1 Day in Geneva, Switzerland
I have always wanted to go to Switzerland. I was so excited once we determined the closest airport to our workaway in Sallanches, France was actually the Geneva airport! Yes, it was only one night, but we were in Switzerland! I was ooo’ing and aah’ing the views from the plane. The Swiss Alps were in sight!
Let’s talk facts. Geneva is the second largest city in Switzerland and serves as the European Headquarters of the United Nations. As it is on the southern border of Switzerland, bordering France, the main language spoken in Geneva is French. The currency used is the franc, which is currently equal to the value of 1 USD (May 2022).
From the airport, we bought a non-stop train ticket to Geneva city center. It was just 3 franc per person, which we purchased at a kiosk at the Geneva airport. An attendant never came to check our tickets, but it is wise to not chance it. To use the wifi at the airport, you must scan your boarding pass or passport at one of the pink “Free Wifi” kiosks. The one we found was located near baggage claim next to the information desk.
Once in Geneva City Center, we took a short walk to the hotel, Ibis, to change and drop off our bags. With the hotel stay, we received free transportation tickets for the duration of our stay! This included the bus, train, and boats. We utilized this perk for a boat ride across Lake Geneva and a train ride back to the airport. Awesome perk!
What can you do in just 24 hours in Geneva?
Sure, you could do some pricy tours, go paragliding, or take a fancy boat ride, but we opted for the budget route and spent our time wandering the city by foot. With just one day, this is the best way to maximize your time and budget!
Let’s take a look at how we spent our 24 hours in Geneva, Switzerland.
Marvel at Jet d’Eau
In the middle of Lake Geneva, is a large water fountain, which is actually more of a jet. From a distance, you think, “wow,” but once you get real close either by boat or by walking on the Jetee des Eaux Vives, you’ll say “WOW!” There is a good chance that you could get misted on, or maybe even wet, depending on the direction of the wind. It is spectacular up close! Walking on the Jetee des Eaux Vives was one of our favorite free things to do in Geneva. We had a lovely morning soaking up the sun and watching the boats sail along. Relaxing on a bench along this walkway is a MUST DO.
Relax on the longest bench in the world
As featured in an episode of The Amazing Race, we checked out the longest wooden bench in the world, located in Old Town Geneva. It is 393 feet long and would sit 190-197 newspaper-reading-people… according to the Amazing Race challenge. Maybe you aren’t interested in the bench, but I bet you would be interested in the stunning views from this hilltop! Across from the bench is a playground with an assortment of fun equipment to climb, swing, and spin on. Definitely one of my favorite playgrounds I’ve seen! This is a great location to read a book, have a picnic, or better yet, play and bring out your inner child!
Watch a chess tournament at Bastions Park
This is a lovely park located in Old Town Geneva. It is home to a botanical garden and six giant chess boards. Besides gazing at all of the flowers, we enjoyed watching people strategize over their next chess moves. We at first thought this was where the longest bench was, but it was actually around the corner, up the hill lined with trees. One of our favorite things about Geneva was seeing so many people enjoy the outdoors, whether it be playing chess with a group of friends, biking, or drinking a spritzer in the square.
Fill up your water bottle with ‘Eau Potable’
This translates to “potable water” which means it is safe water to drink. These fountains are located throughout European cities and make it very convenient to stay hydrated. Free and eco-friendly? Yes, please! Look for the fountains that have an ‘eau potable’ plaque on them. If you look closely, you will start seeing them all over. We always have our water bottles with us!
Eat at Chez Ma Cousine
Why here? Simply because it is tasty and affordable.
Food in Switzerland is very pricy. For comparison, a McDonald’s mcchicken sandwich alone is 6 franc and a burger at Five Guys is 15 franc. Chez Ma Cousine has a meal deal for 16 franc which included 1/2 a rotisserie chicken, potatoes, and a salad. This was absolutely the best rotisserie chicken I have ever eaten! Their food comes from local Swiss farms. For the same price as a fast food combo meal but superiorly better, you must eat here!
Take a boat ride on Lake Geneva
With our free transportation tickets included from the hotel, we rode the water taxi to Old Town Geneva. This is walkable, but why not take the boat?! Being on the water is always refreshing! For something longer and more intimate, book a boat tour. Whether you book online or at the marina, there is an array of excursions to choose from. Explore some excursions here!
Smell the flowers
Flowers were abundant and colored the city. It makes spring time the absolute best time to visit Geneva! They were gorgeous and smelled delightful. I was disappointed I did not have my Sony camera with me to really capture all of their beauty! When you visit Geneva, count how many people you see carrying bouquets of flowers. (hint: it will be a lot!)
Check out the floral clock, L’horloge Fleurie.
Admire the swans (or maybe even swim with them!)
Along the walkway to Phare des Paquis was a beautiful sight for swan and duck viewing. There were 3 swan nests just in this one small area! We watched a swan move around her eggs in the nest and watched a mamma duck swim with her 16 ducklings… yes, I counted!
Along this same path, you can sunbathe, swim, and even slide into Lake Geneva. We had intentions of swimming here, but it was too cool for our liking. Other people were in the water though! Kudos to them.
Explore History
Over the years, Geneva has been a part of the Holy Roman Empire, Kingdom of Savoy, Kingdom of France, the French Empire, and finally the Swiss Confederation. The town became home to one of the father’s of the Protestant Revolution, John Calvin during the 16th century, who was fleeing persecution from the Kingdom of France. Calvin converted the impressive Gothic-era Roman Catholic St. Pierre’s Cathedral into his home church. The structure is almost 900 years old and still worth a visit!
Check out the beautiful mosaics outside of the Old Arsenal for a picturesque story of Geneva’s history.
Plan your trip to Switzerland
Those are just some of the things we did with our 24 hours. There are many more options though, such as bicycling, taking a chocolate factory tour, and eating fondue. Do you need help planning your next adventure? Reach out to us at Connect Travel Adventures!