Check out these tips on Geneva! Have you ever thought that this city could be part of your next trip to Europe? After all, the city has many attributes to offer.
For starters, it's one of the cities with the best quality of life in the world; it's super easy to get to, with hundreds of flights and trains coming from various destinations and, once there, the airport is just 6 km from the city centre.
What's more, Geneva in winter is a very interesting city, where you'll find the typical activities of this season: sports (it's close to several ski resorts), romantic walks, cosy places, indoor attractions (museums, etc.), typical gastronomy of cold places. In addition, the city is known for its good shopping, watchmaking and fascinating natural beauty.
The city is small and, although there are plenty of attractions, it's a perfect weekend destination. What's more, if you stay in a hotel in the city, you get free public transport. By choosing to book hotels at tophotels.com, you can easily find accommodation that will meet your needs and provide you the benefit of the public transport.
And if you are considering extending your tour and making your journey even more exciting, Zurich is another wonderful Swiss city to visit with equally fantastic hotel offers at https://www.top-hotels-switzerland.com/en/zurich-hotels-18190/.
As you can see, there are plenty of reasons to visit Geneva. Let's get to the tips!
Geneva tips
How to get to Geneva?
Very close to France, Germany and the Alps, Geneva is a great gateway to Switzerland, with flights and trains arriving from all over the world. If you're flying from Brazil, you can get there with just one connection.
If you're travelling from anywhere in Europe, there's no shortage of offers, not least because low-cost companies like Easy Jet have a huge range of flights to the city, as well as all the major airlines.
Just to give you an idea, there are more than 1,440 flights from 112 destinations a week and more than 570 trains a day, including high-speed connections linking Paris and Milan in just 3 hours.
How do I get from Geneva airport to the city centre?
Geneva airport is very close to the city centre, about 6 km, and offers several transport options, including a free train. That's right, a free train to the city centre!
But you have to pay attention to one thing: as soon as you pick up your suitcase - but before you go through customs - you have to get your ticket from a machine, because after that you can't do anything else.
This ticket lasts 80 minutes and allows you to use not only the train, but the city's entire public transport system (tram, bus and water taxi).
The journey to the centre takes around 8 or 9 minutes and you need to get off at the first station, Gare Cornavin, which is Geneva's central station. From there, depending on where your hotel is, either walk or take other transport.
There is also, of course, the bus option, which takes around 15 minutes to get to the centre.
Lines 5, 10, 23 and 28 connect the airport to different parts of the city, so if this is the case, check with your hotel which is best for you. Ah, that same ticket you pick up next to your luggage can be used for this bus ????
If you prefer to take a taxi for the sake of convenience, be prepared to pay around 45 Swiss francs, approximately R$150.00.
What's the weather like and what are the best times to visit Geneva?
Geneva is a city to enjoy all year round, in all seasons, in all climates. Each season has its own charm and the city changes accordingly, as the attractions adapt.
With a relatively mild climate, temperatures range from around 3ºC in the coldest month (January) to around 23ºC in the hottest month (July). Rainfall is high all year round, with a difference of just 30 mm between the month with the least rain (April, with 66 mm) and the month with the most (November, with 96 mm).
See the graphs below with the annual averages:
Annual averages. in Geneva, of rainfall (blue bars) and temperature (red line)
Temperatures during the year in Geneva
So, our Geneva tips are for those who like to enjoy the cold, because you can enjoy winter sports, savour typical winter cuisine, enjoy a romantic atmosphere in wonderful, romantic hotels, without freezing in freezing temperatures.
And in summer, you can enjoy the city in a more cheerful and festive atmosphere, with people strolling and picnicking (with wine, of course!) in the 20 or so parks that are dotted around the small town.
Also visit the Schaffhausen Rhine Falls
How do I get around the city?
Geneva is not a 'huge' city and many of the attractions are close together. This invites you to do a lot of walking, especially if you're staying in a central hotel.
In any case, public transport is free for anyone staying in any hotel there. Seriously! If you stay in a hotel in the city, you don't pay for transport, you get a pass for the number of days you stay in the city. Very good, right?!
