Bonjour/Hello/Hallo Genève!

Surrounded by the spectacularly beautiful Alps and Jura mountains, the city offers dramatic views of Mont Blanc and Lake Genève. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have believed that this city, so blessed with natural beauty, also fulfils some big-city functions, that too in an international arena!

Beautiful water fountains in the city

Did you know?
Geneva serves as the headquarters of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (better known as CERN) as well as the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Still, here’s a list of my personal favourites – things you must definitely try in this gorgeous, diverse and cosmopolitan city.

1. Get a taste for world diplomacy with a visit to the Palais des Nations (United Nations)

des drapeaux

Have you ever heard anyone say, “Leave me out of this! I’m neutral. I’m Switzerland!”…?

They may be joking but one of the things Switzerland is most famous for (apart from its spectacular beauty and its divine chocolates!) is its neutral stance in all international diplomatic matters. Add this deliberate choice to its perfect geographic position right in the centre of Europe, and you have an ideal location for international organisations like the United Nations. In fact, After New York City, the second most important UN office is in Geneva.

A good friend of mine, who is a history geek, once told me that the Palais des Nations has been around since the 1930s, and actually started life as the headquarters for the League of Nations, the UN’s predecessor.

Make sure you sign up for the guided tour (be prepared for long queues!) which covers – depending on availability – the Assembly Hall, the Council Chamber and the Human Rights and Alliance of Civilisations Room. This hour-long tour will open your mind in more ways than one!

Any guesses whose statue I found at UN headquarters ?

Ma vie est mon ma message – MK Gandhi

And while you’re at the Palais, why not walk up the road to visit the International Red Cross and the Red Crescent Museum as well? The poignant Humanitarian Adventure exhibit will remain on your mind for years to come – totally worth it!

2. Take a selfie with the Jet D’eau

Jet d’eau

Geneva’s famous Jet D’eau (water fountain) has been around at its present sport since 1951. It originally started life as a safety valve for a hydraulic power plant way back in 1886. This enormous monument spouts 500 litres of water/second up to a height of 140 metres. No wonder it’s visible from the air as you fly into Geneva airport!

If you are keen on the selfie, some of the best spots are the Pont du Mont-Blanc and the Promenade du Lac alongside the lake’s left bank. 

3. Salute the Broken Chair and say a prayer for victims of landmine blasts

Facing the Palais des Nations is the Place des Nations, a world-famous centre of contemporary art and culture. One of the most iconic sculptures within this wide, open square is the 12 metre high Broken Chair. Inaugurated in 1997 with the support of Handicap International, the Broken Chair really has one broken foot (it’s not just an ironic name, folks!)

However, it is much more than a piece of art. This larger-than-life structure is both a symbol for the dignity and worth of human life, and an earnest appeal for nations to ban landmines that attack human life so viciously.

The broken chair

I knew the history of the Broken Chair before I set eyes on it, but the sight still moved me to tears. Now that is the power of great art!

My advice:- don’t think of the Broken Chair as just a selfie-worthy sculpture. Recognise what it represents. And while you’re there, say a quick prayer for the victims whose lost voices the Broken Chair is trying to resurrect.

United nations in the backdrop

4. Jump on a tram (street car) and have fun exploring the city at leisure!

Geneva has a well-connected public transportation system (UNIRESCO) that includes trains, buses, boats (mouettes) and trams. Here is a useful printable map that covers the transport network for the city.

The tram network has been around since 1896 and currently has 4 routes.

Take a tram from the city centre to explore the Italian quarter in Carouge. A haven for artisans, this historic area is chock-full of bookshops, watchmakers, antique stores and clothes boutiques. And when you’re tired after your shopping expedition (window shopping in my case!), take a load off at one of the many bistros, cafés and restaurants dotting its landscape.

After you say Arrivederci to Carouge, get back on the tram and drop into your friendly neighbourhood laboratory CERN, located in the suburb of Meyrin. A visit to Geneva is incomplete without a CERN visit, even if you’re not a Science nerd. I found it absolutely incredible that a world-renowned laboratory doing cutting-edge research into the mysteries of the universe is open to the public! Sign up for a guided tour at the visitor centre. And don’t miss the museum exhibitions, they are amazing!

Did you know?
Switzerland has 3 official languages: English, French and German, but French is most commonly spoken in Geneva.

This is a world-class, wealthy business centre, so as long as you speak at least one of these languages, you’ll do fine. But it doesn’t hurt to know your Bonjour from your Au revoir ☺

Immerse yourself in the history of Geneva, explore its hidden bylanes, eat some cheesy-gooey-fondue and warm the cockles of your heart with some vin chaud (mulled wine)! And if you want a respite (!!) from the city, take yourself off to the ‘balcony of Geneva’, Mont Salève.

There’s so much to do here that one visit won’t be enough!

Since we were on a backpacking trip and had just 1 haversack check in – check out was not a hassle so we decided to spend one night in Lausanne  – another swiss city about an hour away from Geneva. The town is built on a hill and has a lake. We just ambled around the cobbled medeival streets lined up with cute shops and cafes. One monument that we visited was the Lausanne Cathedral.

Early morning walk in lausanne

The city is situated on a hill so while walking you will find many lookout points from which you can get an aerial view of the city.

beautiful streets

We walked to the Cathedral from our hotel De la Paix through old narrow cobbled streets.

Cathedrale de Lausanne

One day in the city was injustice to the city but alas! If I had all the time only to travel 🙂