Driving in Geneva and nearby can be a beautiful experience. With snow-topped Alps and deep, aqua-blue lakes, the landscape makes driving a pleasure. The key difference from the UK is that you’ll be driving on the right, and overtaking on the left, as in much of the EU. Seatbelts must be worn by all passengers at all times, and children under 12 cannot sit in the front passenger seat without an appropriate restraint. No under 7’s can sit in the front at all.

Speed limits are marked in kph, and are 120kph on ‘green sign’ motorways, 100kph on dual carriageways, 80kph on other roads and drop to 50kph in built-up areas, town and city centres and 30kph in residential areas.

Parking on the street can be difficult in the centre of Geneva, but there are plenty of car parks and garages, plus park and ride schemes if you want to leave your car on the outskirts and enter the city on public transport. You can find a useful parking map here.

The Rhone sits at the mouth of the vast Lake Geneva and splits the city in two, with frequent crossings including the Pont du Mont-Blanc and the Rue des Moulins. If you want to explore some of Europe’s grandest drives, you’re in the perfect place, with routes through France, to Italy, taking in the seven mile Mont-Blanc tunnel. West leads to Lyon, perfect for a day trip before you head back to Geneva.

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 12^th century, hosted John Calvin in the 16^th 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.