Geneva City Guide - Sightseeing

Most of Geneva's attractions can be covered on foot, with the exception of Lake Geneva (Lac Léman). Motorboats, affectionately named mouettes (seagulls), crisscross the lake, providing excellent views of Geneva, as well as a close-up shot of the city emblem, the Jet d'Eau.

The Old Town is dominated by the Cathédrale St-Pierre, situated next to the Auditoire, the church in which Calvin taught and John Knox preached and supervised the production of the Geneva Bible.

In the city centre, there is the Ile Rousseau, a little island in the River Rhône, off the Pont des Bergues, with a statue of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and a superb view of the port of Geneva.

Geneva is known as the ‘City of Parks'. As well as the Jardin Anglais, the city centre boasts the Promenade des Bastions, below the Old Town walls, which contains the famous Reformation Wall and giant outdoor chess pieces. Many of the parks are situated on the shores of the lake.

On the rive gauche (left bank) are the Eaux-Vives and La Grange - the latter contains the ruins of a Roman villa and fine rose garden, where the annual International Rose Competition is held. On the rive droite (right bank), Ariana Park surrounds the museum of that name and the Palais des Nations, while nearer to the lake is the Jardin Botanique. The central point of the River Rhône is marked by the ruins of a medieval fort, the Tour de l'Ile.

Geneva Tourist Office
Rue du Mont-Blanc 18
Tel: (022) 909 7000.
Website: www.geneve-tourisme.ch
Opening hours: Mon 1000-1800, Tues-Sun 0900-1800 (Closed Sun from Sep to mid Jun).

Two-thirds of the city's museums do not charge for admission. Private Museums do charge, but have issued a pass, valid for three months, which is available from the tourist office and participating museums, giving discounted entry.