Most of Geneva's attractions can be covered on foot – so don’t hesitate to explore this city’s riches..
Cathedral de St Pierre
Built between 1160 and 1289, St Peter's Cathedral is surprisingly small. Even more surprising is its combination of Romanesque, Gothic, and neo-classical styles. The austerity of the main body of the church is wholly appropriate for a building in which John Calvin preached from 1536-1564. But the 15th-century Chapel of the Maccabees, restored in 1875, is a riot of gilded embellishment against blue and red grounds that recall the decoration of Cardiff Castle and Castell Coch by William Burges. The neo-classical façade was added in 1750. Under the cathedral is one of Europe's largest underground archaeological sites with some good 14th-century mosaics, while the top of the north tower offers fine views over the old town and lake.
Cour St-Pierre
Tel: (022) 311 7575. Fax: (022) 310 0225.
Transport: Bus 2, 3, 5, 7 or 17; tram 12 or 16.
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 1000-1200 and 1400-1700, Sun 1100-1230 and 1330-1700 (Oct-May); Mon-Sat 0900-1900 and Sun 1100-1900 (Jun-Sep).
Admission: Free (cathedral); SFr3 (north tower).
Jardin Anglais (English Garden)
The English Garden, dating from 1854, is home to the Monument National, a statue of two young women - the 'Republic of Geneva' and 'Helvetia' - symbolising Geneva's attachment to the Swiss Confederation on 12 September 1814. Within the park there is an elegant bronze fountain and L'Horloge Fleurie (Flower Clock) - decorated with over 6300 plants - that was installed in 1955 to honour Geneva's watch-making industry. The clock is the largest in the world - five metres (16.4ft) in diameter and 17.7m (58ft) in circumference. Its second hand advances nearly 27cm (10.6 inches) per second.
Quai General Guisan
Transport: Bus 2, 9 or 10.
Opening hours: Daily 24 hours.
Admission: Free.
Jet d'Eau (Water Fountain)
The famed Water Fountain is the Eiffel Tower of Geneva, an impressive 140m (459ft) fountain that dominates the Geneva harbour and all modern depictions of the city. The Jet was originally the safety valve for the city's water supply and is Europe's tallest fountain. This water showpiece is illuminated at night, however during the day, the fountain takes care of the special effects for itself - when the sun shines, a rainbow hovers behind the powerful jet of water, which spurts straight up into the sky at a speed of 200kph (125mph).
On the Rive Gauche, off Quai Gustave Ador and the Horloge Fleurie in the Jardin Anglais.
Operating hours: Daily 0930-2315 (Mar-mid-Oct), subject to weather conditions.
Mur des Reformateurs (Reformation Wall)
Construction of the Reformation Wall began in 1909, on the 400th anniversary of the birth of John Calvin. The monument is dedicated to the four figures central to the Reformation movement - John Calvin (1509-64), Theodore de Buze (1513-1605), John Knox (1513-72) and Guillaume Farel (1549-65).
Promenade des Bastions
Transport: Bus 3 or 5.
Opening hours: Dawn to dusk.
Admission: Free.
Jardin Botanique (Botanical Gardens)
Geneva's world-renowned Botanical Gardens were created by the botanist A P de Candolle, in the Parc des Bastions in 1817. Relocated to their present site in 1901, the 28-hectare (69-acre) gardens have greenhouses with tropical plants from six continents, a pond brimming with aquatic plants, thousands of flowers, a garden of the senses, an aviary and a park of rare animals, as well as a research laboratory, herbarium collection and extensive library.
Chemin de l'Impératrice 1, 1292 Chambésy
Tel: (022) 418 5100. Fax: (022) 418 5101.
Website: www.cjb.unige.ch
Transport: Bus 4 or 18.
Opening hours: Daily 0930-1700 (Oct-Mar); daily 0800-1930 (Apr-Sep); greenhouses closed Fri.
Admission: Free.
Palais des Nations (Palace of Nations)
The vast building, designed in the form of a double horseshoe and set in a park with century-old trees, is the largest United Nations centre after New York. It was built between 1929 and 1937 to host the League of Nations, the precursor to the UN. Visits are extremely popular and allow entrance to certain conference rooms (including the Council Room with frescoes by José Maria Sert, and the Assembly Hall) and an opportunity to sign the Livre d'Or, the golden book of peace.
Avenue de la Paix 14
Tel: (022) 907 4896. Fax: (022) 907 0032.
E-mail: visit-gva@unog.ch
Website: www.unog.ch/frames/visit.htm
Transport: Bus 5, 8, 11, 14, 18, F, V or Z.
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1200 and 1400-1600 (Apr-May and Sep-Oct); daily 1000-1800 (Jul-Aug); Mon-Fri 1000-1200 and 1400-1600 (Nov-Mar).
Admission: SFr8.50; concessions available.
Maison Tavel (Tavel House)
The one-towered Tavel House is named after the noble Tavel family, who lived here in the 14th century. Today a museum, it provides an insight into the day-to-day lives of Genevois from the 14th to 19th centuries. The attic houses the Magnin Maquette of 1896, a huge relief model of Geneva before 1850, with its city walls still in place.
Rue du Puits-St-Pierre 6
Tel: (022) 310 2900.
E-mail: mah@ville-ge.ch
Website: www.ville-ge.ch/geneve/culture/musees/musees/tavel.htm
Opening hours: Mon, Wed-Sun 1000-1700, closed Tues.
Transport: Bus 2, 7 or 17; tram 12.
Admission: Free.
Tours of the City
Walking Tours
The Geneva Tourist Office (tel: (022) 909 7000) provides a portable audiocassette to enhance a two-and-a-half-hour walk through the labyrinthine streets of the Old Town, to the Cathédrale St-Pierre, the Treille Promenade, the Arsenal and Reformation Wall. A fee of SFr10, plus a refundable deposit of SFr50, is required. In addition, the tourist office provides themed guided tours from 15 June to 30 September (on request during the rest of the year) from SFr12. All walking tours depart from in front of the Geneva Tourist Office, Pont de la Machine 1. Tours are also available from the Association of Guides (tel: (022) 909 7000).
Bus Tours
The Geneva Tourist Office (tel: (022) 909 7000), operating as Key Tours, organises a choice of two-hour tours (SFr29), covering the star attractions of the city, or a three-hour tour that includes a visit to the Palais des Nations. Pick-up points are the airport, the Hotel InterContinetal, 7-9 Chemin du Petit-Sconnex, and the bus station, Gare routiere in Place Dorsière.
Boat Tours
One of the best ways to see Geneva, in fair weather, is to take a mouette and tour the lake. The boats (with guided commentary in English) operate regularly from Place du Molard to Quai du Mont-Blanc and Quai Gustave-Ador. Mouettes Genevoises Navigation (tel: (022) 732 2944; fax: (022) 738 7988) departs from the Quai de Mont-Blanc 8 (opposite the Hilton-Grand Casino), while Swissboat (tel: (022) 732 4747; fax: (079) 259 5262) sets sail from Quai de Mont-Blanc 4 (opposite Hôtel Beau-Rivage). A one-hour tour costs approximately SFr12. The two-hour Château tour to the French border costs about SFr22.
