I have a 6 hour layover in Geneve during the day and don't want to sit around the airport. Does anyone have suggestions on how to get to town and what highlights I should see while there?

Hello Barbara,<BR><BR>Well, Geneva isn't really one of my favorite destinations, but I'm not sure if you can get away from the city. Anyway, the airport has a train station, and the trip to the city only takes six minutes. The trains run frequently, four or five times an hour. You can check the schedules at www.rail.ch (click on "Travel/Timetables" then enter "Geneva airport" as the origin . . .).<BR><BR>My trusty Fodors lists these as good sights in Geneva: the Jet d'Eau in the middle of the lake, the Ile Rousseau, the historic place du Bourg-de-Four, the magnificent Cathedrale St. Pierre, and the flower clock in the Jardin Anglais.<BR><BR>But if you feel adventurous, you may want to go farther away from the city. These villages are within an hour of the airport and will have better views & more pleasant surroundings: Celigny, Coppet, & Nyon. Again, I suggest you check at the SBB site to see if the connections are realistic.<BR><BR>Have a great trip!<BR><BR>s

When is 6 hours not 6 hours? Answer: When it's a layover. Your 6 hours, if calculated from scheduled plane arrival to scheduled plane departure, will shrink rapidly when you allow the possibility of a late arrival (1/2 hour at least), early checkin for your next departure (1 1/2 hours if it were me), and time to get to and from anywhere outside the airport (total of around 1 hour if you go into the city). So using these times, your 6 hour layover has now become 3 hours---still enough time to wander around Geneve a bit, but not really enough to get out of town. The note from "s" swanda contains just about all you'd want to try for in-city experiences, and add a possible lunch to that and you'll use up all your time.

Bonjour Barbara,<BR><BR>What day of the week ? if a Wednesday or a Saturday, check the flea market on Plaine de Plainpalais (tramway nr 13, in front of Hotel Cornavin - stop at Rond-Point de Plainpalais). Have lunch at "La Broc". <BR><BR>Get a daypass for the whole local transportation network from either the bus stop or the train station at the airport. For Sfr 6.-, you can use all the busses, trains, small boats (the "mouettes", a nice way to cross the lake and have a different view of the city).<BR><BR>If you like antiques, stroll in the Old Town from "Rue de la Cit&eacute;" to "Place du Bourg-de-Four", visiting the cathedral and maybe having a fondue at "les Antiquaires" or a pizza at "Les Armures" on the way.<BR><BR>http://www.geneva.ch/map/<BR><BR>Welcome to Geneva.<BR><BR><BR>

If it's in the summer and you like to people-watch - and you want to do something other than the tourist thing -then head for the "Bains des Paquis", a lakefront set of piers near the Hotel Noga Hilton where everyone from small families to the trendy hang-out, sunbathe, eat (a cool "restaurant" serves good, simple fare), and even swim. Otherwise, if you want some historical culture, go to the old town, stretch your legs there and see the "Maison Tavel", a small historical museum about the city. You can also get some traditional Swiss food like raclette or fondue at the hotel/restaurant "les Armures", just across the street. 'Ol Bill Clinton once ate there, so you'll have a story to tell - I think they still have pictures of his visit hanging on a wall.<BR>