What's on in Geneva (Geneve), Switzerland through the year

Busy — Christmas holidays in Switzerland, school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: The bise (1 Nov – 31 Mar (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: The bise (1 Nov – 31 Mar (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: The bise (1 Nov – 31 Mar (usually))

Busy — Easter holidays in Switzerland, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in April.

Busy — Spring holidays in Switzerland, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in May.

Busy — Bol d'Or du Leman regatta, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Bol d'Or du Leman regatta

  5–7 JunMajor festivalCrowded

  Four hundred-odd boats start off Geneva for a lap of the lake to Le Bouveret and back, the biggest closed-water regatta anywhere. The quays are the grandstand and they are free. Source ↗

• Season

  Lake swimming season

  15 Jun – 15 Sep · usuallySea warm enough

  The Bains des Paquis and the Geneve-Plage are how the city gets through July, and the lake holds its warmth into September after the crowds have gone back to work.

Busy — Summer holidays in Switzerland, school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Lake swimming season (15 Jun – 15 Sep (usually))

Busy — Summer holidays in Switzerland, school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Lake swimming season (15 Jun – 15 Sep (usually))

Busy — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Lake swimming season (15 Jun – 15 Sep (usually))

Busy — Autumn holidays in Switzerland, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in October.

Busy — Christmas markets, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  The bise

  1 Nov – 31 Mar · usuallyWind seasonRisk

  The cold north-easterly funnels down the lake for days at a time in winter, freezing the spray onto the quay railings and taking several degrees off whatever the thermometer says.

• Festival

  Christmas markets

  18 Nov – 24 Dec · usuallyChristmas & New YearCrowded

  The lakefront market on the Quai du Mont-Blanc, a village with a free rink in the Parc des Bastions, and a smaller artisan one over in Carouge, which is the better of them. Source ↗

Peak crowds — Christmas markets, Course de l'Escalade

• Festival

  Course de l'Escalade

  5–6 DecMajor festivalCrowded

  Forty thousand runners through the old town over a weekend in early December, in fancy dress for the later waves. The centre is closed to traffic both days. Source ↗

• Festival

  Fete de l'Escalade

  11–13 DecMajor festivalCrowded

  The city marks the failed Savoyard attack of 1602 with a torchlit procession in period dress, a marmite of chocolate smashed by the oldest and youngest present, and mulled wine. Source ↗

Still on: The bise (1 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)), Christmas markets (18 Nov – 24 Dec (usually))