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9 Hotel Pâquis is ideally located near the United Nations district

A central crossroads for Western Europe, Geneva is home to several fashionable neighbourhoods and major internationally renowned establishments including the Headquarters of the United Nations. With a large part of the UN's activities taking place in Geneva, the city hosts several annual meetings.

History of the United Nations district

The famous Palais des Nations was built starting in 1929, making the neighbourhood an emblem and a forum for international meetings at the northern end of the city of Geneva. Hosting various events marking international political history, such as the signing of the Geneva Protocol and the Convention on the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War in 1949, Palais des Nations welcomes more than 8,000 meetings and 600 conferences per year. The Red Cross Museum, the WHO headquarters, and the various establishments that have their offices in this district make Geneva an institutional reference city. The botanical gardens of Ariana Park which enhance a large part of the neighbourhood are also a major attraction. In addition, the large United Nations building boasts an exceptional architectural structure.

An ideal hotel to visit the United Nations district

For a tour of the United Nations district, a stop at a hotel located near this legendary site is in order. In Geneva, choose 9 Hôtel Pâquis, located close to Cornavin Station. With its world-famous historical monuments and wide variety of museums, the United Nations district is a truly unique site in this part of Europe. For a great stay in the city, stop at 9 Hôtel Pâquis, which will treat you to an uninterrupted view of much of the area surrounding the United Nations Office and its alley of flags asserting the site's diplomatic vocation.

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9Hôtel Geneva Pâquis close to the centre of Geneva

Geneva is one of Switzerland's three main cantons, together with Zurich and Basel-Stadt, that have benefited from the country's economic success. It is an extraordinary destination whose landscapes will never cease to amaze you.

Our hotel is located just a stone's throw from the centre of Geneva.

History of the centre of Geneva: In the past, residents of Geneva always had a hard time positioning themselves in the State of Switzerland, due to the city's geographic remoteness, at the western end of Lake Geneva. The centre of Geneva was a meeting and crossing point for lines of communication connecting the Mediterranean to Northern Europe. Around 120 BC, the Romans occupied the city, and it was Julius Caesar who gave it its name. A local and regional market was then established there, turning it into a city of international fairs. In the 15th century, Geneva became a major financial marketplace. In 1536, the city adopted the Reformation and formed a Protestant Republic under the influence of John Calvin; it was then occupied by French troops from 1798 to 1813 and did not join the Swiss Confederation until 1815. Geneva ended up being crowned an international city in 1919 after being designated seat of the League of Nations.

The centre of Geneva is known primarily for its shopping districts, art galleries, historical monuments and architectural landmarks.

Located in the central district of Pâquis Nation, our three-star hotel will welcome you with professionalism. Its friendly staff will be delighted to show you the most popular places in the centre of Geneva. Get it to know it better by visiting its shopping centres, outdoor exhibitions and department stores, and be sure to bring back souvenirs and gifts for your family, friends or yourself. There's also no shortage of luxury boutiques and markets.

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9 Hotel Geneva Pâquis is just a 5-minute walk from Geneva-Cornavin Station

The Geneva railway station is Switzerland's ninth busiest. It has a worldwide reach and is also called Cornavin. It is the main railway station in the Canton of Geneva and is world famous for its beautiful infrastructures enhanced by several shopping areas.

History of Geneva-Cornavin Station

Geneva's railway station known as Cornavin was inaugurated in the second half of the 19th century, in 1858. It was expanded in 1873 and then in 1893. After the League of Nations established its headquarters in Geneva in 1919, Cornavin Station was rebuilt again and completed in 1931. In the 2000s, the building's owners decided to adapt it to the Rail City concept, transforming Switzerland's major railway stations into ""modern and highly attractive service centres"". This explains why there are fifty or so shops and dining areas in addition to a police station.

Located in the heart of Geneva, the designer hotel 9 Hotel Pâquis is just a 5-minute walk from Geneva-Cornavin Station

Cornavin Station was inaugurated in 2004 and a recent renovation of all its infrastructures was finalised in 2014. You can run all your errands and do all your shopping near 9 Hotel Pâquis, benefiting from very long opening hours. Stores, kiosks, a pharmacy and restaurants are open until midnight at Cornavin Station. Even though it is Geneva's central railway station, not all trains depart from Cornavin. Depending on the destination, you may travel on a TGV or TER train.

