Geneva
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9:27 AM
Geneva
Like a sparkling jewel nestled on the shores of Lac Léman (Lake Geneva) and surrounded by the Alps and Jura mountains, with views of Mont Blanc, Geneva is a city that exudes luxury, quality, elegance and a cosmopolitan lifestyle. A global hub for diplomacy and banking, the buzzes with people from all corners of the world. Geneva boasts excellent restaurants, exclusive shops, beautiful parks, vibrant cultural life and outstanding museums. Due to its compact geography, you can easily see all the highlights on foot. Fast and efficient public transportation makes day trips from Geneva a delight, too.Find your trip
The Jet d'Eau is one of the highest water fountains in the world and a famous landmark of Geneva, which you can see from almost everywhere in the centre and up to very far in the surroundings (even past the border). The fountain shoots 500 litres of water a second to a height of 140 metres.
In the heart of Geneva’s Old Town lies the charming Place du Bourg-de-Four, the city's oldest square. This vibrant area serves as a central gathering place for locals and visitors alike, its surroundings lined with boutiques, cafés, and restaurants. On Thursdays and Saturdays, Place du Bourg-de-Four transforms into a lively market, where vendors showcase a delightful array of fresh produce, flowers, and artisanal goods, adding a bustling touch to the timeless allure of this historic gem.
Housed in the historic Palais des Nations, a relic from the League of Nations era, the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva stands as an emblem of international diplomacy and cooperation. As one of the four major offices of the UN, this iconic complex hosts numerous international conferences, diplomatic meetings, and negotiations. The Assembly Hall, Council Chamber, and various conference rooms are witnesses to crucial discussions on global issues. The surrounding Ariana Park provides a serene backdrop for this centre of multilateral diplomacy, symbolising Geneva's role as a neutral ground for fostering dialogue and addressing the world's challenges.
Situated at the highest point of the Old Town, St Peter's Cathedral, dating back to the 12th century, is the most visited monument in Geneva, welcoming around 400,000 people every year. Its fame comes mostly from being the adopted home church of Protestant Reformation leader John Calvin as well as from housing, in its vault, the largest archaeological site north of the Alps. Brave visitors willing to climb the 157 steps of the north tower will be treated to a breathtaking panorama of both the city and the lake.
Sandwiched between Switzerland and France, Lake Geneva (called Lac Léman in French) is a stunning natural gem known for its picturesque landscapes and beauty. One of the largest lakes in Europe, it offers breathtaking views of the Alps and the Jura Mountains. The lake's shores are adorned with charming towns and cities, including Geneva, Montreux, and Lausanne, as well as the iconic Chillon Castle. Visitors can enjoy boat cruises, lakeside promenades, and various water activities.
L’Horloge Fleurie is a super-size watch with a diameter of five metres, made of 6,500 flowering plants and shrubs, symbolising Switzerland’s world-famous watch industry. This symbol has been around since the 1950s, and the decorations and plants are changed in harmony with the season.
You have most certainly heard of the Red Cross for its actions around the world. When in Geneva, you should seize the opportunity to visit the Red Cross Museum, a place for reflection and raising awareness. The museum features both permanent and temporary exhibitions. Its focus is to promote understanding of the history, current affairs, and challenges of humanitarian actions worldwide.
This fascinating park and 'living museum' hosts 16,000 plant varieties and the world’s largest herbarium. From its creation at the beginning of the 19th century, its beauty and its aim to spread knowledge have evolved continuously. The herbarium archive contains more than 6 million plants.
The Jet d'Eau is one of the highest water fountains in the world and a famous landmark of Geneva, which you can see from almost everywhere in the centre and up to very far in the surroundings (even past the border). The fountain shoots 500 litres of water a second to a height of 140 metres.
In the heart of Geneva’s Old Town lies the charming Place du Bourg-de-Four, the city's oldest square. This vibrant area serves as a central gathering place for locals and visitors alike, its surroundings lined with boutiques, cafés, and restaurants. On Thursdays and Saturdays, Place du Bourg-de-Four transforms into a lively market, where vendors showcase a delightful array of fresh produce, flowers, and artisanal goods, adding a bustling touch to the timeless allure of this historic gem.
Right in the middle of the music district next to the Grand Théâtre, its luxurious Parisian ambience, complete with gilded walls adorned with portraits of music maestros set the stage for an exquisite dining experience. Offering fine French cuisine paired with a selection of wines and cocktails, Le Lyrique creates a perfect blend of history and gastronomic delight.
