A drop of water forced into the air from Lake Geneva’s Jet d’Eau –the tallest fountain in the world — takes 16 seconds to complete its round trip. Traveling at speeds of about 130 miles per hour, the drop soars 500 feet into the air before gravity takes over, and the little drop falls back into the lake. This feathery, white column of water is Geneva’s most iconic landmark.

Lake Geneva (called Lac Leman in French after the original Roman name, Lacus Lemanus) sits like a crescent moon in the middle of Europe, mostly in Switzerland with about a fourth of the lake in France.  Look out across the lake from the Quai du Mont Blanc on a clear day and a panorama of the Alps, including the snow-capped mountain that gave the Quai its name, fills the horizon. Behind you, a row of luxury elegant hotels lines the waterfront. Ducks, geese, swans and other waterfowl swim along the shore fighting over scraps of food.

The lake is the city’s playground. People boat across it, swim in its waters, run or walk, bike or rollerblade along its shores. The city is small enough that you can stroll from the north bank with its palatial hotels, over the Pont du Mont Blanc, stopping at the Ile Rousseau where a statue of the great philosopher stands hidden behind a copse of trees. Continue to the southern bank where you will find the medieval Old City on a small hill near the River Rhone which exits the lake at Geneva. Stroll out onto the jetty at the base of the Jet d’Eau to appreciate the power of the water as it is propelled into the air — prepare to get wet! Or stroll out onto the jetty of the Quai du Mont Blanc where you have glorious views of the lake from the Buvette des Bain des Paquis.

The best way to appreciate Geneva is to take a ride on one of the many steamers that sail up and down the sparkling lake. First introduced in 1823, the steamers travel across the lake to the French towns of Yvoire or Evian-les-Bains; or you can ride them all the way to the eastern part of the lake, past Lausanne and Montreux, where the ruins of the Chateau Chillon, immortalized by Lord Byron in his poem “The Prisoner of Chillon” sit reflected in the crystal clear waters.

As you sail back into Geneva, look for the Palais des Nations on the hillside above the Botanical Garden. This example of 1930s Fascist architecture was the headquarters of the defunct League of Nations and is now the European Headquarters of the United Nations. In addition to the massive architecture, there are various artworks inside that could make a tour interesting.

As you disembark from your steamer ride on the Quai de Mont Blanc, don’t miss the reflections of the setting sun in the Jet d’Eau. If you are very lucky and the wind is right, you might even see a rainbow.

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