Top things to do in Geneva

Top things to do in Geneva

Located less than 5 minutes from the banks of the Rhone the luxury Fraser suites Geneva are perfectly situated to explore and experience all that this cosmopolitan city has to offer. Whether you are here visiting for business or your trip is purely for leisure, there is an abundance of things to see and do in Geneva, the 2nd largest city in Switzerland.

As one of the most important financial hubs in the world, the city also hosts the headquarters of the Red Cross and multiple UN agencies.  During your visit, you will rub shoulders with people from all across the globe in this truly international city. In addition to popular events such as the Geneva International Motor Show and attractions such as Cathedralé de St Pierre, there are many other places for you to experience and explore in the Swiss city.

Lake Geneva

Whilst in Geneva don’t miss the opportunity to visit the lake that it shares a name with. The impressive Jet d’Eau is less than 20 minutes from the Fraser Suites and projects a 145-meter plume of water above the lakefront, it is so tall that it is possible to see if from the plane as you approach the city.  Guided visits of the jet are available by prior arrangement from April to October and are led by the dedicated volunteers who are responsible for the upkeep of the water feature.

Lake Geneva also offers a relaxing way to explore the city and surrounding areas.  Regular boat excursions allow you to take in the beauty of both the lake and city. Take a trip with the Mailboat and you may very well see Geneva teenagers trying out for the most sought after summer job of delivering mail by boat!  For over 100 years mail has been delivered to lakeside residents by teenage mail carriers who are required to jump from the boat to piers with handfuls of mail that they place in postboxes before leaping back onto the boat. Cocktail tours, sightseeing excursions and sunset dinner cruises are just some of the many options available.

It is simple to charter a boat to explore the lake at your own pace if you wish, Lake Geneva Cruise Line has eight boats that are all available for private hire, with catering and entertainment options included to give you a one of a kind, luxury experience. Any visitor to the city should put this is at the start of your list of top things to do in Geneva.

Shopping

Next on our list of top things to do in Geneva is retail therapy. From designer goods to flea market finds, Geneva is a shoppers paradise. The highest quality fashions, watches and chocolates are to all to be found within easy reach of Fraser Suites Geneva. Experience 16,000 square feet of luxury fashion and accessories, spread over 7 floors at Bon Grieder. Stylish bars and restaurants are incorporated into this department like store, allowing you to enjoy a leisurely lunch or cocktail in stylish surroundings. If you are looking for a true VIP experience contact Claudio Mazzotti, the stores VIP consultant, to arrange for a personal shopper to help you get the most from your visit.

If you prefer to shop by rummaging for treasures from a multitude of vendors don’t miss the Plainpalais flea market, held every Saturday and Wednesday from 8am-5pm in the Plaine de Plainpalais, a walking distance of just over 10 minutes from your luxury serviced apartment at Fraser Suites. From books to home décor you never know what you will find at the flea market, visit on a Sunday from early morning to 5 pm for one the city’s largest farmers markets. Why not pick up some fresh produce and local delicacies to prepare and enjoy in the fully equipped kitchen that each of our 67 apartments offers.

 European Organization for Nuclear Research

Buried deep beneath the streets of Geneva are the mechanics that operate the Large Hadron Collider, the biggest and most powerful particle accelerator ever built. If you are interested in the famed collider and finding out more about the research being done at CERN you can tour the facility or visit their permanent exhibition space. Tours last for about 2 hours and are suitable for ages 12+. Knowledgeable guides introduce you to the work of CERN, access to historic areas of the facility and also the opportunity to visit the operations centre of one of the CERN experiments. As you can imagine tours are extremely popular and do require advance sign up via CERN’s website. You can book a tour 15 days in advance when half the tickets for each tour will be on sale, the remaining tickets are then released three days prior to the tour date. CERN tours are carried out in a range of languages so be sure to clearly state which language you speak when sending the tour request form. 

The exhibition space at CERN is open Monday until Saturday and includes 2 exhibit spaces; Universe of Particles and Microcosm, arrive between the hours of 10am-5pm to explore both exhibits.  No reservations are required for either exhibition.

To learn more about the Large Hadron Collider pick up a Passport to the Big Bang from the Geneva tourist office for a self-guided interactive tour following the 100m ring of the collider buried deep beneath the city and French countryside. Why not hire a bike and take in this scenic adventure. The passport includes child-friendly activities, making it a great family experience for any young, budding physicists.

Fondue

No trip to Switzerland would be complete without sampling the melted cheese treat that the country is famous for. Fondue abounds in the cafés and restaurants of Geneva and if you have never had the pleasure of dunking fresh crusty bread into a pot of bubbling cheese mixed with white wine this is the perfect time to try it. During the colder winter months, Fondue will appear on just about all menus, in the summer it can be a little harder to track down but luckily Restaurant Le Gruyérien has it on its menu year-round - it also happens to be one of the top-rated fondues in the city. 

However you decide to spend your time in Geneva you can be assured that each night will end well in the comfortable surroundings of the Fraser Suites Geneva. Should you have any questions or need suggestions for things to see and do during your time in our city our 24/7 concierge service and multilingual guest relations staff are on hand to assist you and help make any arrangements required.  Book your stay at Fraser Suites Geneva now.