You may be familiar with one of Switzerland’s most populated cantons – a city abundant with lakes and mountains, headquarters for the United Nations, and brimming with a rich history, including a notable legacy of luxury watchmakers. But what you may not know is this Swiss haven is also a perfect destination for your next quick festive getaway. Forget the ordinary holiday routine, and dive into the magic of a festive weekend in Geneva.
Geneva’s Christmas celebrations blend traditional customs, picturesque markets, and local culinary delights with a warm sense of community, creating a memorable atmosphere for locals and visitors alike during this special time of the year.
Fête de l’Escalade
December in Geneva also marks the celebration and commemoration of a significant event in the city’s history – The Escalade Festival. It takes place in early December, usually around December 12th, marking the night of December 11th, 1602, and commemorates the failed surprise attack by the Duke of Savoy on Geneva in 1602. The Genevans successfully defended their city, and this victory is celebrated annually during the Escalade. The city is brought to life with music, street performances, and traditional Swiss food and drinks, including mulled wine and marzipan vegetables called “marmite” to mimic the soup that heroine Catherine Cheynel supposedly prepared during the attack.
Locals can often be seen reenacting the legend of the brave Mère Royaume, who supposedly poured hot soup on Savoyard soldiers. Children chant and reenact this event by breaking chocolate pots filled with marzipan vegetables, marking a notable part of Geneva’s cultural heritage, reinforcing the city’s identity and pride in its history.
Explore Geneva’s coveted Christmas market
Make the most of your first day in the esteemed city of Geneva by catching an earlier flight so that you arrive by midday and can start exploring straight away. Check in, drop the suitcases, and head back out, starting with Noël au Quai, the most majestic Christmas Market in Geneva. The market is open from November 16 – December 24 and is filled with local artisans, food stalls, and a full entertainment program to keep guests entertained.
Noël au Quai is also located along the shores of the breathtaking Lake Geneva, offering views of this national landmark and the perfect backdrop for any postcard-worthy photos.
TraveLling can be hard work and despite our best efforts to unwind, the festive period can often leave us feeling a bit stressed – wrapping up work deadlines, frantically searching for the perfect presents, and trying to become the ultimate holiday hosts overnight. So during your weekend getaway, be sure to allow for some much-needed restorative downtime and book a session at one of Geneva’s most sought-after wellness spots.
Relax, restore, and rejuvenate
Bain-Bleu Hammam & Spa Genève-Plage boasts a selection of impressive indoor and outdoor pools, steam baths, and relaxation areas alongside a Hammam adapted to the local bathing culture and a full-service spa spanning 3,000 m2. The Hammam and Spa are easily accessible from the city center and open every day from 9:00am until 9:30pm.
For the full experience and to end your first day in the city, we recommend visiting all the areas, starting with a dip in the pools before progressing to a fragrant steam room and Hammam area for the ultimate deep cleanse. Friendly staff are on hand to walk you through the process and hand you a personal pot of Moroccan black soap to be used to cleanse, detoxify, and smooth the skin before entering a resting space complete with a warm plunge pool and heated stone platforms for relaxing post-scrub.
Where to stay
For a taste of Swiss elegance and hospitality in a contemporary package, Hôtel Longemalle Genève provides all the above and more whilst being located in the city’s center just mere steps away from Geneva’s Rue du Rhône where you’ll find all luxury and ultra-luxury brands from all your shopping needs.
Following a complete and comprehensive renovation and its reopening in 2019, Hotel Longemalle is Genevan family-owned and operated and oozes a thoughtful and passionate approach to hospitality through eclectic art collections throughout the staircases, an indulgent gastronomic offering and elegant design and details in each room. The property features 54 rooms ranging from Individual, Classic, Superior, and the Triplex apartments, complete with a private terrace, a mezzanine level to separate sleeping quarters and separate lounge and kitchenette areas. All rooms are equipped with the usual modern commodities and guests will note the extra lengths that the team has gone to create a relaxing space that is ideal for resting after a busy day of exploring.
A subtle, yet standout feature incorporated into each of the rooms are accents of either beige, red, or blue balanced with neutral materials to create a timeless elegance that won’t fade with the changing of trends, with the theme following into a marble accented bathroom with AD-worthy fixtures. With a ‘your bedroom at home, but better’ feel to them, Hotel Longemalle makes for a comforting and lasting impression on guests which will be sure to have them returning on their next trip.
Explore and savour culinary delights
The unsuspecting gem of the property lies within their signature fine-dining Lebanese restaurant, Balila. Led by Lebanese chef Hussein Hadid and drawing upon both Lebanese and French influence, the restaurant delivers a masterful and unique approach to the cuisine in a luxurious setting where guests can enjoy terrace views overlooking the Place Longemalle.
