Things to do in Geneva
Wander the Left Bank to Geneva's Flower Clock ablaze with 6,500 blooms and feel the force of the 140-metre-high Jet d'Eau fountain. Narrow streets wriggle up to the Old Town, where St-Pierre Cathedral offers knockout views across Lake Geneva to snow-capped Mont Blanc. Admire contemporary art in Plainpalais factory-turned-galley MAMCO. On the Right Bank, explore the UN monolith Palais des Nations before relaxing on Bain des Pâquis pier. Most museums open Tuesday to Sunday 10am-5pm.
Museums and Galleries
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1. Patek Philippe Museum - Museums & Galleries
Show moreWatch lovers flock here to see one of the world's best collections of timepieces. The Patek Philippe Museum features a wide array of Genevese, Swiss, and European watches from the 16th-19th centuries, including one worn by Empress Sissi of Austria.
Show this on mapE-mail this itemCost
Admission 10F adults, 7F students and seniors, free for children 17 and under
Opening hours
Tues-Fri 2pm-6pm; Sat 10am-6pm
Address
7, rue de Vieux Grenadiers, Geneva, Switzerland
Telephone
022/807-09-10
Website
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2. MAMCO - Museums and Galleries
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Housed in a 1950s factory in Geneva's trendy Plainpalais district, MAMCO showcases European and American contemporary art. Swiss artists like Sylvie Fleury and Thomas Huber, and a playful programme of installations, are displayed against the industrial backdrop.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
SFr8; concessions SFr6; 1st Sun of the month free
Opening hours
Tue-Fri 12pm-6pm; Sat & Sun 11am-6pm
Address
10, rue des Vieux-Grenadiers, Geneva 1205
Telephone
+41 (0) 22 320 61 22
Attractions
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3. St-Pierre Cathedral - Attractions
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Rising high above Geneva's cobbled Old Town, St-Pierre Cathedral fuses Romanesque, Gothic and neoclassical styles. Climb North Tower for far-reaching views over Lake Geneva to Mont Blanc. The cathedral's archaeological site hides a 4th-century baptistery and intricate 5th-century mosaics.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
Free; archaeological site SFr8; concessions SFr4; under-6s free
Opening hours
Jun-Sep Mon-Sat 9.30am-6.30pm, Sun 12pm-6.30pm; Oct-May Mon-Sat 10am-5.30pm, Sun 12pm-5.30pm
Address
6, Cours Saint-Pierre, Geneva 1204
Telephone
+41 (0) 22 311 75 75
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4. Palais des Nations - Attractions
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Situated in the 45-hectare Ariana Park, the Palais des Nations is the seat of the United Nations in Geneva. Twice the size of Versailles, the white marble behemoth offers behind-the-scenes tours that take in the Assembly Hall and sculpture-dotted grounds.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
SFr10; concessions SFr8; children SFr5; under-6s free
Opening hours
Apr-Jun & Sep-Oct daily 10am-12pm & 2pm-4pm; Jul & Aug daily 10am-5pm; Nov-Mar Mon-Fri 10am-12pm & 2pm-4pm
Address
Pregny Gate, 14 Avenue de la Paix, Geneva 1211
Telephone
+41 (0)22 917 48 96
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5. Flower Clock - Attractions
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Set in the oak-fringed Jardin Anglais on the Left Bank is the Flower Clock. Geneva's most famous timepiece is planted with 6,500 plants and flowers. Celebrating Switzerland's watch-making industry, the clock blooms with the seasons and lures crowds of horticulturalists.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
Free
Opening hours
24 hours daily
Address
Jardin Anglais, Quai du Mont Blanc, Geneva 1201
Transport
Bus 9 to Place du Port
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6. Water Fountain - Attractions
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Originally a security valve, the Jet d'Eau water fountain is Geneva's most visible landmark, propelling 500 litres of water per second to a height of 140 metres. Visitors approach it on the Rade to experience its power and invigorating spray.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
Free
Opening hours
Dependent on weather and season, please visit the tourist office website for detailed information
Address
Quai du Général-Guisan, Geneva 1204
Transport
Bus 9 to Place Eaux-Vives
Special things to do
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7. Geneva Botanical Gardens - Special things to do
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Bordering Lake Geneva, the serene Botanical Gardens on the Right Bank nurture plant life from across the globe. A stroll takes in dahlias in bloom, waterfalls, tropical greenhouses, a scent-and-touch garden for the blind, an aviary and deer enclosure.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
Free
Opening hours
Apr-Oct 8am-7.30pm; Nov-Mar 9.30am-5pm; greenhouses 9.30am-4.30pm
Address
1, Chemin de l'Imperatrice, Chambesy, Geneva 1292
Telephone
+41 (0) 22 418 5100
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8. Bains des Pâquis - Special things to do
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Brazilian mamas and businessmen, students and Rastafarians - everyone chills at the Bains des Pâquis on Geneva's Right Bank. Marked by a lighthouse, the pier is great for sunbathing, swimming laps in Lake Geneva, or unwinding in the glass-walled spa.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
Entry on the pier SFr2; concessions SFr1; spa complex SFr17
Opening hours
Pier 9am-8pm; spa 10am-9.30pm
Address
30, Quai du Mont Blanc, Geneva 1201
Telephone
+41 (0) 22 732 29 74
