The Bains des Pâquis extends on a long pier into Lake Geneva from the right bank, between the Jardin Anglais and the Pâquis neighbourhood. Built in 1932 and now a protected site, the baths are open year-round: swimming in the lake from April to October, with a sauna, hammam, and restaurant that run all year. In summer the pier is packed with swimmers and sunbathers of all ages; in winter it becomes an improbable fondue restaurant above the winter lake.
The atmosphere is unusually democratic for Geneva. Entrance costs a few francs; the population that uses it runs from elderly regulars who have swum here for decades to teenagers jumping off the diving boards. The restaurant serves simple food throughout the day. From the pier you get an excellent view of the Jet d'Eau, the old town on its hill, and the Alps beyond. An afternoon here is one of the best and cheapest things to do in the city.