Bree

My husband will be teaching a course in Geneva for three weeks in September and October, and I plan to accompany him. I've never been to Geneva before, and I'd welcome suggestions for how I can spend my time during the days, when he's teaching. I've consulted the guidebooks, but most of them don't contemplate such a long stay, so I'm looking for ideas about what to do after I've exhausted the first week's sightseeing options. I'm particularly interested in antiques, bookstores, interesting food shops, museums and art galleries, especially those specializing in Swiss folk art. Suggestions about where to eat lunch would also be appreciated.

I'd also love to hear ideas about short day trips from Geneva that I can take by train (I won't be renting a car on this trip), and longer excursions that my husband and I can take on the weekends. Thanks for your help.

Odin

Unsure about trains or what to do during the day in Geneva, but a worthwhile day trip/weekend would be to Annecy and Lyon which I have done from Geneva with a rental car.

swandav2000

Hi Bree,

Here are links to my "reviews" (w/photos) of my favorite activities in the areas:

Montreux old town
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...reux_Vaud.html

Lavaux
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...reux_Vaud.html

Promenade Fleuri
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...reux_Vaud.html

Morges
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...rges_Vaud.html

Gruyeres
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR..._Fribourg.html

Saanen
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...wiss_Alps.html

Gstaad
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...wiss_Alps.html

I am normally based in Montreux on the other end of the lake, but all are easy to get to from Geneva.

I would also suggest seeing the pretty little flowered village of Yvoire.

Oh, and you can easily get to Annecy by regular interregional bus from Geneva. Let me know, and I can send you the link to the bus lines.

Have fun!

s

PalenQ

Investigate the Swiss Pass that covers not only most trains but lake boats, such as those that ply Lake Geneva, the iconic postal buses, all city trams and buses and also give free entry to over 400 Swiss Museums - I'd look at a flexipass where you buy 3 days of unlimited calendar day travel to be used anytime over a one-month period - like on longer forways with hubbie on weekends (Switzerland is a rather tiny country about the size of Indiana I think) and the key thing for you that is in between the first and third day of unlimted travel on a Swiss Pass you get 50% off everything that moves in Switzerland, except cows - boats, trains, inlclduing pricey lifts to mountain tops, etc. Check out these sites for great info on Switzerland trains and passes - www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.swisstravelsystem.com - and if buying a Swiss Pass compare prices in $s if bought before leaving home and those in Swiss francs for the same pass bought there - often significantly cheaper if bought at home before leaving for some reason for exact same pass. for regular fares and schedules of trains - www.sbb.ch - Swiss Federal Railways site.

Cathinjoetown

I think Lausanne, less than an hour by train, is a pleasant town for a day trip, very pretty both along the lake and an interesting old town and cathedral high above the lake.

The wine boats will probably be in Geneva while you are there, used to be a great evening of wine-tasting for about 8 Swiss francs, probably more now. Wine from all over but a chance to taste Swiss wines which don't leave the country in great numbers.

Vevey is quite pretty, the hotel on the lake has been in several films.

The time will go quicly but you might consider a cooking or French course,

Have fun!

PalenQ

The Chocolate Train departs from Lausanne and climbs thru vineyards off the lake and then heads for first Gruyeres, for a look around this fine fine walled city and visits a cheese factory before heading to Broc to visit the Nestle chocolate factory - uses old luxurious Pullman train cars and serves wine and cheese en route. Could be a good acticity for a solo traveler if both can't do it.

PalenQ

Swiss Chocolate Train - Swiss Travel System
http://www.swisstravelsystem.ch/en/c...ocolate-train/ - CachedSimilar
Daily from Jul 1 to Aug 31 2011. Departing Montreux at 9.12 a.m., arriving at 5.40 p.m.. Share |. Swiss Chocolate Train. www.mob.ch ...

Oops departs from Montreux not Lausanne - Montreux just being a few minutes farther than Lausanne by train from Geneva.

Bree

Thanks, Odin, swandav2000, PalenQ, and Cathinjoetown, for the helpful responses. Keep them coming.

kappa1

Most above seems to recommend out of Geneva activities that are good. There are also things to do in Geneva itself.

http://www.telepheriquedusaleve.com/Horaires-2011.html
This is to be exact a slightly out of Geneva activity but..

