Last Updated on March 29, 2026 by Adrienne
We kicked off our big family trip to Switzerland with two days in Geneva. While the cities weren’t the part of Switzerland that stole my heart – that would be the Alps – Geneva had a lot of charm, plenty of kid-friendly things to do and eat, and was a great place to begin our trip and get acquainted with the French side of this multi-lingual country.
Things to Do in Geneva with Kids
Chocolate tasting
My 7 year old’s (and ok, mine too) #1 priority in Switzerland was chocolate, and as much of it as possible. We kicked off our two days in Geneva by doing this chocolate tasting tour, which included stops at esteemed chocolatiers like Ladurée, Favarger and Martel, and tried chocolate in a variety of forms including hot chocolate, candy and pastries. We also smashed a chocolate cauldron emblazoned with the city’s coat of arms (and got to eat the remnants), which is a local Geneva tradition to celebrate the anniversary of the city’s defeat of the Duke of Savoy’s attempted takeover. This tour was a great thing to do on our first morning in Geneva to get oriented to the city and check off the Swiss chocolate box immediately, and the amount of walking was very manageable for younger children.
If you want to taste on your own rather than via an organized tour, the city also has something called Choco Pass that allows you to visit participating chocolate shops on your own and receive samples. Note that most chocolate shops in Switzerland (outside of airports and train stations) are closed on Sundays.
Geneva Old Town
Geneva’s Old Town is compact and easily to explore in a couple of hours. We covered it on our chocolate walking tour and then came back on our own to re-visit some of the highlights, including St. Peter’s cathedral and Place de la Madeleine, which has a carousel that great for little ones.
Boat ride on Lac Leman (Lake Geneva)
A boat ride on Lake Geneva, or Lac Leman as its known in French, is a must to-do while in Geneva and is fun for the whole family. You can pay for a sightseeing boat cruise, but I think that’s unnecessary because you can ride the “Mouettes” (public water taxis) for only a few francs, or even for free if you have a Geneva Transport Card, which is included with most hotel stays. The Mouettes efficiently take you back and forth between Geneva’s left and right banks, but for a longer ride you can take the boat to Genève Plage and back.
Jet D’Eau
Arguably Geneva’s most famous landmark is the Jet D’Eau, a huge fountain that shoots water vertically into the air. It’s hard to miss; you can see it from both land and boat cruises and it’s sometimes illuminated with colorful lights to celebrate holidays.
Jardin Anglais – Flower Clock and Ferris Wheel
One of the prettiest spots in central Geneva is the Jardin Anglais, home to the famous L’Horloge Fleurie (flower clock), a working clock made from elaborate flower displays that has been there since the 1950s. They update this throughout the year to reflect local happenings – when we were there it was themed around the women’s Euro football tournament which was happening soon in Geneva.
The Jardin Anglais is also home to a seasonal Ferris wheel, the Grande Roue, which is a great thing to do with kids. The views from the top are really nice.
Kid-Friendly Places to Eat in Geneva
We had a great meal at the traditional chalet-style Auberge de Savièse. They have Swiss classics like fondue and raclette, along with other traditional dishes. I had veal “Zurich style” (wrong side of the country, I know, but I was eager to try it!) and the hashbrown-like rosti and it was delicious. Swiss cuisine resolves around meat, bread, potatoes and cheese, so it’s pretty kid-friendly, but they have a kid’s menu here as well.
Geneva also has a lot of creperies that make for an easy and kid-friendly meal.
Where to Stay in Geneva with Kids
We stayed at the charming Hotel Bernina, which has a great location just across the street from the train station (great for day trips) and easy walking distance to major sights like Old Town and the Jardin Anglais. The rooms were spacious by European standards and we appreciated the sweet employees and thoughtful touches like free water bottles and Swiss chocolate, as well as the powerful AC (increasingly important as Switzerland warms faster than many other places). Breakfast is not included in the base rate and I didn’t find it worth the added cost (about $22 US for adults, less for children) but there are lots of places nearby to grab food and a coffee maker and electric kettle in the room.
Day Trips from Geneva
Easily reachable from the US, Geneva is a great base for exploring western Switzerland and the French Alps. Charming towns along Lake Geneva like Lausanne and Montreaux can be reached in about an hour. Chamonix, the gateway to Mont Blanc in the French Alps, is also about an hour away. Another popular outing from Geneva is a visit to the medieval town of Gruyeres for chocolate and cheese tasting.
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Super article! Quick question: did you find the public water taxis easy to navigate with kids? Thinking about timing and convenience.
Hi Maria, yes very easy to use with kids! You’ll probably just want to to check the schedule in advance so you don’t end up waiting for a long time, since not all of them run very frequently.