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Min. time required: 0:30
Season: early January to late October and late November to late December
Recommended season: early May to mid September
Max. altitude: 375 m (1230 ft)What is the Jet d'Eau? 
The Jet d'Eau ('water stream') is a famous 140 m (459 ft) high fountain in Lake Geneva. It's located just in front of the promenades of Geneva and is a key part of the city's skyline.
The fountain operates most of the year and is lit on many evenings.
Costs to see the Jet d'Eau
Free access to the fountain
There's no fee to be paid to watch the fountain. You can watch it from several angles in Geneva for free.
Costs to travel to Geneva
If you're not based in Geneva you'll have to get there first. Your rail pass may grant discounted or even free traveling. If not, find normal train tickets here.
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- Your payment is kept safe until your tour has started
- 24/7 customer support
- No booking or credit card fee
- Extra Support: if you book here, MySwissAlps can also assist if you have questions about your order.
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Our fountain walk: directions, duration and map
Getting to Geneva and the starting point
The town center of Geneva can best be reached by train or by boat. From the main train station, it's less than 10 minutes on foot to the Quai du Mont Blanc, where the suggested route around the fountain starts.
Directions from the Quai du Mont Blanc
You can walk around the lake in 30 minutes to watch the Jet d'Eau fountain from all sides and to enjoy the city. The map shows the route. Here's how to walk:
- Start at the Quai du Mont Blanc. This 300 m-long quay stretches out into the lake and offers an up-close view of the fountain.
- Next, follow the Quai du Mont Blanc along the lake until you reach the bridge 'Pont du Mont Blanc'. Cross the bridge.
- Continue your walk along the lake, with the fountain on your left and the small park 'Jardin Anglais' on your right.
- Turn left at the end of the park. Keep walking along the lake, following the street called 'Quai Gustave Ador'. A quay on the left leads to the fountain, for those not afraid to get wet. The quay has an interesting shape-changing bridge that allows strollers and wheelchairs to pass. It transforms into a higher bridge with steps when a boat needs to cross.
- Further on, turn right and cross the street to reach the largest park in Geneva, the 'Parc La Grange'.
Duration of the walk
This route takes about 30 minutes without stops. This does not include walking time from and to the rail station of Geneva.
Assuming a round trip on foot from the rail station, you realistically need at least two hours to enjoy the fountain, the parks, and the boulevards. If you add a boat trip and a walk in the historical town center, this can turn into a full-day trip.
Map of the route to Jet d'Eau in Geneva
Operation times and timetable info
Jet d'Eau operation dates and hours
The Jet d'Eau operates nearly all year, except for the first half of November when it shuts down for maintenance. Normally it operates from 09h00 or 10h00 until 16h00 (winter) or until sunset (summer).
As for illumination:
- From May until mid-September, the fountain is lit on all evenings.
- In March, April, and October, lighting is available on Friday, Sunday, and Saturday evenings.
- On all other operation days, lighting is only available on request.
The fountain can be shut off at any time because of maintenance or extraordinary weather conditions.
How to plan your trip with the Swiss timetable
You can find all connections to Geneva and the fountain in the Swiss timetable. Use these names:
- "Genève, Bains des Pâquis, Quai du Mont-Blanc" for the starting point of the suggested route
- "Genève" for the main station of Geneva
Best months to see the fountain
The best season to see the Jet d'Eau is early May to mid September. That's when the fountain operates all day until late at night, with illumination on all evenings.
The fountain can very well be visited during other months too. But it may shut down a bit earlier or have lighting only during particular days of the week.
Weather forecast for Geneva
Visiting the Jet d'Eau fountain is best in dry weather. Sunny skies make for the prettiest pictures, especially if the light creates rainbows in the tiny water drops.
Wind can blow droplets well over the piers from which you can see the fountain. If you plan to get close to it, wear a waterproof jacket.
Geneva forecast for the next 5 days
History of the Jet d’Eau
The fountain dates back to 1886, but actually it wasn’t meant to be a fountain from the beginning. It was a technical necessity, only created to release pressure from a water station.
When the Jet d’Eau started attracting visitors, it was moved to a better location and a powerful pump was installed. Nowadays the water emerges from the nozzle with a speed of 200 km/h (124 mph).
Other websites of interest
- www.sig-ge.ch: facts, history and operation hours of the Jet d'Eau
Our info about nearby activities
Town walk Geneva
Boat Lake Geneva
Our tips for Lake Geneva and the city of Geneva
