Geneva
Geneva in Switzerland is one of Europe's most cosmopolitan cities and has played a part in some of the most vital international political and humanitarian developments in modern history. It has grown up in a beautiful location, overlooked by the majestic Le Môle mountain, and is considered the gateway to the Swiss Alps from the west. With a population of 645,000, Geneva has a lot to offer the tourist and business traveler.
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Getting To Geneva
Traveling to Geneva is easy, as you can get there by plane, train, bus, or boat, as well as driving on good roads from other destinations within Europe.
Most Major European airlines fly into Geneva Airport, and so do a number of transatlantic carriers. Geneva is a center for low-cost European airlines such as EasyJet. Swissair operates between Geneva and JFK Airport in the US, and Continental Airlines offers flights from Newark, US, to Geneva. These are direct flights - other airlines do offer transatlantic flights, but you will probably have to change to connecting flights at other airports.
Geneva Airport offers all the usual traveler facilities, including banking, currency exchange, a café, and duty free shopping area. You should have no trouble traveling from the airport into the city, as there are taxis and buses available at the airport. You can take a bus from the airport to the train station - bus tickets can be purchased at the airport arrivals lounge.
You can take the train to Geneva from Paris (on the TGV or high-speed train), Milan, or Venice. The Swiss train system, known as the Swiss Federal Railway, has trains from the Gare de Cornavin in Geneva serving most internal Swiss towns. There are also local bus and tram services. If you are planning travel in Geneva, you can contact the Swiss Federal Railway by telephone for more information: +41-900-300-300 about rail travel.
If you are traveling by car, there is a modern highway or motorway network going directly to Geneva from the various border crossings. It is important to remember that travelers should purchase a motorway tax sticker at the customs bureau when crossing the border into Switzerland. These stickers are required by law if you want to drive on Swiss roads, but once you have purchased your sticker, it is good for a year.
Bus travelers have a choice of routes from various European destinations, but you have to change buses to get where you are going. Contact the Geneva bus station for more information. Geneva Public Transport (TPG) has regular services from several French towns. You can get timetable information online from www.tpg.ch
Probably one of the most romantic ways to travel to Geneva is to take one of the turn-of-the-century steamboats that pick up passengers from port towns all around Lake Geneva. A good site for information about the steamboats and about private boat tours of the lake is http://www.cgn.ch/
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Languages
Language can be a problem when traveling, although a good grasp of English and/or French will serve the traveler well in most countries today. While Geneva's official language is French, it is a city with a lot of international organizations and a large diplomatic community, so you will hear many languages spoken. The main ones would probably be English, closely followed by Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, and Arabic - and you may also hear Swiss, German, and Italian, as well as many other languages spoken in the minority.
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Communications in Geneva
If you are traveling on business, it will be important for you to be able to stay in contact with your home base. Most hotels offer Internet connections, and there are a variety of Internet Café services - some of the clubs even offer Wi-Fi hotspots.
You will still find public pay phones in Geneva, but you will usually need to buy a phone card or use your credit card, as most do not accept coins any longer.
Most modern cell or mobile phones offer roaming services, so you should not have much difficulty communicating by telephone - it might be a good idea to check with your cell phone service before you leave to be sure you have this facility set up. Main cell phone service providers in Geneva are Swisscom, Orange, and Sunrise; others include Yallo, Migros, and Coop.
Geneva is well served with Internet cafes, which have become very popular, especially with students from the various universities and colleges. Most stay open quite late and offer printing, photocopying, scanning, and other related services as well as the Internet access. Some also have video games and snack machines. Some will let you use your own laptop to connect to the Internet, but you'll probably be asked to prove that you have anti-virus protection before they'll let you log on. Go online to www.freespots.ch/ to get more information. This is also the site to go to for information about the growing number of wireless hotspots around Geneva.
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Events in Geneva
Although Geneva has many sightseeing and event opportunities, some people are claiming that the most important one in the near future is that the city will be one of the eight host cities in the 2008 European Football Championships!
Geneva is sometimes called "The City of Parks" because of its many green spaces, and a visit there is not complete without enjoying at least one of these. You can find more information and maps for walking tours of the parks from a local tourist office.
Some places to visit include the English Garden, Bastions Park, Faux-Vives Park, La Grange Park, La Perle-du-Lac, Rousseau Island, Batie Woods, and Alpin Garden. Other activities in Geneva include visiting the Botanical Gardens, going horseback riding, and touring some of the open air and enclosed markets. You can go online for more information at http://www.geneve-tourisme.ch/?rubrique=0000000138&lang=_eng You can also find out here about walking and audio-guided tours, cruises, and tours by bus, mini-train, and bicycle.
Don't forget that this city also has the headquarters of a number of notable international organizations including the Red Cross, the World Health Organization, and UNICEF. Although the United Nations now has its headquarters in New York, there is still a large contingent housed in the Palais des Nations. Some of these organizations offer educational tours.
Here are some of the annual events in Geneva:
The Geneva Motor Show in March
Cabes Ouvertes in May - a chance to tour the countryside and sample local wines.
Bol D'Or Yaght Race and the Fete de la Misique, both in June.
