Geneva is located in the far south-western corner of Switzerland, on the border with France and at the edge of Lake Geneva. It is a cosmopolitan city, with many of its two million inhabitants being of foreign origins. It is also home to the United Nations and other diplomatic or international organisations. Although more a serious city than a party town, Geneva does boast some outstanding natural and historic attractions, despite being a fairly expensive place to visit.

Lake Geneva is the focus of the city and is surrounded by a bustling shoreline, with a number of beautiful parks and gardens abutting the waterline and the towering Jet d-Eau fountain shooting water nearly 400 feet high over the lake.

Together with its abundant greenery, Geneva boasts significant historical interest in the Old Town, with a web of interesting alleyways and the 850-year-old St Peter’s Cathedral dominating the city. The Old Town is located to the south of the River Rhône, between Jardin Anglais and Parc des Bastions.

There are museums and galleries aplenty, with the International Red Cross Museum being well worthy of exploration, as is the grand United Nations building (Palais des Nations). Shoppers looking for high-end jewellery, watches and designer outfits will not be disappointed and there are more restaurants per head than there are in New York.

Geneva will not disappoint in the accommodation stakes, with a huge range of quality establishments on offer. Despite the large number of hotels, the city fills up fast in the summer, owing to the many international conferences held here; therefore you should book your accommodation as far ahead as possible. Most hotels can be found near the railway station, to the north of the Old Town and the River Rhône, and along the western edge (right bank) of Lake Geneva.

Genevese culture is a mixture of French, German and Italian, with unique Swiss qualities of efficiency for all things. French is the most widely spoken language in Geneva, although it is easy enough to get by using English owing to the huge international presence here. Genevans love their spotless city and are welcoming and helpful to visitors, as long as they respect their hosts by dressing and behaving with decorum.

Ruled by the Celtic Allobroges long before the Romans took hold during the conquest of Gaul, Geneva evolved during turbulent times through to the Middle Ages, as did everywhere else in the region. The city became part of the Roman Empire in 121 BC and later saw a struggle between the counts and the bishops of Geneva, the counts of Savoy and the Genevese themselves.

The city eventually gained independence in 1536, when the Reformation, spearheaded by four religious figures, converted the citizens from Catholics to Protestants and made the city a republic. Geneva lost its independence in 1798 when Napoleon annexed it to France under the Directory. However, this was short-lived and after the overthrow of Napoleon, Geneva quickly regained its independence and was later admitted to the Swiss Confederation.

Thirty years later and a little over 300 years since the Reformation, James Fazy overthrew the government and established the constitution, of which Switzerland still adheres to today. During this time, Geneva became the home of many political refugees; a time when Geneva resident Henri Dunant set up the International Committee of the Red Cross (1864), which led to many other leading international organisations being established here.

Following WWI, Geneva was chosen as the site for the headquarters of the League of Nations, from which the United Nations emerged. Today, Geneva is more important than ever regarding its diplomatic duties and it is still home to several major international organizations. This in itself has helped the city grow and prosper from a wealthy lakeside town into a world city. Recent years have seen more and more money spent on Geneva to enhance its image as an important cultural and political centre and to provide its residents and visitors with a wealth of attractions.

Geneva is best visited in July and August when the weather is mostly good, although be prepared for throngs of tourists and expensive and often fully-booked accommodation.  With this in mind, the slightly cooler months of June and September are not as busy and hotel room rates are significantly cheaper; however, unsettling weather can occur in September.

Due to its altitude, Geneva rarely gets any hotter than 25°C and winter temperatures can dip down to way below freezing. Many visitors come during the ski season, which generally runs from October to April.