Grace Kelly Suite - View

Planning Your Trip

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With a staggering mix of cultural sights, stunning natural beauty and Old World charm, there’s no shortage of things to do in Geneva. Make the most of your time in this delightful city by bringing along a few necessities.

Garden View Suite
Garden View Suite
Planning Your Trip
What to Pack

If you plan to venture into the nearby Alps for a hike, be sure to bring along a sturdy pair of hiking boots. Soft-soled sneakers can be dangerous on uneven footing.

Exploring the City
  • There are few places more idyllic than Old Town Geneva. Enjoy afternoons spent walking through the mazelike streets of a city that dates back to medieval times.

  • While it’s tempting in a chic city like Geneva to don your most stylish shoes, you’d be wise to opt for comfort instead. There’s a lot of ground to cover, so pack good walking shoes.

  • Switzerland’s alpine geography means weather can be varied and unpredictable. Come prepared by bringing along a few pieces to layer, like a light sweater or cardigan and an overcoat.

  • If visiting in the winter, let your cold-weather wear double as chic accessories — cashmere scarves, faux-fur hats and leather driving gloves are perfect picks.
Fall Escape
  • Thanks to its crown jewels — Lake Geneva, the Rhône River and the nearby Alps — the city changes colors in autumn. From picnics in the park to walking in the vineyards, Geneva’s natural beauty is on full display.

  • Stroll the charming streets to shop at artisanal boutiques and craftsmen's studios in Carouge, Geneva’s small Italy. 

  • Walk through the historic building to the expansive outdoor terrace of Restaurant Les Armures to enjoy a variety of melting cheese fondues, along with seasonal savory dishes and a variety of decadent desserts.

  • Indulge in open-cellars days, wine-tasting events or private tours in the Lake Geneva region through charming historic villages and itineraries.
Evening Chic
  • Unique dining and nightlife experiences abound in this cosmopolitan city. Bring along a few stylish pieces to ensure you’re ready for every after-dark outing.

  • Geneva’s dress code is fairly casual, but for special dinners and shows, it’s best to err on the side of formal — sheath dresses or slim pantsuits for ladies, slacks and jackets for men.

  • Given the city’s close proximity to fashion hubs like Paris and Milan, it’s no surprise that the locals are style-conscious. Feel free to take a few fashion risks here, or play it safe and opt for all-black outfits.

  • Even in warmer months, nighttime temperatures can dip into the chilly zone, so be sure to bring a light jacket that can be paired with your evening wear.
Lake Front Balcony View
Lake Front Balcony View
Planning Your Trip
What to Reserve

While much of Geneva is best explored leisurely and at your own pace, there are a few standout sights, events and restaurants that you may want to plan for ahead of time.

Start your day with a delicious breakfast paired with a scenic view of Lake Geneva at Living Room Bar & Kitchen, which serves one of the best breakfasts in the city, with options including a cold buffet or a la carte choices like scrambled eggs with asparagus and caviar. For dinner, head to either La Table du Cotton, where the seasonal French menus were created by Michelin-starred chef Laurent Petit and the overall atmosphere is fun and convivial with excellent food, or the top-rated Café des Négociants, where you can enjoy traditional French cuisine with a selection of 100-plus wines.

Winter sport aficionados would be remiss to leave Geneva off their must-visit list. With more than 200 ski resorts within 70 miles of the resort, the city is arguably the greatest skiing hub in the world. The Alps aren’t just for winter, though — summer visitors can delight in gorgeous mountain hikes, where the trails often look like a scene from “The Sound of Music.” The stunning Mount Blanc and nearby Chamonix, France, are just a two-hour drive from the city and definitely worth the journey.

Culture and heritage run deep in Geneva, a modern city rooted in history. Plan to visit the United Nations office, which is housed in a 1936 building. Take a guided tour through Assembly Hall among other rooms while learning about the current activities of the U.N. For a spectacular view of the city, head to the 850-year-old Cathedral Saint Pierre and climb up the long spiral staircase in one of the two towers. If seafaring is more your style, book a luxurious boat ride about Lake Geneva in a classic steam engine paddle boat, from a fleet classified as historic monuments.

Enjoy a truly unique dining experience by reserving a seat at the traveling supper club Intensus. Each dinner is held at a different private location and only 10 guests are permitted, so be sure to book online well ahead of time. For world-class opera and ballet, ask the concierge at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel de la Paix, Geneva to secure tickets to a show at the Grand Théâtre de Genève. For a more raucous evening out, reserve a table at the Java Club, an ultra-modern, high-end nightclub.

Deluxe Lake View Room
Deluxe Lake View Room
Planning Your Trip
Itineraries

It’s no surprise that Lake Geneva defines the city of Geneva. Whether you are enjoying an old-fashioned boat tour out on the water or visiting the lively beaches loved by the locals, Geneva offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy being near the beautiful lake. The sleek sophistication of the city offers a foil, with stately buildings clustered on the shore and a worldly range of inhabitants, from the United Nations to the world’s top watchmakers. Don’t forget to enjoy top-rated international cuisine and buzzy cocktail bars to fill your days and nights.

Morning

Breakfast in the living room.The living room bar & kitchen at the ritz-carlton hotel de la paix, geneva offers a delicious breakfast and a stunning view of lake geneva to enjoy while you eat. Whether you choose the american breakfast or an option from the a la carte menu, you’re sure to have a tasty start to your day with homemade dishes made with fresh and local ingredients.

