Geneva-old town-advice needed plz
Sep 6th, 2015, 07:34 PM
#1
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Geneva-old town-advice needed plz
Hi all,
We will be in Geneva for just 1 day and part of a second day, arriving around 10 am via train from Nuechatel, and flying to London at 3:50pm the next day.
We have never been to Geneva before and welcome any suggestions/advice.
We are staying at Hotel Tiffany which in a short walk from the Lake in the old town.
How do you suggest we get to the hotel from the rail station?
And the next day, how should we get to the airport, taxi, shuttle or?
And what time should we leave the hotel to get to airport with enough time of our 3:50 flight to London?
Any suggestions on what to see/do-besides walk in the old town and see the lake.
Would Chateau Chillon or Gruyere for fondu or Broc for Chocolate, be on your list?
Or?
Our stay is Nov 9th and 10th...I think from my research the scenic trains would probably be out due to weather, as a boat ride on the lake? Any thoughts on that?
any recommended restaurants for fondu in Geneva?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
We will be in Geneva for just 1 day and part of a second day, arriving around 10 am via train from Nuechatel, and flying to London at 3:50pm the next day.
We have never been to Geneva before and welcome any suggestions/advice.
We are staying at Hotel Tiffany which in a short walk from the Lake in the old town.
How do you suggest we get to the hotel from the rail station?
And the next day, how should we get to the airport, taxi, shuttle or?
And what time should we leave the hotel to get to airport with enough time of our 3:50 flight to London?
Any suggestions on what to see/do-besides walk in the old town and see the lake.
Would Chateau Chillon or Gruyere for fondu or Broc for Chocolate, be on your list?
Or?
Our stay is Nov 9th and 10th...I think from my research the scenic trains would probably be out due to weather, as a boat ride on the lake? Any thoughts on that?
any recommended restaurants for fondu in Geneva?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Sep 6th, 2015, 07:46 PM
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None of us can tell you what YOU might enjoy, so I recommend that you consult a good guidebook -- I found the Rough Guide and the Michelin Green Guide helpful for Geneva. If nothing else, at least check the destination guide that is part of THIS on-line site. 
For transportation options and information -- DETAILED information -- check the swiss rail website:
http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html
Even with MUCH more time in the area, I thought the tour of Broc's chocolate factory vastly overrated. YMMV.
For transportation options and information -- DETAILED information -- check the swiss rail website:
http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html
Even with MUCH more time in the area, I thought the tour of Broc's chocolate factory vastly overrated. YMMV.
Sep 6th, 2015, 07:55 PM
#3
Http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...il-Geneva.html
Had my best fondue in Switzerland at the above restaurant!
Had my best fondue in Switzerland at the above restaurant!
Sep 6th, 2015, 09:25 PM
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Hi FabulousFrance,
You say you're coming from Neuchatel, so does that mean that you'll have spent some time in Switzerland already?
I ask because it might be easier to see Gruyeres or Broc while enroute to Geneva rather than make a long excursion from Geneva to see them. I do think they are too far away to see/enjoy comfortably in an afternoon.
For what it's worth, after visiting Montreux annually or every other year since 1996, I still haven't seen Broc. I would be more interested in a chocolate artisan's workshop (and tasting!!) than in a factory visit.
Chillon would be a nice excursion, yes. It would take about 90 minutes to get there from Geneva, so you'll have enough time to see it.
I'd also suggest spending time in the lovely town of Vevey, which I adore. You can get lost in the tangled web of winding streets of the old town, which sits right next to the lake. If the weather hasn't been too cold, you could stop and see the vineyards of the Lavaux, the wine region between Lausanne and Vevey. If the weather is right and the vines haven't been harvested, you'll see glorious colors over the hillsides above the lake. However, if it's cold, or if it's after the harvest, the vineyards will look only like brown sticks in mud.
Have fun as you plan!
s
You say you're coming from Neuchatel, so does that mean that you'll have spent some time in Switzerland already?
I ask because it might be easier to see Gruyeres or Broc while enroute to Geneva rather than make a long excursion from Geneva to see them. I do think they are too far away to see/enjoy comfortably in an afternoon.
