Geneva Nightlife: Places and Districts to Go Out in Geneva

  Lake Geneva at Night

Geneva’s bureaucratic reputation rather damages that of its nightlife. Not many travelers consider Geneva a destination to really go crazy, and yet this fascinating city actually boasts a surprisingly heady clubbing scene.

It's a student town, after all, and backpackers looking for a good time could do much worse than head straight to the area of Plainpalais where Geneva’s students live, sleep and socialize. As befitting a large-scale university, there’s a sizeable trendy scene that packs out the many energetic bars and techno-pumping clubs.

Away from Plainpalais, the Old Town is also a sure bet for a night out, although the prices may be a little higher. Fun and predominantly young, the pubs along Rue de l’Hotel de Ville make for a great place to start things off before finding one of the lively basement clubs tucked neatly amongst these streets.

For something a little more sedate, the popular suburb of Carouge offers the majority of Geneva’s English-style pubs, where you can spend a relaxing evening quaffing beer with friends and locals alike.

Over in Paquis (the cosmopolitan area around the train station), meanwhile, a thriving café culture holds sway - just about covering the district’s former reputation as a seedy red light district.

It may not be London or New York but Geneva’s nightlife scene is quietly contented with itself. And, since its pubs and clubs often stay open until the early morning, don’t be surprised to find yourself stumbling home from a surprisingly wild night out in Europe’s bureaucratic capital.

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