Things to do in Geneva
Geneva is the second largest city in Switzerland and it is located in Romandy, the Francophone part of Switzerland. It means that the majority of the people in the area speak French, but many of them speak English as well which makes Geneva a very attractive location for foreigners who want to move to Switzerland. Geneva is not the only name used to refer to this old city. It is also called the capital of peace. The name is not a coincidence. Geneva is a home to both the headquarters of the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross. It is a global hub for banking and diplomacy. You would imagine bankers and diplomats would choose a nice place for their residence and you would be right. Geneva is surrounded by beautiful nature. It is located at the southern tip of Lake Geneva and surrounded by the Alps and Jura mountains with a clearly visible Mont Blanc, the second-most-prominent mountain in Europe. With all that said, you can imagine what kind of city Geneva is. If you are interested in staying in Geneva, here are some of the activities you can do to make your stay worthwhile:
1. Sightseeing
This is the easiest one to recommend. As you already know, Switzerland is brimming with history and Geneva doesn’t deviate from that trend. There are far too many landmarks for us to recommend in this more than 4000 years old city. We will stick with some of the most popular landmarks to give you a taste of what you can see in Geneva:
- Geneva’s Jet d’Eau fountainis the best-known landmark and the symbol of the city. You can find out more about this interesting technical solution here and see what it looks like here.
- Geneva is a green city committed to sustainable development. Some of the most popular green locations to rest your eyes and energize your bodies are: Parc de La Grange, Parc des Eaux-vives, Parc des Bastions and Jardin Anglais.
- If greenery is not your thing, you can visit the United Nations headquarters. For those who prefer to learn more about history, there is the League of Nations Museum. You may have to submit a written request to visit, but it is very budget-friendly because it is free.
- The European Organization for Nuclear Research, known as CERN, offers guided tours for individuals and groups. If you like science, this place will not disappoint. Just get yourself ready for a mental exercise as you will have to remember these neural pathways you created back in school to be able to fully appreciate the magnificence of this place.
2. Sports
If sports are your thing, you will find Geneva to be a great place to be. In addition to some of the popular sports, you can also enjoy hiking, skiing or even Schwingen (Swiss wrestling), the national sport of Switzerland. While it is not an Olympic sport, it is popular in Switzerland and surrounding areas. This form of folk wrestling might allow you to understand the culture and history of the region better.
Do not forget that Mont Blanc is near Geneva too. If you are into climbing, there are tours from Geneva that will allow you to climb the eleventh most prominent summit of the world. However, climbing is not for everyone and people living in Geneva understand that quite well. In fact, hiking is Switzerland’s national sporting pastime and Geneva is not an exception. There are lots of interesting hiking trails you can enjoy.
3. Events and nightlife
While you may not find Geneva on top of any party animal’s travel list, it is not a boring city. It boasts a number of festivals as well as rich nightlife. You know the sayings ‘where there are students, there are parties’. There are five universities in Geneva, so you get the picture. If you are not a student and you do not feel you belong to this age group, you will find interesting places such as restaurants, coffee shops and clubs for various types of audience all over the city.
In addition to smaller events, there are also major events in Geneva. The Geneva Music Festival (Fête de la Musique) takes place on June 21 and the Genevese are encouraged to meet in their neighbourhoods and parks to play music. Many great artists visit the city to perform during that time and if you are around in June, you will find yourself surrounded by music. Geneva is also famous for the Geneva International Motor Show which is an annual event held in March. If you like cars, you will love this one!
Geneva, a home to 200,000 people, is a place full of life! No matter who you are and what you like to do, you will definitely find yourself at home in Geneva!
