Geneva Switzerland

Geneva Switzerland, the second largest city in Switzerland (after Zurich), is located on a stretch of land where the Rhone River flows out of Lake Geneva. Considered a "global" city, it is home to large financial and diplomatic centers, as well as host to important United Nations cooperation offices. Geneva is also famous for accommodating the Geneva Conventions beginning in 1949.

Referred to as the "Peace Capital", Geneva has one of the highest quality of life indexes in the world. However, while Geneva is an excellent place to live both for health and occupation reasons, it is also the fourth most expensive city to visit (and live in) the world as well.

Geneva Government

Geneva Switzerland operates through a city council, with five councilors running separate cabinets and the president of these departments acting as the mayor of Geneva. Election of city council members occur every four years, with registered voters deciding the outcome. However, it is the City Parliament, which controls legislative power and authorizes by-laws and regulations passed by the administration and council. Also, any Geneva resident who is registered to vote has the ability to be elected to City Parliament.

Climate

Surrounded by the Alps and the Jura mountain range, Geneva experiences a variety of quickly changing weather conditions. For the most part, however, the city is temperate, averaging 52 degrees Fahrenheit, with mild winters and enjoyably warm temperatures in the summer. Snow and rain occur evenly distributed throughout the year, with autumn experiencing more precipitation than the other seasons. Substantial amounts of snow fall on the neighboring mountains during winter, causing people to flock to Geneva to enjoy skiing and relaxing at luxurious ski resorts scattered over the region.

Things to See

Geneva Switzerland is famous for many events and attractions but one of its more renowned elements is the Jet d'Eau, an impressive fountain that forces a stream of water nearly 500 feet into the air. Originally, a pressure release for a water-fueled generator operating on the Rhône River, the people of Geneva liked watching this massive gush of water so much that the city made it a permanent fixture in 1891. In the evening, floodlights focused on the Jet d'Eau illuminate it brilliantly. However, you would be wise to view this sight from a distance, since getting to within around 1/4 of a mile of this fountain results in a decent soaking.

Other notable places to see when visiting Geneva are:

• Cathédrale St-Pierre
• Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Rue des Vieux Grenadiers 10
• Parc des Eaux Vives on the Rue des Eaux Vives
• Palais des Nations at 14, Avenue de la Paix--originally built to host the League of Nations
• International Museum of the Reformation at 4, Rue du Cloître
• Museum of Art and History at Rue Charles-Galland 2

Places to Eat

Geneva Switzerland offers every kind of food a tourist could be craving, from traditional Swiss meals to exotic Indian dishes. Prices range from budget to splurging, depending on how many Swiss francs you have in your pocket. Some of the cheaper restaurants in Geneva include:

• Buvette des Bains 30, quai du Mont--located in the middle of Lake Geneva, offering fondue during the winter and a "plat du jour" in the summer
• Café du Soleil at Place du Petit-Saconnex--quite possibly the oldest restaurant in the city and said to serve the best fondue in Switzerland
• L'Entrecôte Couronnée, 5 Rue des Pâquis--a good steak restaurant that serves authentic Swiss wines

When staying in Geneva Switzerland, or any place in Switzerland for that matter, be aware that the Swiss are not known to be late for or about anything. You may encounter an example of this infamous punctuality when attempting to finish a visit to a museum that is supposed to close at 4:00 but you are still there at 3:45. You will probably be asked to leave and receive a somewhat stony stare if you question the time of closing. This kind of super-punctuality applies to all other businesses as well.

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