Geneva

Geneva, Switzerland

Nestled like a sparkling jewel on the shores of Lac Léman (Lake Geneva) and surrounded by the Alps and Jura mountains, with views of Mont Blanc, Geneva is a city that exudes luxury, quality, elegance, and a cosmopolitan lifestyle. A global hub for diplomacy and banking, the city is buzzing with people from all corners of the world. Geneva boasts excellent restaurants, exclusive shops, beautiful parks, vibrant cultural life, and interesting museums. And because the city is geographically quite small, you can wander around the town in an hour, and it is also easy to go on quick one-day excursions to its idyllic surroundings.

Population:

198,979 (2017)

Currency:

Swiss Franc (CHF) 1 = 100 Rappen

Emergency Numbers:

European SOS: 112
Ambulance: 144
Police: 117
Fire Brigade: 118

Opening Hours:

The normal opening hours for shops in Geneva are 8:30am–7pm on weekdays. Most shops close for lunch between 12–2pm. Shops stay open until 8pm on Thursdays but are open on Sundays at their own discretion.

Newspapers:

Le Temps
Tribune de Genève
Le Matin
24 Heures
Magasine L´Hebdo

The City

Geneva takes full advantage of its wonderful location on Lake Geneva and has surrounded it with parks, modern monuments and branded buildings. The city is just as small as it is large, with new exciting discoveries at every corner. It has about 200,000 inhabitants, and is very easy to get around by foot. At the same time, this is a very lively place because of its International character. Geneva hosts the European headquarters of the United Nations as well as a myriad of diplomatic embassies. Foreigners constitute one-third of the population, and it feels like every language can be heard when following the flow of busy businessmen or strolling on the lake banks.

Do & See

There are glossy bank palaces along the lakeside, and picturesque restaurants serving piping-hot fondue and raclette. Geneva offers everything from gentle strolls around the antique shops in the Old Town or the impressive park by the Lake, exclusive shopping along the luxurious rue du Rhône to thought-provoking visits to the United Nations or the Red Cross. Museums and exhibitions are too many to be counted and expose a wide array from classic arts to modern and bold creations. The architecture has its share of surprises and changing neighborhood you might feel like you have entered a whole different city. Geneva is definitely a place that gives you a taste for more.

Dining

Geneva has a strongly built reputation as a gourmet town and deserves it without a doubt. The cuisine here is, of course, Swiss as well as highly influenced by France and Italy. But the best part is that it could probably pin down every single country in the world, as it has a restaurant for it, and here the most fastidious visitors will find restaurants to delight their taste buds. You can also enjoy local fish delicacies from Lake Geneva such as "filet de perches", "filet de féras", and traditional Swiss dishes such as cheese fondue and raclette -- ideally accompanied by some of the local Swiss and French wines.

Cafes

Geneva is covered by a multitude of cute and fancy cafes, and you can just about pick any of them for a coffee treat or a quick meal. Being a true business centre, the art of coffee is thriving, and the always busy locals love running from meetings to meetings with a nice takeaway cup of Joe. But here, the coffee shops are also the ultimate place to take a break and relax, a natural meeting point for colleagues, family, and friends to catch up. They are the fuel of the city life and always buzzing on Sunday afternoons.