Home › Travel Guides › Europe Travel Guide › Switzerland › Geneva › Things to do in Geneva
Image gallery

Jet d'eau on Lake Geneva

© 123rf.com / Kheng Guan Toh

+100
Geneva Local time

Weather in Geneva
Sunny
-
7
°C
Switzerland

Things to do in Geneva

Cycling

Switzerland has a tendency of being ahead of the curve on matters of public facilities, so Geneva finds itself home to a large network of cycling lanes and signposted bike routes. There’s the opportunity to discover the shores of the lake, of course, but you’ll also find that it takes little time before you can be surrounded by the Genevois countryside, much of which is well-suited to two-wheeled exploration.

Cruising

It seems rather churlish to come to Geneva and not venture onto the lake at some point. The number of cruising options is fairly extensive: find full-blown luxury cruises where fine dining accompanies the view, leisurely Sunday cruises, one-hour cruises, fondue cruises, lunch cruises, sunset cruises... and for a historical boat trip, hop on board a vessel heading to the medieval city of Yvoire.

Fishing

With lakes come fish, and it’s relatively simple to arrange an angling trip onto Geneva's clear waters. The Association École de Pêche sur le Léman lay on full-day and half-day excursions for parties of up to four around Geneva’s lake, providing equipment and sharing tips. But the best bit? On return from the boat, tuck in to your freshly prepared catch at a restaurant in town.

Website: www.aepl.ch

Rafting

Believe it or not, it is possible to go rafting through Geneva's city centre. Inflatable rafts cover an 8km (5-mile) route, taking in eight waterfalls along the way, along the Arve River. Take in the heart of Geneva itself, as well as the more rustic environs of the surrounding countryside, before arriving into the city and flowing into the Rhône River. The activity is available from April to October, and each raft can take between six and 10 people.

Tel: (22) 784 0205.
Website: www.rafting-loisirs.ch

Skiing

Geneva’s close proximity to the mountains means all sorts of outdoor activities are feasible – from climbing to paragliding – but it’s skiing and snowboarding that really draw the crowds. Geneva is situated within striking distance of some of the Alps' most striking resorts. Among them are Gstaad, Zermatt and Crans-Montana, as well as the French towns of Val d’Isère and Chamonix.

Beach life

Geography dictates that Switzerland will never be associated with beach holidays, but the whopping great body of water on Geneva’s doorstep means the summer months do offer plenty of beach-like activities. Enjoy diving, swimming, water skiing and windsurfing. No, it's not the Caribbean, but with the whole scene framed by mountains, a day by the lake is still pretty spectacular.

Travel Deals

Recommended Sites:

Protect yourself from malaria
Before you travel, find out if your holiday destination is in a malaria zone.
(An educational initiative organised and funded by GlaxoSmithKline Travel Health. UK/MARK/0173/10 September 2010)
Africa, the way it should be seen
We´re cutting the cost of Africa overland trips by up to a whopping 40%. 25% off many trips departing by 30/6/12.
Travel insurance
For residents of over 150 countries. High levels of medical, evacuation, emergency & most adventure activities covered.