The city is well served by trams and buses, but you'll generally only use them to visit more "distant" attractions, such as the UN or the Red Cross museum, for example.
What to do in Geneva?
Geneva has attractions for all types of tourists: those looking for gastronomy, shopping, watches, those travelling as a family, couples, those who like nature, sports or indoor activities such as museums. In short, it's a city that appeals to everyone.
=> Read also: What to do in Geneva in 2 days (itinerary)
Here's a list of some of Geneva's main tourist attractions:
Lake Geneva (Lake Geneva)
the Water Jet (Jet d'Eau)
Cruise on Lake Geneve
Brunswick Monument
Bains des Paquis
A curiosity: at one point on the shore of the lake there is a plaque indicating the place where Sissi, the famous Austrian empress, was assassinated. We've already written here about the Sissi Palace in Vienna.
Jardin Anglais
Flower Clock
Carouge (a place of Italian soul, gastronomy and art)
The Old Town
St Peter's Cathedral
Tower and 360º view of the city
Archaeological Museum
House of Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Bastion Park (Parc des Bastions) and the Reformers' Wall (a wall honouring Protestant leaders, with sculptures), built by the same architect as Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Paul Landowski.
The Geneva Opera House (Grand Théâtre de Genève)
Some of the reformers depicted on the Wall
There are several interesting museums:
MAMCO - Modern and Contemporary Art Museum
Maison Tavel Museum
Geneva's Art and History Museum
Patek Philippe Museum
Geneva is also the world capital of peace and diplomacy, home to various world organisations such as the UN, WHO, Red Cross and scientific bodies. There are therefore a number of buildings and organisations to visit, such as :
The Palais des Nations - UN headquarters in Europe
Broken Chair (huge sculpture on Place des Nation, opposite the Palais)
Parc des Nation (park next to the Palais)
Musee Internationale de la Croix-Rouge et du Croissant-Rouge (Museum of the Red Cross)
CERN - The Globe of Science and Innovation
World Meteorological Organisation building
Where to stay in Geneva?
The best place to stay in Geneva, especially if you're travelling on foot, is in the centre because the city is so small, you can do almost everything on foot.
For the more distant attractions, you have a free transport pass when you stay in a hotel.
How long does it take to visit Geneva?
Although Geneva isn't very big, we'd say that 2 days is the minimum time you need to spend getting to know its attractions. But if you have more time, all the better, as one of the city's great things is its location.
Once you've made it the base for your trip, you'll be able to make a series of day trips to cities close to Geneva, avoiding having to change hotels all the time and lugging your suitcase back and forth, which ends up stealing a lot of time from your trip.
What are the main day trips from Geneva?
As we've already mentioned, Geneva has a super privileged location. It's "on the edge" of Switzerland, next to the Alps, next to France and close to Italy.
As a result, it's a base for several interesting excursions, in addition to everything the city itself has to offer. Here are a few:
Mont-Salève - a cable car ride up to 1,100 metres. Despite being in France, it offers a marvellous view of Geneva
Lavaux Vineyards - a marvellous region of terraced vineyards between Lausanne and Montreux, close to Geneva.
Gruyères - small Swiss town of 1,600 inhabitants, 120 kilometres from Geneva
Lausanne - a Swiss town on the shores of Lake Geneva, about 60 kilometres away. Don't miss the Olympic Museum
Montreaux - another town on the shores of Lake Geneva, about 90 kilometres away, well known for its Jazz Festival.
Chatêau de Chillon - Switzerland's most visited historical monument, one of the world's best-known castles, situated on a micro-island in Lake Geneva, 100 kilometres from Geneva.
Cailler-Nestlé - Switzerland's first chocolate factory, located in Bule, 150 kilometres from Geneva.
What are the ski resorts near Geneva?
For those who want to go skiing or practise other winter sports, Geneva can also be a great base city option, as it is close to several ski resorts, some just 30 minutes away, allowing you to visit a different one each day if you wish.
