ideas for geneva area france switzerland?
ideas for geneva area france switzerland?
I've booked flights for Geneva in mid may for me and the OH,
Not booked any accommodation yet, have noticed that alot of hotels are very expensive. The only thing i have thought of so far is camping?????????
Has anyone any tips, ideas or recommendations of what we can do there??
Any ideas would be v gratefully recieved
thanks in advance
Answers:
Hello... haven't posted here before but often pop in for a lurk! I live in the area and couldn't bear to leave you reply-less. You’re right – hotels are very expensive. Mid-range I can recommend the Novotel (in the red light district, but not at all seedy!), still about £70-100 a night though. If you’re prepared to stay over the border, there’s a Citadines apartment-hotel place over the border in Ferney Voltaire, where I think a studio is about 90 Euros a night, and another apartment-hotel, La Reserve, at about the same price. At Thoiry there’s a Holiday Inn, also about 90 Euros. The further you get out of Switzerland, the worse the public transport gets though! If you'd like to be in the country and are prepared to rent a car, a bit further into rural France you’ll find nice small hotels/B&Bs for much less – about 40-50 Euros a night. Check out http://www.chateauxdemeures.fr/index...n=hotel&id=133 (I haven’t seen the rooms, but the outside and restaurant are fab!). Or this www.aubergecommunalelafruitiere.com/ (a bit more basic but still nice, food excellent). The last two are both about 40 mins drive from the centre of Geneva. As for things to do, there are lots, so give me a clue: what sort of things do you like to do? The centre of Geneva is quite small so unless you want to do ALL the museums it won’t keep you busy for more than a couple of days. It has a nice Old Town and the lake is v pretty; shopping is good but expensive.
Let me know if I can be of more help!
Answers:
Beat me to it, Juragirl - was just about to suggest Les Citadines in Ferney. The only hassle is that you'll need two currencies if you're alternating between the two.
My aunt lived there and it's a lovely little town. They have a great open-air market (can't remember which day ... think it's at the weekend) with fresh fruit, veg, cheese, fish etc as well as jewellery and crafts, several patisseries (look out for the apricot pastries, they're delicious), several bars, restaurants, and a couple of supermarkets.
When I was in Geneva I visited the Musee de l'Horlogerie (watches and clocks), took a boat trip to Yvoire (pretty French lakeside town). The Lac Leman is lovely, you can feed the swans, swim in the lake, and there are bathing platforms if it gets hot and you fancy doing a bit of sunbathing.
I think (not sure) there are still tours of Le Palais des Nations ... my aunt worked there and we went round it many years ago but this was back in the 60s.
Cheapest place I found to eat when I was there as a student was 'Manora' ... a self-service cafe which did a great range of salads and a damn good birchermuesli.
Lausanne's within easy travelling distance by boat or train ... trains are very good, always punctual and clean, and a great way of seeing more of the country. Lausanne's got good markets (used to be Wed and Sat mornings), a lovely cathedral and old town with cobbled streets and good shopping. Not far away there's also Montreux and the Chateau de Chillon (I really loved this place ... very picturesque and atmospheric).
HTH even though a lot of the info is out of date!
Answers:
Hey Goldie, I can't believe someone else here has been to Ferney Voltaire! The market is on Saturday mornings - I go often. You can also visit Voltaire's home, a baby chateau.
You can still take a tour (in English) of the Palais des Nations...
More thoughts... another nice town to visit is Annecy, which like Geneva has spectacular lake/mountain views. You can take out a little motor boat or peddle boat on the lake, which is a lot of fun! It has lots of pretty little streets and dozens of cafes where you can sit and watch the world go by. The old prison, set on the canal that runs through the town, is now an interesting museum.
For great views over Geneva, take the cable car up the Saleve mountain, not far outside town.
You can also take a cable car up Mont Blanc from Chamonix (close enough for a daytrip). There are amazing views looking up to the top of the mountain. Or you can visit the glacier there by a different cable car. Even in summer it can be pretty cold, so take warm clothes if you plan on doing this!
Answers:
Juragirl - I've been to Annecy too!
We spent a day over there when I was about 7, sunbathing, swimming in the lake (a Frenchwoman gave my uncle an awful row for allowing me to swim in the lake as she thought it was too polluted for children!). Visited the gaol at a later date - v interesting, and the town itself reminded me a little bit of Bruges.
I also remember taking a little red train up the mountainside, but I can't remember where we set off from nor where we ended up!
