Old Town Walk (Self Guided), Geneva
Many visitors to Geneva join the city's younger crowd in voting with their feet and heading for the maze of old streets and picturesque squares of the old town. They are lined with historical buildings, galleries, museums, charming cafés and restaurants. It is a wonderful place to mix a little bit of sightseeing with some shopping and dining. Many of the old town's winding streets are closed to traffic, which makes a walk through the area an even more pleasurable experience.
Check out some of the art galleries here, where you can see a diverse mix of styles. Go to the Place du Bourg-de-Four, the heart of the old town. This popular square is Geneva’s oldest, and was once the site of a Roman marketplace. Today, it hosts boutiques, souvenir shops, restaurants and coffee shops, and is a lively meeting place for locals and tourists alike. As you sip your coffee and savor a selection of pastries and chocolates look over to the middle of the square where there are medieval fountains.
At Christmas time, the area is adorned with a row of lamps, a beautiful and romantic sight at night. A few steps from the square is St.Peter's Cathedral, where John Calvin, one of the 16th-century leaders of the Protestant Reformation used to preach. Inside is his wooden chair.
Check out some of the art galleries here, where you can see a diverse mix of styles. Go to the Place du Bourg-de-Four, the heart of the old town. This popular square is Geneva’s oldest, and was once the site of a Roman marketplace. Today, it hosts boutiques, souvenir shops, restaurants and coffee shops, and is a lively meeting place for locals and tourists alike. As you sip your coffee and savor a selection of pastries and chocolates look over to the middle of the square where there are medieval fountains.
At Christmas time, the area is adorned with a row of lamps, a beautiful and romantic sight at night. A few steps from the square is St.Peter's Cathedral, where John Calvin, one of the 16th-century leaders of the Protestant Reformation used to preach. Inside is his wooden chair.
How it works: A discovery walk features a route using which you can explore a popular city neighborhood on your own. This walk, along with other self-guided walks in over 1,500 cities, can be found on the app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" which can be downloaded from Apple App Store or Google Play Store to your mobile phone or tablet. The app's built-in GPS navigation functions allow following this walk route with ease. The app works both online and offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Old Town Walk Map
Guide Name: Old Town Walk
Guide Location: Switzerland » Geneva
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Discovery)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Author: Helen
Guide Location: Switzerland » Geneva
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Discovery)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Author: Helen
1) Rue de Saint-Léger, Fondation Braillard Architectes
2) Rue de Saint-Léger, Chapelle des Pèlerins
3) Place du Bourg-de-Four
4) Rue du Purgatoire
5) Passage de Monetier Entrance
6) Rue de l'Hôtel-de-Ville
7) Rue de l'Hôtel-de-Ville
8) Grand-Rue corner with Rue du Puits-Saint-Pierre
9) Grand Rue
10) Grand Rue
11) Grand Rue, Librairie Ancienne
12) Place de Neuve
Walking Tours in Geneva, Switzerland
Create Your Own Walk in Geneva
Creating your own self-guided walk in Geneva is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Chocolate Tour
Chocolate started to gain popularity in Switzerland in the early 16th century and has since evolved to become a highly appreciated Swiss commodity throughout the world. Almost every city or town in the country has at least one chocolate shop, and Geneva is by far no exception.
The local chocolate scene is a true delight for any cocoa enthusiast. Here, you'll find a handful of iconic... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
The local chocolate scene is a true delight for any cocoa enthusiast. Here, you'll find a handful of iconic... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Geneva Introduction Walking Tour
The city of Geneva enjoys picturesque location at the southern tip of the expansive Lac Léman (aka Lake Geneva), surrounded by the Alps and Jura mountains, including the dramatic Mont Blanc peak.
The city was mentioned for the first time in Latin texts, by Caesar, with the spelling Genava, derived probably from the Celtic genawa- or genu- ("bend, knee"), in the sense of a bending... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
The city was mentioned for the first time in Latin texts, by Caesar, with the spelling Genava, derived probably from the Celtic genawa- or genu- ("bend, knee"), in the sense of a bending... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Architectural Jewels
Geneva, a city renowned for its diplomatic prowess and picturesque landscapes, boasts an array of architectural jewels. The remarkable medieval and more contemporary structures such as Geneva Town Hall (Hôtel de Ville), Saint Peter Cathedral (Cathedrale de Saint-Pierre), and Schtroumph Buildings, showing a mix of French and German influences, have captivated both locals and tourists for decades.
... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Historical Churches
As the cradle of the Reformist movement in Europe led by theologian Jean Calvin, the city of Geneva has no shortage of religious sites representing a great deal of historical and cultural value. A dedicated Christian, a keen churchgoer, or simply one who is interested in objects of spirituality will find here quite a few temples worthy of attention.
Whether you're drawn to the austere... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
Whether you're drawn to the austere... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
Best Swiss Watch Shops Tour
When it comes to quality and precision, Swiss-made watches are known to be the best. Some of the world-renowned watch brands have been designed and masterminded in Geneva. The city's watch industry dates back to the 16th century, and since then has constantly developed to produce the most desired timepieces.
Geneva hosts a cluster of specialized shops that cater to the refined tastes of... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
Geneva hosts a cluster of specialized shops that cater to the refined tastes of... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
The Most Popular Cities
/ view all