How we spent a weekend in Geneva, Switzerland

We spent a weekend in Geneva, Switzerland in December, which was a perfect time to visit the city. Although there are lots of activities well suited to summer weather in Geneva, we had a great time exploring the Christmas markets and seeing the festive lights.

This is everything you need to know about a weekend in Geneva.

How to get to Geneva

We travelled to Geneva from Brussels by plane, which took about an hour and cost £40 with Easyjet. If you’re flying from the UK, most major airlines fly direct to Geneva. The city also has a well-connected train station which is just 7 minutes from the airport.

Find out more about our weekend in Brussels here.

The best things to do in Geneva

There are lots of things to see and do in Geneva, including museums and galleries, and taking day trips into the Alps. These were our highlights:

• Wander around the old town

• See the flag on Rue de l'Hôtel-de-Ville

• Walk around Lake Geneva

• Visit Jet d’Eau

• Promenade de la Treille, the world’s longest bench

• Visit the Christmas market, Noel au Quai, if it’s on

• Take a day trip to Annecy

Where to eat in Geneva

Our favourite places to eat and drink in Geneva were:

• Luma cafe

• La Chalet a Fondue (or another fondue spot like Les Armures)

• Breitling Kitchen

• Balila

Where to stay in Geneva

We stayed in an Airbnb on Rue Mont Blanc, which was perfectly located for us. The street is in the centre of the city, next to the main train station and in easy walking distance of everything including the lake and the Old Town. But the city has no shortage of hotels and Airbnbs, depending on the kind of area you’d prefer to stay in.

How long do you need to spend in Geneva?

We spent three nights in Geneva, with one day being spent in Annecy. Unless you’re planning to do other day trips, for example excursions into the mountains, then a couple of days in Geneva is probably enough to see all the main attractions.

Do you need to rent a car in Geneva?

We didn’t hire a car or even take any form of public transport in Geneva, except arriving and leaving by train. To get around the city, we walked. If you’re going further afield a train or taxi is probably your best bet but you could hire a car if you’re planning to head into the mountains.

What to wear in Geneva?

The people of Geneva are stylish and sophisticated in a laid-back way, as you might expect on the French/Swiss border. You might want nice clothes if you’re going to a fancy restaurant for dinner, but in December most people were in coats and trousers and I didn’t spot any high heels, even on a Saturday night.

This is what I packed for a weekend in Geneva in December::

• A cable knit jumper

• A grey jumper

• A white t-shirt

• Black wide leg jeans

• Black leather trousers

• A knitted beanie

• Black Dr Martens

• Leopard print Nike Air Force 1s

• A puffer coat

• A tweed overcoat

This packing list was perfect and didn’t feel out of place in the city in winter. It was pretty much the same as my packing list for Brussels (but condensed) as it was part of the same trip.

Check out our itinerary for a weekend in Brussels here.