Walking through the streets of the center you will discover the true essence of a city with an international vocation: it is here that the UN has its European headquarters, which you can visit with a guide to discover all its secrets.

Among the other institutions present in Geneva stands out the Red Cross, which organizes its humanitarian actions from here. If you want to know more, visit the International Museum of the Red Cross, completely restored in 2013: through three thematic spaces designed by internationally renowned architects, coming from different traditions and cultures, you will be accompanied to reflect, discover and get excited, on a path of initiation to humanitarian action.

Starting from the lake, the beating heart of the town, you will be welcomed in the center of Geneva: its most peculiar symbol is the Jet d’Eau, an imposing fountain that reaches 140 meters in height, characterized by over 500 liters of water that splash upwards at a speed of almost 200 kilometers per hour.

On the left bank of Lake Geneva begins the old town, which is home to the shopping and business districts. It is dominated by the Cathedral of St-Pierre and the Place du Bourg-de-Four, the oldest square in the city, from which streets and narrow streets wind their way around and invite you to stroll at a leisurely pace. The best known and the one that has best preserved its charm is the Grand-Rue, where Rousseau was born.

Also on the “left bank” of Lake Geneva is the Parc des Bastions, just below the hill of the old town. Inside the park you can admire the Reformation Wall, a work of art composed of statues depicting the main protagonists of the Protestant Reformation and the history of Geneva, on which the city’s motto, “Post tenebras lux” (after darkness the light) dominates.

To go from one shore of the lake to the other, you can board the Mouettes, small water taxis, while if you prefer to spend more time exploring it, there are also larger boats that organize real cruises. The “right shore” of Lake Geneva is home to the largest hotels and fine restaurants, as well as the lively Pâquis district, and is perfect for a romantic evening.

If you are passionate about science, however, you cannot miss a visit to CERN, which is also ideal for a family weekend. It is the most important laboratory for research in the field of nuclear and subnuclear physics, where the largest particle accelerator in the world is located. It is a place to get informed and learn, getting lost in interactive installations and experimental areas.

Lovers of nature and outdoor activities will also find something to satisfy their need to escape from the city: although on French territory, just 20 kilometers from Geneva is Mont Salève, a 1,100-meter peak from which to observe the small metropolis, Lake Geneva, the Jura massif and the surrounding mountain ranges from above. up to Mont Blanc. The Swiss city has always been linked to this mountain, so much so that since 1887 a steam tram took you from Geneva directly to the foot of Mont Salève. Today it can also be reached by car, cable car or on foot, following hiking trails, and is the perfect place to engage in mountain activities, such as trekking, ridge hiking, paragliding and cross-country skiing in winter.