Geneva, Switzerland
Remarkably self-assured
Geneva is a city with very little to prove. Take a beautiful natural setting, add well-heeled citizens and a touch of civic pride, a huge number of international organisations, throw in handy access for some of Europe’s very best skiing – and you have the kind of place that you could happily spend longer than a long weekend.
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Destination overview
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| Language: | French | |
| Currency: | Swiss Franc | |
| Time zone: | GMT +1 hour (GMT +2 hours in summer) | |
| Flight Time: | 1hour 50 | |
| Holiday type: | Winter sports | |
| Weather: | Average maximum temperature: 10.4°C Rainfall: 917.5mm a year |
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Must see:
Head for the lake (you can’t miss it) and, on a gusty day, you can feel the mist created by the Jet d’Eau, the huge 140-metre natural fountain standing guard at the meeting point of Lake Geneva and the Rhone.
Must eat at:
Not far from the centre of town, Au Pied de Cochon serves-up a hearty mix of traditional Lyonnais and Swiss cooking to a mixed crowd. And yes, they do serve pigs’ trotters.
Must be there for:
For three days in June, Geneva’s Fete de la Musique takes over the town as music spills onto the streets, with 50 outdoor and indoor stages hosting everything from highbrow and classical to electro jazz. (Exact dates vary by year).
Well-travelled tips:
· Ultra-efficient public transport is the best way to get around the city and its environs. To make matters even easier, your hotel should give you a free day-pass ticket.
· Swiss punctuality extends to opening hours – so you might find it difficult to get into certain museums in the run-up to closing time. If you want to see something of real interest to you, it’s best to go early.
Visa:British citizens do not need a visa to visit Switzerland.
Duty free shopping:
Although Switzerland is in Europe, it is outside of the EU Value Added Tax Area so you can benefit from duty free prices on certain items purchased when travelling to Geneva through our terminals. More information.
