1. Take a selfie with Jet d’eau
Jet d’eau can be seen from any point of the city including from an airplane, it is the tallest fountain in the world reaching 140 meters of altitude which is about 50m higher than the Statue of Liberty, and is located in the city of Geneva.
In just one second, this fountain throws about 500 liters of water into the air at a speed of 200 kilometers per hour. So, there are literally about 2,000 liters of water floating in the air when the fountain is running.
Its origins date back to 1886 when craftsmen from a hydraulic plant at le Coulouvrenière were trying to solve an engineering problem. The issue was that at night when the workers stopped work, excess pressure build-up in the system meant the plant engineers had to hurry to stop the pumps one by one. A safety valve was soon added to control the pressure – and this activated the famous water eruption into the sky which was 30m high. The system later was modified in 1951, and since then it has always been reaching its record height of 140m.
2. Visit the United Nations Office
The Palace of Nations is the office of the United Nations headquarters in Geneva. It is known as one of the world’s most important diplomatic centers, it is considered home to many international diplomatic, scientific, political, and economical organizations.
To visit the Palais des Nations you will need to join a guided group, these are different tours available for tourists:
- Regular Palais des Nations visit to learn more about UN projects
- The history of the Palais des Nations and UN story: this guided tour allows you to discover the history of this spectacular building through archival documents
- Ariana Park tour (available from April to September): Here you’ll learn more about the history and management of the enormous 45-hectare park surrounding the Palais des Nations.
3. Lose yourself in Geneva Botanical Garden
In case you desire to get some fresh air we recommend taking a break in the Botanical Garden of Geneva which is conveniently located near The United Nations headquarters by the Lake of Geneva. It’s a great place surrounded by nature absolutely perfect to enjoy a day reading a book after visiting the United Nations office. It is described as a living museum distributed in a big park; with several greenhouses reproducing various climates including a tropical one; a little farm, and a small Japanese garden. And the best part is that it’s admission free.
4. Explore the Old Town
The most authentic part of Geneva is its beautiful Old Town. Switzerland’s largest historical city is located on a hill around St. Peter’s Cathedral. It is famous for its countless local shops, jewelry stores, breathtaking architecture, and a big variety of bars and restaurants where you can taste delicious local food, including fondue and raclette. During winter time you can also buy some Christmas accessories and drink mulled wine at the street market. And during hot summer days visit Barbier-Mueller Museum which preserves the largest private collection of Art from different ancient civilizations or Maison Tavel which is the oldest medieval private residency in Switzerland.
5. Do a Cruise on Lake Geneva
What about a cruise? A little boat tour is a perfect opportunity to see Geneva and the Jet d’Eau from a different angle. There are several tours available all year round:
- “Geneva Tour” Cruise, 1-hour tour to see the shores of Geneva Lake, Mont-Blanc, and the UN. Price: 18 CHF or free with Geneva Pass
- Cruise of the Mermaid is the best way to admire the most beautiful sites of Lake Geneva and the Mermaid statue. Price: 15 CHF
- The Cruise of the Castles: 2 hours cruise to admire the most beautiful castles and famous residencies of Lake’s Geneva shoreline.
- Evening cruise: a good meal and a stroll on Lake Geneva. What else could you ask for?
- Big Lake Cruises: Visit Geneva’s surroundings, such as Lausanne, Nyon, and Yvoire.
- Cruise on the Rhone: Admire the fauna and flora of the Rhône riverbanks.
- Private tours: available upon request
More information about cruises and pricing is here.