Living in Pâquis - Sécheron: the lively and multicultural neighbourhood

Everyone living here will tell you: walking in the streets of Les Pâquis is like wandering the world. You’ll meet people from dozens of countries. The restaurants here serve food from almost every country in the world. There are countless shops, bars and clubs, energizing this neighbourhood lying between Geneva main train station and the right bank of the lake.

Going North, you’ll get into the Sécheron zone: a quieter atmosphere with two beautiful parks. Pâquis-Sécheron is vibrant and somewhat atypical in a usually quiet – sometimes too quiet – city. This neighbourhood drives many Genevans to the lakeside walks and the famous Bains (the public baths) on sunny days.

The Bains have been the place for “water, air and sunbathing” for 150 years. You meet there from winter to summer for a swim, ball games, massage or even a cheese fondue! The famous restaurant serves tasty meals with the best vista over the lake. In the 1980s, the city planned to destroy and rebuild the Bains. The project was seen as a disgrace by the inhabitants who fiercely fought it. The original atmosphere was eventually saved. Yep, that’s how much Genevans love their Bains. A popular place where generations, cultures and social origins blend effortlessly.

This breathtaking park lies north of the Quai Wilson, by the water. It’s home to many beautiful century-old trees. Rumor has it that Casanova himself spent time there in the 18th century. We do know that the French-speaking branch of Swiss national TV set its first studio in the nice villa in the centre of the park, though.