Self-Guided Walking Tour of Geneva, Switzerland
Why Visit Geneva?
Many travelers to Switzerland skip over Geneva as it does not have the stereotypical Alpine views that make Switzerland famous. I disagree with skipping Geneva as there are so many interesting sights to see. In my opinion, a self-guided walking tour of Geneva was the best way to explore the city.
Geneva is considered the French capital of Switzerland and will feel very different than the German and Italian-speaking parts of Southern and Eastern Switzerland. Be sure to visit Old Town Geneva as it will feel like you are in France. In addition to being culturally French, Geneva is also home to the United Nations and International Red Cross/Crescent.
Finally, Geneva is located on the shores of Lake Geneva, and there is an abundance of water activities to enjoy. The city’s most recognizable site, the Geneva Water Fountain, is located in the harbor of Lake Geneva.
I highly recommend trying to fit a day or two in Geneva into your Swiss vacation. Geneva is uniquely French, and you will not be disappointed.
Walking Around Geneva - Table of Contents
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Self-Guided Walking Tour of Geneva
During my visit to Geneva, Switzerland, I decided to take a self-guided walking tour of Geneva. To me, it seemed like hiring a guide was not necessary as I knew what attractions I wanted to see. The sections below highlight the places I visited during my self-guided walking tour of Geneva, Switzerland.
Brunswick Monument
To begin my self-guided walking tour of Geneva, I had to walk to the waterfront from my hotel, which was located near Geneva Station. On the way, I walked through the Jardin des Alpes and stopped by the Brunswick Monument. The Brunswick Monument was built in 1879 to honor Charles II, Duke of Brunswick. After an earthquake damaged the original monument in 1883, it was rebuilt in 1890 and has been a popular tourist attraction in the Jardin des Alpes.
Lake Geneva Waterfront
My self-guided walking tour of Geneva next took me to the Lake Geneva Waterfront. As I walked across the Pont du Mont-Blanc (Mount Blanc Bridge), I stopped to take a photograph of the Geneva Water Fountain.
The Geneva Water Fountain is visible from most of the waterfront and is one of the most recognizable sights in Geneva, Switzerland.
After crossing the bridge, I stopped to take a photograph of the Geneva Ferris Wheel. A ticket to ride the Geneva Ferris Wheel costs CHF 6 ($6) for adults and CHF 3 ($3) for children. I chose not to go on the Ferris Wheel and continued my self-guided walking tour of Geneva by walking towards the Geneva Flower Clock.
The Geneva Flower clock is a working clock that is made up of over 6,000 flowering plants. The look of the clock changes throughout the year as seasonal flowers are planted during spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
Old Town - Geneva
After walking around the waterfront for close to an hour, my self-guided walking tour of Geneva continued with a walk through Geneva’s Old Town. Old Town Geneva dates back to 58 BC, and many of the current buildings date back to the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries.
Strolling through Old Town Geneva, I came across many fountains. In addition to being beautiful, these fountains have potable water that tastes great.
I highly recommend spending at least an hour getting lost in the narrow streets of Old Town Geneva. Without using my map, I wandered the cobblestone streets, looked for unique buildings, and enjoyed the feeling of going back in time.
While walking through Old Town, I came across the Old Arsenal area. This part of Old Town dates back to 58 BC and has mosaics that commemorate the arrival of Julius Caesar.
St. Pierre Cathedral
The next stop on my self-guided walking tour of Geneva, Switzerland, was the famous St. Pierre Cathedral. This cathedral became the adopted home of John Calvin, who was the leader of the Protestant Reformation. People have worshipped on this site since the 300s, but the current cathedral dates back to 1160, with renovations taking place in 1444 and 1890.
The St. Pierre cathedral was one of the only churches in Switzerland that allowed visitors to take photos inside. I always ask if there aren’t any signs, as many churches have people actively worshipping inside them.
