Everything you need to know when planning a trip to Geneva: Your Alpine Gateway to Adventure

Planning a trip to Geneva, Switzerland? Let the team at Ultimate Drives show you around the city of global importance and refined luxury. Geneva sits gracefully on the shores of its namesake lake, with the breath-taking Alps as its backdrop. It’s a spectacular destination in its own right and the perfect hub for exploring the wider region. Geneva has so much to offer beyond the open road; it’s a destination brimming with culture, precision, and natural wonder. We recommend dedicating at least a day or two to discover what makes this sophisticated Swiss city so special.

A Tale of Two Sides: The Lake and the Old Town

Geneva’s most iconic feature, the Jet d’Eau, fires 500 litres of water per second 140 metres into the air. It’s a spectacular sight, best viewed from a stroll along the promenade or from the deck of a classic paddle steamer. A short cruise on the lake offers breath-taking perspectives of the city, with the Jura Mountains on one side and the Alps, including the peak of Mont Blanc on a clear day, on the other.

From the lakeside, a short walk takes you into the enchanting Vielle Ville (Old Town). It’s easy to lose a few hours in its maze of cobbled streets, hidden courtyards, and charming boutiques. We recommend climbing the towers of St. Pierre Cathedral for a panoramic view that will whet your appetite for the heights to come.

Precision, Culture, and a Global Heartbeat

Geneva is a city of immense global importance, home to the European headquarters of the United Nations and the Red Cross. The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum offers a moving and thought-provoking experience.

For a very different experience, one that never fails to resonate with our guests, a visit to the Patek Philippe Museum is a must. Here, you can admire centuries of watchmaking genius – a craft that shares a spirit of intricate engineering and timeless design with the cars on our tours. If precision engineering and craftsmanship is of appeal, be sure to check out the section highlighting some of the activities beyond the immediate Geneva city confines, as a trip to the ‘Valley of Watches’ is a must!

Dining and Drinks

Geneva’s dining scene is a superb blend of Swiss tradition and international flair. Here are a few of our preferred spots:

The Authentic Classic: For a truly authentic Swiss meal, seek out Les Armures in the heart of the Old Town. Housed in a 17th-century building, it’s the perfect, historic setting for your first (or last!) cheese fondue of the trip.

Dinner with a Skyline View: For a memorable evening, consider Izumi. Located on the rooftop of the Four Seasons, its unique Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine is matched only by the panoramic views of the city and lake.

The Lakeside Legend: A true institution, Le Chat-Botté at the Beau-Rivage hotel offers exceptional Michelin-starred modern French cuisine. It’s a sophisticated and elegant choice for a special occasion, representing the pinnacle of Genevan fine dining.

Our Recommended Stays

Our tours include a stay at a wonderful, centrally located 5-star hotel. However, for those looking to tailor their experience, Geneva offers some exceptional alternatives that we are happy to arrange.

The Grand Dame (Our Premier Pick): The Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues is a lakeside icon and the city’s first hotel. It combines neoclassical grandeur with impeccable service, a stunning spa, and the sublime rooftop dining at Izumi.

The Boutique Gem: For intimate luxury in the most historic setting, the hotel Les Armures offers beautifully appointed rooms and suites within the walls of the Old Town, placing you steps away from St. Pierre Cathedral.

The Ultra-Luxe Retreat: The Woodward, part of the Oetker Collection, is one of the city’s newest and most exclusive addresses. Housed in a post-Haussmann-style building from 1901, this all-suite hotel on the quayside features a 1,200 sq m Guerlain Spa and world-class dining, offering the ultimate private sanctuary.

Beyond Geneva city

Adding an extra day or two before or after your road trip not only gives you a chance to acclimatise to a new time zone and shake off that jetlag, but also see even more of this fantastic region of Switzerland.

The Vineyards of Lavaux

For wine enthusiasts, between the start of the high Alps and Lac Léman (Lake Geneva), you’ll find Switzerland’s picturesque UNESCO World Heritage-listed vineyard terraces of Lavaux.

