I had thought a few times about visiting Geneva. It was one of those, "It would be nice" wishes that sat quietly in the waiting room. When a friend whom I hadn't seen in 6 years was visiting, it sounded like the perfect time to go! Or was it? This was March 2020, COVID-19 cases were rising in Germany and more so, Switzerland and nearby Italy. The world was in a frenzy. There was still so much we didn't know about this mysterious disease, and it was scary. Maybe it was crazy, but I decided to risk it. Mainly because my friend who's a medical doctor thought it was safe to once I took several precautions. She was actually doing a stint at the World Health Organisation, which you may remember was monitoring the spread of the disease. Bearing this in mind, I thought it was reasonable and wise to take my cues from her. After doing extensive research, off I went trying to find all the things I needed to protect myself as best as possible: hand-sanitizer. N95 mask. Except there was none. They were sold out everywhere! As a matter of fact, masks (even cloth ones) were barely even a thing at the time. I had no clue where to go to find one. I checked Amazon, but it was quite expensive and wouldn't arrive on time. I vividly remember the lady at the pharmacy looking at me strangely when I asked for an N95 mask. Maybe she thought I had Covid? To sanitize, I resorted to defecting wipes (which were rationed per customer) and thank God, I eventually found one drug store with hand sanitizer (again only 2 bottles allowed per shopper). Still no mask though, so a scarf and booking a seat in the last row of the aircraft (with absolutely no one sitting nearby) would have to do!
For once, I wished for terrible customer service. When my very friendly taxi driver opted to take my bag from the car, I cringed inwardly. Then he proceeded to shake my hand! "Now to find the closest bathroom !" I thought. I still remember living like a CIA representative: subtly scanning the airport for anyone remotely coughing and discretely moving to the other end of the room if they did. I opted to stand instead of sitting next to anyone while waiting in the airport and oh, how I washed my hands! On the airplane, as soon as I boarded, everything was cleansed meticulously (the seatbelt, the armrests, the tray table, the window blind, everything) and for added protection, I wrapped my nose and mouth in my handy-dandy scarf, though no one was anywhere nearby! Afterall, I was trying to collect memories, not Covid-19! So off I went into the unknown...not knowing this would have been my last trip for 2 years, before the world went into lockdown.
FUN FACTS
Switzerland has over 7,000 lakes, with Lake Geneva being the largest.
PULL FACTORS
Visit if you like: Nature, High End Shopping, Chocolate, Architecture.
DESTINATION PROFILE: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
Overall Experience: 6/10
Language Spoken: French
The People: Very reserved, well-mannered.
Currency Used: Swiss Francs (Euros widely accepted)
How Long Should I Stay?: One week
Visa Requirements: Schengen Visa, aside from those with passport from Europe, UK, USA, etc.
Best Suited for: Business Travelers, Solo Travel, Friends.
Not so Great for: Budget Travelers
SHOW ME THE MONEY: HOW EXPENSIVE IS GENEVA?
Believe me when I say this tops the list as THE MOST EXPENSIVE place I've ever visited. I know said Milan was expensive in an earlier blog, but Geneva blew me away with its prices! I'm so happy my friend hosted me because...the prices of hotels! Here's some context. In Berlin, you can book a decent hotel room for around €60 per night, the cost of similar hotels in Geneva averaged €200 per night, at the time of my research! I was in disbelief when a simple cheese pizza at a casual neighborhood restaurant, cost €20 (the equivalent price in Berlin is €5). I can only say thank God I had an awesome hostess who often refused to have me pay for anything!
GETTING AROUND: TRANSPORTATION IN GENEVA
I found Geneva's public transportation system to be efficient, reliable and clean. All of Geneva is clean! Like squeaky clean! When it came to getting around, I didn't have to do much thinking when it came to this aspect because my friend calculated all our routes and all I did was talk while we waited. We took a public bus from the airport to the city centre which took about 40 minutes or so. Most stops are equipped with electronic display boards showing the expected wait times and also automated kiosks to purchase tickets. We mainly used the bus, ferry and trains, but also spent a lot of time walking as most places are reachable by foot. I always love walking around cities to discover unexpected surprises, take pictures at my leisure and to feel more immersed.