For a cost of CHF 5 ($5), I was able to go up to the St. Pierre Cathedral’s tower. To purchase tickets, visit the counter of the cathedral’s tiny gift shop.
The walk to the tower took me through interior portions of the church that felt extremely old. Even the door to enter the tower tour looked like it was centuries old.
The steps inside the St. Pierre Cathedral were definitely not created for someone 6 foot 5. I spent much of the time on my hands and knees, crawling up the stairs. At the top, I was able to see the St. Pierre Cathedral bell.
The interior of the St. Pierre Cathedral took me to many interesting rooms and had artifacts that dated back to the time of John Calvin.
Being near the top of the bell tower also provided great views of Old Town Geneva and the Geneva waterfront.
Despite the nice views, it seemed like I was missing something. All of the photos I took were looking through the cathedral’s tiny windows.
As I exited the St. Pierre Cathedral, I noticed a huge viewing area that I had somehow missed. The directions inside the upper levels of the cathedral had not been clear on where to go to get the best views. I considered trying to go back inside and walk back up to the tower but decided against it.
Reformation Wall
After walking through Old Town Geneva and visiting the St. Pierre Cathedral, I continued my self-guided walking tour of Geneva by walking down a hill to the Reformation Wall. The Reformation Wall is located on the grounds of the University of Geneva and was built to celebrate the 400th birthday of John Calvin, who founded the university.
In the photo above, from left to right, are William Farel, John Calvin, Theodore Beza, and John Knox. Geneva was the center of the Reformation and was the adopted home of John Calvin.
The Geneva Fountain
After spending a few minutes photographing the Reformation Wall, I retraced my steps, walking back through Geneva’s Old Town. When I arrived at the Geneva Waterfront, I spent sometime finding various angles to photograph the Geneva Water Fountain.
The Geneva Water Fountain, known as the Jet d’Eau in French, shoots 130 gallons of water every second at a height of 460 feet.
During my time in Geneva, I saw numerous boats cruising around Lake Geneva. These boats date back to the early 1900s and have chimney-like smoke stacks. I tried extremely hard to get a photo where it looked like the water was coming out of the smoke stack. The photo below was almost timed perfectly.
Places that I Visited After My Self-Guided Walking Tour of Geneva, Switzerland
After my self-guided walking tour of Geneva, I visited a few additional places that required taking the cable car. In the section below, I’ll highlight a few of those places.
United Nations
The United Nations Office at Geneva can easily be reached by taking the cable car to the Genève-Sécheron station. During my visit, the United Nations building was closed to tours, but I did enjoy walking the grounds from outside the fence and looking at the flags of the member nations.
The United Nations has 193 member nations, and each of their flags is on display outside the UN Headquarters.
Just outside the main entrance to the United Nations is the Broken Chair Monument. The purpose of this monument is to remind diplomats and politicians of the danger of using landmines and cluster bombs.
One of the best views of the United Nations building is from the hill in front of the International Red Cross/Crescent.
International Red Cross and Crescent
In addition to the United Nations, another important international organization that has its headquarters in Geneva is the International Red Cross/Crescent. Located across the street from the UN’s Palace of Nations, the International Red Cross/Crescent features a museum that is open to the public.
I was not able to go inside the International Red Cross/Crescent museum as it was closed. Despite the museum being closed, I was able to walk the grounds.
Taking a Tour of Lake Geneva
On my final day in Geneva, I took a boat tour of Lake Geneva. This tour was covered with my Swiss Rail Pass. You can learn more about the tour of Lake Geneva by clicking HERE (link coming soon).
Geneva Switzerland Tours and Packages
During my time in Geneva, I did not take any tours or purchase any packages. I thought that Geneva had excellent public transportation and that a local guide was not needed to enjoy the key sights. That being said, I do know that many people prefer to be led around by an expert. The tours and packages listed below were tours that caught my eye. Please note that as an affiliate of Viator, I will receive a small commission if you book a package using one of my links. This commission is at no additional cost to you.
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