Canton of Geneva

The canton of Geneva (Genève) is located in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland. Together with Lausanne, the city of Geneva forms the second largest metropolitan area in Switzerland after Zurich, the Geneva-Lausanne metropolitan region.

The canton is surrounded by France on three sides and stretches around the south-western end of Lake Geneva. The Geneva basin is nestled between the four highest peaks of the Jura mountain range and a series of Alpine peaks. The mountains lie in France, the canton of Geneva itself has no higher peaks, but is hilly.

In the city of Geneva, small and large museums, venues and libraries invite you on a journey of cultural discovery. The lively streets of the old town are lined with boutiques, cafés, bars and restaurants. This historic core is considered the heart of the city, with the Place du Bourg-de-Four at its centre. The impressive St-Pierre Cathedral, dating from several eras, towers over the old town. Along Lake Geneva, the quays invite visitors to stroll, with a view of the city's world-famous landmark: the Jet d'eau water fountain, around 140 m high. 

The best-preserved water fountains in the city are located in the centre of the town.

One of Geneva's best-preserved historic streets is the Grand-Rue, where Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born. There is a water taxi service on Lake Geneva that takes you from one shore to the other. Several gardens and parks invite you to linger directly in Geneva – the city is considered particularly large.  

The small town of Carouge lies in a south-westerly direction directly next to Geneva. Here, the visitor feels transported to Italy: The town was built in the 18th century by Italian architects. It has preserved its Mediterranean atmosphere to this day. The historic buildings now house restaurants, trendy bars, boutiques, antique shops and studios.

While the lunar flair of the city of Geneva with its many international institutions attracts visitors from all over the world, the surrounding countryside invites you to exciting activities in nature. Water sports enthusiasts, for example, get their money's worth on Lake Geneva. Cyclists can take a tour along the shores of the lake and the Rhône, while hikers can discover beautiful spots throughout the canton.