Brasserie Lipp, a sibling of the renowned Parisian establishment, offers an elevated dining experience in Geneva. The brasserie specialises in refined French cuisine, complemented by a curated selection of fine wines to be enjoyed in an elegant and warm atmosphere.
Le Relais de l'Entrecôte is a French restaurant specialising in beef tenderloin served with its well-known sauce whose ingredients are a closely kept secret. This restaurant can also be found in many locations around Paris, where it built its reputation even before it came to Geneva.
Nestled in Satigny, a little bit outside of Geneva, Domaine de Châteauvieux is a culinary gem that delights patrons with a harmonious blend of exquisite cuisine and a charming setting. This Michelin-starred restaurant, located within a beautiful estate, offers a refined menu that showcases artfully plated and inventive dishes using the finest local and seasonal ingredients.
This Michelin-starred restaurant located in the luxurious Beau-Rivage Hotel serves beautifully presented dishes prepared with local products. Le Chat-Botté is claimed to be the finest gourmet restaurant in town and benefits from an amazing terrace overlooking the lake.
Indulge in the culinary delights from the French neighbouring city of Lyon at the beloved Bistrot du Bœuf Rouge. Try some specialities like the namesake filet of beef or the mouthwatering sirloin steak with blue cheese dressing, perfectly paired with an exceptional selection of wines.
Located inside a beautiful 19th-century village house, Les Curiades is a restaurant with a rustic and warm ambience offering a refined gastronomic experience. Its menu changes every two months, showcasing the freshest regional products and maintaining a commitment to quality. Situated just outside Geneva, Les Curiades enjoys a picturesque setting amidst vineyards, providing a tranquil backdrop for a memorable dining experience.
Nestled in the heart of Geneva, Café des Banques offers a one-of-a-kind culinary experience with its open kitchen, inviting patrons to witness the preparation of beautifully plated, modern Swiss fare. The elegant dishes are matched by the stylish, white interior adorned with contemporary art. During summer, the large shaded terrace becomes an ideal spot to relish these culinary delights while basking in the sunny days of Geneva.
Right in the middle of the music district next to the Grand Théâtre, its luxurious Parisian ambience, complete with gilded walls adorned with portraits of music maestros set the stage for an exquisite dining experience. Offering fine French cuisine paired with a selection of wines and cocktails, Le Lyrique creates a perfect blend of history and gastronomic delight.
Brasserie Lipp, a sibling of the renowned Parisian establishment, offers an elevated dining experience in Geneva. The brasserie specialises in refined French cuisine, complemented by a curated selection of fine wines to be enjoyed in an elegant and warm atmosphere.
Rue du Marché is a traffic-free shopping street in the heart of Geneva. It is known for its variety of shops, boutiques, and markets. The street offers a mix of international brands, local boutiques, and speciality stores, providing a diverse shopping experience. Not to be missed are the Swatch shop and Davidoff cigars.
Around the railway station are shops with typical Swiss souvenirs like chocolate, cuckoo clocks, Swiss Army knives, musical boxes, handicrafts and Mont Blanc pens. The shops have names like Little Switzerland, Swiss Tradition and Swiss Corner.
Rue du Rhône is renowned as one of the city's premier shopping streets, offering a high-end and luxurious shopping experience. It is like a pearl necklace of exclusive shops, reminiscent of Marbella, Gstaad and Beverly Hills. Rue du Rhône attracts shoppers seeking top-tier fashion, jewellery, watches, and other luxury goods. Here, Cartier, Patek Philippe and Rolex share the stage with Piaget, Audemars Piguet and Gucci.
Marché aux Puces de Plainpalais is a bustling flea market held every Wednesday and Saturday (and every first Sunday of the month since 1970), transforming the Plainpalais district into a lively hub of second-hand treasures. Vendors offer a diverse range of goods, including clothing, books, jewellery, furniture, antiques, and vintage items.
Manor is THE king of department stores in Switzerland and a serious display of luxury. It has everything you may need from home decorations to clothes and makeup, and electronics, all of which are spread over several floors. Manor is also a great lunch spot as the ground floor is home to a market of fresh products.
Rue du Marché is a traffic-free shopping street in the heart of Geneva. It is known for its variety of shops, boutiques, and markets. The street offers a mix of international brands, local boutiques, and speciality stores, providing a diverse shopping experience. Not to be missed are the Swatch shop and Davidoff cigars.
Around the railway station are shops with typical Swiss souvenirs like chocolate, cuckoo clocks, Swiss Army knives, musical boxes, handicrafts and Mont Blanc pens. The shops have names like Little Switzerland, Swiss Tradition and Swiss Corner.
