How to see a new city

When traveling to a place for the first time there are two things we always try to do, view the city from a high vantage point and if possible see it from the water.

Finding a high point in a city is usually not a difficult thing to do, the only thing essential is to find a place that offers an unobstructed view. In Washington D.C. it’s the Washington Monument, is Paris it’s the Eiffel Tower, and in Stockholm it’s the Stadshuset. Fortunately, in Geneva you have two options: St. Pierre’s Cathedral and the Saleve. St. Pierre’s church is great for a close up view of the lake, the old town, and Jet d’Eau. Be cautious though as this option requires climbing lots of stone steps in narrow church tower. The other option is the Saleve, giving you a “one over the world” view of the entire city, actually nearly the entire Canton of Geneva and the Petite Lac is visible. The Saleve is easily accessible with public transit, but to get to some of the better vantage points you will need to walk up hill about half a kilometer on a dirt path.

So why do I do this? We like doing this because for one it gives us a geographic understanding of the city and two, it helps us build a mental map of the city for when we are down on the streets. We find that many cities were designed a certain way for a reason. For instance some cities evolve around a central fortification while for others it may be a geometric pattern. You can only see this from a high point. We also like to think you can get a feeling of various parts of the city simply by how it is laid out. Plus, there is something exciting about seeing a city splayed out at your feet, especially at night.

The second way we like to see a city is from the water’s edge, or even better from a boat on the water itself. So many old cities were built on ancient waterways. By going out on the water you see the city from a view few others may see. Fortunately in Geneva this is easy to do as well. The best way is to jump on either a boat taxi or pay a few francs more for one of the boat cruises. You can read more about those options here.

Once you’ve seen the city from above and from the water, chances are you’ll have a greater appreciation for the city, its inhabitants, and possibly even its culture.