Overview

Geneva's selection of sightseeing attractions is diverse and contains something to capture the interest and attentions of visitors of all ages and backgrounds. The city offers a large number of museums covering a varied range of topics, with cultural heritage providing one of the most common themes. For sheer aesthetic beauty, however, the English Garden and St Peter's Cathedral are among the must-see sights.

English Garden

Lovers of fine landscaping and well-manicured flora should not miss out on a visit to the city's popular English Garden, situated on the left bank of Lake Geneva. The garden has been a feature of the city for more than 150 years and is best known for its magnificent flower clock known as the Horloge Fleurie. The clock's face is 20-feet high and is composed of more than 6,500 plants.

Cathédrale St-Pierre

Unquestionably the most imposing structure in Geneva's Old Town district, St Peter's Cathedral was erected in the 12th century and captures the influences of the Romanesque style typical of the period. Originally a Catholic place of worship, the cathedral was converted for use by Protestants during the Reformation. The interior frescoes and the views from the north tower are among the building's highlights.

Monument de la Réformation

For a spot of history, head to the impressive Wall of the Reformers, an early 20th century structure that spans 300 feet in length and reaches a height of 30 feet. The wall took a total of eight years to complete and was erected as a tribute to the famous Protestant reformers Guillaume Farel, Théodore de Bèze, John Knox and Jean Calvin and includes 15-foot high statues of each. There are smaller statues of other renowned figures including Oliver Cromwell.

Jet d‘Eau

Among the city's most notable landmarks, Jet d'Eau is a fountain powered by a pump capable of shooting water more than 450-feet high. The fountain was designed to relieve the build up of water pressure at a nearby hydro-electric plant but these days its aesthetic value is considered to be greater than its functional one. The fountain is best witnessed at night when the lights illuminating it enhance its effect considerably.

Palais des Nations

This eye-catching building was built between 1929 and 1938 with the original purpose of housing the League of Nations. Since the 1950s it has served as the official headquarters of the United Nations Office at Geneva. Tours of the building are available, during which visitors can view a variety of exhibits related to both bureaucratic organisations.

Town Hall

Situated on Place du Bourg du Four, the city's Town Hall is one of its most notable buildings and also one of its oldest, having been built over five centuries ago. The Tour Baudet is the oldest part of the structure, dating back to the 15th century and is notable for containing the hall of the Council of State, a room featuring magnificent frescoes and ornate woodwork.

Overview

Exhausting Geneva's sightseeing selection could take you a while but if you manage it or just fancy something a little more fun-packed, energetic or indulgent, then you can choose an alternative from the wide range of sports, games and leisure pastimes that the city has to offer. Visit in the summer season and Lake Geneva is the place to be, while in wintertime the ski resorts in the city's surrounds are the most popular locations with outdoor types.

Skiing

Geneva is well known for its excellent winter sport scene which runs from December through March. Just over the border in France and within easy driving distance of the city is the world renowned Chamonix resort, while on the Swiss side the reputable Champéry resort is among the best choices available. Slopes suited to skiers and snowboarders of all abilities can be found across the resort selection.

Golf

There are a number of golf clubs located close to the city, one of the best being Golf Club de Genève in Cologny, at which an 18-hole course is available. This and the majority of other courses in the area are private, so visitors will need to get an invitation from an existing member if they wish to play. Clubs and trolleys are available for hire.

Park activities

Geneva offers a large selection of parks at which visitors can enjoy a variety of pursuits or just simply relax and soak up the pleasant natural scenery. On warm summer days, families can enjoy picnics or any of many activities that the parks' open spaces lend themselves to. Among the best parks are Parc des Bastions, Parc Bertrand, Parc Geisdendorf, Parc Mon Repos and Parc Villa Barton.

Water sports

Lake Geneva is a firm favourite with outdoor pursuit enthusiasts, offering a wide variety of activities in a highly picturesque setting. Boating in various forms, ranging from yachting to kayaking, is the most popular activity with the locals, though waterskiing, windsurfing and swimming also have dedicated fans.

Lake Sailing Regatta

For visitors preferring to watch others hard at work rather than engage in it themselves, the annual Rolex Bol d'Or sailing regatta at Lake Geneva is one of the city's most popular spectator events. Literally thousands of boats take to the lake and battle it out in a frantic and exciting race between the opposing banks.

Dining and shopping

Geneva's restaurants are as capable of dishing up high quality Swiss cuisine as those located in the rest of the country, meaning dining out is one of the highlights of a holiday here for visitors, even if it is an experience that invariably comes at a high price.

