GENEVA Economic Travel Guide
1 day trip in the center of luxury watches…
Geneva is a calm, peaceful, orderly and cosmopolitan city located in the lap of a lush nature. It is the second most populous city in Switzerland after Zurich, which is home to expensive designer shopping stores, romantic walking trails, luxury cafes, gothic architecture and historically and culturally important buildings.. This city, where 44% of its population is made up of foreigners, is also the most cosmopolitan city in Switzerland and has the quality of a “global city”.. The majority of the population speaks French.
Geneva is located between the Alps and the Jura Mountains and is located at the exit of the Rhone River from Lake Geneva.. Lake Geneva is also known as Lake Leman, and this lake is split almost halfway between France and Switzerland.. Lake Leman is also the 2nd largest lake in Central Europe.. It is a freshwater lake.
CERN high energy physics laboratory, the European headquarters of the United Nations and many subsidiaries of this organization are located here. It is also home to the headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
3 of the world’s top quality and most livable cities. Geneva, which is in the second place, is for 2-3 days, whether for shopping, skiing between January and April, visiting the auto fair held at the beginning of March, resting or participating in the Fetes de Geneve (Geneva festival) held at the beginning of August. In addition to being a very ideal city for holidays, it is a place you should definitely include in your trip to Italy, France, Germany due to its location.. Since it is a Schengen member state and located in the heart of Europe, it is a 1-hour flight away from almost all European cities, and it is also very pleasant and practical to reach by train: 3.5 hours to Paris by train, 2 hours to Lyon, and Milan by car. It’s 4 hours away.
HOW TO GET TO GENEVA: HOW TO GET TO GENEVA?
5 km from the city. You can find a direct flight from Turkey to Cointrin Airport located in the north. For this, we recommend you to visit skyscanner.com and review different date alternatives.
Otherwise, Pegasus or Easyjet in Freiburg, Germany. You can find a cheaper flight to Basel airport and go to Geneva in about 3 hours by train or by renting a car from Basel and enjoy the scenery that will accompany you throughout your trip.
GENEVA CITY TRANSPORTATION
Transportation from the airport to the city center by public transport is quite easy and cheap, but unlike taxis in Geneva, it is very expensive. .
You can reach the city center in 10 minutes by using the number 10 bus with the ticket you buy from the machines where you can get free bus tickets after you get off the plane.
If you are going to travel by train, direct from the airport to the train station There is a passage leading to it, you can easily find it by following the signs.. By train, you can get off at Geneva’s main train station, ie Gare Centrale.
ACCOMMODATION IN GENEVA: WHERE TO STAY IN GENEVA?
For accommodation alternatives in Geneva, contact booking.com or we recommend checking out airbnb. For Geneva, which is one of the most expensive cities in the world, the accommodation fee varies depending on the period you will travel to, and the hotel prices increase, especially during the auto fair and festival periods, and the occupancy rate also increases.
THINGS TO DO IN GENEVA?
Skiing: If you are in Geneva between March-September With the world’s highest cable car, you can climb to an altitude of 3800 m and ski and watch the Swiss, French and Italian Alps from the summit of the Aiguille du Midi.. In addition, La Clusaz, Le Gets, Megeve and Chamonix, which is located on Europe’s highest mountain Mont-Blanc and is more touristic than others, are the ski resorts you should definitely go to.
Romantic walking: Taking a romantic walk on the shores of Lake Geneva, more commonly known as Lake Leman, is an activity for all seasons.
Clock Museum: as the city of clock Even if you don’t do anything in the well-known Geneva, at least the centuries-old watches in the Patek Philippe watch museum are definitely worth seeing.
Festival/ Fair: Every year on December 11′ just like Geneva’s liberation day, they celebrate their liberation from the Siege of Wall with parades and masquerade balls.. Or, as we mentioned before, the auto show held at the beginning of March.
WHAT TO EAT IN GENEVA? WHAT TO DRINK?
Geneva is a somewhat limited city in terms of suitable eating and drinking alternatives. Quality food and friendly staff are usually only available in expensive restaurants.. In addition, street snacks are almost non-existent. We recommend that you review lafourchette.ch and assiettegenevoise.com and do a menu & price research.
At the top of the list of foods to be tasted in Geneva; Malakoff, Raclette (Raclette), Fondue (Fondue), Ice Cream and Chocolate are coming.
The traditional food of Switzerland, which has plenty of cows, sheep and goats, of course, is milk. based on its products, especially cheese. Although it was introduced as a national food by the Swiss Cheese Association in 1930, Fondou’s homeland is a wider area covering Switzerland, France (Rhone alps) and Italy (Piedmont and Aosta valley). Raclette, on the other hand, is a type of cheese unique to Switzerland and France, and a dish made by heating and scraping the melted part of this cheese.
By the way Raclette, Fondue and Muhlama We recommend that you read our blog post about the triangle.
Chicken at Chez Ma Cousine in the old city centre; On Sundays, at the market in Planpalais, you will find long queues in front of the falafel; For a burger in Inglewood or Holy Cow, for a proper restaurant La Buvette des Bains des Pâquis on the lake or Maison d’Asie on Rue de Servette, and also at Cafe du Soleil in Petit-Saconnex, malakoff (fried) You can try Swiss cheese served as long sticks or balls) or fondue (melted cheese) and raclette (a traditional dish prepared with melted Swiss cheese with optional vegetables or meats).
SHOPPING IN GENEVA
You can visit luxury stores on Rue de Rhone. If you can afford it, you can get a Swiss army knife or a Swiss watch (for example, a Rolex).. Or you can just take pictures of it
You, like us, are traveling abroad, especially in Europe, at flea markets, and maybe you’ll never use them, but you can buy very different pieces cheaply and add them to your collection. If you’re enjoying adding in, we recommend you to stop by the Plainpalais district in Geneva.
GENEVA CITY TOUR
Geneva is one of those tiny and stuffed pickle cities. There are many squares, monuments, museums, historical buildings, shopping places, restaurants, cafes, etc. in the city.. Geneva excursion route includes must-see places during a 2-hour walk.
Geneva is among the places to see; Quai du Mont Blanc, Monument Brunswick (Brunswick Monument), Pont du Mont- Blanc (Mont-Blanc Bridge), Jet d’Eau (Water Fountain), Île Rousseau (Rousseau Island), Anglais Garden (English Gardens), L’horloge Fleurie (Flower Clock), Barbier-Mueller Museum (Barbier-Mueller Museum), Maison Tavel (Tavel Mansion), St.. Pierre Cathedral (St. Pierre Cathedral), Hotel de Ville (Town Hall), Place Bourg-de-Four (Bourg-de-Four Square), Musee d’art et d’histoire, Musée international de la Réforme (International Reform Museum) , Promenade des Bastions (Bastion Park), Monument international de la Réformation/ Reformation Wall (Reformation Wall), Université de Genève (University of Geneva), Place de Neuve (New Square), Grand-Théâtre de Genève (Grand Theatre), Victoria Hall (Victoria Concert Hall), Musée Rath (Rath Museum), Statue du Général Genevois Henri Dufour (Henri Dufour Statue), Conservatoire de Musique de Genève (Geneva Conservatory of Music), MAMCO Musée d’art moderne et contemporain (Modern and Contemporary Art Museum) ), Patek Philippe Museum (Patek Philippe Museum), Bel-Air (Bel-Air District), Place de l’Île, Batiment des Forces Motrices, Place de Grottes (Grottes District), Parc de l’Ariana (Ariana Park and Museum) ), Palais des Nations (Palace of the United Nations), Musée international de la Croix-Rouge et du Croissant-Rouge (Red Cross and Red Moon Museum)
Quai du Mont Blanc: We are sure it will be a good start for the walk. During this walk along the shore of Leman Lake, you will be satisfied with green and blue.. We recommend that you enjoy your first impression of Geneva with calm steps by watching the various sports activities held on the lake.
Monument Brunswick (Brunswick Monument): While walking to Quai du Mont Blanc, On the shore of Lake Geneva, you will see the monument erected in the name of Charles d’Este Guelph, Duke of Brunswick, who spent the last 3 years of his life in Geneva and donated all his wealth to this city. Charles d’Este Guelph is known as an interesting personality who is known as an artist and lived in Paris for many years after being expelled from his country Germany and made a great fortune during this time.. The mausoleum he wanted to be built for him, 14. It is an exact replica of the mausoleum of the famous Italian Scaligeri family, who lived in Verona in the 19th century.
Pont du Mont-Blanc (Mont-Blanc Bridge): From the Mont-Blanc Bridge You can see Mont Blanc, the highest point of the French Alps.. On one side of the bridge you will see the water fountain (Jet d’Eau) and on the other side the statue of Jean-Jacques Rousseau on Rousseau Island (Île Rousseau).
Jet d’Eau (Water Fountain): Located on Lake Geneva and can be seen from all over the city, this fountain is one of the tallest fountains in the world and produces 500 liters of water at a speed of 200 kilometers per hour. It gushes to a height of 140 meters. This fountain, which has become the symbol of Geneva, will provide a magnificent visual feast, especially when illuminated at night.
Anglais Garden (English Gardens): At the end of the bridge, the English gardens and the Flower Clock (L’Horloge Fleurie), which has been here since 1955, will welcome you. Located in Geneva, which is regarded as the watchmaking center of the world, this flower clock has become the touristic symbol associated with this city, is decorated with seasonal flowers, works with solar energy, and “Welcome to the city of clocks.” says.
Barbier-Mueller Museum (Barbier-Mueller Museum): Founded in 1977, the museum, which Josef Mueller started to collect in 1907 and has been continued by his heirs until today. It is an important museum where its collection of over 7000 works of art representing different world civilizations such as ancient sculptures, idols worshiped by primitive tribes, paintings by Native Americans from the Pre-Columbian period, ancient masks and war spears and shields of African tribes are exhibited.
Maison Tavel (Tavel House- Tavel Mansion): A mansion where the daily belongings of Swiss civil life in the past and photographs of people who lived in the past are exhibited. The mansion includes the state of Geneva in the second world war, information and photographs of the restoration works carried out after, and a model describing the development of Geneva in the historical process.
Place Bourg-de-Four (Bourg-de-Four Square): The meeting point of the city and home to many restaurants and cafes, St.. Pierre Cathedral and Palais de Justice buildings are located here.
St. Pierre Cathedral (St. Pierre Cathedral): St. Peter’s Cathedral, located in the old city center, whose construction was started in 1160 but completed a century later, served first as a Catholic and as a result of the reform movements, as a Protestant Church.. During this transformation, it underwent a great change in all its interior decoration, but later it was simplified, leaving only stained glass.. You can enjoy the view of the whole of Geneva and Lake Geneva (Lake Leman) by climbing 157 steps to climb the church’s tower.
Musée international de la Réforme (International Museum of Reformation): Bringing together all the spiritual and cultural elements of the Reformation movements, which took place in the Middle Ages and which was one of the movements that most affected Europe, the International Reform Museum includes manuscripts, old books, paintings, sculptures, tombstones and original personal objects from the reform period. There is also a chamber cinema where documentaries about the reform period are shown, a music hall and a mini-theatre where animations are exhibited.
The cultural center of Geneva is located in Bastion Park (Promenade des Bastions). ) New Square (Place Neuve). This square is the Rath Museum (Musée Rath), which was built in 1825 and houses the rare art collection of Simon Rath, a famous art collector, Grand Theater (Grand-Théâtre de Genève), which was built in 1879 inspired by the Paris Opera House. The Conservatoire de Musique de Genève (Conservatoire de Musique de Genève), built in 1856 with a Florentine style architecture, Victoria Concert Hall (Victoria Hall), a very magnificent building dedicated to Queen Victoria, Reform Wall (Monument international de la Réformation/ Reformation Wall ), the University of Geneva (Université de Genève) and the statue of the national hero General Henri Dufour (Statue du Général Genevois Henri Dufour), who lived between 1787 – 1875.
Musée d’art moderne et contemporain (Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art): The museum, which is known as MAMCO and is located in a 3-storey old factory building, was opened in 1994. It is one of the most attractive museums that changes its interior decoration and exhibitions at least 3 times a year and constantly reinvents itself in this sense.
Patek Philippe Museum (Patek Philippe Museum): This 4-floor You should definitely explore the history of watchmaking and the Patek Philippe collections by wandering through each floor of the museum. this 13. The watchtower L’lle, dating from the 19th century, is located on an islet at the point where the Rhone River meets Lake Geneva.. The castle, which has experienced many sieges and fire events throughout history, was renovated in 1897. Private tours are organized with guides to the castle, which sheds light on the history of Geneva.
Batiment des Forces Motrices: Built in 1886 as an electric power plant in Beaux-Art style, this building is now a serves as a center for culture and arts.
Place de Grottes (Grottes district): Grottes, one of the most interesting districts of Geneva, with its bazaar consisting of small shops selling interesting items. It is the center of attention of shoppers. The street, known as the “Place of the Smurfs” and similar to Gaudi’s works, where many buildings were built together, is also a must-see.
Parc de l’Ariana and Musee de l’Ariana (Ariana Park and Museum): The Ariana Museum, also known as the Swiss Glass and Ceramics Museum, located in this park, which is established on an area of 45 hectares, was built by Gustave Revillioad in 1877 and after his mother’s death, the museum was named after his mother.. 14 in the museum. There are 20,000 pieces of glass, ceramic and pottery works of art dating from the 19th century to the present.
Palais des Nations (United Nations Palace): In 1966, it became the Geneva Office of the United Nations organization. The palace is located within the Ariana Park. The palace, which consists of a huge white building, is surrounded by centuries-old trees and peacocks roam its garden. In tours with guides; Fresco artworks of the famous artist Jose Maria Sert can be seen in the corridors of the council of the organization and in the meeting area of the council members.
Musée international de la Croix-Rouge et du Croissant-Rouge (Red Cross and Red Moon Museum): One of the impressive and shocking museums that you must see in Geneva. In the museum, which is located in a large facility consisting of the central buildings of the Red Cross and Red Moon; artistic galleries covering sculpture, photography, cinema and painting; documentaries and historical documents covering the charity activities carried out by the Red Cross and its subsidiaries with different names around the world.
ENTERTAINMENT AND NIGHTLIFE IN GENEVA
Although Geneva may seem like a serious place during the week, especially on Thursday and Friday evenings, dressed in suits From those meeting in a pub after work for something, and with students having fun in nightclubs on Saturday nights, it becomes a very fun city.
Quite rich and other European If you want to have fun in Geneva, which is expensive compared to its cities, you should make sure your wallet is full.
The three most preferred areas for nightlife in the city are; La rue de l’école de médecine are bars and nightclubs in the vicinity of Place de l’Ile and Carouge.. You can click here for venue suggestions.
OTHER PLACES TO VISIT CLOSE TO GENEVA: ALTERNATIVE TOURS
If you stay more than 2 days from Geneva, organize day trips to nearby French villages by train and also tour Annecy, Yvoire, Lausanne and Montreux.
We recommend that you add the United Nations or CERN trip to your tour.. Internet reservation is required for CERN in advance.
Carouge: To reach Carouge, which is located 2 km south of Geneva, take the tram number 12 or 13 from the city center to Place du You have to get off at the stop called Marché. This suburb, which is one of the best examples of the understanding of urbanism that developed in Europe during the Renaissance and Reformation movements, has turned into an increasingly popular entertainment center along with its chessboard-shaped streets, low wooden houses, and large Mediterranean gardens.
Lausanne: Located 60 km northeast of Geneva and can be reached by a 40-minute train ride, Lausanne; It is one of the smallest cities in Switzerland, besides being an energetic and young city established between the Alps like Geneva and Lake Geneva, which has managed to preserve its historical texture.
GENEVA TRAVEL NOTES
- With the Swiss Pass you can use during your stay in Geneva It is an unlimited travel ticket valid for 50% on all trains, buses, trams and ferries across the country.. We recommend that you evaluate it.
- If you are going to bike in Geneva, make sure to use a quality bike lock.
- Strictly stay away from outright scam gamblers, whom they usually pretend to be a fun gambling game, which you can see in touristic places, downtown or on bridges.
RESOURCES
- Official website
- Geneva info