Ideally suited to taking relaxing strolls to admire the warm colours of nature, autumn also offers you the opportunity to enjoy the pleasures of ice skating with the opening of the open-air ice rinks. Different events and large-scale happenings punctuate the season’s cultural agenda.
Highlight
The autumn festivals not to be missed in Geneva
The changing colours of nature
Flamboyant walks
With its milder temperatures and flamboyant colours, autumn is the ideal season to enjoy a walk in Geneva's parks, coloured by interesting shades of yellow, red and brown. This pageant is particularly captivating when you wander through the great expanses of greenery close to the lake, such as Parc de la Grange or Park de la Perle du Lac. The Bois de la Bâtie offers a particularly pleasant walk for children, who can have plenty of fun at the large play area and extend their walk by creating amusing origami using autumn leaves.
Seasonal gardening
Thanks to the tips provided by the gardeners of the Parks and Gardens Department, you can check out videos offering ideas for what to do with your dead leaves, how to turn your lawn into a flower meadow or how to prune your roses.
Geneva's heritage centre stage
Geneva traditions
Held on the Thursday after the first Sunday in September, the Jeûne genevois is a public holiday in the Canton of Geneva referring back to an ancient moral and religious practice. While this special day is no longer subject to any dietary restrictions, it is traditional to enjoy a piece of prune cake.
European Heritage Days
9 and 10 September 2023
The European Heritage Days are the chance to discover the built and landscape heritage of the Canton of Geneva through a number of visits to places which are rarely or not at all accessible to the general public. In 2023, the public can discover numerous prestigious sites free of charge, focussing on the theme of “re-use and recycling”.
Autumn festivals
A number of major grands multi-disciplinary festivals grace the cultural scene in Geneva in addition to events dedicated specifically to cinema, humour and literature.
From la Bâtie aux Créatives, to la Fureur de lire and the GIFF, discover all the festivals not to be missed this autumn in Geneva!
Pleasures of skating
Seasonal ice rinks
For skating fans, autumn marks the opening of the seasonal ice rinks, which offer the chance to go open-air skating in the City. Free of charge (skate rental: CHF 2)
Skating and ice hockey in Les Vernets
The ice rink will open its doors on 4 November 2023, offering the public the chance to enjoy a little ice skating or ice hockey... and to support their hockey team, the GSHC, during their amazing matches!
Fête de la Glace
5 November 2023
Every year in November, the Fête de la Glace invites you to celebrate sliding sports, with a full day of demonstrations and introductions to ice skating and ice hockey, all to a backdrop of music.
Saveurs locales
A table!
25 September to 22 October 2023
Autumn is also synonymous with gastronomy thanks to A table! designed to tickle your taste buds with delicious and resolutely local offerings. Every year, for a period of ten days, the event gives pride of place to home-made food, joining forces with restaurant owners in Geneva to create menus paying homage to local agricultural products. Tastings and debates raise awareness about healthy eating while supporting the local economy.
Gourmet escapades in the countryside
The vines take on an attractive golden hue: it’s now or never to enjoy an escapade in our beautiful Geneva countryside! The interactive map of Geneveterroir provides an easy means of discovering the riches of the Geneva region. Not to be missed in 2023: the famous Russin wine harvest festival, celebrating its 60th edition this year!
A sport-filled autumn
Free sports classes
Throughout the autumn and winter, the City organises free sports classes run by professional coaches. From running and pilates to pushchair gym, the parent-child training circuit and yoga, there is something for everyone!
Free-wheeling
Take advantage of the milder temperatures to hop on your bike and discover Geneva and the surrounding countryside on two wheels! Themed routes and maps are available to cyclists.
Stretching your legs
Amateur or experienced runners have plenty to keep themselves busy in Geneva in 2023. Discover a selection of races held in the city centre or the surrounding countryside offering you the chance to take up a sporting challenge adapted to your level, either individually or in teams, while admiring the scenery.
A time to meet
Welcome ceremony for new inhabitants
23 September 2023
Every year in autumn, the City of Geneva organises a welcome ceremony for all the people newly arrived in the city.
Games libraries open day
30 September 2023
The games libraries will open their doors to the public and present a whole host of games to young and old alike. Activities and games are on the programme under the helpful guidance of the games librarians.
International Day of Older Persons
1 October 2023
The International Day of Older Persons is held every year on 1 October. To mark the occasion, the City of Geneva organises a rich and varied programme for every generation.
The autumn diary
Find all the events organised this autumn in the City of Geneva’s online diary and via the free mobile app, Genève en poche, available for download from Google Play or the Apple Store.
Article modifié le 07.12.2023 à 17:26