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The little Swiss city by the lake is a cosmopolitan one, home to the European headquarters of the United Nations and Red Cross, and within touching distance of the French border. Visitors wanting a melting pot of cultures will be in luck, with countless things to do in Geneva itself and nearby. Strolls around Geneva’s cobbled old town streets give way to sophisticated museums, and day trip opportunities include skiing in the French Alps or sampling chocolate and cheese in Gruyeres.
Geneva is a city that’s good to visit year-round. Pair a city break with a winter ski trip, and you’ll find no shortage of things to do, especially in December when the Christmas markets appear. Or, time your visit for the peak summer season between June and September, when you can attend outdoor music concerts, swim at Lake Geneva’s public beaches, and go hiking in the nearby mountains.
Skip the car, and explore Geneva by foot, bus, tram, or mouette (boat); all public transport options are frequent, reliable, and clean. If you don’t have a Swiss Travel Pass, you can buy a day pass for zone 10 (the city of Geneva), which offers unlimited use of the public transit network and can be purchased at any bus or tram stop. Geneva is also a great city for cyclists. Use the Donkey Republic bike-share app to pay as you go and ride one of the city’s orange bikes or e-bikes around town.
While many people associate Geneva with its famous lake, the city also features lovely rivers worth exploring. For an experience many Genevois don’t know about, head to the Arve River to raft around the city and admire the urban surroundings from a different vantage point. Another option is the Dranse River, just outside Geneva, where white-water rafting awaits.
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Geneva—nicknamed the Peace Capital—is home of the Geneva Conventions, Red Cross, and European branch of the U.N. It's an important world financial center. You'll find the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. Geneva's Old Town is Switzerland's largest historical site and its lake its largest body of water.
...MoreStart early to beat the crowds, stopping at must-see landmarks such as the Palace of Nations, Jet d'Eau, and St. Peter's Cathedral in Old Town. Eat a fondue lunch on the lakefront and get your fill of Swiss chocolate; then widen your perspective on an afternoon lake cruise or mountain adventure.
...MoreFrench is the main language of Geneva, though English, Spanish, Italian, and German are also widely spoken, thanks to the city's status as an international hub. Swiss French is very similar to standard French, though some words are different—such as septante for 70, instead of soixante-dix.
...MoreUpscale bars and high-end clubs make up most of the afterdark scene in Geneva, catering to financial workers and multinational crowds, though there are some Celtic-style pubs and hipster haunts. If you're after a tamer excursion, try a Lake Geneva sunset cruise followed by dinner at a top restaurant.
...MoreThe Palace of Nations is a special sight in Geneva—a monument to peace at the heart of Ariana Park. Other unique attractions include Geneva's Red Cross Museum, which covers the Geneva Convention and global humanitarianism, as well as CERN headquarters, where you can get a close-up glimpse of cutting-edge science.
...MoreYes. Geneva is expensive. The city regularly ranks as among the most expensive in the world. But, with a little planning, it is possible to optimize both time and budget. Package deals like the city pass offer discounted access to museums and unlimited rides on the country's travel system.
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