To experience Balila to its fullest, especially when dining in a party of two or more, the team recommends ordering a selection of their hot and cold mezze paired with a main or two for sharing to ensure you’re able to discover all the flavors. The carefully crafted menu features dishes like Signature Tabbouleh with pomegranate molasses; Burghul Bi Banadoura (slow-cooked burghul in tomato sauce and olive oil); Soujouk; a variety of in-house made hummus and a generous selection of traditional Lebanese rice, fish and meat dishes.
Balila offers an exploratory journey into Lebanese cuisine, leaning into Switzerland’s multicultural makeup and nodding to just one of the many communities that reside and share their customs and traditions from back home with the locals. Ideal for first or second night dining during your festive weekend in the city but just be sure to book well in advance or when booking your day at the hotel as reservations are hard to come by for this city-based hotspot.
Begin your second day in Geneva with a delicious continental breakfast as Hotel Longemalle offers a decadent spread of patisserie, spreads, fresh juices, and deli options alongside the usual hot breakfast dishes, cooked to perfection.
Discover a delicious history at Geneva’s oldest chocolate factory
A trip to Geneva would not be complete without a visit to a traditional and authentic chocolatier, especially if you intend to find those one-of-a-kind souvenirs to enjoy once you’ve returned from your travels.
La Bonbonnière Chocolaterie et Chocolate Bar invites visitors into a fantastical, Willy Wonka-esque world of all things confectionery and is the ideal place for learning about the city’s long and delicious history with the sweet treat as one of Geneva’s oldest chocolate-making factories.
The fun and excitement aren’t just limited to buying the chocolate as visitors can also try their hand at becoming a master chocolatier and book one of La Bonbonniere’s chocolate workshops. A guide will tell you all about the history of La Bonbonnière, the secrets of cocoa, and the different stages in the production of chocolate using the traditional Swiss method before inviting you to create your very own chocolate masterpiece (which you can take home with you). For those visiting during the celebration of The Escalade, you’ll be able to create the famous ‘Marmite’ – a super sweet reimagination of the traditional vegetable soup served during the festivities but constructed of Swiss chocolate and marzipan to resemble the pot and ingredients.
Wander and get lost in the majestic Swiss city
After conquering the world of chocolate making, opt for a walk around the city centre to discover Geneva’s bustling shopping district, intricate Christmas decorations, and preparations for the evening’s Escalade festivities.
Break for lunch at Chez Philippe, located in the Passage Des Lions where you’ll enjoy an authentic steakhouse experience in what the restaurant has coined as ‘a micro-enclave of New York in the heart of Geneva’. The restaurant specializes in delivering the best quality of T-Bones, Côtes, Tomahawk, and Ribs amongst over fresh and seasonal specials and sides in a stylish setting with rotating daily menus which are accessible via their website.
Follow lunch with a walk around the city and spot browsing the boutiques or even revisiting the Christmas market to take in the sensorial delights before making your way to Geneva’s Old Town to enjoy a cup of Vin Chaud or mulled wine, watch the parade and enjoy the programme of events taking place in celebration of l’Escalade.
Spend a final day doing all things arts and culture
Reserve your final day in the city before departing to take in the city’s cultural institutions as the MAMCO Geneva (Musée d’art moderne et contemporain) is within walking distance of Place Longemalle and houses 4 stories of the work from a global roster of both emerging and established contemporary artists. We’d recommend allowing for at least an hour and a half to two hours for MAMCO as there is plenty to explore with staff placed throughout each floor to provide a more thorough walk-through of the work on display.
Located across the road from MAMCO is the Patek Philippe Museum, walking guests through the history of luxury watchmaking, from the 16th century up to the present day. The museum includes 4 floors exploring the history of clocks in Geneva, the history of the Patek Philippe Factory, the library, and a small cinema.
For your final meal in the city, head to Café du Centre located on Place du Molard which happens to be one of the oldest restaurants in the city and comes with an undeniable retro charm that will cement this as one of your must-visit spots in Geneva. An excellent choice for lovers of seafood as the lively bistro offers a sumptuous selection of seafood and shellfish to be enjoyed on-site or for takeaway alongside indulgent classics including Burgundy Beef Stew, Slow Cooked Veal Breast, and their Homemade Hamburger Cafe du Centre.
And finally
Be sure to stop off and grab yourself a souvenir before heading home to bring back a little piece of Geneva’s undeniable charm. The city’s festive season is truly captivating and leaves lasting memories that will linger long after the holidays fade. From the glitz of city lights to the serenity of the Swiss landscape, the myriad experiences offered during this time are nothing short of enchanting. So embrace the magic and consider creating some unforgettable memories in this winter wonderland.
To discover more about Geneva, visit: geneve.com
All imagery courtesy of Visit Geneva.