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Lakeside life, lush parklands and dramatic mountain views.
Geneva is many things - a gateway to
Switzerland's luxury ski resorts, an important banking centre, home to
thousands of international delegates and diplomats and many international organisations
such as the United Nations and the International Red Cross.
It is also a stunning city. With the
mountains behind it, its green parks, colourful gardens and lakeside promenades
give Geneva an air of romanticism. The city sits astride the River Rhône, where
it streams into Lake Geneva. The main railway and suburbs lie to the north of
the river whilst the Old Town is to the south. At the lake's south shore the
Jet d'Eau shoots water 460ft (140m) into the sky from the end of a pier - the
city's landmark attraction and Europe's most powerful fountain.
Geneva is a cosmopolitan city.
Stately homes line the banks of the lake overlooking an armada of luxury
yachts. Jewellers and designer labels are on display at the numerous exclusive
boutiques full of the super-rich and tax exiles.
Geneva is an expensive but clean,
safe and efficient city. Its beautiful Old Town, museums, fine galleries and
excellent public transport system make it a joy to visit. It has superb
restaurants, top hotels and an excellent nightlife. It also has a lively
cultural calendar. The most notable event is the celebration of l'Escalade in
December.
Situated at a high
altitude on the edge of Lake Geneva has the effect of tempering Geneva’s continental
climate. As a result its summers are pleasantly warm to hot, and winters
relatively mild with temperatures hovering just above or below freezing. Rain
falls all year round, and occasionally the city suffers a harsh north wind
known as the bise.
The
average monthly temperatures are:
|
°C |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
Day |
3 |
5 |
9 |
14 |
18 |
22 |
25 |
24 |
20 |
14 |
8 |
4 |
|
Night |
-2 |
-1 |
0 |
4 |
7 |
11 |
12 |
12 |
9 |
6 |
2 |
-1 |
If you are heading to
Geneva for the shopping you’d better have a very large wallet with you. It
isn’t the cheapest place in the world to shop but there is a good variety of
places from high class shopping malls to flea markets.
The Old Town is great for
antiques, art galleries and bistros, but if you’re looking for valuable
antiques head for Saint-Gervais and Pâquis. The best area for fashion, haute couture and designer jewellery is
undoubtedly Rues Basses (which comprises of Rue du Rhône, Rue de la
Confédération, Rue du Marché and Rue de la Croix-d’Or).
One of the most glamorous
and expensive shops is Place de Mulard – well worth a browse even if your
budget won’t quite stretch that far.
The city is full of
shopping centres such as Balexert (Av. Louis-Casai), Caronge (Av.
Cardinal-Mermillod) and Les Cygnes (Rue de Lausanne). For department stores try
Bom Genie (Rue de Marche), Globins-Grand Passage (Rue de Rhone) or La Placette
(Rue Cornavin).
If you prefer to browse
markets for that something special, Geneva has numerous daily markets such as
the flower market on Place du Molard and a clothing and book market in Place de
la Madeleine. At Plaine de Plainpalais on a Tuesday and Friday morning is a fruit
and vegetable market which is replaced on Wednesday and Saturdays with a flea
market. Also worth a visit is the Kane Country Flea Market which is help on the
first weekend on each month.
Popular souvenirs are
penknives, watches, jewellery, wine and chocolate. If you are looking for real
Swiss chocolate decadence head for La Chocolaterie Rohr in either Rue du Rhone
or Place du Molard.
Despite its size, Geneva
isn’t over run with evening entertainment venues. It is more a city of fine
dining and gentlemen’s clubs than raucous nightlife. However there should be
something to satisfy every taste.
The best venues for
classical music are Grand Casino de Genève and Grand Theatre. There is also a
lively theatre scene and if you enjoy opera head for Grand Théâtre de Genève.
There are a number of cinemas in the city that mainly show English and American
films. In the summer you can enjoy an outdoor cinema experience near Geneva
Beach at the Orange Cinema (Ciné Lac). Weekly listings of what’s on can be
found in the Genève Agenda which is
available from tourist offices and hotels.
There are clubs and bars
but they tend to be quite restrained. Many locals head for the area of Cargouge
which is known as the Greenwich Village of Geneva. Boulevard Helvetique is the
main drag for stylish café bars such as Le Francis, La Bohême and L’Orangerie.
Other venues include:
If you are looking for a nightclub
in which to dance the hours away how about one of these:
March
June
July
September
October
November
December
Although there is plenty
to do in Geneva, you may want to look further afield to see what else this
incredible country can offer. Your hotel will be able to provide you with
details of excursions run by local tour operators, however below are just a few
suggestions to get you started:
Tap water is safe to drink
throughout Switzerland. Medical treatment is of a very high standard and
consequently expensive. Switzerland has a reciprocal agreement with most EU
member states to allow EU citizens medical treatment at a reduced rate on
presentation of a valid EHIC (European Health Insurance Card). However you are
advised to take out comprehensive medical insurance before travelling.
Geneva is one of Europe’s
safest cities however you are advised to take the usual precautions with your
valuables when out and about, especially in crowded areas.