Geneva is located at the southwestern tip of the country
and at the foot of the Alps. The city is divided by the
River Rhone which flows from Lake Geneva. The huge United
Nations building is one of the most well known sights. Geneva
has dozens of museums as well as a cathedral, art galleries,
parks and botanical gardens.
Travel Insurance for Geneva:
Area: Europe *
Know Before You Go:
FCO Country Advice for Switzerland
The Old Town area is a great place to
explore with its cobblestone streets, cafes and antique shops. If
shopping is your passion then you’ll love Market Street
where you could pick up a Swiss watch or maybe a bargain, or
for high fashion go to the Rue de Rive and Rue du Rhone where
the fashions – and price tags – will take your breath
away. From the Old Town you can see St. Peter’s
Cathedral and the cupolas and golden spires of the Russian Church.
You could take a day trip to any of the beautiful nearby towns
such as Chamonix, Lausanne and Montreux. Or take a boat
trip across the River L’Arve to the bohemian area of Carouge which
was styled on the Mediterranean town of Nice.
For outdoor enthusiasts there is plenty to do, especially all
manner of water sports on Lake Geneva. You could take a
boat trip around the lake or relax in one of the many parks or
cafes that surround the lake. Or for a change of pace,
take the gondola up to Mt. Saleve in the
Alps behind Geneva for breathtaking views of the city.
Tours of the United Nations Building or Red Cross Museum are
available. The Red Cross was founded in 1864. Geneva
is also the place where the World Health Organization (WHO) is
located and the European Centre for Particle Physics (CERN) which
was mentioned in Dan Brown’s popular novel ‘Angels
and Demons.’
The lakefront area of Geneva is always popular. The Jet
d’eau is a famous landmark of Geneva and claimed
to be the world’s tallest water fountain, and a beautiful
sight at night as it is lit up and spouting water over 400
feet into the air. The promenades are great places to
people-watch with the many sidewalk cafes. The Bains
des Paquis are located on the western side of the lake and
have been a favorite spot for its saunas and bathing areas
since the 1930s.
Geneva’a opera house has great views and an interesting
history having at one time been the city’s first hydro-electric
power plant.
Another popular attraction is the working Flower Clock which
is located in the English Gardens and serves as a tribute to
the successful watch industry. Tended by gardeners, the
clock changes its faces during the year with thousands of blooms
as different plants flower.
For bird spotters, Rousseau Island is the
place to be, which has a bird sanctuary and eating facilities
and lovely views of the city. The Island was named after
the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau. |