The market at Ferney is lovely, but a bit pricey. My aunt used to rave about the honey. She lived just off the main street in a duplex apartment. Say hello to Ferney from me. :)
I've booked flights for Geneva in mid may for me and the OH,
Not booked any accommodation yet, have noticed that alot of hotels are very expensive. The only thing i have thought of so far is camping?????????
Has anyone any tips, ideas or recommendations of what we can do there??
Any ideas would be v gratefully recieved
thanks in advance
Answers:
Hello... haven't posted here before but often pop in for a lurk! I live in the area and couldn't bear to leave you reply-less. You’re right – hotels are very expensive. Mid-range I can recommend the Novotel (in the red light district, but not at all seedy!), still about £70-100 a night though. If you’re prepared to stay over the border, there’s a Citadines apartment-hotel place over the border in Ferney Voltaire, where I think a studio is about 90 Euros a night, and another apartment-hotel, La Reserve, at about the same price. At Thoiry there’s a Holiday Inn, also about 90 Euros. The further you get out of Switzerland, the worse the public transport gets though! If you'd like to be in the country and are prepared to rent a car, a bit further into rural France you’ll find nice small hotels/B&Bs for much less – about 40-50 Euros a night. Check out http://www.chateauxdemeures.fr/index...n=hotel&id=133 (I haven’t seen the rooms, but the outside and restaurant are fab!). Or this www.aubergecommunalelafruitiere.com/ (a bit more basic but still nice, food excellent). The last two are both about 40 mins drive from the centre of Geneva. As for things to do, there are lots, so give me a clue: what sort of things do you like to do? The centre of Geneva is quite small so unless you want to do ALL the museums it won’t keep you busy for more than a couple of days. It has a nice Old Town and the lake is v pretty; shopping is good but expensive.
Let me know if I can be of more help!
Answers:
Beat me to it, Juragirl - was just about to suggest Les Citadines in Ferney. The only hassle is that you'll need two currencies if you're alternating between the two.
My aunt lived there and it's a lovely little town. They have a great open-air market (can't remember which day ... think it's at the weekend) with fresh fruit, veg, cheese, fish etc as well as jewellery and crafts, several patisseries (look out for the apricot pastries, they're delicious), several bars, restaurants, and a couple of supermarkets.
When I was in Geneva I visited the Musee de l'Horlogerie (watches and clocks), took a boat trip to Yvoire (pretty French lakeside town). The Lac Leman is lovely, you can feed the swans, swim in the lake, and there are bathing platforms if it gets hot and you fancy doing a bit of sunbathing.
I think (not sure) there are still tours of Le Palais des Nations ... my aunt worked there and we went round it many years ago but this was back in the 60s.
Cheapest place I found to eat when I was there as a student was 'Manora' ... a self-service cafe which did a great range of salads and a damn good birchermuesli.
Lausanne's within easy travelling distance by boat or train ... trains are very good, always punctual and clean, and a great way of seeing more of the country. Lausanne's got good markets (used to be Wed and Sat mornings), a lovely cathedral and old town with cobbled streets and good shopping. Not far away there's also Montreux and the Chateau de Chillon (I really loved this place ... very picturesque and atmospheric).
HTH even though a lot of the info is out of date!
Answers:
Hey Goldie, I can't believe someone else here has been to Ferney Voltaire! The market is on Saturday mornings - I go often. You can also visit Voltaire's home, a baby chateau.
You can still take a tour (in English) of the Palais des Nations...
More thoughts... another nice town to visit is Annecy, which like Geneva has spectacular lake/mountain views. You can take out a little motor boat or peddle boat on the lake, which is a lot of fun! It has lots of pretty little streets and dozens of cafes where you can sit and watch the world go by. The old prison, set on the canal that runs through the town, is now an interesting museum.
For great views over Geneva, take the cable car up the Saleve mountain, not far outside town.
You can also take a cable car up Mont Blanc from Chamonix (close enough for a daytrip). There are amazing views looking up to the top of the mountain. Or you can visit the glacier there by a different cable car. Even in summer it can be pretty cold, so take warm clothes if you plan on doing this!
Answers:
Juragirl - I've been to Annecy too!
We spent a day over there when I was about 7, sunbathing, swimming in the lake (a Frenchwoman gave my uncle an awful row for allowing me to swim in the lake as she thought it was too polluted for children!). Visited the gaol at a later date - v interesting, and the town itself reminded me a little bit of Bruges.
I also remember taking a little red train up the mountainside, but I can't remember where we set off from nor where we ended up!
The market at Ferney is lovely, but a bit pricey. My aunt used to rave about the honey. She lived just off the main street in a duplex apartment. Say hello to Ferney from me. :)