A Lakeside Stroll from Brunswick Monument to the Botanical Garden

(64 reviews)

Geneva audio tour: A Lakeside Stroll from Brunswick Monument to the Botanical Garden

This is a 1.1mi walking tour

It takes an average of 45 mins to complete.

Geneva

Switzerland

$8.99

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About the Tour

Geneva is a city where crystal-clear waters meet centuries of fascinating history. On this lakeside walking tour, you'll stroll along the shores of Lake Léman (Lake Geneva), Europe's largest freshwater lake, discovering unexpected stories of exiled dukes, tragic empresses, and literary masterpieces. From Gothic monuments to Belle Époque steamers, you'll experience the many facets of this remarkable smallest of the world's important cities.

The tour begins at the Brunswick Monument, an elaborate Gothic mausoleum built for an exiled German duke who bequeathed his entire fortune to Geneva. You'll walk past the historic Hotel Beau Rivage where Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Sissi) spent her final hours after a tragic assassination, then continue along the lakefront promenade with spectacular views of the iconic Jet d'Eau fountain shooting water 140 meters into the sky.

Along the way, you'll discover the beach where bankers and bums swim together, learn how Mary Shelley created Frankenstein during a stormy summer nearby, and hear about Geneva's role as a center for international diplomacy. The tour ends at the magnificent Botanical Garden, home to over 12,000 plant species and one of the world's largest herbariums where botanists from around the globe conduct research.

On this 45-minute tour, you'll have a chance to:

Admire the world's oldest and highest monumental fountain, the Jet d'Eau, shooting water at 200 km/h
See the magnificent Mont Blanc, Europe's highest peak, visible in the distance on clear days
Discover where Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein, the first European science fiction novel
Learn how an exiled German duke's fortune transformed Geneva's infrastructure
Visit the statue commemorating Empress Sissi, whose assassination shocked Europe
Stroll through magnificent parks donated by wealthy Genevese families, home to rare tree specimens
Explore the international district where global organizations help shape world policy
See the picturesque Belle Époque paddlewheel steamers that have cruised the lake since 1904

Whether you're interested in history, literature, international affairs, or simply enjoying beautiful lakeside views, this gentle walk offers a perfect introduction to Geneva's unique character and charm.

Tour Producer

Ariel Pierre Haemmerlé

8 tours

My name is Ariel Peter Haemmerlé and I’m a certified Geneva tourist guide. A very diversified professional life has made me discover many aspects of our city.

My last official job was to take care of the archives of the Geneva State Heritage Office. Only when I got retired – a good number of years ago – I really started to have time to work as a tourist guide. But since, Geneva Tourism and many other agencies call for my tours all the time.

Preview Location

Location 4

Lake Léman

Stop here for a moment.

We are now standing at the side of the lake. Its real name is “Léman”. But in all other languages, it’s called “Lake of Geneva”. Léman comes from two Celtic words: ‘lem’ and ‘an’, which means “big water”. And indeed, there is nothing bigger in Europe... Read More

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Major Landmarks

Brunswick Monument
The Geneva Water Fountain
Lake Geneva
Mont-Blanc
Salève
Palais Wilson
Parc de La Perle du Lac
Bains des Pâquis
Beau-Rivage Genève
Jardin Botanique
Parc Mon Repos

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
Jardin des Alpes, Quai du Mont-Blanc, 1201 Genève, Switzerland
Total distance

2km
Final location
46.22109987, 6.15335252
Distance back to start location

1km

Directions to Starting Point

The tour starts in front of the Brunswick monument, Brunswick Monument, Jardin des Alpes, Quai du Mont-Blanc, 1201, at the right bench of the lake near the first bridge. It’s of pink marble and so big, you can’t miss it.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

The Cottage Café behind the Brunswick monument, the many ice cream cafés and refreshment bars at the lakeside, the restaurant of the “Bains des Pâquis”, the restaurant “Pearl of the lake”, the refreshment bar at the end of the botanical gardens. There are also public toilets near de Sissi statue and on the way.

Best time of day

You can take this tour any time in daylight, preferably not before 9 a.m. in summer or 10 a.m. in winter to see the fountain. At night, it’s not funny.

Precautions

Geneva is a very safe place. The criminality rate is very low. However, use normal precautions against pickpockets. There are not many, but in case. And don’t hang around the rue de Berne late in the evening. The route is wheelchair accessible.

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App Store Review

“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”