Relaxing & parks – All our local tips

Les Bains des Paquis is one of my favorite place in Geneva, located right on the lake!

Kids, adults, old people, whites, blacks, latinos, rastas, artists, bankers, elegant swans, ducks who charm you to have some bread… Everybody lives in a perfect harmony in the Bains des Paquis. Only the sparrows show no respect stealing food from every-one’s plate!

The cheese fondue is back!!! Enjoying a champagne fondue in the “cabane” of Bains des Paquis” is an unique experience! You will definitely like the warming atmosphere of the place unless you want to have a quite romantic dinner. Ask for the “Religieuse”, once you finish the cheese… A recommandation: come early to eat, the place is closing before 21:30.

Other beautiful moments at Les Bains des Paquis:

…A breakfast from 08:00 with a fresh juice and some Swiss specialities : bircher & Cenovis that you share with ducks and swans as the place is still not too crowded

…For lunch, a colourful meal of the day from CHF 12.00 only, for sure the best value of Geneva.

Bon appétit!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Bains des Paquis | Bars, Relaxing, Festivals & events, Restaurants (Healthy)
Quai du Mont-Blanc 30 | Les Pâquis | +41227381616
08:00 – 21:30 daily

Geneva is called “la cité des parcs” for its 25 big green spaces, to be found almost everywhere in the city. If you’re not afraid of the cold, I would advise you the Parc Lagrange; it’s as beautiful as few are.

It was bequeathed by a rich citizen in the beginning of the XXth century. It is located in front of the lake, perfectly inclined to give you a unique view on the lac Léman.

On its 20 hectares, this park hosts many different parts: a little lake, a playground for children, huge lawns – I like to play cards with friends there – and a rose garden. I rarely go to the playground or the rose garden (!), but it’s a really nice place to go for a walk and discover the green side of Geneva.

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Le Parc Lagrange | Relaxing | Free
Le Parc Lagrange | Eaux-Vives
From sunrise until the bell rings

Another green spot I have to write about. It’s the park I used to go every day after school when I was a kid, and the park I still go to, either to play football – during the summer you’ll see many different groups playing from the end of the afternoon until dawn – or just to relax with a good book.

Speaking of relaxing: each summer for 6 years now, the city offers the possibility to borrow free deck chairs and even books – but I think you will have to test your French as I’m not sure they lend English books…

The park is huge  – 11 hectares – located in a rich neighbourhood, a 15 minutes’ walk away from the old town, therefore this spot is guaranteed flowered-clock-tourists-free, locals-full.

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Parc Bertrand | Relaxing | Free
Avenue Peschier | Vieille-ville
Daily

Geneva has many parks but my favourite is Parc des Bastions. Students, families, tourists and locals – people from all walks of life come here to chill out.

The park used to be Geneva’s first botanical garden until the end of the 19th century and it is still an extremely popular place. If you take the slightest interest in Geneva’s history, you can admire the Reformation wall, a rather impressive monument, erected in 1909 in honour of the founders of Protestantism.

Bring your food and drink and have a picnic or enjoy the terrace of the pavilion-restaurant. The park is full of statues and fountains and has over 50 varieties of rare trees. The giant (life-sized) chess and checker games right at the main entrance are a popular meeting place all year round and those who are travelling with a laptop may appreciate the wireless hotspot of the park.

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Parc des Bastions | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
Place de Neuve | Vieille-ville
24 hours daily

When visiting a city, some people like visiting churches… I personally prefer visit soccer stadiums and hanging out in the universities! It plunges me back into a great time I had at the University of Geneva, especially in Unimail!

First of all, if you want to look like more “Genevois” do not pronounce UniMail like “mailbox” but like the french word “maille”!!! You are now ready!

The modern UniMail is located in the heart of the lively Plainpalais at one block of the Plaine de Plainpalais. The construction of this university is one of the main reasons of the flourishing bars in the neighbourhood : Calamar, Café du Lys (see this article) Ferblanterie etc.

If you’re lucky you will find free and delicious food as there is quite often a buffet after some conferences or workshops! Anyway, you can always join the rest of the students in one of the two cafeterias in the day time.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Unimail | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Relaxing, Snacks
Boulevard du Pont d’Arve 40 | Plainpalais | +41223201704
All year around (sometimes a badge is required to open the door)