We all know about the need for sustainability, even when travelling, but it can be hard to think of a huge and bustling city as being environmentally friendly. Geneva is a city that turns this perception on its head. Geneva is huge and bustling but it also surprisingly sustainable.

Take for example the Geneva Marriott Hotel, the two-year-old hotel standing close to the airport. On the face of things, this seems like a regular four-star hotel, with a contemporary design, offering modern amenities to visitors of the city. But it is so much more.
It’s a jewel in the crown of Geneva’s drive toward sustainability. Every care is taken in the design and operating of this hotel to keep the environmental impact to a minimum. The hotel is positioned above an underground water sauce, which is used to maintain the temperature of the building. The external glass is electrochromic and adapts throughout the day to reduce energy consumption. The food and wines in the restaurants are locally sourced wherever possible, and even the laundry from the hotel only travels a couple of blocks to a local family laundry service.
Fun and Fondue
Caring for the environment is a serious business, obviously, but the Swiss manage to have fun with it too. Visitors to the city can enjoy a first-rate Swiss cheese fondue while taking in the sights in an electric Tuk-tuk, operated by the Welo Company. They have a small fleet of party Tuk-tuks with built-in fondue facilities, and if this isn’t fabulous enough, these super cute electric powered vehicles offer a wine tour to accompany your fondue!

Wine and wine tasting is a big deal in Switzerland, but you can be forgiven if you don’t naturally associate Switzerland with wine production. Less than 3% of their wines leave the country – which is sustainable and environmentally friendly in itself, but it does mean that even though I recommend you try the Chasselas, you’re going to it find pretty difficult to track down! All the more reason to visit? Honestly though, if you like a dry white and you get the chance you must try it.
The vineyards surround Lac Léman (or Lake Geneva), and some of them are hundreds of years old – with ancient brewing traditions to match. Lots of the smaller vineyards work together in small cooperatives, to produce and bottle the wine locally, another plus point for sustainability. So, hop in a tuk-tuk, grab your glass and do your bit for saving the planet!
The CERN


The environmentally friendly mindset permeates right through the city, even to the CERN laboratory, another Genevan landmark. For example, The Science Gateway is designed to operate with a net-zero carbon footprint. And there are approximately 4,000 square meters of solar panels supplying energy to the Science Gateway and other CERN facilities.
The Science Gateway is an amazing visitor centre with loads of interactive exhibits, it’s perfect to indulge your inner geek and very enriching for children who have an interest in science. Tours are free of charge where visitors can carry out experiments, experience elements of working life at the laboratory and witness an immersive trip back in time to the big bang and the birth of the universe.


The CERN laboratory is home to an underground circular tunnel which houses the world’s largest and most powerful Large Hadron Collider! Currently this tunnel is approximately 27km, but plans are underway to create a bigger tunnel, approximately 91km long, all with an eye for minimal impact on the surrounding environment.
Oh, and Dan Brown fans might recognise CERN as the setting for part of ‘Angels & Demons’, as the laboratory is also the world’s largest producer of anti-matter.
Travelling around the city
If you don’t have a car with you, and you don’t want to take the fondue tuk-tuk everywhere (if not, why on earth not?!), don’t worry, the city is so well connected with electric buses and trams meaning that getting around is really easy and straightforward. Visitors to the city’s hotels are issued with passes to the local transport, meaning that getting around is free of charge!


Geneva is sometimes called the city of parks and it’s true that there are thousands of square metres of green space. You can walk for miles around the city, and hardly have to leave the public parks and green spaces. It’s not just a metaphorically green city!
I was lucky enough to take a guided tour of the ‘Conservatoire et Jardin Botanique de Genève’ (the botanical gardens) which is about 28 hectares, and it houses over 16,000 plant species. It’s a beautiful place for a walk if you’re visiting the city and you’d like a bit of tranquillity in your day. There are scheduled activities for families, a children’s play area and the botanical gardens are in a conservation partnership for rare sheep, goats and other animals that you can visit.
The Choco Pass
While you’re enjoying your stay in Geneva the Choco Pass is an absolute must-do! For 30 CHF (approx. £26) you get a pass allowing you 24 hours to visit each of the participating chocolate shops, sample their chocolates and learn about the history of chocolate in Geneva!


