Tour of Old Geneva

Old Geneva Tour

Old Geneva, Switzerland was once a walled, fortified city built on a peninsula formed by the Avre and Rhone rivers. Visitors can access this historic part of the city from hotels on the north side of Lake Geneva using a number of bridges across the rivers, including several dedicated pedestrian bridges, or small passenger ferries.

Signing up for a city tour is the best way to see and learn about Old Geneva. Our licenced guide, Sandrina Palomera, was very knowledgeable about all the sites, and knows her city well.

There's little remaining of the walls that once protected the city, and the whole area still wears the drab grey colours of the Reform movement, but it's an interesting place with lots of narrow streets, passageways, and staircases with plenty of historical significance to explore.

Be sure to visit the Maison Tavel Museum (in Geneva's oldest home) to see the century-old relief map and diorama of Old Geneva showing what the city looked like when it was still confined by walls; it will give you a bit of orientation as you tour the attraction.

The Reformists didn’t cover everything in grey paint. At the Cathedral Saint Pierre, a splash of colour still remains...

A good place for lunch is the Hôtel de Ville Restaurant. 

And take a break with a sit on the world's longest park bench...

...before learning about the founders of the Reform Movement at their wall monument.

After a long day of touring & walking, supper at the Brasserie Lipp in the Confederation Centre was fabulous!

Suzanne’s supper of vegetarian risotto with marinated artichokes & sun-dried tomatoes was awesome!!!!

Accompanying dish of roasted veggies in previous shot was delish!