BEST SPOTS FOR STAND UP PADDLE BOARDING (SUP) IN AND NEAR GENEVA 2019
by Laura Snoek from Let’s Explore and Chené Koscielny
Photo credit: Geneva Tourism
Stand up paddling is a great activity to do with friends or the whole family. Small kids can sit in front of a parent’s board (with a life jacket) and bigger children can easily learn how to do it.
We share some of the best spots we have tested so far in and around Geneva.
CHENÉ’S SUGGESTIONS
We are new to stand up paddling and don’t have any of our own boards. We’ve found this to be a great and affordable way to enjoy the beaches in Geneva as a family.
LA PLAGE DU REPOSOIR – on the lake
This beach on the Chambésy side of the lake is perfect for stand-up paddlers of all levels. The water is calm and the SUP centre is great, offering individual and group lessons throughout the season, as well as summer camps for children. (Superkid)
Rent your own paddle boards here and lock your valuables in lockers while you’re out on the water. (This is very handy as it means everyone can go out at the same time without worrying about where to put your belongings). We rented two adult boards and two children’s boards.
You can paddle out far without worrying about currents. We spent hours on the water! This beach is ideal for beginner paddlers and families. They also offer paddle board yoga.
FACILITIES
The beach offers a restaurant and buvette (where we had some hot dogs and fries) toilets, a shower and a lawned beach, as well as 50 parking spaces.
If you’re coming by bus, take bus 1 and get off at Jardin Botanique, from where it’s a 10 minute walk.
COST
from CHF 15 per hour for adults CHF10 children.
WHERE
SUP Genève : la Plage du Reposoir, 22 rte de Lausanne, 1292 Chambésy
MORE INFO
TROPICAL
This popular spot on the quai de Cologny, near Genève Plage is great for stand-up paddlers and they also offer lessons for various levels and boards to rent. Afterwards, chill under the palm trees in one of the two lakeside bars, with a cocktail and typical beach fare – hamburgers, nachos, etc.
Paddle board yoga sessions are also on offer here – in conjunction with Yoga Shop Geneva – read our article about our session last year here. Great views on the Jet d’Eau from here.
We found the currents more difficult to navigate on this side, depending what time of day you go out, and wouldn’t recommend this for young children.
FACILITIES
Toilets, showers and two bars. Lockers are available too. Closest parking: Genève Plage.
COST
CHF15 per hour for children, CHF20 for adults. You can also rent the boards for up to 12 hours or take out a seasonal membership
MORE INFO
WHERE
5 quai de Cologny 1203 GENEVE
PLAGE DE LA SAVONNIÈRE
A pebbly beach with enormous lawns behind and many trees offering loads of shade, the Plage de la Savonnière is a great place to while away a summer’s day.
Unfortunately as of 2019, this beach is no longer free and the paddle board club has been closed down.
Adults pay CHF4 entry and children CHF1.
You can still paddle, but you need your own board. You can’t go out quite as far as some of the other beaches – depending on your level, as the currents can be tricky, especially later in the day when the wind picks up.
FACILITIES
Public toilets (closed from November-March), Buvette, Play Park.
WHERE
Chemin Armand-Dufaux 13, 1245 Collonge-Bellerive
HOURS
Opening Hours: 8am-11pm (the buvette closes at 10pm)
Take rubber shoes for the pebbly beach
Note: No dogs allowed
BAINS DE PÂQUIS
This popular city beach also rents out paddle boards at CHF15 per hour – at the entrance to the beach. Although we love this spot, we haven’t actually tried paddling here – so, let us know if you have. There are no lessons being offered here.
Sunning, eating and chilling is always good here.
FACILITIES
Reasonably priced, healthy meals and snacks, showers, changing cubicles, public toilets.
COST
CHF15 per hour per adult
WHERE
Quai du Mont-Blanc 30
CH – 1200 Genève
LAURA’S SUGGESTIONS
LA PLAGE DE MIES
We like going to the Plage de Mies (about 30 minute drive from Geneva) as there are often a lot of paddling families out there. You cannot rent a paddle board here, though, so this is a good location when you have your own paddling board.
FACILITIES
A public grill is available and it’s on gas so very easy to include a BBQ in your day on this beach. Otherwise, of course, you can bring your picnic. There is also a nice buvette: Buvette de la Plage.
Public toilets are available, and there is a small parking lot. Water shoes are convenient here as the beach has small stones, so sensitive feet beware.
WHERE
Plage de Mies
Route Suisse
1295 Mies
PENEY – on the river Rhône
Well-known spot for paddlers on the Rhône river. This is the part where there is not so much current. You can park in the small parking lot on your right just after passing the restaurant Café de Peney when you are coming from the direction of Satigny. If you’re looking for some refreshments later, the Café de Peney has a terrace, and on some days with good weather they also sell ice-cream.
Don’t have your own board yet? At this location in Peney LaSauceSup Eliquid organises a group outing/tour of about 7-8kms on the Rhone river every Wednesday for all levels of paddlers. So whether you are already experienced, or a beginner, it doesn’t matter! The first time you join the tour, it is free and if you like it, you pay CHF10 for the next tours you join in on.
If you don’t have a paddle, you can rent a board but you will have to let them know in advance. You can also contact them directly if you are really looking to just test paddling, without being part of a tour.
MORE INFO
https://www.sup-eliquid.com/blank
Cost: First tour free, thereafter CHF10 per adult.
Meeting point: Parking Peney next to the rubbish dump. Google map link:
WHO IS LAURA?
Our guest blogger Laura writes her own blog – Let’s Explore, where she shares her tips and ideas for travelling with children. Originally from Holland, she now lives in Switzerland with her French-Swiss husband and two boys. Passionate about cultures – whether they be far away or closer to home, she sees moving around as a ‘school of life’.
