For a comprehensive tour of Geneva I recommend this route:

From Cornavin train station, go down Rue du Mont Blanc and cross the river Rhône via the Pont Mont Blanc, stopping to admire superb views of Lake Geneva, St Peter's Cathedral, Ile Rousseau and Pont des Bergues.

Once across Pont Mont Blanc, walk alongside the Rhône river via the embankment to see Port St Gervais and enter the shopping district of Geneva.

Walk along Rue de la Conféderation, Rue de la Croix d'or and Rue du Rhône.

Turn off Rue de la Conféderation at Place Madelaine and walk up into the old city to Place Bourg Four (good cheap cafés here) and climb Rue de l'Hôtel de Ville to look at the murals depicting the history of Geneva and the cannons.

Enter Cours St Pierre and visit St Peter's Cathedral. Then descend back to the shopping district and head to the Jardin Anglais to see the famous Jet d'eau and flower clock.

Walk alongside Lake Geneva (Rive Gauche) - for children there is a beach on this side of the lake.

Go through the Jardin Anglais, go across Pont Mont Blanc and walk alongside lake Geneva (Rive Droite) stopping to admire views of Mont Blanc across the lake and see the Brunswick monument.

Return to Cornavin train station via Les Paquis district (to the west of Quai Wilson). Go up Rue de Lausanne and follow signs to Cornavin train station.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

St Peter's Cathedral can be seen from everywhere in Geneva and is the symbol of the old city of Geneva.
Its interior is truly impressive and for 3 CHF you can climb the 157 steps up to the tower for stunning views (tip: if you can't or don't want to climb up to the tower than the same view can be seen on a poster just next to the entrance). The exterior of the cathedral is a curious mismatch of building styles too with a Romanized façade (columns).

Cours St Pierre - a 30 min walk from Cornavin train station
Free entry

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

At the end of the #8 bus route (free using the travel card given you by the hotels), you walk about half a mile into France and then go up to the top of 1000m Mont Saleve by cable car.

Spectacular views and walks. People para-glide from here which is worth watching as well.

End of number 8 bus route from Geneva

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Flying into Geneva, I spent the next ten days on a grand tour of the lake.

After one night in Geneva I hired a touring bike and set off with my tent round the Swiss side of the lake with stops at Nyon, Montreux and Lausanne.

Had some amazing lunches by the ports and decided to get a boat back to Geneva. Then found a company doing tours on the French side of the lake, even up into the Alps, which is still amazing even without the snow.

www.geneveroule.ch
www.cgn.ch
www.lemantransfers.com

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Anyone can visit the canteen at the top of the ITU building near the UN compound.

All you have to do is ask security for a pass which they have to give you in exchange for some sort of ID - passport, drivers license etc.

Stunning views across Geneva, and the lake to Mont Blanc.

Geneva near UN compound
Mailing Address
ITU - Place des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 20
Switzerland

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Nyon is only 20 miles around Lac Leman. It's got several museums and a lovely town square. Free entry to Castle museum with stunning views across the lake.
Further pics at:
home.iprolink.ch/dpeck/nyon1.htm

Nyon station

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends