Geneva, Switzerland -- 1 week vacation, what should I do there?

Question

I booked a last-minute trip to geneva for next week, and would like some recommendations on things to do/see. Besides the swiss alps, Lake geneva, and eat chocolate.. what else is there to do? Anyone tried training from there to Paris/Marseille/Milan for a day trip?

Answer 1

You have a 40 minute sight seeing train to see around the old places in genveva. Costs around 10 francs. But it just shows you some old buildings(remember Geneva is the greatest and oldest in swiss)

You could take a trip around Lake Geneva in the Cruise(if you have a swiss pass for that day it is free!!!!!)

Interlaken is some 2 hours away. It is surrounded by mountains and has two great lakes.

You could visit lucerne(3 hours from geneva)..and it has some good places around.

I would suggest you to go to Mount Titlis it is lot of fun,

they have some snow toys to play(and it is free if you buy ticket to go to titlis) and a superb glacier cave and ice flyer.

IT is interesting. But dont forget to take sunglasses and some sunscreen lotion. It is pretty hot up the mountain though you dont feel it as you will be surrounded by snow everywhere.

but your skin might get affected ..

Answer 2

I agree with Avie . The best thing u can do on a Swiss trip ( if u have a valid license ) is rent a car and drive via the moutain passes ... The road to Interlaken and further down south to lugano , Locarno are a must see.... In the map u can find the Grimsel Pass and Furka pass ....they r awesome..... the real beauty of Swiss lies there rather than the cities...

www.sixt.com for renting cars ...

the tourist spots in and arnd geneva are:

• Geneva’s lakefront

• Jet d'eau (water fountain)

• Flower Clock

• Saint Peter's Cathedral

• Reformation Wall

• Place Neuve

• United Nations Building

• Place du Bourg-de-Four

• Carouge

For the Paris trip ... flights are there and trains are quick too ...matter of at the most 4 hours .

Visit http://www.raileurope.com/us/rail/tgv/in... if u need to get bookings done.....

you need to stay atleast 3-4 days in Paris to cover everything...else it s a waste cos Paris has lots to offer...

Travelling to Milan wud take longer time by train ...flights are always better for that ..its arnd 1 1/2 hrs by flight .....u can try on ebookers.ch

Answer 3

Ski if you can.

Answer 4

Rent a car and drive into Interlaken!!!! A must see in Switzerland.

Answer 5

Go see the Chateau de Chillon or the town of Gruyere. The Chateau de Chillon sits on Lake Geneva, (or at least seems to), and is an easy train ride from Geneva. You would need a car for getting to Gruyere but it's a very picturesque type of Swiss town that sits on top of a hill. You have to drive to the entrance of the town and then park, since it's a walking town. I have a favorite restaurant there that has a outdoor eating area with a beautiful view but it's been so long since I've been there that I couldn't tell you the name of it. Have fun!

Answer 6

Go to the funny farm in Interlaken . Tell them oncle Paul sent you.

Http://www.funny-farm.ch

ask for James

Answer 7

You can see most of Geneva in 1 day - best buy a Swiss Pass for the week on the trains - they are great in Switzerland - and make a day trip each day to somwhere new  - Interlaken, Lucerne, Zurch, Zermatt to see the Matterhorn are all possible on day trips. Milan & Paris are a long way - concentrate on Switzerland. If this doesn't appeal, there are some lovely places near Geneva eg Lausanne, Montreux etc which are worth doing. Also Geneva is on the border with France: cross over the border and go to Annecy - that is lovely and not too far

Answer 8

Lots of good suggestions so far.

You can also go to Annecy in France, which is a very pretty town.  If you are a foodie, there are a couple of very famous (and expensive) restaurants in that area, including  Pere Bise around the Lac d'Annecy in Talloires and Auberge de l'Eridan in Veyrier du Lac.  If you want to eat at one of these places, reserve now and hope for the best.

If you get a car, you can drive around the south side of Lake Geneva to Evian, in France, which is right on the lake.  You can take a tour of the Evian bottling plant.

I like the town of Chamonix, in France, right at the base of Mont Blanc.  You can go up the mountain, winter or summer.  It's easy to get there by train from the Gare des Eaux-Vives.

Also, if you are interested in science and the web, you can take the bus from the Gare de Cornavin (main train station) in Geneva to CERN, home to the huge colliders that are doing experiments involving subatomic particles.  Computer scientists at CERN also invented the Web in 1991.  You can take a tour.  Info at www.cern.ch

The tour of the United Nations is also interesting.  Again you can take a bus directly there from Gare de Cornavin.

More ideas at http://switzerland.isyours.com/e/guide/g...

Have fun and bring plenty of money -- Geneva is expensive.

Answer 9

Visit the "old City" - "Vielle Ville" in french. Go the St.-Pierre Cathedral and go to the tower (open to visitors) all a way to the top and you will have a great view of the city and lake, etc.

Take a tour in the lake with the boat (CGN) can take the one which is doing the all lake tour (1 day trip)

Go shopping (low cost stores like MANOR, MIGROS, etc)

You can go to Paris by plane with EasyJet (1 hr flight) or take the TGV (bullet train) about 4hr ride.

So you can go 3 days in Geneva and 4 days in Paris.

Marseille is too far and not many connections .

You can go to Nice by plane (EasyJet) also.

Answer 10

I once had to spend two weeks in Switzerland and the highlights are : France, Italy, Germany and Austria.