Geneva Travelers Recommend

Sitting on the shore of Europe's largest alpine lake, with views of Europe's highest mountain, Geneva is tolerant, cosmopolitan and stylish. It's the perfect place for sailing, skiing or sampling great cheese, chocolate and wines in the beautiful countryside. Begin with a walk beside the river to the 13th-century Tour d'Ile. Then head for Lake Geneva and its Jet d'Eau, 7 tonnes of water shooting into the air at 200 km/h. Geneva's Cathédrale de St Pierre is a mélange of styles from the 11th to the 18th centuries. Also on the site are archeological digs dating back 16 centuries. Geneva's oldest house, 14th-century Maison Tavel, is a Geneva history museum. The philosopher Rousseau's birthplace is around the corner. You can visit the Palais des Nations, once home to the League of Nations, now the European HQ of the United Nations (bring your passport). Visit the Red Cross Museum or CERN, the European Centre for Nuclear Research, located just outside Geneva.

Geneva is a fine base to explore the nearby Alps, whether they're in Switzerland, France or even Italy. There's public transport access by train and bus to nearby mountain destinations where the hiking in summer is as tantalizing as the skiing in winter. Snow-topped mountains and glaciers are even accessible as day trips from the city. Spend the day in the Swiss mountains on a day trip from Geneva to Chamonix, one of Switzerland's most famous villages. Just 90 minutes' drive through the picturesque Arve Valley from Geneva, Chamonix is at the foot of majestic Mont-Blanc, the highest peak in Western Europe. After lunch, take a trip in a cable car to the Aiguille du Midi, with snow year-round, for breathtaking views of Mont-Blanc and the surrounding Alps. Then board the charming red 1908 train to Montenvers, a vantage point with fine views of the magnificent Mer de Glace glacier.