Geneva is not the largest city in Switzerland and it has been named as one of the most expensive places in Europe, but is one of the most popular cities I have visited in Europe and for a wide variety of reasons.
Sometimes called “The Capital of Peace” – Geneva has been an important player in helping others, with both the Red Cross and United Nations using it as their base, this diplomatic city is at the heart of the financial world and most surprisingly you will find French spoken more than Swiss.
There are many free attractions around the city to take advantage of.
Below, you can find out all about experiencing this amazing city on your year out.
Getting to Geneva
How you get to Geneva will largely depend on where it features on your itinerary. If you’re planning to kick your adventure off in this Swiss city, then you’re likely to arrive by air into Geneva International Airport.
There are two good things about this – firstly, this airport is extremely close to the city (it’s roughly a six-minute journey); secondly, it’s easy to hire a car here through companies like Auto Europe. That means that you can essentially begin your road trip as soon as you’ve landed.
If you intend to hit the road before reaching Geneva, though, you’ll find the city’s very simple to reach, being conveniently located on the crossroads of the European motorway network. Running alongside the famous Lake Geneva, which is just north of the city, is the N1 motorway, and this leads right into the heart of Geneva.
Getting to and Around Geneva
As you would expect from any major city and especially one with a reputation as good a Geneva transport links are exceptional. Low cost airlines regularly fly in and out of Geneva linking Switzerland to many other countries. Find cheap flights to Paris with Skyscanner.
There is a comprehensive public transport network with international trains and a very good scheduled service from the airport to the centre of Geneva that is free.
People of Geneva get around the city on bicycles, which is a great way to see the sights at your leisure. Cycle hire can be found right across the city, and in a city that is almost flat you won’t have to tire yourself out too much sightseeing.
Where to Stay
Finding accommodation in Geneva is easy, although there are not a huge amount of budget hotels; but by shopping around and planning carefully you can stretch your finances and find a place to stay within your price range. From hostels to mid range hotels right up to luxury hotels your stay in Geneva can be as expensive or cheap(ish) as you want. Find the best deals on places to stay in Geneva on Booking.com.
Top Attractions
Once you’ve arrived, you’ll find that there’s a dizzying array of things to do and see. While what exactly you fill your days with is entirely up to you – which is part of the beauty of travelling – are a few things that you really shouldn’t miss.
These include spending some time around Lake Geneva, which sits on the border between Switzerland and France. As well as being one of the city’s top attractions itself, it is home to yet another – the Jet d’Eau. This is one of the biggest fountains on Earth, and it ranks among Geneva’s most iconic sights.
Another must-visit is the Palais des Nations, which you may be more familiar with as the European headquarters of the United Nations. This amazing building welcomes thousands of diplomats from around the world every year, and by taking a guided tour you can see some of its most impressive rooms and artworks.
Tours usually last about an hour, and they’ll introduce you to places like the grand Assembly Hall, which is the largest room in the building, as well as the Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room, which was decorated by artist Miquel Barcelo. What’s particularly interesting about taking a tour, though, is that you also get to hear about things the United Nations is working on currently, which adds another dimension to your visit.
Geneva’s also home to some brilliant museums, so make sure you check out at least a few of these before you hit the road. Highlights include the city’s flagship museum, the Musee Rath – which has stunning architecture and displays frequently changing exhibitions of fine art – as well as the Museum d’histoire naturelle. Geneva is also a popular destination for science enthusiasts due to being home to The European Organization for Nuclear Research, known as CERN.
Take a stroll through Ariana park and you can see the Palace of Nations where over 10,000 intergovernmental meetings have been held and the United Nations has it’s home. For over 100 years the Geneva Motor Show has been running and is considered one of the best International auto shows, visitors flock to the Palexpo – a convention centre each March to see the latest from a plethora of car designers and manufacturers, even though Switzerland does not have any motor manufacturing companies to call it’s own.
During the month of June Geneva is a hub of musical performances and there is a free 3 day Fête de la Musique, you will find approximately 40 stages set up across the city and a pleasantly diverse range of music to listen to. Festival guide papers are available to help you decide which acts to see and plan your days accordingly.
Food and drink in this beautiful city is everywhere with local delicacies including gorgeous Swiss chocolate high on any visitors list.
Best Places to Visit Near Geneva
Once you’ve finished soaking up what Geneva has to offer, it’s time to drive somewhere new – but where?
It makes sense to follow your visit to Geneva with a trip to northern Italy, since the two are so close together – Milan is a particularly good destination. This city is around three to four hours to reach by car from Geneva and is, of course, famous for its role in the fashion world. It has got plenty more to offer though, including trendy bars and clubs and amazing art galleries.
Plan a City Break to Geneva
There’s nothing quite like a city break, or hitting the open road on a European road trip or tour, and if you’re planning to do so in Europe then Geneva should definitely be on your itinerary.
To summarise – Geneva offers fantastic cuisine, a vibrant and modern city and a chance to learn more about Swiss history plus much more.
Getting there is easy and moving around the city is simple and cheap. From Geneva there are many more places you can visit that are only a short bus or train trip away and the scenery is simply stunning.
Viva Geneva!