Weekend in Geneva

Geneva has long been one of our favorite cities to visit in Switzerland and for our most recent visit, we wanted to discover a side of the city that is unknown to most tourists. Thankfully, Geneva Tourism offers a plethora of tips on sites and attractions that are off the beaten path and sure to impress. Here is the itinerary we followed for our 2-day visit to Geneva.   

Mechanical Watchmaking Workshop

The first item on our agenda was to attend a mechanical watchmaking workshop at Initium. Located in the heart of Geneva’s Old Town, Initium offers workshops for individuals as well as groups. During the workshop we were immersed into the world of mechanical timepieces. The lesson was given by a master watchmaker who covered the theory and practice of mechanical movement. With a screwdriver and tweezers in hand, we experienced the thrill of seeing the beating hearts of our watches come to life. 

Chocolate Tour

Up next, we went for a walking chocolate tasting in Geneva’s Old Town with Local Flavours. We learned all about Geneva’s history of chocolate while sampling treats from Geneva’s top chocolatiers.  The artisan pastries and chocolates were pure decadence and absolute one-of-a-kind creations. Private and group tours are available and can be reserved online.  

Lunch at the Lebanese Restaurant

For lunch “with a view” we visited the Lebanese restaurant Balila, located inside the Hotel Longemalle, just a stone’s throw away from the famous luxury shopping street rue du Rhône.  Balila’s mouth watering flavours, beautiful presentation, and the stunning interior were the perfect nod to renowned Chef Hussein Hadid. We enjoyed our meal on the balcony, overlooking the Place Longemalle, which made for the perfect, relaxed afternoon.

Geneva Vineyards Tour by e-tuk-tuk

One of the highlights of our trip was a vineyard tour inside one of Taxibike’s modern e-tuk-tuks. Originating in Thailand, this silent vehicle allowed us to stroll along the beautiful countryside and sip Geneva’s finest wines in style. Our tour was accompanied by the regional daily newspaper Tribune de Genève and their photographer, Pierre Albouy. In Satigny we spoke to the winemaker Jérémie Burgdorfer from Domaine Du Paradis – a family owned business that produces red, white, rosé and sparkling wine. Domaine Du Paradis offers tastings, cellar visits and is available for private events. For more information, check out the full article here (in French).

Dinner in one of the oldest brasseries

For dinner we visited one of Geneva’s oldest Brasseries, Café du Centre. Enjoying local wine and exquisite seafood on their outdoor patio felt like a true escape- a feeling much missed over these past two years.

City tour with Taxibike

In the morning we booked a personalised city tour with Taxibike. The bikes allowed us to safely avoid traffic and peddle close to the famous 140 m high fountain Jet d’Eau. We also visited La Jonction – the place where the Rhône and Arve rivers meet. We finished our ride at the scenic Mon Repos Park, where we enjoyed lunch at the restaurant Perle Du Lac with a breathtaking view of Mont Blanc in the distance.

For our accommodations we chose Hotel Metropole, a boutique hotel overlooking Lake Geneva. Ideally located on the left bank of the lake, the hotel is in the heart of the central business and shopping districts and is just a short walk from the Jet d’Eau and old town.