Introducing this place:
Geneva is situated 46°12' North, 6°09' East. This is where the lake flows right back into the Rhone river. Geneva is surrounded by two mountain chains: the Alps and the Yura. Geneva is a great place to be in. Geneva is Switzerland’s second most populous city. This is the worldwide center for diplomacy. Geneva is widely considered to be a global city due to the presence of a wide number of global organizations.
Sightseeing:
Geneva is a mesmerizing city indeed. The following things can be see in Geneva:
Museums: If you like history or rather, if you are a history buff then the Maison travel museum is the right place for you. Originally constructed in the 12
th century, the Museum exhibits the urban history of Geneva. Currently, over 300 paintings have been displayed in the museum. There is also the Museum of International committee of Red Cross. The ICRC museum provides a pictorial presentation of ICRC’s work towards humanity.
St.Pierre Cathedral is yet another one of the most visited sites of Geneva. The Cathedral explores the origins of Christianity in it’s archaeological site. This would be very appealing to the folks who are really interested in religion specially Christianity and it’s origin.
Jet d´Eau is a major landmark of the city of Geneva. It has a 140 meter high water column which is visible from many parts of Geneva. This is one of the coolest attractions of Geneva. It uses about 2400 Volts of electricity with a total power of 1000 kilo watts. The water goes through the nozzle at a speed of 200 km per hour and shoots into the air.
The United Nations building in Geneva is one of the most viewed places of the city. The building covers a huge surface area and is an architectural marvel.
The lake Geneva is a great lake. It is also known as Lac Leman or Lac de Geneve.
Things and Sports to Do:
Geneva also has a lot of things to offer to it’s tourists. Here are just a few of them:
- Chamoinx and Mont Blanc For $227.38, one should be able to spend the day in the Chamoinx mountains. The mountain excursion will start with a 90 minute drive through the picturesque Arve valley from Geneva to Chamoinx. The highlights of this trip include: 90 minute drive through the Arve valley, Cable car ride to Aiguille du Midi, spectacular views of Matterhorn and Mont Blanc, lunch in Chamoinx. English and French speaking guides will accompany you on this trip.
- For $78 one can go on a Geneva city tour. You should be able to tour on Geneva’s mini train After the mini train ride, you should be able to go around Geneva’s lake on the ‘Cruise of the mermaid’. This cruise is a commented cruise so, you should be able to listen to the commentary on Geneva. In order to continue with your tour, you should be able to drive through the countryside. This particular tour departs from the Geneva bus station.
- If you come to Geneva in December, you should be able to spend your Christmas time in Montreaux and Chillon. The coach will take you to Lausane along the jaw dropping country side. This trip will cost you about $ 95.74 USD and takes about 8 hours roughly.
Restaurants and Shopping:
Geneva provides various dining options for the hungry tourist. Eating out in Geneva can be a lot of fun.
Auberge du Lion d'Or is situated in the Cologny district and is basically a fish restaurant. It offers panoramic views of the city of Geneva and the Lake. The restaurant is decorated in smart classical style. Customers can enjoy rooftop dining in summer.
Chateauvieux is the next on the list. This restaurant is located in the Western suburbs of Peney-Dessus. An unique thing about this restaurant is that it has an impressive list of about 800 wines.
There are plenty of shopping options in Geneva as well. Starting from mom and pop shops to big malls, Geneva has it all. Most of the Geneva’s shops are located around the periphery of Rues Basses. One can find watch and jewelry shops around this area. Du Rhone sells excellent swiss chocolate.
People and Culture:
According to sources, the population of Geneva was 186,825. Further reports prove that out of 812, 000 residents of Geneva, about two thirds live on Swiss soil while the others live on the French soil. Geneva is divided into French and swiss parts.
Jeûne genevois is observed on the first Thursday. Jeûne federal is observed here as well. These traditions are rooted in the culture of Geneva. From 1818 onwards, a particular chestnut tree had been used as an official “herald of spring” in Geneva.
Geography and Climate:
The city of Geneva has an area of 15.86 km square, while the area of Canton is only 282 km square. As mentioned previously, the city is situated between the two mountain chains of Alps and the Yura. Geneva is situated at an altitude of 373.6 meters from sea level. Geneva enjoys a temperate climate. In winter, the ice storms near the Lac Leman are pretty common.
Economy, Prices and Living Standard:
The economy of Geneva is mainly services oriented. There is an important and an old finance sector of the city. It specializes in private banking as well as the financing of the international trade. Geneva is the host of many international companies. There is also an age old tradition of watch making in Geneva. Companies like Rolex, Phillipe, Raymond Weil, etc. are there to make awesome watches. Plenty of people work in the numerous offices of international organizations which are housed in Geneva. The living standard is pretty high here. The swiss railway connects Geneva to other places of Switzerland. Buses, trolley buses as well as trams are available throughout Geneva.
Thus, many tourists are attracted to Geneva because of it’s proximity to the alps. The Alps is nothing less than fabulous or rather, breath taking. The well connected transportation network helps people to get around easily in Geneva. Altogether, this is a great city to be in.