The Canton of Geneva has more than 1,400 hectares of vineyards. Wine is a distinctive way to explore the region; protected habitats, the lake and Geneva’s museums offer other perspectives. If you are looking for accommodation, you can consider whether wine, nature or urban history should shape your stay.
Wine routes and village history
In Satigny, numerous vineyards and wineries offer guided tours and wine tastings. It may be necessary to arrange some visits in advance. The Route des vins de Genève is a well-signposted trail linking several wineries. It offers opportunities for tastings and encounters with winemakers; arrangements may vary from one winery to another.
The Route du Vignoble genevois passes through parts of the Le Mandement and Entre Arve et Rhône wine regions. In Dardagny, another kind of discovery awaits: a six-kilometre educational trail introduces visitors to wine production, village history, and the region’s flora and fauna. Seasonal access conditions may vary.
In 2021, Dardagny was admitted to the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages of Switzerland for its distinctive wine-growing architectural heritage and preserved rural setting. From there, you can walk along the river through a protected nature reserve to the Centre Nature du Vallon de l’Allondon. Conditions on local trails and for access may vary.
Nature among trails and protected areas
The hiking trails in the Canton of Geneva extend for more than 350 kilometres and are accessible via the public transport network. Some routes by the lake and on the Salève have seasonal restrictions. The Centre Nature du Vallon de l’Allondon is located in an area of exceptional biodiversity and introduces visitors to the natural heritage and the importance of environmental protection.
The Marais de Mategnin are among the canton’s first nature reserves. Along the Jura range, they are an important stopover and wintering area for migratory species; the habitats are managed for conservation. The canton therefore offers different ways to experience nature: learning about environmental protection at the Allondon and discovering the importance of wetlands for migratory species at Mategnin.
Geneva’s history and collections
The towers of Saint-Pierre Cathedral offer a 360-degree panorama of the city and lake after a climb of 157 steps. Events or maintenance work may affect access, so check access information before your visit. Beneath the cathedral, the archaeological site preserves remains of earlier churches, the oldest dating from the late 4th century, as well as pre-Christian traces of settlement on the hill. Here, you can encounter evidence from pre-Christian times and the remains of early churches in the same place.
The Musée d’art et d’histoire has a collection of around 650,000 objects spanning archaeology, fine arts, applied arts, decorative arts and other historical collections. The items on display may change with temporary exhibitions. The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum explores issues, values and current topics in humanitarian work through exhibitions and events; its programme also changes. At the Patek Philippe Museum, you can discover five hundred years of watchmaking history.
The lake, swimming and getting around
Plage des Eaux-Vives is a 400-metre public beach with free swimming and leisure facilities. A natural area supports biodiversity; swimming conditions may vary seasonally. Bains des Pâquis offers a hammam and Turkish baths year-round. In summer, you can sunbathe there; in winter, relax with a view of Geneva. Facilities and access conditions may change, so check them before planning a visit.
The Mouettes Genevoises connect different city districts via small yellow boats on Lake Geneva, offering a special view of the city from the water. Routes and operating arrangements may change; checking the current timetable can help with planning. Guests staying in Geneva in authorised accommodation receive a personal, non-transferable Geneva Transport Card free of charge. It allows unlimited free travel throughout their stay on the UNIRESO network, including buses, trains and the Mouettes Genevoises.
Discover more destinations: Versoix, Plan-Les-Ouates, Carouge Ge, Le Grand-Saconnex, Bellevue Ge, Lancy, Satigny, Cartigny Ge, Meinier, Collonge-Bellerive, Veyrier Ge, Genthod, Presinge, Vandœuvres, Geneva, Céligny, Soral Ge, Dardagny, Laconnex, Cologny, Chêne-Bourg, Chêne-Bougeries, Meyrin, Vernier.
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