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3-star hotel near Geneva’s Patek Philippe Museum

Geneva is a city full of surprises and distinctive features. An exceptionally international city, it is, for example, at the centre of worldwide diplomacy, not least because it is the home of the United Nations’ headquarters. But no mention of Geneva would be complete without talking about watchmaking, the centuries-old art of which it is the birthplace. Geneva’s very many museums include the Patek Philippe Museum, where enthusiasts of the art of watchmaking will find themselves in seventh heaven. Our hotel, with its ideal location in Geneva, will be the perfect place to stay for those wanting to enjoy the city’s many wonders to the full.

Patek Philippe: watchmaking made art

This luxury watchmaking brand, founded in 1839, has always been at the leading edge of technology and innovation. In fact, since it was founded, Patek Philippe has registered no fewer than 70 patents. It is to this firm of great artisans in particular that we owe the wristwatch and the watch with a winding mechanism, which is easier to wind. It swiftly became ubiquitous at international level, and is the pride of Geneva. Today, Patek Philippe is still a highly covetable brand, not least because of the watches with complications in which the firm now specialises. Indeed, in 1933 Patek Philippe brought out the “Henry Graves Supercomplication”, a 24-complication watch that was “the most complicated in the world”. This watch, made to order for a New York banker, took eight years of work and was sold at auction in 2014 for just over 21 million euros. But this amount of work and this degree of sophistication were as nothing compared with the famous Calibre 89, invented by the company for its 150th anniversary. Issued in 1989, this timepiece has 33 complications and needed nine years of work – including five dedicated solely to research and development. The result was 1,100 grams of incomparable craftsmanship, consisting of 1,728 parts, which you will have the joy of discovering in the Patek Philippe Museum.

A treasure of watchmaking at the Patek Philippe Museum.

The Patek Philippe Museum opened in 2001, under the impetus of Philippe Stern. Considered a “temple of watchmaking”, it has two collections on display to the astounded gaze of visiting enthusiasts. First of all, there is the old collection, consisting of pieces dating from the 16th century, including the first watch ever made. It is a collection of European, Swiss and Genevan watches, of course, but also of enamel work and automata. Secondly, there is the Patek Philippe collection, which visitors are invited to explore. Lastly, we could scarcely fail to mention the extraordinary library on the third floor of the art deco building, consisting of thousands of works relating to time measurement and horology as well as the company archives.

The Patek Philippe simply cannot fail to impress visitors, as well as showing them a not inconsiderable part of Genevan history. During your stay in Geneva, don’t forget to enjoy the city’s many other museums, admire the Jardin Anglais and its Floral Clock, experience the bustle of the United Nations District, linger at your leisure in the Gare Cornavin and refresh yourself at the Bains des Pâquis. Choosing our hotel ensures you can easily visit all these sights and attractions while enjoying all the comfort you need.

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3-star hotel near the Jardin Anglais and the Floral Clock in Geneva

Geneva, home to the headquarters of some 200 international organisations, is at the centre of the worldwide diplomatic scene. But the city, which is one of the three principal Swiss cantons, is also famous for its cultural buzz thanks to its opera, theatre and 40 museums. In addition, its wealth of wonderful architecture and its superb scenery never cease to amaze everyone that sees them, making this a very a special place. Our hotel near the Jardin Anglais will be the ideal place for enjoying your next trip to Geneva to the full.