You take a bus No.8 to Veyrier-Douane that's the last stop of the line. From Geneva main railway station it takes only about 20 minutes. Cross the custom (now unmanned)/border which is only 20 meters from the bus stop and walk into France. Cablecar station is 5 nimutes walk. From up there (altitude of about 1400m) enjoy the view of lake Geneva. If you are ready to walk - a bit of hike, walk out of the cable car station and hike up to you right, cross once or twice car street and walk up the paths in the woods. Passing by the paraglider departure point, you will arrive at the observatory (there is a big antenna tower) where you can see both lake Geneva and on the other side, Le Mont Blanc. Pick a day carefully, ideally when the sky is clear so that you can see the highest point of Europe. This is where most people come and stop (also many by car from Geneva and from France). However, you can go past the observatory and continue ahead (from here it's mostly flat) walk by the car route for a short distance and then into woods and fields. At the end you will come to a vast flat field, walk around a bit. At one point, you can see not only Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc but the ground underneath on French side and to the far right, even a glimpse of Lake Annecy. This will be about 1 hour walk one way.

The top cable car station has a nice French restaurant Horizon. One idea is you do this one day of THU - SAT (because the cable car runs until 23h00 then. Other days only until 19h00, I believe. And from Oct, it will run maybe only in weekends.)in the late afternoon. You hike and walk around, comes back to the station and have dinner with the view of Lake Geneva, before taking the cablecar down.

A good thing is if you are staying at a hotel in Geneva, the bus lines (incl above no.8) and tramways are fee of charge. Your hotel will give you a pass for the whole time of your stay.

despirited

I just came back from a week on Geneva and visits to Lausanne, Montreux/Chillon, Vevey, and Neuchatel. All are fabulous destinations and easy to get to from Geneva. I would highly recommend going to Saleve, as kappa1 suggests. Beautiful view and you get to enjoy PreAlps.

A boat ride on Lake Geneva is a wonderful must-see experience. You could ride a public boat or one of the tour boats.

Shopping in Geneva is fabulous, albeit expensive. There are some decent museums, for example Museum of Art & History (free admission). Let me know if you need more information. Time will fly quicker than you think.

PalenQ

and there are buses that scoot between Geneva and Chamonix, France (also can go by train but a round about route that takes longer) - Chamonix has awesome Alpine peaks, glaciers that descend practically to town and one of the world's most thrilling if not the most thrilling aerial cable car rides in the awesome cableway from Chamonix over a sea of ice to Pte Heilbrunner, italy and back - you at times dangle high above glaciers far below - Chamonix would make a really neat weekend for this couple and things are IME a lot cheaper than in Switzerland.

Bree

Thanks, kappa1, despirited, and PalenQ (again) for the suggestions. They're all great, but (as kappa1 noted) most of them involve activities out of Geneva, and I'd also love to hear about things to do IN Geneva. despirited, I'd welcome the additional information you mentioned.

despirited

If you want to stay in Geneva, you could explore museums, go shopping, visit international organizations, such as United Nations. Check out this website for more suggestions: http://www.geneve.ch/welcome_en.html.

Bree

Thanks for that link, despirited -- very helpful.

suze

I love the towns of Vevey and Montreux! There are easy to get to by train only approx 1 hour outside Geneva. Lausanne is nice too, especially Ouchy which is the part of the city along the lake.

The open air farmers street markets are very fun. They are in Vevey Tues & Sat and Montreux on Fri. I love walking the 'quai' (lakeside promonade) in both these towns. It's easy to find fun local places to eat (more so in Vevey than Montreux).

Chateau de Chillon in Montreux would make a great destination day trip.

Bree

Thanks, suze!

suze

You're most welcome. I am very lucky to have a dear friend who lives there (in Vevey for years, now in Montreux). I don't know a thing about the rest of Switzerland but I know these two towns quite well. Both from my 5 trips there, but also the insider perspective of getting to stay with "locals" (my friend and her friends).

spaarne

If you get a warm day I recommend a swim in Lac Leman. It is the sweetest water you'll ever experience. There is a swimming jetee just off Quai du Mont Blanc. Bring a lock for the locker.

There is a nice cafe on the hill in Vielle Ville. It is popular and quiet on Sunday mornings but pretty wild on Saturday nights.

For nightlife go to Carouge. There are number of bars there, some with entertainment. I wish I could remember the name of my favorite. At least two trams make the trip safely back and forth to the train station Cornavin, though they might close down before you are done.

PalenQ

I wonder if CERN - the super collider where physicists are seeking evidence of the so-far elusive but thought to be present Higgs-boson particle - anyway this humungous under tunnel on a complex on the outskirts of Geneva, straddling the French-Swiss border - I would think they may have some kind of exhibition place there that could be interesting if at all into science.

anyone know is there is anything there for a tourist to see?

swandav2000

Hi again,

Here's a link to a walking tour of Geneva, written by a former resident:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g1...In.Geneva.html

s