Lake Geneva Sightseeing Cruise from Geneva

Lake Geneva, the Léman

Lake Geneva, called Lac Léman in French, is a crescent-shaped lake about 73 kilometres long, shared between Switzerland and France. It is one of the largest lakes in Western Europe, and its clear water reflects the Jura Mountains on one side and the Alps on the other. Geneva sits at its south-western tip, where the Rhône flows out towards France.

A Lake Geneva boat tour is the best way to understand how the city grew around the water. The cruise leaves from the lakefront in the city centre, and the exact pier is sent with your booking confirmation. The best time for a Lake Geneva cruise is on a sunny afternoon, when the Alps stand out clearly behind the city.

The Jet d'Eau

The Jet d'Eau is Geneva's most famous landmark, a fountain that shoots water about 140 metres into the air at some 200 kilometres per hour. It began in 1886 as a simple safety valve for a hydraulic power network; the valve released so impressive a plume that the city turned it into a monument. The current fountain was installed in 1951 at the end of the Eaux-Vives jetty.

From the boat you pass close to the column of water and see its rainbow on sunny days. The fountain runs most of the year but may be switched off in strong wind or freezing weather, so check before you go if seeing it is your main goal.

The Pierres du Niton and the lakeside parks

Just off the shore stand the Pierres du Niton, two granite boulders left by a glacier during the last Ice Age. The larger rock carries a bronze marker that served for many years as the reference point for all altitude measurements in Switzerland, so every mountain height was once measured from here.

The cruise then heads along the shores lined with grand villas and public gardens such as Parc La Grange, known for its rose garden, and the parks of Mon Repos and La Perle du Lac on the right bank. Your audio guide explains the history of these estates, many built by wealthy Geneva families in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Views of the Alps and Mont Blanc

One of the joys of a cruise on Lake Geneva is the mountain view. Looking south-east from the water, the Alps of Haute-Savoie rise behind the city, and on clear days you can spot the white dome of Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Western Europe, about 70 kilometres away.

The in-app audio guide works without Wi-Fi once downloaded, so install it before boarding and bring your own headphones. It is available in English, French, German and Chinese and tells the story of the landmarks you pass, from the international organisations to the old port.