Fresh mountain air, captivating massive mountains, sweeping landscapes, vigorous sports, real Swiss cheese, wealth, influence, and cultures from around the world, are all diverse images that come into perspective when traveling to Geneva, Switzerland. The geographic feature that dominates the city is the immense Leman Lake. An enjoyable walking town, the city can be explored on foot when perusing the ample slices of history and literally diversions to enjoy.

Geneva has a history of religious and ethnic tolerance where international organizations and cultural diversity are visible throughout the entire city. Its location, on the banks of Lake Leman, between the Alps and the Jura mountains, draws in travelers for skiing, exploring vineyards, spas, and historic towns. Luxurious and exclusive stores and extravagant restaurants are interterpersed throughout the picturesque city that is joined by numerous bridges. The population is primarily French-speaking and is known as a cultural, financial, and administrative center.

Originally an ancient Celtic settlement, it was a focal point of the Reformation after the arrival of John Calvin in 1536.
Accommodations

Beau Rivage Hotel is located in downtown Geneva, by Lake Geneva, and four miles from Geneva Airport. The hotel is also half a mile from Cornavin Train Station and Ile Rousseau and one mile from Mon of the Reformation, Old Town Geneva, and Palais des Nations.

Built in 1854 on the city's ancient fortifications, Swissotel Geneva Metropole is less than a mile from various monuments and museums, as well as Victoria Hall, and has a picturesque view of the Lake. The Hotel Epsom Manotel, a downtown Hotel has contemporary comfort and a glass topped restaurant.

The Hotel Les Armures is a small hotel in a four-story stone building that dates from the 17th century. It is situated in the Old Town near St. Peter's Cathedral. The Four Seasons des Bergues Geneva has a warm, sophisticated and intuitive service.

Restaurants
Relais de l'Entrecôte is the perfect choice if you prefer steak and a sumptuous selection of tempting desserts such as crème brulee or chocolate profiteroles. A noteworthy Italian eatery is the La Trattoria which serves an abundant selection of excellent pizza and pasta. Tables are crammed together for a cozy atmosphere and in the summer, a sidewalk terrace is open to diners.
Cafe du Soleil, a remaining old bistro of Geneva, is close to the major UN Organizations and is popular with the international community and the locals.

Shopping
For glamour, the Rue du Rhône is where travelers can shop for minks, tiaras and watches, diamonds, Gucci shades and more. Located close to the centre of the city, Carouge has different surroundings from the rest of Geneva, and features fashionable artisans, boutiques and restaurants.

The Eaux-Vives is a lively area where small boutiques are dotted along the Rue des Eaux-Vives and side streets leading to the lake.
From Cornavin towards Bel-Air, the Rive Droite has a high concentration of shops, hotels and restaurants.

Major Attractions
The Old Town, the main shopping streets, and two-thirds of Geneva's museums, fill the historic Rive Gauche. The Rive Droite includes the International Area and many excellent hotels.
Geneva’s International Area - the humanitarian and diplomatic zone - has the Palais des Nations as its core, and modern office buildings of the UN are threaded between 19th-century villas. The villas house nongovernmental organizations, embassies, and several museums.

Geneva’s Jet d'Eau is a majestic water fountain, the tallest in the world and is seen as the main insignia of the city. The dramatic view over the lakefront at night is a breathtaking site to see. It projects 500 liters of water per second at the incredible speed of 200km/hr.

The Cathedrae St Pierre, whose beginnings go as far back as 1160, has experienced numerous setbacks and transformations in its history. It is known as the Cathedral where John preached in the 15th century. At the time of the Reformation, the Cathedral was stripped of its altars, statues, paintings and furniture, and only the stained glass windows remained. The initial gothic facade of the Cathedral was also later modified to its current mid-18th century neo-classical style. One of the sights is the breathtaking panoramic view of the city once having climbed the 157 steps of the narrow winding staircase of the North tower. The Cathedral also has a very important archeological site that dates back to the beginning of Christianity.

Written by: Karen J. Lee