There are 10 participating retailers to make your way around – you get 24 hours (you can only visit during shop hours) so if you started the Choco Pass at 1pm on Friday you have until 1pm on Saturday to get round them all. The shops are all within walking distance around the city centre, and some have cafés attached. It’s a really good way to see the city.
As an eco-friendly extra – 1 CHF from each Choco Pass is donated to MyClimate “Cause We Care” for climate protection and sustainable tourism in Switzerland.
Travelling Around the Region
When visiting Geneva, you’re ideally placed to visit some of the beautiful towns and cities nearby, along the shores of Lac Lèman (Lake Geneva). There are lots of options for day trips or even staying overnight in the nearby towns and cities and my experience of the train network was excellent, the trains ran on time and were clean and spacious. If you plan to travel around by train when in Switzerland, the Swiss Travel Pass is great value for money.

Prices start at 244CHF (around £215) for three days travel and this includes unlimited travel by train, bus, and boat (including unlimited travel on premium panoramic trains), unlimited use of public transport in more than 90 towns and cities, and free admission to more than 500 museums. It also includes certain mountain excursions and 50% discount on the others. Children under 16 travelling with a parent holding the Swiss Travel Pass travel for free. Certain terms and conditions apply, so check the website, but this is a really cost effective, and beautiful, way to see the country.
Day Tripping – Lausanne
One destination in easy reach of Geneva, (around 35-45 minutes on the train through the vineyards that line Lac Lèman) is Lausanne. This charming city is built on three hills and has the most amazing views across the lake to the French Alps. It is home to the International Olympic Committee and Olympic Museum, celebrating the history of the games.

For those with an interest in the arts, Lausanne is home to Platform 10, an amazing gallery space in the arts district, with several temporary installations as well as over 300 permanent pieces from the Renaissance onwards. It’s a wonderful way to spend a morning, then pop downstairs to Le Nabi restaurant for some excellent lunch options.

You can wander for hours among Lausanne’s winding cobbled streets, lined with cafes, shops, and bars – a good pair of shoes is recommended! In the summer months visitors can head out onto the lake with activities like paddle boarding and rowing, all with that stunning backdrop of the Alps!
Although the return journey to Geneva is less than an hour, if you wanted to make a full day of it, the Hotel de la Paix is a beautiful hotel in the heart of the city, and it really makes the most of those amazing views!
Day Tripping – Montreux
Just another 20 minutes by train along the coast from Lausanne (or just over an hour directly from Geneva), lies Montreux, part of the Swiss Riviera.



As soon as you arrive in Montreux you can see exactly what has captivated artists, poets and even musicians in the past. Freddie Mercury recorded several albums in the town, and he’s commemorated in a bronze statue on the waterfront and an experience museum with free admission.
Just a short bus ride along the shoreline from Montreux is Château Chillon, a Medieval Castle which is a great day out for the kids and adults alike. Use the audio to learn the grizzly secrets of the dungeon, the excesses of the feasts in the Great Hall, and all the comings and goings of the residents over the centuries.


If you’re visiting Montreux in late November or in December, be sure to visit the Christmas market, it’s one of the prettiest that I’ve ever seen. Don’t forget to pick up a ‘vin chaud’, it is the French side of Switzerland after all!



If you’d prefer to stay a little longer to make the most of Montreux, may I recommend staying overnight at the Grand Hotel Swiss Majestic? This gorgeous ‘Belle Epoque’ hotel is in the centre and very handy for the train station. Renovated in 2019, the hotel has the most stunning views from the dining room and outdoor terrace across the lake to the French Alps. It’s the perfect place to relax and unwind.


For someone looking for a city break with a thought for sustainability, I think Geneva is a great choice, there’s something for everyone, and moving around the surrounding areas is so easy.
Article and images by Sally Bendall @girlabouttravel.