VéloPartage: the best bike rental in Geneva

The “Vieille ville”, which literally means the “Old town”, is one of the favorite areas for the tourists and the young people, with many steep cobbled streets. Head to Place du Bourg de Four to enjoy a tasty hot chocolate or a local speciality at La Clémence. Grasp the two thousand years of history by strolling through the historical center with its facades, museums and local stores. The setting of the establishments is often unique as along the Grand-Rue between antique and art stores, bookshops, galleries, chocolate shops and small designer boutiques.

On the right bank of the lake, it is the base camp for world citizens with its multicultural district. Divided between the Grottes district, the cosmopolitan Pâquis district and the Nations district which gathers 200 international organizations (the UN, the UNHCR, the International Red Cross).

From the city center, rent a bike and ride along the lake to reach the infamous “Perle du lac” – if you dare, jump in the water in Les bains des Pâquis – until the superb park from where you can start your visit to the UN headquarters. The Botanical Garden is also worth a detour, especially in summer, where you can enjoy an artisanal ice cream while admiring the mountains in front.

Paris has its “Champs-Élysées”, Geneva gets its notorious “Rue du Rhône”. This part of the Swiss city is the most touristy, but don’t hesitate to go to the “Place des Eaux-Vives” in the quayside to discover the surroundings full of tapas bars and lounge bars, rooftops and gourmet restaurants. Close to the lake, the city center and beautiful parks, it offers a more affordable range of quaint food places.

Riding along the Quai Gustave-Ador should definitely be on your to-do list; on your left side, you’ll enjoy a fantastic view of the lake and the Jura mountains, while on your right side you’ll appreciate old facades and buildings from over 300 years. Relax on the brand new public beach of Geneva, which will be built in 2019, before walking in the magnificent Parc de la Grange and ordering a delicious fish meal facing the sublime landscape.

This former marshland has remained free of any construction thanks to its public utility classification. It remains a privileged meeting place and hosts occasional events like concerts or the Swiss National Circus and a large flea market. In another register, you will be surprised by the impressive and frightening bronze statue of Frankenstein’s monster.

The Jonction district is also the heart of Geneva’s alternative universe. It precedes the confluence of the clear waters of the Rhone and those more turbid of the Arve. This district gathers many bars. You will appreciate the student cafés and restaurants of the rue de l’École de Médecine, the artistic establishments of the “quartier des Bains”, but also the latest novelties and designer boutiques located along the boulevard Carl Vogt, which has been undergoing a major transformation in recent years.

Nothing if not dynamic, complex, artsy and alternative, Saint-Gervais is a walking contradiction of a district. Home to artists and craftsmen of all trades, Saint-Gervais is a far cry from the white-collar professionals of Geneva’s financial center. The area and its residents have had to fight for its survival many times, having faced demolition in the past.

This spry, humble grit can still be seen in the atmosphere of Saint-Gervais et des Grottes today. As you walk through the narrow streets, you’ll be reminded of walking in a quaint little village, with original buildings, small shops and historic constructions all around you. You may also see some funny-shaped and colourful homes. If you walk down Rue de l’Industrie, you’ll see the remnants of an industrial hotspot, with old workshops and watchmaking warehouses all around, bearing witness to the hard-working past of Saint-Gervais.

Carouge is sometimes called the “Greenwich Village” of Geneva. Only 15 minutes by bike from Place de Neuve, Carouge has its own personality. It is apart and knows how to cultivate its difference. It has kept its quality of an open city, after having been French, Italian and under the supervision of Geneva, it asserts its singular identity.

It has become an industrial city while preserving the heart of its old city where it is good to walk along the canal and in the shaded streets. Nowadays, you can enjoy a real espresso on the terrasse of the Market square or spend a festive night at the Chat Noir club. The young generations particularly like Carouge, less business-oriented with a more relaxed lifestyle.