Just to name a few of the viable options:
La Clusaz (50km/60min)
Megeve (70km/60min)
Morzine (70km/70min)
Chamonix (82km/60min)
Villars (110km/90min)
Verbier (150km/130min)
Zermatt (230km/180min)
What and where to eat in Geneva?
Geneva is a city with an abundance of good - great - restaurants. For those who like good food and sophistication, you're in the right place.
There are several establishments, for example, awarded Michelin Stars. Here are a few examples:
Auberge de Floris - two Stars - chef Claude Legras - French cuisine
Bayview - one Star - chef Michel Roth - French cuisine
Domaine de Châteauvieux - two Stars - chef Philippe Chevrier
Il Lago - one Star - chef Saverio Sbaragli - Italian cuisine
La Bottega - one Star - chefs Paulo Airaudo and Francesco Gasbarro - Italian cuisine
Le Chat Botté - one Star - chef Dominique Gauthier - French cuisine
Le Cigalon - one star - chef Jean-Marc Bessire - seafood
L'Auberge du Lion D'Or - one star - chefs Gilles Dupont and Thomas Byrne - French cuisine
Vertig'o - one star - chef Jerôme Manifacier - French cuisine
Le Flacon - one star - chef Yoann Caloué - French cuisine
On a daily basis, other restaurants offer more affordable food, but no less tasty. On Place du Bourg-de-Four, which is the oldest square in the old town, you can find several and they're all packed. A simple meal costs around 30 francs.
Don't forget: the local cuisine is part of the trip and getting to know - or recognise - new flavours is essential.
So, once you're there, one of Geneva's top tips is: don't miss out on some of the city's and Switzerland's typical dishes, such as the Rostie Potato, also known as the Swiss Potato; the Cheese Fondue (especially in the cold weather... lol), and, of course, the temptations of chocolate.
Some of the restaurants that can be found there are:
Les 5 Portes - bistro style
Chez Ma Cousine - specialises in chicken
Edelweiss - good for trying the cheese fondue
Café de Paris - traditional dish: green salad, fillet with butter and herb sauce and fries;
Gilles Desplanches - a good place to savour Swiss chocolate
Finally, you can also take advantage of one of the special packages mentioned above, the so-called Gourmet Weekend, (from 140 francs) which entitles you to one night's hotel accommodation with breakfast, transport and a Saturday evening dinner at the Parc des Eaux-Vives restaurant.
Where to go shopping in Geneva?
For those who enjoy shopping tourism and are looking for great luxury brands, watches (how about a watchmaking workshop?!), pocket knives and chocolates, among other things, Geneva can be paradise!
The designer shops are particularly concentrated in rue de Rhônes, rue de Rive and rue Crux D'Or, a very charming area, great for walking, with the highest concentration of luxury shops per square kilometre in Switzerland (many with Portuguese-speaking staff).
Rue du Marché is another interesting street and well worth a visit.
Bongénie is a department store and Geneva's largest (34 rue du Marché), a must for shopping lovers.
For souvenirsa good place is the department stores' Manor (rue Cornavin 6), which has five floors and offers food, chocolates, household goods, clothes, perfumes, stationery and a panoramic restaurant.
Another department stores' in the same style that is well worth a visit is Globus (rue du Rhône 48), which is also great for buying wines.
In the basement of Gare Cornavin (the central railway station), there are many options, from Chanel to H&M and souvenir shops. souvenir.
For chocolates, well, they're everywhere, but if you want artisan chocolate, two places you should visit are La Bonbonnière (rue de Rive 11) and Philippe Pascoët (rue Saint-Joseph 12, in Carouge), where you can take part in workshops, which are a lot of fun.
And finally, the famous watches! There are shops everywhere, as you might expect. Some are multi-brand, such as Bucherer (rue du Rhône 45), but if you want to go to the famous brand shops, you have, for example ,Patek Phillippe (rue duRhone 41) and Swatch (rue du Mont Blanc 19, among other addresses).
Have a good trip!
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