants, drawing travellers from all over the globe. Created in collaboration with renowned gastronomic expert Sébastien Ripari, the Geneva Food Guide features 60 recommended establishments, from Michelin-starred restaurants to cosy cafes, making it the ideal guide for exploring the city’s diverse culinary offerings.
La Buvette Des Bains Des Pâquis
La Buvette Des Bains Des Pâquis has it all, you can swim, enjoy the popular dishes of the day by the lake, have breakfast and in the winter sample one of the best fondues in town. Located on the Bains Des Pâquis jetty, it’s the perfect casual dining spot to immerse yourself in Geneva’s gastronomic offerings. Afterwards, visitors can opt to take a revitalising dip in the iconic Lake Geneva, before hopping into the Turkish baths for a winter warmer.
Image credit: @bainsdespaquis
La Buvette Des Bains Des Pâquis has it all, you can swim, enjoy the popular dishes of the day by the lake, have breakfast and in the winter sample one of the best fondues in town. Located on the Bains Des Pâquis jetty, it’s the perfect casual dining spot to immerse yourself in Geneva’s gastronomic offerings. Afterwards, visitors can opt to take a revitalising dip in the iconic Lake Geneva, before hopping into the Turkish baths for a winter warmer.
Le Jardinier
Situated on a wonderful veranda overlooking the lake, the charming, chic fine dining restaurant is the perfect spot. Rooted in the refined elegance of French culinary technique, Le Jardinier celebrates seasonality with dishes that encapsulate the land’s rich offerings on every plate, created by chefs Alain Verzeroli and Olivier Jean to resonate with the essence of the surroundings.
DO
Geneva’s Chocolate Shops
Dating back hundreds of years, beginning with the establishment of its first chocolate factory, Geneva’s chocolate-making history has become a symbol of the Swiss city. Geneva’s Choco Pass offers a personalised chocolate-tasting tour at eight top chocolatiers, featuring delights like amandes princesses, Sweetzerland truffles, and Grand Cru hot chocolates. Valid for a year, with 24-hour activation after the first tasting, the pass is available for GBP £27 per adult or GBP £5 per child.
Discover the Old Town
As Switzerland’s largest historical city, the Old Town of Geneva is dominated by St. Peter’s Cathedral, the centre of the Reformation. The small cobblestone streets tell its story through small squares, historic buildings, fascinating museums and mysterious secret passages. The secret tunnels and underground paths, which were used to prevent attacks and evacuate important people, are opened for one weekend a year during the Fête de l’Escalade, allowing visitors to relive the past. Guided tours of the Old Town also allow visitors to uncover the city’s hidden gems with the help of a knowledgeable guide.
Swimming in Geneva
Swimming in the city is a popular Swiss tradition for locals and tourists alike, both in summer and winter with endless options for swimming, from dipping in the Rhône to splashing at the foot of the Jet d’Eau. Also, at the gates of the city can be found a green oasis with a pool and access to the lake, perfect for a city break with friends or family. To make the most of what Geneva has to do and to visit all the swimming spots, take advantage of the Geneva City Pass, which can be purchased for either 24, 48 or 72 hours, and grants access to over 60 activities across the city.
Sleep
Mandarin Oriental, Geneva
Overlooking the Rhône river and within walking distance of the city’s main attractions such as the Lake, Jet D’eau and St. Peter’s Cathedral, Mandarin Oriental, Geneva is a five-star hotel with contemporary Swiss hospitality offering supreme views of the Old Town and the snow-capped mountains. The 178 rooms and suites are designed with a contemporary and refined style, inspired by nature, mountains, and water. The hotel’s outstanding restaurants and vibrant bar have made a significant contribution to Geneva’s dining scene, while visitors can rejuvenate and unwind with Swiss expertise at the hotel’s wellness facilities. Combining luxury, style and unbeatable service, it is the perfect city retreat.
Top tip: For an exclusive dining experience at Mandarin Oriental, Geneva, reserve one of the ten seats at SACHI’s Omakase. Each evening, the Omakase Chef crafts a bespoke menu, showcasing refined dishes that evolve daily with the freshest seasonal ingredients. A unique culinary journey not to be missed.
Four Seasons Hôtel des Bergues, Geneva
A 19th-century Grande Dame of Geneva, the Hôtel des Bergues joined the Four Seasons family in 2005, celebrated with a full renovation and the addition of upper storeys. As a result, you’ll find the room options here to be superbly diverse; some are grand, historic and opulent echoing the hotel’s past, while newer options take on a more Scandi-loft vibe. Its Michelin-starred Il Lago restaurant is an exquisite dining experience with Japanese fusion restaurant Izumi on the rooftop. The hotel’s Spa Mont Blanc is where serenity meets rejuvenation – take a dip in the sizeable indoor pool and you can take in the sky overhead, through the vaulted glass ceiling. With enchanting views of the lake and the snow-capped Alps in the distance, as well as the Old Town, this iconic hotel remains an ideal choice for sophisticated travellers.
Top tip: Explore the Spa and indoor pool. Perched on the hotel rooftop, the pool is bathed in natural daylight through a stunning glass ceiling.
Hotel D’Angleterre, Geneva
Poised on the edge of Lac Léman and deftly combining British elegance with genuine Swiss hospitality and an inimitable sense of sophistication, 150-year-old Hotel d’Angleterre is a Genevan landmark and one of Switzerland’s most storied hospitality icons and welcomes guests of all ages. Centrally located, the historic property boasts direct views of the city’s famous Jet d’Eau and magnificent Mont Blanc beyond and is within easy walking distance of everything that Geneva has to offer.
Presided over by charismatic general manager Jean-Vital Domezon for more than a decade, who leads a dedicated and long-serving team, the hotel offers guests a range of sumptuous, individually styled rooms and suites, all bedecked in exquisite art and elegant furnishings and complemented by luxe, marble-lined bathrooms.
Guests soak in panoramic lake vistas while dining on refined international cuisine at Windows Restaurant; sip single malts and hand-crafted cocktails while revelling in the nightly live music in Leopard Bar (which happens to be one of the city’s most popular night-time venues), and quietly relax with a Cohiba in the hotel’s plush, smoke-free cigar lounge.
Whilst the d’Angleterre is the only hotel in Geneva that serves traditional British afternoon tea, it also offers an array of luxe bespoke experiences, tailored to guests to elevate their stay, including chauffeured tours of local vineyards and private visits to some of the finest chocolatiers in the city.
Top tip: Be sure to try the Sophie Dugerdil’s Sauvignon Blanc 2016. It’s Hotel d’Angleterre Sommelier, Landry Tissot, personal favourite. It’s from Dardagny, near Geneva, which is an excellent terroir for this grape. It has a lively body with sophisticated notes of citrus and exotic fruits—it’s a fantastic example of Sauvignon Blanc and it definitely holds its own against the new world Sauvignons.
