The western region of Switzerland happens to be the center of Europe and Geneva, the beautiful lake city, is indeed a gateway city to the rest of the Europe. It lies nestling at the foot of the Jura mountains and at the gates of the Alps. Geneva is a gracious city full of beautiful gardens and picturesque lake with beautiful mountains of Alps in the background.
Geneva is known not just for its humanitarian commitment (United Nations, Red Cross, etc) but is also renowned for its lovely countryside, cuisine and culture. The centrally positioned lake (with its famous jet d' eau) offers a great deal in terms of fun and recreation.
The mouettes (boats) ferry back and forth, while nearby you may choose to go hang gliding, parachuting or swimming on the lake. Mont Blanc - Europe's highest mountain, is only a hour and a half away, so are other attractions like Matterhorn state, Chillon Castle, Olympic museum in Laussane and the cheese and chocolate factories in Gruyere and Broc.
The fiscally adventurous can try their hand at the Grand Casino. Geneva is easily the convention city of Switzerland. And while conventions occupy the minds of the participants, families are treated to its various fairs and festivals like classical concerts, open air lakeside cinemas, musical fireworks, etc.
Shopping and eating out is a delight. Geneva ranks top in the world for its 1,100 plus restaurants and thanks to its hundreds of hotels, it plays host to not just entire families but even its most demanding visitors. Geneva happens to be in the French part of Switzerland, so eating well and drinking well is very important. Geneva is the one of the largest wine-producing cantons of Switzerland and offers more than 20 different varieties of local wines.
WHEN TO TRAVEL
The best time to travel Geneva is during the summer months of July and August. This happens to be peak tourist season in Geneva therefore make sure you book hotel in advance. Spring is also a nice time to spend holiday in Geneva. Its considered to be less crowded by tourists. The months of December and January see bone chilling cold in the city. During these months Geneva becomes gateway to ski resorts nearby.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN GENEVA
Jet d'Eau - Located on the Lake Geneva, Jet d'Eau is a fountain that shoots water 460ft high in the air. Adventure lovers can come close to the fountain however it is best viewed from a distance. The fountain is lit at night which makes it even more beautiful to watch.
Cathédrale St-Pierre - Situated in the Old Part of town, Saint Pierre Cathedral is a architectural gem of Geneva. The construction of this cathedral began in 1160 and completed 400 years later. Climb up to the north tower of Cathédrale St-Pierre and you will be rewarded with excellent views of City Geneva. Onsite is a museum as well.
The Lake Geneva - Lake Geneva with its powerful fountain has become symbol of Geneva. The area surrounding the lake offers plenty of recreational opportunities for the tourists. There are several cafes and parks on the bank of Lake. Additionally you can take a cruise ride of Lake Geneva or enjoy water skiing.
Palais des Nations - The building was built to host the League of Nations but due to its dissolution it was turned into United Nations office which is the biggest outside New York based headquarters. Palais des Nations is located inside Ariana Park therefore tourists can often spot peacocks around the building. The tours inside the building include council room and the Assembly Hall. Tourists are required to bring Identity Card to get inside the building.
Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MAMCO) - The museum exhibits contemporary art collection on its three floors dating from the 1960s. MAMCO is famous not only changing its exhibits but the interior three times a year. So every time you'll visit the museum there would be something new to see. The works of Marcel Duchamp is the main attraction that is exhibited throughout the year.
Russian Church - The church is quite a popular attraction due to its architecture featuring flaming gilded cupolas and golden spires which is different to the Frech architecture that dominates the city. The exterior of the Russian Church is inspired from Byzantine architecture.
Batiment Des Forces Motrices - The Batiment Des Forces Motrices was a hydro-electric power plant that provided Geneva with electricity and water. It was constructed in 1886. However today it has been turned into massive Opera House with capacity of 985.
Plainpalais Cemetery - The cemetery is the resting place of several notable people of the city including John Calvin, Augustin de Candolle and Sergio Vieira de Mello. There are several graves in the cemetery that dates back to 14th century.
Mount Saleve - Overlooking the Geneva city, Mount Saleve can easily be accessed by cable car. The 1,380 meters high peak offers great bird's eye view of entire Geneva city. The mountain top cafe is very romantic place to dine.
Parc La Grange - This is the largest garden in Geneva. It is located alongside the Lake Geneva. Parc La Grange is a great place for family picnics or for some quiet romantic time. The main attraction of Parc La Grange is the rose garden, which is the largest in the city. Inside the park is The Verdure Theatre which hosts free concerts on Friday and Wednesday during the summer.
English Garden - Perhaps one of the finest spots to view magnificent Jet d’Eau. English Garden is famous for "flower clock" which is the largest in the world and shows the dedication and love of people of Switzerland towards nature. There are several bronze statues of notable people inside the park.
Botanical Gardens and Conservatory - The Botanical Gardens of Geneva displays 16,000 different plant species which makes it must visit for the tourists. Its a great place to take your kids. The main attractions of the Botanical Gardens and Conservatory are rock garden, an animal park and garden of scent and touch.
International Museum of the Red Cross and Red Crescent - This is one of the most popular museums in Geneva among travelers. The museum exhibits countless photo and video evidence of humanitarian work by Red Cross during several wars and natural disasters in the world.
Happyland - Happyland is the largest amusement park in Switzerland. An ideal place to take your kids. There are several rides like Splash River, Tropical Track that not only kids but adults will enjoy as well. The park is remains open from 11am to 6pm.
Aquaparc - A must visit attraction of Geneva for families with kids on vacation. Aquaparc is a water park featuring several adventure rides and slides for kids of all ages. While children can enjoy some thrilling rides, parents can relax in the hot tubs.
HOTELS IN GENEVA
There are several hotels in Geneva however finding a budget hotel in the city could be a hard thing to do. Its better to book hotels in Geneva well in advance because city hosts numerous international conferences and trade shows. During this period it becomes very hard to find accommodation in the city. Some good hotel choices are:
Manotel Edelweiss ($129 onwards), Hotel Epsom ($159 onwards), Hotel Kipling ($139 onwards), Manotel Royal ($154 onwards), Hotel Auteuil ($162 onwards. Here is the complete list of Hotels in Geneva.
HOW TO REACH
By Air - Geneva airport is served by all major European airlines as well as trans-Atlantic flights. There are flights from Montreal, New York City etc. Tourists from Europe can opt for budget carrier Easyjet that offers London, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Barcelona etc. The airport has several ATM and exchange machines for the travelers.
By Train - Swiss Federal Railways offer hourly trains from Cornavin station in Geneva to other Swiss destinations like Zurich, Basel, Berne etc. There are regional trains to Nyon and Lausanne every 15 minutes. International trains from Cornavin station include Geneva to Paris, Nice, night train to Barcelona. There are trains to Italian cities like Milan, Venice and Rome as well.
The other railway station, Gares des Eaux-Vives offers services to Evian, Chamonix and Annecy.
By Car - There is fine road connectivity throughout Switzerland that connects Geneva to several destinations. Geneva is only 40km from Annecy and 80km from Chamonix. However in order to drive on Swiss motorways, tourists are required to buy motorway tax sticker also known as Vignette. You can buy Vignette from Petrol Stations, Post Offices and Tourist Offices across Switzerland.
