Geneva Boat Tour

Geneva is at its best seen from the water, and this short cruise is the simplest way to do it. Run by CGN, the company that has sailed Lake Geneva for generations, the Geneva Boat Tour leaves from the Mont-Blanc pier on the right bank, close to the Mont-Blanc bridge, and loops around the lower part of the lake, the Petit Lac, for about an hour. From the deck you see the city open up behind you: the Old Town on its hill, crowned by the towers of St Pierre Cathedral, the harbour with its stone jetties, the Bains des Pâquis bathing pier and, of course, the Jet d’Eau, which you pass close to when it is running. Further out, the boat runs along shores lined with parks and grand villas, including the green swathe of the Perle du Lac and the botanical garden on the right bank and the La Grange and Eaux-Vives parks on the left, while the Jura rises behind one shore and the Alps, with Mont Blanc on a clear day, behind the other. Commentary comes through the CGN Tours app, with an audio guide in English, French, German, Spanish and Chinese. It is ideal on a first afternoon to get your bearings.

How it works: you board at the Mont-Blanc pier, at Quai du Mont-Blanc 2, in front of the Hotel de la Paix and beside the Mont-Blanc bridge. Show the ticket on your smartphone at boarding, and download the CGN Tours app using the link in your voucher before you go, so the audio guide is ready on your phone. Bring earphones. The boat is wheelchair accessible. The Tiqets listing shows a 50-minute slot, while the description speaks of a one-hour tour, so plan on about an hour. Tickets can be cancelled or rescheduled free of charge until 23:59 on the day before your visit, which is useful when the weather turns.

When to go: departures and frequency follow the CGN timetable and are reduced in the cooler months, so pick a time on the booking page and arrive ten minutes early. Late afternoon gives the warmest light on the Old Town and the best chance of pink alpenglow on the mountains. In November, dress warmly, as the wind on the lake can be sharp, and sit inside if it rains, as the views through the windows are still good.

Making the most of it: sit on the side facing the city on the way out for the Jet d’Eau and the Old Town. Afterwards, walk along the Quai du Mont-Blanc to the Bains des Pâquis for a coffee on the pier, or cross the bridge to the Flower Clock in the English Garden.