Talk to me about Geneva

[SJ]

Oh! We were there earlier this year. I don't have time at this moment, but please email me and bug me if I don't come back and respond.

[MauMau]

Geneva is my least favorite Swiss city. But I'm bias since I was a Zürich dweller at the time. And I only had one day in Geneva and it was the typical dark and grey beginning of spring weather. So it made it hard for me to love it. Lol.

Cicero could probably give you great tips and advice.

I would probably use one of the days for a cheese thing or take a gondola and or train to one of the mountains. I also like Montreux which is an hour drive from Geneva and position on the east end of the lake. Look into and price the Rail Passes. I'm not as familiar anymore but there are sometimes ones for 3 days and you can ride nearly anything you see.

[Deleted]

If you can take 2 days off of work (Dec 2-3) then Ryan Air has £9 flights to Basel right now.

The Christmas market in Basel is starting at the end of this month as well. I'm going at the end of the month and could report back on Basel if you want.

www.basel.com/en/christmas-basel-home-switzerlands-largest-christmas-market

[marina007]

Montreux is beautiful, quick hour and 15 minutes on the train. I'd defo combine Genève & montreux - highly recommend the Hotel i stayed at too - STUNNING views! Will find the name.

Montreux also has the castle that inspired Mary shelleys frankenstein - easy 30-45 minute stroll from town along the lake promenade.

[marina007]

m.suisse-majestic.ch

I see that recent reviews are not great, but I loved it - fab location, newly done up and incredible views. Defo get a lake view room - a waste not to. I was on my own for the weekend so I ate a lovely dinner of steak tartare and a glass of champagne on my own in the hotel restaurant - not great value, but gorgeous views.

[babybou]

I actually live in Geneva and Montreux is 45 min by train. Well worth a visit! I second Grueyers. From there you can go to Moleson which has stunning views. Just a warning that Geneva itself is dead on a Sunday, but the Vielle Ville (old town) is lively and you could go to the top of the church for more stunning views or take the cable car up the Saleve just over the boarder in France for even more pretty views.

[betsyray]

RockNVoll, I lived in Geneva for a few years. There's not much in the way of touristy stuff to do, but it's a gorgeous city. Rue du Rhône is fun to shop (although when we left, they had just put in a Starbucks and McDonald's so it might not look so different from London or the US now!), the flower clock at the jardin anglais is cool (don't remember what the garden is like in March, though), the old part of the city is a lovely stroll. Weirdly, one of the things I miss most is the public transportation system. It's so efficient and easy to use. Trams run through the city and connect with bus lines at the Rive.

We used to stay at the swissôtel when we were moving in and out of the city, but that was ten years ago. We did a couple day trips to France, too--Evian isn't far.

Definitely check out Montreux while you're there if you get a chance.

[babybou]

Nov 13, 2014 6:10:05 GMT -5 RockNVoll said:

So, don't spend much time in Geneva proper is what you're all telling me

Depends what you want to do!  It is a great city for shopping and wandering around and if you are interested in International Politics there is the UN Eurpoean Headquaters that you can tour or the ICRC (Red Cross).  If you want to be more in the mountains with a quaint village feel, then there is Gruyeres.  You can also tour CERN which is a 20 minute tram ride from the centre if you are into science.  It is only Sunday that is not exciting as there are no shops open, but still bars and restos.  If you would like reccomendations for places to eat or drink, I can post a few

[MauMau]

Oh yes... I was in Geneva on a Sunday. It was incredibly boring compared to a Sunday in Zurich. Lol.

I stayed at the Fairmont in Montreux. It's probably a splurge but beautiful hotel looking over the lake. Has a very nice spa that I took advantage of in my suit (I'm naked shy lol) and for my sightseeing activity there I went to Chilion castle.

[Cicero]

When are you going? Montreux has an amazing Christmas Market on the lake and another (medevil) one in the castle. Geneva on Sunday is deader than dead. Absolutely nothing is open aside from a couple bakeries so if one of your 3.5 days is a Sunday I'd choose that one to peace out on a daytrip.

I'll be back in a bit with more info.

[babybou]

Mid March can be either beautiful or snowy! Also it can be dark as summer time hasnt arrived (29 March 2015). As for Sunday in the past few years it has gotten a LOT better, the entire Old Town had dining options, as well as in Carouge and around the train station.