27 Things To Do In Geneva WITHOUT A Banker's Salary (2023)

I visited Geneva with my family when I finished up my year of living in Grenoble. my parents and sister came to pick me up and we took the long way home.

We travelled from France to Florence, then on to Geneva in Switzerland to stay with family friends.

During this short trip, I got to experience some of the best things to do in Geneva.

Yes, it’s a notoriously expensive city (and country for that matter!), but it doesn’t have to cost you a fortune.

Some of the best things to do in Geneva Switzerland are also free things to do in Geneva! You can wander around the lake, explore the old town, the churches and the views of the mountains and then spend a little bit of money on some great food and drinks after all that walking.

If you’re travelling to Geneva, Switzerland then be sure to read this guide to find out how to get to Geneva, what to do in Geneva, and where to eat.

All of these top things to do in Geneva on a budget won’t break the bank!

Best things to do in Geneva on a budget

If you’re on a budget you can still enjoy the Geneva top attractions. Yes, things in Geneva are expensive but if you’re not buying designer wears and eating at fancy restaurants you can still explore Geneva without having a banker’s salary!

When it comes to what to do in Geneva on a budget, I think I’ve got the perfect list for you.

BEFORE YOU GO: Get the Geneva Pass which saves you money on 40 Geneva tourist attractions, gets you FREE public transport and more.
Buy it here

1. Spend time at Lake Geneva

Lake Geneva is the biggest alpine lake in Europe. Come summer, the beaches are full of people relaxing.

There are yachters, rowers and water skiers braving the cool waters and it’s generally the place to be. However, even in winter, it’s worth taking a stroll around Lake Geneva’s shore.

Even if you’ve only got a weekend in Geneva you can still spend time strolling around the lake – you can’t miss it!

2. Climb the Salève

Geneva’s local mountain is Mount Salève and it’s home to some of the best views of the city. It’s quite an easy hike (about 1 to 2 hours long) and is a great way to work off all that fondue!

If you prefer the quicker, even easier route then opt for the cable car from Veyrier.

3. Get to know more about the Palais des Nations

One of the top places to visit in Geneva is The Palais des Nations which houses the UN. You can visit The Palais des Nations on a guided tour.

During a tour, you’ll learn about the history of the United Nations, the United Nations office, and how the organisation has helped shape the world we live in today.

4. Get science-y at CERN

Just on the outskirts of Geneva is CERN and it’s another of the top places to see in Geneva. If you time your visit right (when the collider isn’t on) you may get to step inside.

However, when you can’t go inside there’s also the Microcosm and the CERN Laboratory. Here you can learn about how the scientists working there are trying to crack the secrets of our universe.

5. Watch the Jet d’Eau

The Jet d’Eau is a common item on a list of “what to see in Geneva”. To be honest, it’s pretty difficult NOT to see the Jet d’Eau on your Geneva trip.

This impressive fountain shoots water from Lake Geneva up to 140m into the air, you can apparently see it from way up on Mt Salève too!

Eat fondue at Bains des Pâquis

Bains des Pâquis is one of the most popular beaches in Switzerland during the summer but, from September to April restaurant La Buvette de Bains draws crowds thanks to its fondue.

They also do a fondue au cremant (sparkling wine fondue) which is worth a try.

It’s hard to beat the atmosphere here while you gorge on cheesy goodness.

6. Explore Vieille Ville

When you visit Geneva be sure to take a stroll around Geneva’s old town. It’s a beautiful maze of narrow and hilly streets and is one of the top things to see in Geneva.

Start your exploration off at Place du Bourg-de-Four. This is the oldest place in Geneva and is now full of cafés and shops. Take any street and wander around the old town for a morning or afternoon.

Getting lost is half the fun but if you want to learn more about the history as you go, then take one of the Geneva sightseeing tours below.

7. Explore the fleamarket of Plainpalais

Every Wednesday and Saturday at Plainpalais square you can browse Geneva’s massive flea market.

There’s everything from furniture to war memorabilia and all sorts in between.

8. Window shop the luxury boutiques

You’ll find many designer brands and jewellery in Geneva. Rue du Rhone is where the biggest designer brands can be found.

Alternatively, head to just Rue de la Croix d’Or for more affordable (but still pricey) shops and department stores.

9. Explore the Italian side of Geneva in Carouge

The area of Carouge was constructed in the 18th century by Italian architects and began life as a separate town from Geneva.

It feels very different from the centre of Geneva with a more Mediterranean look and feel.

There are some of the best restaurants in Geneva, Switzerland here, with great cafes, bars, and shops to explore. It’s something a bit different if you’re looking for fun things to do in Geneva.

10. Find calm in Parc Alfred Bertrand

Parc Alfred Bertrand is a quieter park option than Jardin à l’Anglaise. It’s been open since 1940 and is a pretty place to relax after exploring nearby. If you visit on a Thursday there’s a little market right next to the park.

