Tours
Walking Tours
The Geneva Tourist Office (tel: (022) 909 7000) provides a portable audiocassette to enhance a 2.5 hour walk through the labyrinthine streets of the Old Town, to the Cathédrale St-Pierre, the Arsenal , the Treille Promenade and Reformation Wall. A fee of SFr10, plus a refundable deposit of SFr50, is a requisite. Also, the tourist office provides themed guided tours from 15 June-30 September (on request during the rest of the year) from SFr12. All the walking tours depart from the Geneva Tourist Office, Pont de la Machine 1. Tours are available from the Association of Guides as well (tel: (022) 909 7000).
Bus Tours
The Geneva Tourist Office (tel: (022) 909 7000), operating as Key Tours, organises a choice of 2-hour tours, costing SFr35 (SFr39 May-October) and covering the star attractions of the city. A 3-hour tour, which includes a visit to the Palais des Nations, is also available. Pick-up points are at the airport, the Hotel InterContinetal, Chemin du Petit-Sconnex 7-9 and the bus station, Gare routière in Place Dorsière.
Water Tours
One of the best ways to see Geneva, in fair weather, is to take a mouette and explore the lake. The boats (with guided commentary in English) operate on a regular basis from Place du Molard to Quai du Mont-Blanc and Quai Gustave-Ador.
Mouettes Genevoises Navigation (tel: (022) 732 2944; fax: (022) 738 7988) departs from Quai de Mont-Blanc 8 (opposite the Hilton-Grand Casino), while Swissboat (tel: (022) 732 4747; fax: (079) 259 5262) sets off from Quai de Mont-Blanc 4 (opposite Hôtel Beau-Rivage). A 1-hour tour costs approximately SFr12. The 2-hour Château tour to the French border costs about SFr22. Smaller companies offer better rate.
Excursions
For a Half Day
Château de Chillon and Montreux
Positioned on the north shore, at the eastern end of Lake Geneva, Montreux is the gateway to skiing resorts, such as Gstaad, as well as the mountains of the Valais Cantan (of which the Matterhorn is the most famous). The town is 93km from Geneva and can be reached by frequent trains and ferries during the summer.
Montreaux is excellent for all kinds of sports (including mountain biking, rafting and paragliding) and close to the most famous château in Switzerland, the Château de Chillon, open daily from 0900-1815hrs from April to September, 1000-1200 and 1330-1600 from October to March). Entrance fee is around SFr8.50. Built on Roman foundations in the 13th century, the château was visited by Byron, who sailed here with Shelley and consequently wrote the prose poem Prisoner of Chillon. From Montreaux, the château can be reached by a 45 minute walk along Lake Geneva, or directly by tram 1. Montreux Tourism Pavilion Information Centre, Place du Débarcadére (tel: (021) 962 8436; fax: (021) 963 8113; e-mail: tourism@montreux.ch), provides more information.
For a Whole Day
Lausanne
This lakeside city, just 61km from Geneva, is simply reached by a 40-minute train journey from Cornavin station. Lausanne’s pedestrianised, hilly streets are great for wandering. The Rue du Pont leads to the Place de la Palud, with its fountain and Renaissance Mairie. Close by, the turreted towers of the Romanesque-Gothic cathedral offer the best views of Lausanne, Lake Geneva and the Savoy Alps.
The Musée Historique de Lausanne has rich collections of religious art, while the Musée Cantonal des Beaux-Arts displays local artists. To the south of the city, at Quai d’Ouchy, the Olympic Museum vaunts the sporting history of Lausanne, the ‘Olympic World Capital’. Lausanne Tourisme is located at Avenue de Rhodanie 2, 1000 Lausanne 6 (telephone: (021) 613 7373; fascimile: (021) 616 8647; e-mail: information@lausanne-tourisme.ch). |