H2 A hotel near the Jardin Anglais in Geneva

Geneva is especially close to nature. There are no fewer than 310 hectares of parks in the city, over 40,000 trees planted in public places and as many rose bushes adorning the streets with flowers. But the Jardin Anglais holds a special place in the hearts of Genevans. This park, which in its current form dates from 1862 and is situated on the shore of the famous Lake Geneva, is the city’s first English-style garden. It’s perfect for strolling, daydreaming and revelling in the sheer poetry of the place. Providing those who walk there with a real breath of fresh air in the midst of the city, the Jardin Anglais is loved by everyone and is well worth a visit.
As you walk, you’ll discover the huge Quatre-Saisons fountain, where, in the manner typical of English-style gardens, the park’s winding paths converge. There is a charming bandstand that hosts many concerts during the warmer weather, and as you walk, you’ll see the busts of famous Swiss artists at intervals along the way. Lastly, you will have the opportunity to admire the National Monument, officially unveiled in September 1869, which celebrates the city joining the Swiss Confederation in 1814.

The importance of Geneva for Swiss watchmaking

Nevertheless, it is obviously the Floral Clock for which Geneva’s Jardin Anglais is famous. The monument, created in 1955 by Armand Auberson, a Genevan landscape architect, represents a clock face and measures 4 metres in diameter. Its appearance was slightly altered in 2002 to make it more modern. Painter José Pitteloud and sculptor Jean Stern were tasked with carrying out the work. The flowers making up the Floral Clock are changed regularly to keep the monument looking beautiful all year round.
The Floral Clock pays tribute to the importance of Geneva’s role in Swiss watchmaking (see our articles about Patek Philippe Museum and SIHH). Indeed, the city is its national flagship, Geneva being the place where, in the 16th century, the first Swiss watchmakers appeared, as a reaction to a reform by John Calvin requiring the people of Geneva to divest themselves of their finery and any frivolous decorations on their clothing. The city is still known as the birthplace of this high-precision art for which the whole country is famous.

Choosing a hotel near the Jardin Anglais in Geneva means you can be sure of discovering a place rich in history and symbols. It’s also an excellent way of enjoying some time out in the heart of the city.

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Our hotel in the centre of Geneva is ideal for going to the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie

Geneva has a large number of visitor attractions. The symbolic capital of peace because of the United Nations headquarters located there, it is an exceptionally international city. It is associated with John Calvin, and it was here that Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born in 1712. Their penchant for thinking, debating and exchanging ideas still lives on in Geneva. In addition, visitors appreciate the city’s huge wealth of culture and pronounced fondness for nature. Lastly, no description of Geneva would be complete without mentioning the talent of its watchmakers. Indeed, as the birthplace of watchmaking, Geneva hosts the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie every year. Our 3-star hotel will be a location of choice for staying during the SIHH.

A brief history of Genevan watchmaking

Geneva has been, since the 16th century, the world’s undisputed centre of high-end watchmaking. Its watchmakers’ immense skill is a source of great pride for Genevans and a goal that watchmaking novices and apprentices strive to attain. The city’s inhabitants turned to this sophisticated, high-precision art as a protest against Calvin’s reform, which imposed on Genevans a dress code that excluded the display of any frivolous ornamentation.

Today, Geneva remains the heir to a tradition and an expertise unmatched anywhere in the world, while remaining resolutely focused on modernity and innovation. The city is thus an irreplaceable source of inspiration for the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, which every year draws its strength from this unique city.

An ideal hotel for the SIHH in Geneva

The SIHH, the preferred meeting-place of professional watchmakers since 1991, is now open to amateur enthusiasts. There is even a special day devoted to them! In the exhibition area, which covers over 50,000 square metres, visitors can discover the latest collections and future trends, meet the sector’s key players, and share some memorable moments with historic watchmaking brands such as Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet. You will also discover independent artisan-designers and can take part in networking workshops. The Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie wishes to play a dual role, not only in preserving the watchmaking sector’s heritage and expertise, but also as the place where the future is written. Every year the organisers therefore think about new elements for the SIHH to ensure that as an event it remains attractive while constantly evolving.

If you are looking for a place to stay in Geneva during the SIHH, choosing our hotel will ensure your stay is a success. Indeed, you can quickly reach the Geneva Palexpo site using Bus 5, which you can catch at Gare Genève-Cornavin. In addition, the hotel’s location will enable you to explore the lively, cosmopolitan Pâquis district, including the Bains des Pâquis, an attraction not to be missed at any time of year. Also, don’t forget to enjoy Geneva’s other monuments and attractions such as the Jardin Anglais and its Floral Clock , the Patek Museum, the Jet d’Eau  and a visit to the Old Town.

