There’s an undeniable air of luxury about Geneva. It attracts the jet-setters, the wealthy and the glamorous, but is also surprisingly friendly and accessible. The second largest city in Switzerland puts on a show all year round, whether it’s pristine skiing conditions, the annual motor show or the summer Fates de Geneve. Throw in some fine dining and you’ve got the perfect city to explore.
Collide with CERN
It may be slightly off the beaten track – just over five miles to Geneva’s west – but the CERN laboratory is a unique tourist attraction. Home to the Large Hadron Collider, there are also a couple of permanent exhibitions and the ability to tour the facility. You’ll soon be talking with great authority about the Higgs Boson.
Wander the Old Town
Starting at Grand-Rue, potter around the graceful old town of Geneva, taking in the sights and sounds. The philosopher Rousseau was born at No. 40 in 1712, and it now houses a small exhibition. Continue on to the Cathedrale St-Pierre, which had its foundations laid in the 12th century, hosted John Calvin in the 16th century and has some fine Gothic touches. Excavation below it has uncovered Roman remains, and the Roman crypt and Monk’s Cells are open to visitors. Maison Tavel is Geneva’s oldest house, and now hosts a museum about the city’s history.
Fans of more recent history should make a beeline for the Hotel de Ville, where the League of Nations was founded, and the Geneva Convention initiated. There’s plenty more to see here, before you stop for a coffee or hot chocolate in the Bourg-de-Four Square.
Lake life
While most of Lake Geneva is serene, that can’t be said of the Jet d’Eau. The centrepiece attraction of Geneva’s harbour, it’s a spout of water jetting 140 metres into the air – what used to be a safety valve is now a lure for tourists.
You can choose to walk up the left or right bank of the lake, down promenades packed with markets, shops and cafes. Look out for the 1955 flower clock, paying tribute to Geneva’s reputation for watch-making, and then join the locals at the Bains des Paquis. These public swimming baths, along with an artificial beach, are ideal for summer. And if it’s cooler, there are saunas, Turkish baths and a hammam. The winter fondues at Buvette des Bains here are the stuff of legend.
Chocs away
Swiss chocolate is famed the world over, and there are dozens of boutiques dedicated to the sweet stuff in Geneva. L’Escalade, the city’s chocolate festival, takes place just before Christmas every year, but you can sample it year-round with choc-making tours at Auer or Stettler. Just outside of Geneva, in Versoix, is the Favarger factory, founded in 1826. Pre-arrange a visit here and you can take a guided tour before the master chocolatier helps you make your very own treats in their workshop. And then fill the boot of your hire car at the factory shop, obviously…
As you can see, Geneva offers science, sweets, lakes and lovely walks and we haven’t even touched on watch-making, art, skiing, Mont Blanc, or the rest of the Alps. Car hire in Geneva will give you the best possible chance to fit all of these and more into your trip to the shores of the Lake.