TOP 8 THINGS TO DO IN GENEVA
1) Jet d'Eau/Lake Geneva- this was the one thing on my "Must See" list, as it defined Geneva for me! Everything else was optional. The Jet d'Eau, found on Lake Geneva, is a massive water feature that shoots 500 litres of water per second at a height of 140m. It's beautiful, fascinating and elegant! Lake Geneva itself is worth lots of storage space in your phone. It's a pristine, peaceful lake, complete with varying shades of blue, set to the backdrop of Swiss buildings and the snow-capped Alps. You'll want to take a boat ride on the lake which is extremely relaxing and a great way to view the city. Feel free to stop at different ports and linger around to experience different parts of the city.
2) The Flower Clock - this attraction lies just outside the Jardin Anglais park leading to Lake Geneva. It's easy to see these 3 sites (Jet d'Eau, Lake Geneva and The Flower Clock) in one go! The Flower Clock is another icon of the Genevan experience! It was created in 1955 to celebrate one of the things Switzerland is best known for: it's prestigious watching-making industry. This beautiful attraction is said to consist of over 6,500 flowers. The selection of flora changes seasonally, which means the clock looks different all the time depending on when you visit!
3) Palace of Nations- Geneva is home to several international organizations such a Red Cross and the European headquarters of the United Nations. Getting a shot by the Palace of Nations is a great way to capture a meaningful part of Geneva. The United Nations works towards world peace, human rights, as well as economic and social development. The display of the national flags at the Palace is a great representation of the UN's goals. It provides a vibrant vision of individuality, yet unity! Have fun seeing if you can spot your country's flag! An added bonus is viewing the art pieces on site.
4) Reformation Wall - the Reformation is a very significant part of church history as it represents the birth of the Protestant church. If church history interests you, like it does me, you'll want to stop at this site to view larger-than-life sculptures of some of the main persons who contributed to the Reformation. This includes John Calvin, William Farel and John Knox.
5) St. Pierre's Cathedral- this was another of my personal favourites. Perhaps because it combined history, adventure and a panoramic view of the city. I am a sucker for cityscapes, especially when enjoyed from above! At St. Pierre's you can tour the Protestant cathedral and view some of Calvin's artefacts. As a grand finale, climb up 87 steps through winding passage ways to reach the an attic- like top where your reward is spectacular views of the city. With it's mysterious staircases and narrow alcoves, it almost felt like an Alice in Wonderland experience.
6) Tour the Old City- here you'll find historic sites such as St. Pierre's Church. It's a very quiet, and slow-paced area that welcomes unrushed strolls, picturesque architecture and invites you stop at a local restaurant for a drink.
7) Take a Day Trip- this might sound weird, going to Geneva to go somewhere else. But is actually a common thing! Geneva is well connected to other beautiful cities such as Annecy and. I think the best bargain is getting a two for one (country) deal by visiting Lyon (France). It's only a bus ride away!
8) Place du Molard - this strip, full of noteworthy hotels, restaurants and shopping stops, is covered in cobblestone. Some of the bricks light up at night, resembling a fallen starry sky!
FREEBIES: THINGS TO DO FOR FREE IN GENEVA
As the cost of most things in Geneva may be quite high, here are some ideas to balance out the budget (perhaps you can use the savings to buy a souvenir Rolex...I kid, I kid!)
1) The Museum d'Histoire Naturelle is totally free of charge! Enjoy exhibitions on various topics, from the solar system to fossil fuels and dinosaurs.
2) Play life-size chess or ping pong at the Parc de Bastions.
3) Do a free tour at the renowned CERN physics laboratory, if science and engineering excite you! Caution: 24 tickets are given out for each tour. You must join a queue two hours before the scheduled tour to secure a ticket.
4) Nature lovers will come alive at Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de Geneve where one can visit greenhouses and pay animal friends a visit.
5) Stop by the Broken Chair Statue and marvel at this sight that defies the laws of physics!
BEST PHOTO OPPS IN GENEVA
Geneva is beautiful, so most of what I saw was worthy of being captured. However I'd suggest the following as ideal spots to capture that memorable moment.
