What's Geneva like?

Goldust

Hi,

I'm thinking of taking my girlfriend away next month and saw there were some cheap flights available to Geneva.

Just wondered what's it like for things to do, shopping and so on?

Also, how expensive is it? And what are the locals like? I'm not sure about the language as well and there isn't much time to learn anything!

Voyager2002

Geneva itself is a beautiful old city on a picturesque lake, but I would suggest exploring the countryside. Most visitors to Switzerland come for the mountains and lakes rather than the cities, although the cities are at least as attractive as those found elsewhere in Europe.

Geneva is the home of the United Nations, and so people are used to foreigners speaking a wide range of languages. Their native language is a curious form of French, but English, a kind of German and Italian will be understood almost everywhere. Do be aware that UN staff have high salaries and allowances, and so prices in Geneva tend to be as high as you can find anywhere in the world: another region for getting out of town.

There are several attractive resort-towns on the lake (Lac Leman): perhaps the best known are Montreux and Lausanne. They are served by direct trains from the station in the airport.

bargainbarmy

We went to Geneva last January and we were expecting it to be a beautiful grand city but we were quite disappointed. There seemed to be nothing to do when we were there and there were hardly any decent restaurants. I think we had this romantic image in our heads that it would be beautiful but it just looked like a normal city, in fact quite industrial in parts and an awful lot of 60s concrete buildings. I think I would give it a miss and head for the mountains if I were you...oh, and it was very expensive!!!

[Deleted User]

That's 94 million Swiss francs by the way.(£55M)

prowla

Lots of four-leaf clovers in a park.

hkwintrip

its really boring... lovely, pretty, but boring. we went for a romantic city break, i cant remember what time of year it was, either about now or about october time (as it was a bit chilly). i would suggest going in the summertime if you are going to go.

the place is immaculately clean and safe. shopping not so good, unless you like banks, chocolate shops, swiss army knife shops, banks, chocolate shops, swiss army... you get the picture. we didnt really find any night life when we were there, the place seemed a bit dead (although that could be the season). there is a bar called le chat noir which was ok.

i wouldnt bother if i were you, really.

i hope you havent booked the tickets and are reading this. if so, catch a train to lausanne, which is lovely and apparently has more of a night life.

TravellingAbuela

Geneva is a wonderful city, we have had many a holiday/short break there. Yes it can be an expensive city but there are budget options if you look! For hotels look around the station area - not as scenic as the lakeside but much, much cheaper! Get a copy of Fodor's guide from your local library for accomodation ideas on a budget.

Eating out can be as expensive as you want it to be but, here again, there are budget options. For lunchtimes follow the workers into the Manor department store and head for the topfloor restaurant with views all over the lake and the city - lovely food at bargain prices. Hundreds of workers can't be wrong! For evening dining search out the many Italian restaurants (Molino is my favourite) Au Petit Chalet for rustic Swiss dishes and Chez ma Cousine for the best (and cheapest!) chicken in Geneva! And the Creme Brulee is to die for!

Probably the best bargain is the free transport pass you receive when staying in any Geneva hotel. This covers the whole canton of Geneva - get a map from TI of the area it covers. We have had some lovely bus and train trips up the lakeside as far as Hermance on the French Border and Versoix on the Swiss side. It also gets you as far as the cable car up the Saleve (extra charge for going up) at Veyrier Douane for wonderful views over the city and lake and alps beyond. It also covers the mouettes (water taxis) which ply back and forth across the lake.

Go for it and enjoy, it's a beautiful city!

Have a look at http://www.geneva-tourism.ch/?lang=_eng for ideas of what you are going to see and do whilst you are there!