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9 Hotel Pâquis is just an 8-minute walk from the Bains des Pâquis

Located up high in the Pâquis district which is home to our hotel in Geneva, the Bains des Pâquis are an essential stopping point right in the centre of Geneva.

History of the Bains des Pâquis

The Bains des Pâquis date back to 1872. Their wooden buildings were expanded in 1889 with a construction on stilts to become public and municipal baths. The site was permanently rebuilt using reinforced concrete in 1932 giving way to comprehensive jetty infrastructures. It was used as a leisure complex and gathering place. A new reconstruction project was protested by the users and residents of the Pâquis district in 1980. Reconstruction may rhyme with destruction, but only a dozen pillars were slightly damaged. This protest gave rise to the Association of Users of the Bains des Pâquis (AUBP), which still today manages this exceptional space.

Site and current uses of the Bains

Located towards the outskirts of the city, on a jetty on the right bank of Lake Geneva, the Bains des Pâquis provide a wonderful setting for various summer and winter activities for all ages. An access dock announces a peaceful atmosphere and magical venue. Since the early 19th century, the baths have offered high-quality services as well as affordable activities and dining options. In the summer, they host and organise shows and concerts by the lake, starting at dawn, against a musical backdrop. In the winter, the activities held there include Carnival and the dances organised on the second Saturday of every month. Wellness activities such as massages, a sauna, and a steam bath, as well as silent parties and poetic aperitifs, are sure to enchant all visitors.

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9 Hotel Pâquis is just a 10-minute walk from the Jet d'Eau of Geneva

Pumping water to a height of 140 metres, the Jet d'Eau of Geneva is one of the city's most famous monuments. To admire this symbol of Geneva, join us at 9 Hôtel Geneva Pâquis, within easy reach of internationally recognised landmarks.

History of the Jet d'Eau of Geneva

When Geneva’s artisanal hydraulic power machines stopped being used, a valve was designed to relieve over-pressure. It let water escape under pressure towards the sky, evacuating a large jet of water of over 30 metres. In 1891, this structure was promoted by the Geneva City Council, making it a tourist attraction. It was then moved to the end of the jetty and connected to the drinking water network to support a second jet of water reaching up to 90 metres. In 1951, with the construction of an autonomous pumping station connected to Lake Geneva, the Jet d'Eau of Geneva reached a maximum height of 140 metres.

A symbol of the city of Geneva

The Jet d'Eau of Geneva attracts tourists and brings magic to the city. The authorities of Geneva take care to regulate and organise the administration of this must-see tourist site. Concretely, the Jet d'Eau operates from March to October of every year. If there are strong winds, its guards rapidly take precautions, closing its on/off valve. The safety of the site's visitors and of boats on Lake Geneva is essential. Even though there have been international competitions for the world's highest water jet, that of Geneva remains unique but cannot be increased due to its urban environment. The Jet d'Eau is often illuminated in colour for various events and special occasions.

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Le Cottage

Cottage Café is a great place to take a relaxing break. Located right in the centre of Geneva, opposite the lake, and 5 minutes from 9 Hotel Pâquis on foot, this small cottage surrounded by greenery is perfect for sipping a cold drink with friends in the shade of the terrace or for eating fresh and healthy food for lunch in a typical setting in the city centre. The warm service and cheerful owners will make you feel at home. Don't miss this address. 

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Le Café des voyageurs

With its warm atmosphere and original décor, Café des voyageurs is a perfect place to unwind with friends after a long day spent exploring the streets of Geneva. Its bistro cuisine is excellent and you'll find all the typical dishes of a good brasserie!

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El Salad

El Salad is a new concept for healthy, fresh and tasty food in Geneva! It serves salads, wraps and soups, to satisfy your every craving on your lunch break (the restaurant is closed in the evening). Several addresses are available in Geneva and you can also visit their food truck! And if you want your meal to be delivered to the hotel, you can order directly online. You won't regret eating a healthy meal – you'll even want to go back for more!

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