Welcome Back to Geneva – A Guide to Places to Be and Things to Do

By Ellie Winslow, Lara Pope, and Mary Morphew

As summer winds down and Graduate Institute students return to Geneva, there are many ways to engage for the first time with international Geneva, or reconnect after a summer away! From fascinating museums, to delicious bars and restaurants, we hope to provide a short guide to some of the best ways to get acquainted or re-immersed in the Geneva lifestyle.

If it is your first time in Geneva, you will find that the city is easily accessible through various modes of public transportation. The TPG public bus offers connections from both Grand Morillon and Picciotto Student Residences to the city center. Geneva is also an easily walkable  and bikeable city, with accessible pathways for pedestrians throughout the city. If you believe you may be doing more traveling throughout Switzerland, we recommend buying the Half Fare Travelcard on the Swiss Pass. If you are under 25 years old, the Half Fare pass is 120 CHF/year, and if you are over 25 it is 185 CHF/year. If you plan to travel to Zurich, Zermatt, Interlaken, and other cities across Switzerland, we recommend this pass as it makes all train fares half price. 

Now that you know how to get there, here are a number of attractions we suggest in the Geneva city center. First, the old town is a must-see in your first days in Geneva. A stroll through the cobblestone streets and a seat at the longest bench overlooking the city will make you feel right at home. Some museums to see while you’re walking around the rest of the city include the Patek Phillippe, ICRC, United Nations, and Ariana. Look out for opportunities to tour these museums with a GISA Initiative, or visit on your own.

Furthermore, there are various outdoor attractions and activities to enjoy in and around Geneva. Whether you are looking for a leisurely activity, or an intense excursion, there is something for everyone. If you are looking for outdoor places to lounge in Geneva, visit Jardin Anglais, Jardin Botanique, Parc de Bastion, or Jonction. We suggest bringing a blanket, snacks, and friends to enjoy the sunset together. There are also many great locations to go for a swim in Geneva to cool off during the last of the summer heat. We recommend going for a dip at Perle du Lac, Bain des Paquis, and Baby Plage. There is a TPG ferry that can transport you from Paquis to the other side of the lake. There are several hikes to enjoy around Geneva, as well. The AllTrails app can link you to the routes for various hikes close to Geneva, but there are a few tried and true routes that we suggest. First, a very close hike that can be reached by TPG bus is Saleve. This mountain is visible from IHEID. It is a moderate to advanced hike with gorgeous views of Geneva and Mont Blanc at the top. Other hikes include La Dole, which is accessible via train from Gare Cornavin, or a hike from the Gex bus stop across the border from Geneva in France. Both of these hikes are in the Jura mountains and offer great views of Lake Geneva.

Moving on to cafes, bars, and restaurants, we have compiled a short list of each. One of our guest writers, Samuel Smith, has compiled a list of their top-rated cafes in Geneva on their @thrd.wave Instagram page, you can also see these on The Graduate Press Instagram page as well. Some of their recommendations include Boreal, Le Fix, Utopia, and Ou Bien Encore. For more on his assessments of coffee taste, cafe ambience, and pricing, visit his Instagram page. As for restaurants, we recommend Bain des Paquis for traditional Swiss fondue. This is a great spot to go with any visiting friends and family. Cafe du Soleil and Restaurant Les Armures are other restaurants known for their fondue and other French and Genevoise cuisine. Moreover, our recommendations for pizza in Geneva include La Pinata and Kytaly. Lastly, on this short list, we recommend Gelatomania for dessert. Finally, we have a range of bars that we recommend you visit at some point during your time in Geneva. These include Elephant, La Jonquille, La Barje, Bongo Jos, Cafe Guidolline, Lucha Libra, and L’ecurie. These bars have a combination of beers, wines, and mixed drinks at a variety of price points. It is advised to bring cash, as sometimes it will allow you to move through the line quicker. In addition, L’ecurie only accepts cash. 

We hope this short guide to some of Geneva’s attractions and entertainment will help you to feel more settled as you move to Geneva for the first time or back after summer break. Remember to keep an eye out for events hosted by GISA Initiatives, which will allow students to engage with more events in and around the Geneva community.

Photo credits: Ellie Winslow