 

Midday

Stroll through Carouge. Cross the river to the charming neighboring town of Carouge, with its warren of small boutiques, artisanal producers and artists’ studios. The Mediterranean-influenced town became part of geneva over 200 years ago but retains an entirely more relaxed and colorful demeanor than the main city.

Lunch at le flacon. Enjoy lunch at the Michelin-starred le flacon, which is helmed by a young chef with prodigious talents. The chef’s choice tasting menu is highly recommended for the full culinary experience.

 

Afternoon

Museum stop.Visit the largest art museum in geneva, the musée d’art et d’histoire. Originally opened in 1910, the museum houses an extensive collection from the byzantine era to the 20th century with artists from Rembrandt to Cézanne represented.

Shop and snack. Occupying former artists’ lofts, l’adresse is both a chic boutique and a well-reviewed restaurant in one space. Whether you want to shop brands like Diane von Furstenberg and Isabel Marant, or you’re looking for coffee on their greenery-laden terrace, you’ll find something to keep you lingering.

 

Evening

Secret supper. For dinner, go to a restaurant without an address. Intensus is a traveling supper club, with a new private location for each dinner. Up to 10 people can go to each seating, and reservations are available online. Once you arrive, expect an inventive and intimate culinary experience.

Morning

Bakery breakfast. Picking your pastry of choice for breakfast at eric emery might be a challenge — in a good way. From organic breads to homemade jams to traditional viennoiseries, there is so much to choose from that you might spend a little more time at the shop’s tea room than planned!

 

Midday

Palais des nations.Tour the united nations’ headquarters in geneva, which is second in size for the organization only to that in new york city. The impressive building was completed in the 1930s, and guests can have a look at rooms like the large assembly hall and receive updates on the latest u.N. Activities.

Fondue lunch. It’s hard to fathom being so close to the alps and not having fondue at least once! Les Armures is a classic in geneva — the building alone is over 400 years old. You can dine alfresco on the large terrace on a traditional spread of cured beef platters and shareable pots of molten cheese fondue.

 

Afternoon

Museum tours. Dive deeper into the city’s present with a trip to mamco, the museum of modern and contemporary art, which opened in 1994 and is considered one of the more ambitious contemporary art museums in the world. Check online for a list of rotating exhibitions.

Coffee break. The area near mamco is one of the hippest in town, with a profusion of top-notch coffeehouses. Take a break at café paradiso or birdie coffee for a cappuccino or beer, along with pastries and snacks like avocado toast.

 

Evening

Dinner at café des bains.This airy, clean-lined restaurant in the art-rich Plainpalais features a selection of fine art on the walls. Expect a seasonal menu that depends on what produce is in season, all executed in a simple but delicious way. Stay for a drink after dinner in café des bains’ small bar, filled with stools by the artist max bill.

Morning

Palace of nations. Visit the United Nations offices in Geneva, housed in a 1936 building appropriately designed by an elite team of international architects. You can take a guided tour through the assembly hall among other rooms while learning more about the current activities of the UN itself.

Promenade Treille. Go back in time by strolling on the oldest promenade in geneva, which spans from place Neuve to the old town. The peaceful walk is bordered by chestnut trees and has the distinction of being home to the longest bench in the world.

 

Midday

Lunch at la Favola. Have a charming Italian lunch at la Favola, which consistently gets high marks for generous portions of traditional dishes. Relax in the intimate and cozy space, and save room for an old-fashioned tiramisu for dessert.

Cathedral of Saint Pierre. For over 850 years, the Cathedral of Saint Pierre has been geneva’s main church. For a spectacular view of the city, climb up the long spiral staircase in one of the two towers with your choice of an outdoor balcony on the south side and an enclosed room on the north side.

 

Afternoon

Boat ride. Spend your afternoon on a luxurious boat ride about lake geneva in a classic steam engine paddle boat, from a fleet classified as “historic monuments.” enjoy a glass of champagne in the first-class lounge or take in the vista, including the famous jet d’eau, from the upper decks. Alternatively, enjoy an exclusive tour aboard a private yacht — ask the concierge for assistance with arranging.

 

Evening

La table du cotton. Prepare for a special and intimate dinner at la table du cotton, where there are three seatings per evening at a singular table that seats 12. The seasonal french menus were created by Michelin-starred chef Laurent Petit and the overall atmosphere is fun and convivial with excellent food.

Morning

Living Room Bar & Kitchen. Start your day with a delicious breakfast paired with a scenic view of lake geneva. The elegant and warm restaurant in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel de la Paix, Geneva is one of the best breakfasts in the city, with options including a cold buffet or a la carte choices like scrambled eggs with asparagus and caviar.

 

Midday

Picnic in the park. The Parc la Grange is more than just a magnificent landscape of flowers in shrubs (although the rose garden isn’t to be missed if it’s in bloom). The park also holds one of the city’s best theaters, théâtre de l’orangerie. Bring your picnic lunch with you to soak in the beauty of the surroundings while you dine.

 

Afternoon

Walk through old town. Spend your afternoon walking through the mazelike streets of the medieval portion of geneva. Explore small cafés, galleries and historical buildings like the old arsenal. Stop for a drink in the scenic Place du Bourg-de-Four before leaving the area.

 

Evening

Explore Carouge. Head over river l’Arve to the quaint neighboring town of Carouge, which has a distinctly Mediterranean flair. Stroll through the charming streets of artisan boutiques and studios, including the famous chocolatier Philippe Pascoët (perfect for a gift to bring home).


Dinner at café des négociants. Finish your weekend with a dinner at the top-rated café des négociants, where you can enjoy traditional french cuisine with a selection of 100-plus wines. Expect creative twists on classic dishes with a side of excellent service.