Geneva is known for being a global city as it is one of the major centres of international diplomacy. Although French is the official language spoken in the city, English, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese and Arabic are also prominent as well as German and Italian.
Surrounded by the Alps and the Jura mountain ranges, the city is located on the South-Western side of Lake Geneva and is within a short journey of France and Italy.
Getting to Geneva is fairly easy. Many plane companies, including Easyjet offer flights to destinations all over Europe and a couple of flights go trans-Atlantic. The city is well served by train with services to locations all over Switzerland as well as some parts of France and Italy. There are also night connections to Barcelona with a journey duration of nine and a half hours.
One advantage the city has, due to it’s proximity to a large lake is the possibility of boat travel to and from various ports around the coast line.
Travel within Geneva can be done by bus, train, tram, bike, walking and by car. Driving is especially useful if you intend on visiting the nearby mountains.
One of the more prominent attractions in Geneva is the Jet d'Eau. This is a jet which pumps water around 140metres into the air. Once an occasional pressure release for a power generator, locals were so impressed with the way it towered above the city, it was made into a permanent fixture when a pump was installed in 1891. The surrounding area gets soaked with water.
The city’s old town holds the towering Cathédrale St-Pierre, a part-Romanesque, part-Gothicbuilding just off Grand-Rue and is where John Calvin preached from 1536 to 1564. The Palais de Nations is the European arm of the UN. One of the most impressive aspects of this important building is the Assembley hall, but it is also worth visiting the fantastically designed gardens and viewing the large collection of art. Various tours are available.
Geneva is truly an international city, however, despite the cosmopolitan feel of the city, it doesn’t have the style one would expect. Here you can meet people from every part of the world in one place, but generally, it is not the liveliest of places. There are, however a number of attractions to see, and it is friendly and safe. The lake provides a good focal point to the city and on a clear day, the mountains provide a beautiful backdrop. Whilst the city does not have a huge amount to do, it works well as a hub for being based in whilst visiting the nearby mountains, lake locations and cities in Switzerland, France and Italy.
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