We’ve been fortunate to have visited Switzerland many times, and most of these trips brought us to one of our favorite cities, Zurich. It has only been since Delta Air Lines introduced the “French side” of Switzerland, Geneva, to its summer schedule that we’ve begun to enjoy this city and its surrounding areas.
We have visited Geneva three times in the past year, and we’re starting to fall in love with this side of Switzerland. On the “Geneva side” of Switzerland, you get to enjoy three cities for the price of one: Geneva, Lausanne, and Montreux. They are all beautiful cities located off Lake Geneva.
Geneva, like everything else in Switzerland, is a class city that is absolutely beautiful and extremely safe. This is the French-speaking side of Switzerland, and as you would expect, the hotels, restaurants, and transportation are about as efficient and perfect as you would ever expect; however, we have found that this side of Switzerland is significantly more expensive than the “Zurich side.”
Geneva is much smaller than Zurich, and its transportation system is smaller but more straightforward. A nonstop train that arrives every few minutes runs from the airport to the city’s center and the lake.
During our first two trips to Geneva, we stayed at the Geneva Marriott Hotel, which is about five minutes from the airport. Two trams directly in front of the hotel take you downtown in about four stops. The #14 and #18 trams will take you to our first stop, Old Town Geneva (called Vieille Ville), situated on top of a beautiful hill. This is the standard “old town” with many shops, stores, and restaurants. Please remember that if you stay at a hotel in Geneva, all transportation in Geneva, including some boats, is free.
Our second stop on all three trips was walking around the lake, beginning with the famous Geneva Water Geyser Fountain, called the Jet D’eau, the Geneva Ferris Wheel called the Grand Roue, and the Geneva Flower Clock, called the L’horloge Fleurie. As always, if a lake is involved, we usually take a one-hour or longer cruise around the lake.
There are quite a number of famous hotels on the lake, including the Beau Rivage. During our third trip to Geneva, we stayed at a Marriott Luxury Collection Hotel called Hotel President Wilson (if you have enough Marriott points to do this). It was actually very special to stay at a hotel on the lake where you can walk forever, and there are many restaurants and bars to visit directly on the lake.
During our last trip, we did something unexpectedly special. We took a one-hour train ride towards Lausanne and Montreux, stopping at the beautiful Swiss City of Vevey. We had read about Vevey but were unsure what to expect, and we would not be disappointed. It is a small but cute city, beautifully situated directly on the lake and across from major mountains; the views are incredible. This is a wonderful walking city with plenty of restaurants and small shops. In Vevey, you can take a cruise on the lake to Montreux in about 35 minutes or walk on the lake to Montreux in a little under two hours. Either way, it is worth visiting Vevey.
Geneva Airport is easy to navigate, very simple, and efficient to use, and, like Zurich, it is one of the best airports in Europe.
One note: On our next visit to Geneva, we will visit the nearby French city of Annecy. We have been told that this city is very natural and perfect for wellness and outdoor enjoyment.