11. The Russian Church of Geneva

The Russian Church of Geneva is a bit of a hidden gem. It’s got huge golden domes and offers an insight into the Russian community of the city. It was built in 1859 and is steeped in history.

12. Pointe de la Jonction

Sure, the main water feature is the Jet d’eau, but Pointe de la Jonction deserves a mention too. This green spot is where the locals head to during the summer.

There are deck chairs, a bar, and fewer people too. It’s also interesting because of its location: it’s right at the confluence of the Rhone and Arve rivers.

These two rivers are different colours which makes a super interesting two-toned river at this point.

13. Qu’Importe

Locals in France and French Switzerland fully embrace the tradition of apéro; that is an early evening drink.

Head to Qu’Importe in Carouge and work your way through their extensive range of French, Italian and local wines during your stay in Geneva.

There are also some great cocktails and beers with delicious tapas to complement your drinks.

Definitely one of the best places in Geneva for a quick drink!

14. Les Enfants Terribles

Les Enfants Terribles is a wine bar, interior design store, a hair salon and is sometimes used for concerts and shows!

Definitely check it out and make sure to try one of their delicious juices or homemade quiches.

15. Shop for Swiss chocolate

Bit of a chocoholic? Even if you’re not you know you can’t come to Switzerland without trying their world-famous chocolate!

Browse Geneva’s high-quality chocolate shops such as Chocolat Auer who have been churning out delicious truffles since 1820.

16. St. Pierre Cathedral

On your way through the Old Town, stop off at St. Pierre, Geneva’s cathedral and add it to your Geneva sightseeing itinerary.

The building dates from the 11th century and entry is free.

However, if you want to enjoy the views from the tower you’ll need to pay 7 Swiss Francs.

17. Parc des Bastions

There are many nice parks in Geneva but if you’d like to play a spot of chess in the open air then head to Parc des Bastions.

There are several giant chess games here and even if don’t play it can be fun to watch others doing so.

18. Reformation Wall

On one side of Parc des Bastions is the Reformation Wall. This was built into the old city walls to celebrate John Calvin’s 400th birthday in 1909.

It’s the Protestant Reformation in a large type, with huge relief statues of the key figures of the radical religious movement from William Farel to Oliver Cromwell.

Look out for the carving of renowned Scottish Calvinist John Knox, preaching from his Edinburgh pulpit.

19. Jardin Anglais

This pretty stretch of grass and woodland on Quai Gustave Ador has several features, including a floral clock (L’horloge fleurie).

This famous flower clock in Geneva has flowers that are planted with interlocking circular flower beds representing Geneva’s connection to watch-making.

20. Cruise Lake Geneva

There are plenty of boat tours that leave from one of Geneva’s four docks at Pâquis, Mont-Blanc, Jardin-Anglais and Eaux-Vives.

One of the best views comes by taking a cruise towards the upper eastern portion of the lake.

This boat cruise on Lake Geneva is actually one of the best cheap things to do in Geneva Switzerland too and you simply can’t beat the views!

21. The first Red Cross

You’ve surely heard of The Red Cross; the international humanitarian movement with over 97 million volunteers, members and staff worldwide.

In Geneva, you can see the very first Red Cross building and visit the museum, which takes a look into the history of humanitarian action.

22. Parc de la Grange

The largest of Geneva’s city parks is Parc de la Grange.

There are two theatres in Parc de la Grange which are in action from May to September and they are worth visiting if you’re visiting Geneva in summer.

Relaxing here with a picnic from a local market and a good book is definitely one of the best things to do near Geneva.

23. Quartier des grottes

Around 10% of all Genevans live in this neighbourhood near the centre. This area is chaotic, young and bohemian and is almost the opposite of what you expect when you think ‘Geneva’.

Explore Les Grottes for cafes, theatres, cinemas, left-field independent shops and colourful buildings.

It’s a great place to head to if you’re looking for things to do in Geneva at night thanks to the bountiful entertainment on offer.

24. Chez ma cousine

This student institution, Chez ma cousine, has the strapline ‘On y mange du poulet’ (we eat chicken). Go here for big portions of chicken, potatoes, and salad at an incredible price.

27. CineTransit

If you’re in Geneva in the summer be sure to check out CineTransit. During this event, you can watch a movie for free in Parc de la Perle du Lac.

25. Fêtes de Genève

Geneva’s longest-running festival takes place for 10 days in August. Fêtes de Genève features pop-up restaurants and hosts more than 200 concert parties and other Geneva activities. The final night sees a spectacular fireworks display by the lake.

26. L’Escalade

Geneva’s biggest festival takes place in the second week of December. It’s lots of fun and involves plenty of sweet marzipan-filled marmites en chocolat (chocolate cauldrons).