•Lake Geneva (especially with the Alps in the Background)
•The Promenade by Jardin Anglais
•The Flower Clock
WHAT TO EAT IN GENEVA
1) Fondue- it's one of the most well-known Swiss delicacies and will instantly make you feel sophisticated! Usually served over a flame with another food item for dipping, this gooey delight is made of melted Gruyère cheese, white wine and garlic. You can opt for add-ins such as herbs or mushrooms. The smell might take some getting used to, but it's totally worth it! Prepare for the super long forks, the possible awkwardness of losing your dipped item in the sauce, fishing for it then successfully finding your mouth with oversized cutlery! Oh, what fun!
2) Swiss Chocolate -another staple of the Swiss foodie experience! If you're from the Americas, you probably considered Swiss Miss a treat while growing up! Well now, you can treat yourself or the real thing!
3) Mallakof- In case you haven't had enough dairy, go for these balls of fried cheese that got its name from name from the Battle of Mallakof. The dish was first made by Swiss mercenaries.
4) Rosti- This savoury pancake is made of grated potatoes, onions and herb. The crispy exterior is in perfect contrast with the moist inside! Go for it if you want a meal that may not be too adventurous!
5) Papet Vaudois- hailing from the Vaud region of Switzerland, this a traditional one- pot Swiss dish containing potatoes, leeks, white wine, cabbage & sausage. It's a hearty dinner option!
JO'S GEMS: HIDDEN SUPRISES I DISCOVERED DURING MY STAY
I dined at the following restaurants in Geneva and enjoyed them!
•Old Town Café - great for a quick drink. Have the Viennese Hot Chocolate! It was divine and an unexpected surprise. The owner was very personal and friendly, he actually recommended our order.
•Muller's Factory - if you're looking for chic but cost-effective dining, here's an excellent choice for breakfast or brunch. The setting is rather elegant and it's a great spot for crêpes and coffee! Crepes start at 5 (that's spectacular for Geneva!).
•Cafe Bou-Vin- this was our stop for Fondue that didn't break our pockets. Basic Fondue starts at approximately 23.50€ and comes with bread for dipping.
Black Tap Restaurant looked amazing (I really wanted to try their freakshakes since that's not easy to find Europe) but unfortunately I ran out of time.
WHAT I LIKED BEST ABOUT GENEVA
-The city is pristine! If you're looking for a clean, calming city, Geneva is your stop!
- I especially loved the promenades around Lake Geneva, it's peaceful and great for runs/walks.
-Sailing on Lake Geneva was exhilarating and beautiful!
-The views of the Alps were spectacular (like out of a storybook!)
-The Old Town was very inviting with beautiful buildings and streets.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT GENEVA
-Overall, Geneva didn't feel very eventful to me. Perhaps it was my choice of activities, but I felt like aside from the main attractions, there wasn't much else to do.
-The high price tag of almost everything felt stressful. I heard that even locals drive to Lyon to do grocery shopping to cut costs.
-See below
EXPERIENCE AS A BIPOC
Everything was going perfectly fine until my friend and I decided to pop into a high-end fashion store. The story is best told in my YouTube video. Watch it here: https://youtu.be/OM3U9KnzR8s
Of course, this was a major turn off!
WHAT WOULD HAVE MADE MY STAY BETTER?
Aside from wishing our experience at a certain store was more civil, if I could change anything, I would have do less sight seeing and more interactive activities in Geneva. Should I ever visit again, I'd perhaps do some of the following (and I recommend you try them):
1) Bains des Paquîs- a great place to swim in the summer).
2) Art and History Museum- this spot offers fine art and archeology exhibitions.
3) Parc de la Grange - Geneva's largest and (claimed to be) it's most beautiful public park. The grounds are adorned with Roman villa ruins and terraces. The park is a popular venture for live shows from May-Sept and boasts a stunning rose garden in the summer.
4) Patek Philip - learn about the history of watch making from this prominent brand
5)
I'd also want to do more daytrips, particularly to Annecy to savour beautiful views and villages, and Chamonix and Mont-Blanc for the iconic cable car ride over the mountains. What's your impression of Geneva? What this blog helpful? I'd love to know!