Four Seasons Hotel Des Bergues Geneva, Switzerland

We toast with rosé Champagne for us and a Shirly Temple mocktail for our daughters. It is not often that we start a report of a visit to a top hotel with a culinary experience, but our visit to restaurant Izumi at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues in Geneva, Switzerland deserves to be mentioned first.

Easily the best restaurant we have eaten at in ages. Everything is stylish, comfortable, pleasant, and relaxing. Renowned chef Tsukada works wonders from the kitchen. We taste the freshest ingredients, clearly high-quality preparation condensed into amazingly innovative dishes such as: Yellowtail Sashimi with Yuzu Soy Sauce and Chilli Pepper, Tuna Aburi with Sesame Oil, Truffle and Soy Sauce, Baby chicken Tatsuta-Age, Baby Vegetables with Teriyaki Sauce and Meunière-style sole fillets accompanied by Shiso Dressing. Are you still with us?

Overall, a great combination of flavours, the warm and professional service. And we have not even mentioned the desserts yet. Since it is winter we unfortunately can't enjoy the magnificent roof terrace with a view over the city and the snow-capped Alps with the proud centre of Mont Blanc. So, we hope to be back in spring or summer sometime to spend time there.

After this culinary endeavour we first shed a light on our arrival and the overall look and feel of our destination. The elegant Four Seasons Hotel Geneva was designed by the renowned interior architect Pierre-Yves Rochon and occupies a historic building from 1834, right on the shores of Lake Geneva. On arrival we are met by several staff members welcoming us to this amazing property. With all courtesy they show us around while the girls are surprised with sweets and a nice notebook to record their upcoming adventures.

The rooms in the hotel are characterized by a unique luxury style with classic French furnishings and offer views of the city, garden, or lake. Our suite is immense, boasting a living room, two bedrooms, dining area and two bathrooms. Also, very convenient in a busy city are the blackout curtains and shutters on the windows making sure it is dark in the suite and we enjoy a perfect night's sleep. The view of the famous Jet d'Eau, the 140-meter-high fountain in the lake tops it all. The phenomenal height, the wind and the sun make it a beautiful spectacle. If you are lucky, you might even see a rainbow in the fountain.

The Jet d'Eau is not only a beautiful landmark. The first fountain was installed a little further downstream and had an important practical use. It was used as a safety valve for a hydraulic power network and could reach a height of about thirty metres (100 ft). In 1891, its aesthetic value was recognised and it was moved to its present location. The present Jet d'Eau was installed later in a partially submerged pumping station to pump lake water instead of city water, now it illuminates the hydraulic power station. Five hundred litters per second shoot up to an astonishing water column. The fountain operates during the day all year round, except in case of frost or particularly strong wind, and also in the evenings between spring and autumn, when it is lit by a set of 21 lights. Your kids will love to see it.

We also especially enjoy our walk along the well-known lake. One destination you should check out are the Bains des Pâquis. It is a particularly prominent place in Geneva city life. Besides being the ideal place for swimming in the heart of the city, it is very pleasant because of its friendly and cheerful atmosphere. Everyone, no matter how old, comes here! Far from the bling bling Geneva we are used to seeing. The entrance fee is a few francs, and you can also eat there. It is simple, tastes good and the prices are very reasonable for Geneva too. The site offers other services such as water activities, massages etc. There are plenty of things to do to spend an entire day there in the summer. And for the winter there is a sauna, a steam bath, and a Turkish bath! To make the most out of your visit to Geneva the best thing to do is buy the Geneva Pass. It will get you 24, 48- or 72-hours free entry and a discount on fifty sights and activities in Geneva.

Geneva is a glamorous European city full of rich history and diversity. It is the second largest city in the country after Zurich; it has a population of 200,548. Geneva is also the name of the surrounding, westernmost canton of the country. It deserves its prestige to the presence of numerous international organizations, including the headquarters of several agencies of the United Nations and the Red Cross. Geneva hosts the highest number of international organizations in the world. It is also where the Geneva Conventions were signed, which chiefly concern the treatment of wartime non-combatants and prisoners of war.