Geneva Airport, situated 4 kilometres from the city centre, offers convenient transportation options through a united network of public transport, known as Unireso. The CFF Railway Station at Genève Aéroport provides direct access to trains heading to Geneva's city centre, other Swiss destinations, and even cities in France. The journey between the airport and Geneva-Cornavin station takes 7 minutes. TPG city buses operate at the airport with frequencies of 8-15 minutes during rush hours. Timetables and fare details are available at the airport's information desk. In addition, the Aérobus Morning Service, encompassing A1 to A6 lines, facilitates early morning travel for passengers staying in Geneva and France, providing free airport shuttles. Travellers staying in Geneva hotels, youth hostels, or campsites receive a ‘Geneva Transport Card’, allowing complimentary use of public transport in Geneva (zone 10) during their stay. This includes the Genève-Cornavin – Genève-Aéroport train journey. At the airport, you will also find taxi services as well as car rental companies.
Switzerland can be visited visa-free for up to 90 days by citizens of most European countries, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Israel, UAE and most countries in America. If you are unsure whether or not you need to apply for a visa, we recommend contacting the embassy or consulate in your country. International (non-Schengen) travellers need a passport that is valid for at least 3 months after the end of their intended trip in order to enter the Schengen zone. Citizens of Schengen countries can travel without a passport but must have a valid ID with them during their stay.
Geneva has excellent local public transport consisting of bus, trolley bus, tram, boat and train. The Unireso public transportation network lets you use the same ticket for all means of transportation. Tickets can be bought from ticket machines, agencies and online. A weekly pass and a monthly pass are also available. Note that the Geneva Unireso Network is free for anyone arriving by plane at Geneva Airport. This offer is limited to 80 minutes, counted from arrival time. Pick up your free ticket from the machine in the baggage collection area. At your hotel, you will receive the Geneva Transport Card which gives you a free passport to the entire transport network.
Taxis in Geneva can be ordered by phone, hailed on the street, or found at designated parking areas downtown, at the airport, and at train stations. Note that taxis are fairly expensive in Geneva. AA Genève Central Taxi +41 22 320 22 02 Taxi-Phone Central +41 22 331 41 33
There are many post offices throughout the city. Mailboxes are yellow, and you can purchase stamps in the post offices and in some press shops. Geneva's main post office is the Poste Mont-Blanc located in the centre.
Some of the main pharmacy chains in Geneva include Pharmacieplus, Sun Store, and Amavita. Pharmacieplus des pâquis Rue des Pâquis 10, Geneva +41 22 732 29 59 Open Mon–Fri 8am–7pm, Sat 8am–5pm, Sun closed Amavita Métro-Shopping Rue du Mont-Blanc 30, Geneva +41 58 878 17 30 Open Mon–Fri 7:30am–8pm, Sat 8am–6pm, Sun closed
Switzerland operates on a voltage of 230V/50 Hz, consistent with the standard in most of Europe. The country uses both Type C (2-pin) and Type J (3-pin) plugs, with Type C plugs (2-pin) also compatible with Type J sockets. The majority of power sockets in Switzerland are specifically designed to accommodate three-pin round plugs.
Country code: +41 Area code: 022
Geneva Airport, situated 4 kilometres from the city centre, offers convenient transportation options through a united network of public transport, known as Unireso. The CFF Railway Station at Genève Aéroport provides direct access to trains heading to Geneva's city centre, other Swiss destinations, and even cities in France. The journey between the airport and Geneva-Cornavin station takes 7 minutes. TPG city buses operate at the airport with frequencies of 8-15 minutes during rush hours. Timetables and fare details are available at the airport's information desk. In addition, the Aérobus Morning Service, encompassing A1 to A6 lines, facilitates early morning travel for passengers staying in Geneva and France, providing free airport shuttles. Travellers staying in Geneva hotels, youth hostels, or campsites receive a ‘Geneva Transport Card’, allowing complimentary use of public transport in Geneva (zone 10) during their stay. This includes the Genève-Cornavin – Genève-Aéroport train journey. At the airport, you will also find taxi services as well as car rental companies.
Switzerland can be visited visa-free for up to 90 days by citizens of most European countries, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Israel, UAE and most countries in America. If you are unsure whether or not you need to apply for a visa, we recommend contacting the embassy or consulate in your country. International (non-Schengen) travellers need a passport that is valid for at least 3 months after the end of their intended trip in order to enter the Schengen zone. Citizens of Schengen countries can travel without a passport but must have a valid ID with them during their stay.
