How to Time Your Trip to Geneva

Pristine, cosmopolitan Geneva, at Switzerland's southwest extremity, has a history, reputation and role in world affairs that far exceeds its size. In addition to being a university town, it's home to the United Nations, the Red Cross and over 200 other international and diplomatic organizations ' so many that one in three residents is a foreigner.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Travel Clothes
• Foreign Language Phrase Books
• Local Guidebooks To Switzerland
• Maps
• Airline Tickets To Geneva
• Travel Services
• Cameras
• Film
• Maps
• Cameras

General Considerations

1. Expect considerable year-round precipitation, which often turns to snow during the winter. Spring is pleasant; fall, particularly so. The average January low is 27 degrees F and the average July high is 80 degrees F.

2. Check out what festivals, attractions and live performances are happening (see "Attractions and Seasonal Events" below).

3. Plan your flight, transportation and accommodations (see Related eHows).

4. Check the weather forecast for Geneva shortly before leaving.

Attractions and Seasonal Events

5. Explore the historical old city, on the south side of the Rhone River. Visit the Place du Bourg-de-Four, originally a Roman forum, and the imposing Cathedral St. Pierre, where reformer John Calvin worked from 1536 to 1564.

6. Investigate Geneva's wide range of cultural events, which you can find listed at the Switzerland Tourism Web site and its links (myswitzerland.com). The city has very few festivals.

7. Cruise around the newest offerings from the world's biggest industry. The very international World Car Exhibition is an upscale auto show held for 10 days in mid-March.

8. View this picturesque city from a distance. Stroll along the lake (Lac Leman) or ride a boat out on it. Better still is the view from Mt. Saleve, just south of the city, which can be conquered by foot or cable car.

9. Don't miss Geneva's museums. There's the vast Museum of Art and History, a small but worthy collection of modern art at the Petit Palais, the Voltaire Museum, the Horology Museum and the Museum of Old Musical Instruments.

10. Get out of town. Switzerland is one of the most beautiful nations in the world, and the distances are manageable. Much of the country is so mountainous that the Genevans refer to it as the Pays d' En Haut (pay-EE dahn-OH), the "land up above."

Tips & Warnings

• Events in Geneva's international scene occasionally fill up the high-end hotels.