Torchlit processions light up the Vieille Ville and a bonfire is lit in the cathedral square to celebrate the defeat of Savoy troops in 1602.

27. Visit the Patek Philippe Museum

While buying watches may break the bank during your trip to Geneva, visiting the museum to learn about the art of watch-making won’t.

At just 10 CHF per ticket, you can explore the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva.

You’ll learn more about horology and get to see the museum’s collection which chronicles the evolution of timekeeping with antiques to modern-day clocks.

About Geneva

Geneva is famous for many things. One of these is that the city of Geneva is where you’ll find the largest Alpine Lake in Europe: Lac Léman (Lake Geneva).

The city is surrounded by the Alps and the Jura mountains and has awesome views of the beautiful Mont Blanc.

Geneva is also the home of Europe’s United Nations as well as the huge NGO the Red Cross. It’s easy to see why it’s recognised as a global hub for diplomacy and it’s also a global hub for banking.

The city is in the French-speaking part of Switzerland and so you’ll hear French being spoken and the cuisine is largely influenced by France too.

You may be surprised to find out that Geneva is not the capital of Switzerland. In fact, the capital of Switzerland is Bern.

Where is Geneva?

Geneva is in western Switzerland very close to the border with France. The largest major city near Geneva is the French city of Lyon.

How Expensive is Geneva?

Is Geneva expensive? Yes. However, Geneva generally isn’t quite as expensive as destinations in Norway. While beer and rent in Geneva are typically less expensive than in London, UK, basically everything else will cost you more. However, this list of things to do in Geneva, below, includes free and budget activities in Geneva that mean you’ll discover the city doesn’t have to be super expensive!

How to get to Geneva, Switzerland

Geneva is well served by flights, buses and trains from all over the world. The below information focuses on getting to Geneva from London, but the links are useful wherever you’re travelling to Geneva from.

Flights to Geneva from the UK

The Geneva Airport is a fairly large international airport. You will be able to find fairly cheap flights using Skyscanner from London to Geneva.

Skyscanner is what I use to find cheap flights.

Flying from London to Geneva only takes about 1.5 hours if you get a direct flight and budget airlines fly there. Geneva’s airport is super close to the city centre and only takes about 20 minutes to travel from the airport to the city.

Skyscanner is what I use to find cheap flights.

Buses to Geneva

You can also get the bus from London’s Victoria coach station to Geneva with one change in Paris. Getting the bus takes a long time but it’s usually cheaper than flying or getting the train.

Omio is a great platform for booking European and UK travel on. You can check train and bus prices and schedules and book super easily!

Trains from the UK to Geneva

Another way to travel from the UK to Geneva is to get the train. However, this is a bit more complicated with several changes and bookings required.

First, you’ll need to book the Eurostar from London to Paris.
In Paris, you’ll take the Metro and switch from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon.
Next, catch the train from Paris – Lyon
Then in Lyon take a train headed to Annecy and change at the Aix Les Bains-Le Revard station
And finally, take the last train into Geneva.

You can book trains online in advance by using TheTrainline.com which makes it super easy to plan your journey ahead of time!

Where to stay in Geneva Switzerland

I always use Booking.com or Airbnb to book my accommodation when travelling. Here are some of my top, budget-friendly picks below.

Take a look at all the Geneva hotels on Booking.com to find the best place to stay in Geneva.

Ibis Geneva Centre Nations: A classic Ibis chain hotel. Nothing fancy but central with decent comfort and facilities.
Hotel Mon Repos: A little bit out of the center but with great amenities and very stylishly decorated inside.

Summing up these top Geneva things to do

As you can hopefully see, planning a trip to Geneva doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. There are plenty of things to do in Geneva Switzerland that are free, or relatively cheap.

While it can be expensive to visit Geneva, you’re now well acquainted with the best cheap things to do in Geneva like exploring Lake Geneva, walking the old town, and making the most of things like the Geneva Pass to get cheaper access to museums and attractions in Geneva.

If you’ve enjoyed this what to do in Geneva Switzerland post, then be sure to check out other posts from nearby like this guide to the best things to do in Grenoble, what to do in Lyon France, and my other Switzerland travel guides.

Last Updated on November 3, 2023 by Hannah

Hannah

Hannah started That Adventurer after graduating back in 2013 and has documented all of her adventures since then. From backpacking South America to city breaks in Europe, a 3 month road trip across the USA in a self-converted van and 6 years living in Canada, you’ll find posts on all of this.

Hannah specialises in active travel and on That Adventurer you’ll find hiking, walking, biking, skiing and all sorts of active travel guides to allow you to see a destination in an adventurous way.

Now back in Europe, you’ll find new guides as Hannah and her husband spend the next year ‘digital nomading’ from Norway to Portugal, Switzerland to Scotland and places in between.