Geneva oozes class. It’s a luxurious place that you just can’t help but enjoy. It’s cultured, sophisticated and yet retains a very definite air of relaxed friendliness about it.
The people of Geneva will welcome you to their city and you’ll find yourself quickly falling in love with it.
Don’t be late for the lake
Geneva is home to one of Europe’s largest and most spectacular lakes – Lake Geneva. Known to the locals as 'Lac de Genève' or 'Lac Léman' it straddles Switzerland and France and is overlooked by the epic Alps.
Take some time to explore the peaceful and pretty villages and towns that sit on the water’s edge and perhaps grab the opportunity to head on to the lake itself for a boat trip or some fun watersports.
If you prefer to take things a little easier, then perhaps admiring the impressive 140-metre-high blasts of water from one of the world’s tallest fountains is more your thing. Don’t be surprised if you get a little wet from the aquatic acrobatics of the Jet d’Eau, though.
Operating day and night – when it’s illuminated by striking blue light – the Jet d’Eau is hard to miss, but for a closer view head to the Quai Gustave-Ador or Jardin Anglais.
Take a hike
Just under an hour’s drive south from Geneva into France will take you to Mont Salève, where you’ll be rewarded with unparalleled views of the Alps. On a clear day you can see for almost 30km in every direction. The area is perfect for energetic hikers, as well as a real hotspot for mountain bikers, cross country skiers and even paragliders.
Again though, if your preference is to take things slightly steadier and want to experience the incredible altitude then the Mont Salève cable car is the answer. Climbing to a height of more than 1,100 feet in just five minutes, it’s not for the faint hearted but the views are worth it.
Enjoy the views of Lavaux
The Lavaux Vineyard Terraces are a relatively short, extremely pleasant and scenic drive from Geneva and offer incredible vistas of sweeping grape fields.
The area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and serves up some serious fantastic walks and tours that will appeal to wine drinkers and non-wine drinkers alike. The grapevines are beautiful, especially in spring and early summer. A view of those, backed by a sight of Lake Geneva in the background, is a special treat. Of course, if you’re driving, steer clear of the actual tasting.
Then there’s the chocolate, world-class watch making, the stunning Mont Blanc, the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, skiing… this city and its surrounds demand exploration and car hire from Geneva Airport is the ideal way to experience it all.