 

A great place to start is in the beautiful town of Montreux, with its castle perched on the edge of the Lake (make sure you pay this a visit too!), home of the world’s most famous jazz festival, with Château de Chillon just beyond marking one end of the largest contiguous wine region in Switzerland which stretches right up to the town of Lausanne. Exploring the vines on foot is the best way to experience the scenery, but if preferred the Lavaux Express and Lavaux Panoramic sightseeing wheeled trains run loops around the area taking in the different vineyards and wineries. If you’re considering a road trip with Ultimate Drives in May, be sure to tie in the first and last Saturdays in May, as these dates host memorable Lavaux wine festivals.

Chamonix and Mont Blanc

With Geneva situated so close to the French border, another ‘must visit’ to add to your Ultimate Drives vacation in Switzerland is a trip to the French  alpine town of Chamonix, where high above the picturesque cobbled streets sits the tallest mountain in the Alps, Mont Blanc and the equally as impressive Aiguille du Midi, marking the border between France, Switzerland and Italy. In summer, why not ride Europe’s highest cable car and experience a glacier hike on the Vallée Blanche traverse, starting from the top of the Aiguille du Midi lift and the famous arête, before descending to explore the ice caves and sculptures carved out of the glacier. Chamonix also plays host to numerous wellness centres, including the highly recommended QC Terme spa where you can relax and soak up the views of Mont Blanc, before heading to Le Comptoir des Alpes restaurant for fine dining in the heart of Chamonix.

Lake Annecy and the Venice of the Alps

Looking for an alternative to Lake Geneva? You’re not far from Lake Annecy and the wonderful French city of Annecy. Pop over the border to visit Annecy, and explore the ‘Venice of the Alps’. See the 12th century Palais d’Isle, visit Annecy Castle, or simply take a walk down to the Lake for fresh mountain air and stunning backdrop.

The Valley of Watches and the Watch Museum

Have you heard of the ‘Valley of Watches’? In downtown Geneva you’ll want to visit the Patek Philippe Museum but outside of the city, here are a few things to consider when planning a trip to the Valley of Watches. An hour’s drive from Geneva and a great road trip for any discerning watch enthusiast, the Vallée de Joux is a world famous watchmaking valley where you’ll find many of the world’s most exclusive and prestigious watch brands. Visit the Chateau Des Monts, a historical villa and home to the Musée d’horlogerie du Locle – ‘the Watch Museum’, perhaps staying overnight in the stunning Scandinavian architectural gem that is the Hôtel des Horlogers. Only a short walk down the road from the hotel is Audemars Piguet’s Musée Atelier, which opened in 2020 and celebrates Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet’s famous watchmaking atelier founded in 1875.

So Why Geneva?

It’s the perfect blend of Swiss sophistication and French joie de vivre. It’s a city that runs with the precision of a Swiss timepiece, set against a backdrop of raw, natural grandeur. It offers a sense of calm and culture that provides a counter to the high-adrenaline driving experience that awaits.

Your Geneva Checklist:

• Marvel at the sheer power of the Jet d’Eau.
• Wander the historic cobbled streets of the Vielle Ville.
• Discover the art of watchmaking at the Patek Philippe Museum.
• Take a relaxing boat trip on Lac Léman.
• Indulge in an authentic cheese fondue.
• Venture beyond the city, taking a road trip through the UNESCO wine region of Lavaux
• Marvel at Mont Blanc, the tallest mountain in the Alps from Europe’s highest cable car, walk amongst the glacier caves, or dine in style over the border in Chamonix, the quintessential French alpine town with the most break-taking mountain views.
• Pop over the border to France and take in the beauty of the French city of Annecy with its lake, castle, and romance.
• Visit the ‘Valley of Watches’, an hour’s drive from Geneva, home to many world famous watch manufacturers.

When planning a stay in Geneva, there are countless other trips beyond the city that you may wish to consider. The Ultimate Drives team would be happy to suggest options that meet your personal preferences or tailor excursions, restaurants, or other activities to your specific tastes. Whether you’re just arriving or bidding farewell to the open road, take a day to soak in Geneva. It’s the perfect overture, or grand finale, to your ultimate drive.

Thinking of booking a trip to Geneva, the Swiss Alps, or perhaps a road trip exploring the great mountain passes of Switzerland and France?

Then check out our Classic Tour of Lake Geneva & Mont Blanc Passes

Or perhaps our once in a lifetime Switzerland Grand Tour