For those already planning their winter fun-filled getaways, no destination in the world harbours the variety of activities designed to warm the heart more than Geneva.
With a diverse location bringing together lush greenery, a mesmerizing lake and mighty mountains, this city is an ultimate winter wonderland for thrill seekers and relaxation lovers alike.
Enjoying Geneva’s winter the way locals do, visitors are invited to delve into city life and favourite treats during the cold months, Swiss cheese lovers will have several options to enjoy cheese fondue, a local must-have culinary winter experience, from a Fondue Tour by TukTuk, which leads guests through the most beautiful places in Geneva over homemade fondue, or sail on the lake aboard a cruise with an original and friendly outing concept featuring a cheese or Chinese fondue, a twist on the popular Chinese hot pot dish.
For those who look forward to recreating the same experience in their vacation homes, Edelweiss restaurant offers a cheese fondue cooking class combined with a tasting or dinner for those who would like to expand their experience to discover more about the city’s authentic winter dishes.
No visit to Geneva is complete without a taste of chocolate, and with Choco Pass, travellers will have 24 hours to taste the sweet offerings of five of Geneva’s authentic chocolatiers, from truffles to dragées and warm hot chocolate drinks.
Winter wellness is regarded as one of Geneva’s most sought-after attractions for both locals and visitors, as the city is famed for its special blend of natural beauty and luxury, with many natural baths and spa facilities catering to a variety of needs.
One of the best wellness and relaxation spots is the Bain-Bleu Hammam & Spa Genève-Plage, a bathing complex offering indoor and outdoor pools, steam baths and relaxation areas, in addition to an oriental-inspired Hammam and a spa with a total surface area of 3,000 m2.
Another wellness hotspot can be found at Bain des Paquis, which is a space designed for total rejuvenation and relaxation for the body and soul, with a sauna, hammam and Turkish bath, an extensive massages’ menu, Yoga and Tai-Chi classes. During the winter season, the independent restaurant at the Bain des Paquis offers travellers gourmand meals on a wood stove-heated cabin or, on sunny days, the terrace, surrounded by breath-taking views of the lake.
Geneva’s highest snowy peaks are within the travellers’ range thanks to the cable-car which will take them to the mountain village of Chamonix in the heart of the French Alpes. The 90 minutes ride will take travellers to the centre of the village, overlooked by Mont-Blanc – the highest mountain in Western Europe – to the south, and by the Aiguilles Rouges (Red Peaks) mountains to the north. Continuing the journey, the cogwheel train goes to the Mer de Glace, one of the most famous glaciers in Europe.
For the ultimate adrenaline rush experience, Les Diablerets represents an important center for adventure sports all year round, as the Glacier 3000 ski region in the heart of the Vaud Alps offers skiing attractions even during summer. Nestled between Lake Geneva and Gstaad, Les Diablerets comprises three ski regions with a total of 125 km of tracks and a snow park extending up to an altitude of 3,000 metres, a cross-country network of tracks consisting of 30 kilometers of classical Nordic track and 15 kilometers of skating trails, a 7.2 km long toboggan run, snow-shoe walks, snow biking and ice fall climbing, in addition to the glacier restaurant constructed by leading Swiss architect Mario Botta, which offers a unique panorama over Lake Geneva.