Fete de Geneve - a week long celebration including fireworks in August
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Sightseeing in Geneva
Geneva has lots of places of interest, from historic cathedrals to museums and galleries, and don't miss the Jet d'Eau at the Rade, where a fountain of water rises 140 meters into the air and is visible from miles around. The Jet d'Eau is free to view, but be sure to stand well back, otherwise you'll get soaked!
Cathédrale St-Pierre, on the highest point of the old town of Geneva, is an archeological site and houses the International Museum of the Reformation. The Palais des Nations is the home of the United Nations offices in Geneva, and tours are available for a small charge.
There is also the International Museum of the Reformation, the Museum of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Musee ARIANA which has a display of about 16000 pieces of ceramics from Europe and the Far East, the Musee d'Art Moderne, and the Musee d'Histoire Naturelle.
To really see the sights of Geneva, consider taking a bicycle tour. No bike? No problem! An organization called Genève Roule actually loans bicycles free of charge for a day - you can find more information online at www.geneveroule.ch/site/tiki-index.php?page=accueil You'll be asked for your passport or ID card and a refundable deposit.
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Geneva's Cuisine
As you might expect from a modern city with a varied international population, eating out in Geneva can be an exciting cosmopolitan experience. There are a lot of restaurants, a variety of cuisine, and you should be able to find some memorable eating places, whether you are on a budget or ready to splurge for your holiday meals.
If you're on a budget, look for restaurants in the general area of the train station, in the Paquis district, or the Plaine de Plainpalais area. Some of these restaurants are very small, and you may need to arrive early to get a seat. Most serve a menu of pasta and pizza dishes with salads, and if you want vegetarian food, it's probably a good idea to ask your waiter for recommendations. You will also find restaurants catering to the Indian and Chinese communities, as well as Turkish and Sri-Lankan, so the food is authentic and usually good. Not all restaurants cater to vegetarian requirements. Economy restaurants are usually good, and prices are reasonable when you consider that Geneva is probably the most expensive city in one of the most expensive countries in Europe.
If you are looking for something a little pricier, you'll find restaurants near the United Nations headquarters, and other international organizations will probably serve you well. Try the Rue du Valais, Rue de la Confederation, Place du Petit-Saconnex, Rue des Bains, or Rue de Richemont for good food in mid-range pricing with a variety of local and international dishes.
The higher-end restaurants usually offer a variety of food, including the ubiquitous fondue, as well as wine and lots of atmosphere. You will likely need to make a reservation as these restaurants are popular nightspots - some include music or other entertainment - and tend to fill up quickly. Expect a meal to cost you anything up to ten times as much as at a budget restaurant! Look for places in the Carouge district, around the rue de Carouge, rue de la Filature, and the Place de la Navigation.
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Night Life
Geneva has its fair share of pubs and clubs, including a number of "ex-pat" places such as British pubs where they serve fish and chips and Guinness with football games on television for the homesick. Most pubs also have a limited menu of pub-type food. A bonus is that many are situated near bus or train routes!
A happy hunting ground for nightspots in Geneva is in the area around the Plaine de Plainpalais. Some nightclubs have live music, varying from rock to traditional, and some have electronic music, punk rock, or Rasta - you might want to check ahead of time depending on your taste. As well as entertainment and/or dancing, and a selection of alcoholic drinks, some nightspots also offer wireless Internet connections - something for everyone!
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What to Buy To Take Home
Being a Swiss city, Geneva offers several good quality iconic gifts and souvenirs to take home from your trip. Probably the first to spring to mind is the cuckoo clock. Switzerland has long been famous for its precision clocks and watches, but keep an eye on the packaging and labeling - some of these items specially produced for the tourist market, may be stamped "Made in China," which takes the bloom off your travel gift from Switzerland for the people back home. Geneva has several watch and clock manufacturers and these offer a good selection.
Chocolate is the other item people think of when they think of Switzerland. There are stores that specialize in various types of chocolate, but the savvy shopper will check out the local food market where you will find the same items of those of similar quality for sometimes significantly cheaper prices.
Switzerland isn't well known for its wines and spirits, but these are worth investigating. The locally produced ones can be very good quality and the prices are good.
Don't forget the ubiquitous Swiss Army Knife - a truly Swiss icon with its many blades and gadgets. If you are interested in taking or sending home some outwardly Swiss souvenirs, you can certainly find them in Geneva, mainly along the main streets leading down to the lake from Gare Cornavin. There are also a couple of good spots on the other side of the lake near the end of the Mont Blanc Bridge. You should be able to easily find these at reasonable prices.
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How Safe Is the City of Geneva?
Geneva is generally considered a safe city, although it is wise to take the usual precautions of staying in well lit, well traveled areas, going out and about with other people, letting your hotel or hosts know where you are going and when you're likely to be back, and keeping valuables out of sight. Petty thievery is one of the most common crimes - don't leave your prized belongings such as your laptop, camera, or MP3 player unattended if you don't want it to go AWOL! If something is stolen from you, contact the police. Geneva is proud of its reputation as an international city, and you'll probably find the police sympathetic and helpful - especially if you can communicate in French!
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