Hop-On Hop-Off Bus & Old Town Mini-Train Tour Geneva

The Old Town and St Pierre Cathedral

Geneva's Old Town sits on a hill above the lake and is best explored slowly, so a mini-train is a good way to see it if you do not want to climb the steep lanes. It leads you past the Place du Bourg-de-Four, one of the oldest squares in the city, and the Town Hall, and close to St Pierre Cathedral, where the reformer John Calvin preached.

The cathedral's towers offer a wide view of the lake and the city and can be climbed on a separate visit. The Old Town is also the place to learn about Geneva's role in the Reformation, and the audio guide covers the highlights as you pass. If you are asking whether the Old Town in Geneva is worth visiting, the answer is yes, with its cafés and small shops.

The Jet d'Eau and the lakefront

The Jet d'Eau is Geneva's best-known landmark, a fountain that shoots water about 140 metres into the air from the lake, visible from many parts of the city. The lakeside promenade, the flower clock in the Jardin Anglais and the Mont Blanc bridge are all close to it.

The bus tour follows the lakefront so that you can enjoy the views of the water and, on a clear day, the Alps in the distance. The fountain usually runs most of the year but may be stopped in strong winds or cold, so check the current conditions. It is the best place in Geneva to take a photograph.

International Geneva and the Palais des Nations

Geneva hosts the European headquarters of the United Nations and many international organisations, in a district known as International Geneva. The open-top bus passes the Palais des Nations, the United Nations' European seat, and the Place des Nations, where the giant Broken Chair sculpture stands as a symbol against landmines.

This part of the tour explains why a small Swiss city has such an international role, and it is one of the reasons people choose the open-top bus rather than the mini-train. The audio guide gives the background in five languages as you pass.

The parks and lakeside residences (summer mini-train)

From June to mid-September a second mini-train runs through Geneva's parks and elegant lakeside residences. It passes green spaces such as Parc La Grange and Parc des Eaux-Vives on the shore of the lake, where locals picnic and swim in summer.

This mini-train is included in the ticket only during its season, so if you are visiting outside June to mid-September you will use the Old Town mini-train and the bus. The ticket is valid for one day, so plan the order in which you use the three tours.