The city originated as a settlement of the Celtic people the Allobroges. After conquest by the Romans, it was part of the Provincia Romana (Gallia Narbonensis). Near Geneva, Julius Caesar stopped the westward advancing Helvetians. In the fifth century, at the time of the Great Migration, the Burgundians settled in the region. They founded a small state near Geneva that already fell in 533 and became part of the Frankish Empire.

Geneva is the perfect place for culture and history buffs. Geneva is also the perfect mix of historic and modern, with a great diversity of travellers and residents coming together. If you are looking for peace and quiet, this is not the place for you, but if you like crowds, lots of sights and beautiful surroundings, this is undoubtedly the right place.

Although of course the Four Seasons Hotel Geneva is a city hotel and subsequently is limited in its offering for kids, it still manages to provide enough activities to keep them busy for at least a few days. In summer for example captain Balthazar will take children board his elegant motorboat to guide them to the best fishing spots on the lake. Or take a thrilling longboard ride along the shores of Lake Geneva. Ride solo or follow one of the dedicated instructors. Kids who enjoy contact sports can book a boxing training session at the Spa. On the culinary side young guest can, based on availability, participate in a sushi workshop with Chef Tsukada. Hopefully, parents can participate in consuming the result. Furthermore, the teen hub offers a delightful place for teens to relax and make new friends. It offers a football table, video games, board games and many more. Another fun activity is the kid’s yoga class. This class actively engages children with playful animal poses that stimulate the imagination while developing a state of relaxed awareness. Children learn to discover and develop awareness of their breath to channel and manage emotions and feel more confident in their bodies.

Although an afternoon of pampering sounds tempting, we instead choose to visit the Museum of Natural History. This is the largest natural history museum in Switzerland. Spread over four floors, its collections present the fascinating world of animals and minerals. This is great for young children because they can realize how big they are and what they look like. We commend a visit! Their permanent exhibitions are highly informative, interesting, and fun. And the dioramas are excellent too. They have a great kid’s section, and as an adult it was nice to have everything explained simply and visually.

In the old town of Geneva, the largest historic centre in Switzerland, you will find some of the most symbolic places to visit during your stay in Geneva. You can reach them easily on foot. For sure we recommend a visit to the Saint Peter's Cathedral. Built for Catholic ceremonies, it became a Protestant church in 1535.If you have never seen a Protestant church, you might be surprised when you first enter the interior: according to Calvinist spiritual laws, the interior is kept extremely simple: all ornaments and signs of wealth have been removed. While visiting make sure you climb the 157 steps that lead to the towers and enjoy the beautiful view over Geneva. And for sure have a look at the archaeological site in the basement, where you can see the foundations of the old cathedral. The kids might love this encounter with history.

Starting in spring the Geneva Botanical Garden are also highly recommended. Not many tourists know about it, but it is a green oasis worth seeing after visiting the United Nations Headquarters. It is very well laid out, has several greenhouses reproducing different climates, a small Japanese garden and much more. And the best thing: it is free.

After a day full of adventurous it also feels good to be back in the warm atmosphere of the hotel and for example enjoy some more of its culinary offerings. Besides the acclaimed Izumi restaurant, the gourmet restaurant Il Lago serves Italian cuisine and local products. Wines from Italy, France and Switzerland are also available. In the Bar des Bergues you can enjoy a drink in a pleasant atmosphere. In the morning, a buffet breakfast is served with hot dishes. The service everywhere in the hotel is just first class, really nothing to complain about.

This must be one of the best Four Seasons in Europe in terms of service and location. We, for sure, are fans and hope to be back soon!

WOW

# This elegant 5-star hotel has exceeded our expectations. The view from our suite is breath-taking and the suite itself is extremely convenient. All the hotel has this wonderful atmosphere where you can feel how our today’s era and Belle Epoque are meeting at this point; the hotel blends a revitalized sense of history in the very heart of the city.

# From the view of Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva to the class, the respect and kindness you get from the staff, everything has been arranged down to the last detail.

# To fully understand the Swiss culture, you must try the local cuisine. Spend time in a cafe or restaurant without rush and hassle: just order something you have never tried.