Besides the usual Italian influenced pizza and pasta creations, Geneva's chefs cook up some excellent dishes featuring perch caught fresh from Lake Geneva. The city's signature dish, however, is the tasty pork stew known as fricassée de porc à la Genevoise. Also extremely popular in Genovese dishes are cheeses such as Gruyère, Vacherin and Tomme and the city's own sausage, known as longeole.

A staple accompaniment to any good meal, of course, is an equally good bottle of wine. Whether the food you order suggests red or white, you can be sure that there will be high quality vintages to choose from.

Some of the best eateries in the city can be found in the area close to the Old Town, north of the River Rhône, and for those with the best reputations, booking ahead is essential. If you are holidaying on a budget, then cheaper eateries can be found in the city's Paquis district and around Plaine de Plainpalais. Aside from those serving Italian cuisine, visitors will find the city has establishments offering Mexican, French, Spanish, Chinese and Indian food.

To aid digestion of a large lunch or to work up an appetite for dinner, take a leisurely stroll around the city's shops but be prepared for some shocks when you see the prices. Rue du Rhône is the city's chicest shopping street and where you'll find exclusive clothing stores such as Gucci and Valentino selling the most expensive in high-class fashion items.

A good selection of upmarket shops can also be found on Place du Molard but for more down to earth prices, Rue de la Confédération and Rue du Mont-Blanc are the streets to head for; the latter being one of the best places to find souvenirs in the city.

For visitors hoping to sample something typically Swiss during their shopping trip, a visit to any of the many chocolate shops is a must. With its international reputation for excellence, Swiss chocolate comes in many shapes and forms and can make a good gift to take home to family and friends. Watches and clocks are other popular buys.

Geneva has some excellent dining establishments and visitors are unlikely to struggle to find a venue for either lunch or dinner. If high quality Swiss cuisine with no concern for budget is your thing then a trip to Le Chat-Botté or Les Armures is your best bet. Meanwhile, if you prefer something international, La Caravane Passe with its cheap but authentic Lebanese food or Patara with its upmarket Thai cuisine are among the most popular choices.

Overview

Cointrin International Airport provides the means by which most international visitors reach Geneva but for anyone preferring not to fly, the city can be reached by a number of others means. For EU visitors, trains or buses can provide transport to the city from pretty much anywhere on the continent and though travel can be somewhat arduous, services are usually comfortable, punctual and efficiently operated.

Airports

Cointrin Airport is the chief international gateway to the Swiss city of Geneva and is located just over four kilometres from the downtown area. The airport is a busy facility, serving up to 10 million passengers per year and providing connections to and from a huge selection of EU cities and major international destinations.

A single terminal handles all traffic and is split into Swiss and French sectors. Across both sectors, travellers will find a good selection of services and facilities including all of the essentials. Both land and airside, passengers can make use of ATMs, currency exchange desks, cafés, bars and restaurants, and a variety of shops. Duty-free shopping is available beyond passport control. Left luggage and lost property services are offered and a business centre and a post office are also on hand.

Getting to the city is easy, whether arriving at the Swiss or French part of the terminal. A train station, situated close to the terminal, offers direct and speedy connections to the city centre, while a slower but cheaper option is to take the number 10 bus from the stop immediately outside the Swiss sector of the terminal. Buses also run from outside the French sector to French destinations and also to major cities in Spain and Portugal.

Taxis are also available from outside of the terminal and operate on a metered fare basis to the centre of Geneva, towns and cities in its surrounds, and French destinations. For passengers preferring to make their own way to their next destination, there are both French and Swiss car hire companies providing services inside the terminal.

Public transportation

Geneva can be reached from neighbouring countries and other major European destinations via Eurolines bus service and also from French towns such as Archamps, Saint-Julien and Thoiry via Transports Publics Genevois (TPG), the city's chief provider of public bus services.

Trains provide connections from across Switzerland and from France and Italy throughout the day, seven days a week. Services terminate at the city's Cornavin Station and are known for their speed and efficiency. From London's Waterloo Station, it's possible to reach Geneva via Eurostar service to France, then connecting services to Switzerland.

Public transport in the city is well managed and comprised chiefly of trains, trams and buses. Trains and trams are run by the same operator and tickets are interchangeable between the two. Trains serve the city centre and destinations in the suburbs, while the tram network is smaller, covering mainly the city centre and popular tourist destinations.

The bus network is extensive and services are efficient and reasonably priced. Hourly, daily and weekly tickets are available and can be bought from machines located at bus stops.

Taxis are widely available in Geneva and visitors will find stands located outside most major hotels as well as at bus and train stations and at the airport. Prices are reasonable by EU standards and many taxi drivers speak English.

For visitors preferring the convenience of a rental car, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz and National operate desks at the airport, while in the city centre there is a selection of both major and independent rental companies.