It’s hard to choose a favorite country in Europe, but Switzerland is definitely one that tops my list. From the gorgeous Alps to the delicious cuisine (and an excuse to enjoy fondue at any and every meal), it’s the perfect destination for a romantic getaway!
Last week Kevin and I celebrated our wedding anniversary and took a trip down memory lane flipping through all of our honeymoon photos. While we explored the option of a tropical destination for our honeymoon, we both love to ski and chose to enjoy a romantic getaway to Paris, Geneva, and Zermatt. Plus since we got married in Rosemary Beach, it was so fun to celebrate our marriage at the beach AND the mountains!
Today I’m excited to share the first stop on our honeymoon with all of our recommendations for planning a romantic getaway in Geneva, Switzerland. Keep reading to learn more and stay tuned for our Zermatt guide coming soon!
Getting There
Since we were starting in from our wedding in Rosemary Beach, FL, we knew we would have a full travel day ahead of us, so we splurged and flew first class and business class to (and from) Europe! When we started planning this trip we had a bit of sticker shock seeing the price for business class tickets abroad, so we opted to use our American Airlines miles, which made the journey MUCH more affordable. And let me tell you, it was worth it. Some of the benefits include:
- Free checked bags weighing up to 75 pounds (game changer from the usual 50lb limit!)
- Priority check-in and boarding
- Access to the Admirals club lounges
- LAY FLAT BEDS – this one is the kicker for me. I slept just as well on the airplane as I do in a hotel room!
- 2 huge delicious meals served on board with complimentary drinks.
Once we got to Geneva, customs were a breeze. We probably got through that airport quicker than we generally get through DFW! For this reason alone, you should consider making Geneva your starting point for your European vacation.
Where to Stay
There are many great hotels in Geneva, but we chose to stay at the Four Seasons Hotel Des Bergues based on its central location, and we were extremely pleased with their services and attention to detail. I HIGHLY recommend this hotel if you find yourself in Geneva. We chose to have their transportation service from the airport because it was about the same price as a taxi and it was AWESOME! The Mercedes was extremely luxurious with plush leather seats, suede headrests, and even had leg rests.
When we arrived at the hotel, two bellhops gathered our luggage, and Alexandra, who introduced herself as the guest personal assistant, greeted us. She had already checked us into our room, so we were able to bypass the typical check in process and immediately were able to relax and enjoy our vacation – What a treat! When we made the reservation, I mentioned we were coming for a honeymoon, so she upgraded us to a Superior room overlooking the iconic waterspout and decorated our room with a honeymoon pillow and chocolate dipped strawberries. We were in heaven!
We only spent two nights in Geneva, so we unfortunately didn’t get a ton of time to fully explore the hotel, but from what we saw of the Spa, rooftop patio, & the bar downstairs (Le Bar Des Bergues) we will definitely return and make sure to spend more time at the hotel.
Where to Eat
As many of our readers know, we LOVE fondue. So naturally, for our first night, we went to Les Armures, which was recommended to us by a friend and it was delish! We ate fondue many times over the 10 days while we were in Europe, and this may be my favorite restaurant we visited! If you’re used to eating fondue in the states, you will be shocked by the portion sizes here. We couldn’t finish any!
Another amazing meal, which was VERY different from Les Armures the previous night was at Le Chat Botte, which is the Michelin Star restaurant at the Beau Rivage hotel. This dinner was an event! I can’t tell you how many courses we had (6? 8?) but they were all beautiful, interesting, and tasty – even the frog legs! When in Rome, right?
What To Do
Visit the iconic Water Fountain
It’s pretty hard to miss since it shoots about 42 stories in the air!
Check out the Flower Clock
The clock was created in 1955 as a symbol of the city’s watchmakers. I’ve seen this on two trips to Geneva and both times I thought it was overrated, but it’s near the water fountain and on all the “must see” lists, so you may as well walk by it to say you’ve seen it ;)
Go watch shopping
Geneva has a long history of watchmaking dating back to the 16th century, so if you can swing it while you’re there, buy yourself a new timepiece! Kevin has always wanted an IWC, so it was so fun buying it as a souvenir from our honeymoon! If you aren’t in the market for a new watch, you still may want to schedule a tour with a local company to learn more about Geneva’s watch making history.
Tour the United Nations
We didn’t have enough time on this trip to tour the UN, but we did this previously on a family vacation and was very informative to get a behind the scenes view of the UN!
Visit the Red Cross Museum
Did you know that The Red Cross idea was born in 1859 in Geneva? Our family also took this tour when we were younger, and it was so interesting to learn about how The Red Cross has developed into what it is today. I highly recommend taking a tour of this museum if you have the time.
Go to the farmers market and Plainpalais flea market
I love to immerse myself with the locals when I travel, and there is no better way to do this than to wander through a local farmers market or flea market. I learned I need to brush up on my French numbers and negotiating skills!
If you’re considering a European ski trip for your honeymoon, I can’t recommend Switzerland enough! Stay tuned for our Zermatt guide next week, and let us know your favorite travel recommendations for Geneva in the comments below!
Discover more of our Switzerland travel guides:
Perennial Travels: Klosters, Switzerland
Switzerland: Montreux, Gstaad, & Gruyere