For what it's worth, after visiting Montreux annually or every other year since 1996, I still haven't seen Broc. I would be more interested in a chocolate artisan's workshop (and tasting!!) than in a factory visit.
Chillon would be a nice excursion, yes. It would take about 90 minutes to get there from Geneva, so you'll have enough time to see it.
I'd also suggest spending time in the lovely town of Vevey, which I adore. You can get lost in the tangled web of winding streets of the old town, which sits right next to the lake. If the weather hasn't been too cold, you could stop and see the vineyards of the Lavaux, the wine region between Lausanne and Vevey. If the weather is right and the vines haven't been harvested, you'll see glorious colors over the hillsides above the lake. However, if it's cold, or if it's after the harvest, the vineyards will look only like brown sticks in mud.
Have fun as you plan!
s
Sep 6th, 2015, 10:50 PM
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ps -- The lake boats stop in late October, so you won't be able to take one of those. I think they may continue to offer special cruises, like a fondue cruise, etc.
www.cgn.ch
s
www.cgn.ch
s
Sep 7th, 2015, 09:10 PM
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Thank you for the links & the reality check...
After thinking about your answers and the amount of time we have, I am now re-thinking how we "do" Geneva.
I think instead of leaving Neuchatel 1st thing in the morning...we will have a leisurely morning with our friends who live there and arrive in Geneva in the afternoon.
After we check into the hotel we will just wander around the old town and have some dinner.
In the morning a walk by the lake and perhaps a sauna at Bains des Paquis and lunch before we leave for our 3:50 pm flight.
Anyone ever take a sauna at Bains des Paquis?
Any recommendations for a casual/good place for fondu & or lunch?
How about a shop to buy chocolate?
Any thoughts on Carogue...which as describes sounds pretty cool:
Geneva’s very different sister town, its ‘Greenwich Village’. Meet its craftsmen, artists, and its personalities who contribute much to Carouge’s charm. Its shaded squares remind you of Italy. A great many cafés and restaurants create a unique bohemian ambience around the clock.
Merci again.
After thinking about your answers and the amount of time we have, I am now re-thinking how we "do" Geneva.
I think instead of leaving Neuchatel 1st thing in the morning...we will have a leisurely morning with our friends who live there and arrive in Geneva in the afternoon.
After we check into the hotel we will just wander around the old town and have some dinner.
In the morning a walk by the lake and perhaps a sauna at Bains des Paquis and lunch before we leave for our 3:50 pm flight.
Anyone ever take a sauna at Bains des Paquis?
Any recommendations for a casual/good place for fondu & or lunch?
How about a shop to buy chocolate?
Any thoughts on Carogue...which as describes sounds pretty cool:
Geneva’s very different sister town, its ‘Greenwich Village’. Meet its craftsmen, artists, and its personalities who contribute much to Carouge’s charm. Its shaded squares remind you of Italy. A great many cafés and restaurants create a unique bohemian ambience around the clock.
Merci again.
Sep 7th, 2015, 09:32 PM
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Re: restaurant:
I was very pleased with the Bistro de Boeuf Rouge. Reservations may be necessary:
http://www.boeufrouge.ch/files/index.phpf
Re: Carogue
Do you mean Carouge? I found it greatly overrated, if pleasant enough. For my interests, I'm not sure it was worth the time to get there and back. YMMV.
"instead of leaving Neuchatel 1st thing in the morning"
If it holds any interest for you, there is an excellent museum of prehistory and archeology just outside Neufchatel -- the Laténium. It is beautifully situated on the lake, and makes very good use of windows to bring the outside into the interior displays.
http://latenium.ch/en/the-latenium-concept/
I was very pleased with the Bistro de Boeuf Rouge. Reservations may be necessary:
http://www.boeufrouge.ch/files/index.phpf
Re: Carogue
Do you mean Carouge? I found it greatly overrated, if pleasant enough. For my interests, I'm not sure it was worth the time to get there and back. YMMV.
"instead of leaving Neuchatel 1st thing in the morning"
If it holds any interest for you, there is an excellent museum of prehistory and archeology just outside Neufchatel -- the Laténium. It is beautifully situated on the lake, and makes very good use of windows to bring the outside into the interior displays.
http://latenium.ch/en/the-latenium-concept/
