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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Geneva in November

31 replies

BettySweaty · 08/05/2023 11:14

Booked flights. It's my 50th birthday. Going with dp and another couple for 3 days.

Need to book accommodation and think about what to do. Any ideas or experiences most welcome!

Not a huge budget, will do or try most things
....

OP posts:
Fivemoreminutes1 · 08/05/2023 12:29

Take a cable car to the top of Mont Salève. We took a bus from Gare Cornavin to Veyrier-Douane and then it’s a 10 min walk to the cable car base station.
We also took the train to Lausanne, which took about 40 minutes. There are brilliant views from the Sauvabelin Tower. We then took a boat back to Geneva.

BonnieGlasses · 08/05/2023 12:31

I find something called Google very handy for travel tips. HTH.

maranella · 08/05/2023 12:48

Geneva itself is not the most exciting city, but the old town is nice for a wander, there's a decent museum of art and history and there are plenty of good bars and restaurants. Take the train or a boat trip around Lac Léman to Montreux and visit the Chateau de Chillon, which has a fabulous location and views.

Livinginanotherworld · 08/05/2023 12:52

Lusanne or Montreux are better places to stay, more going on. Definitely use the rail network and get a free card from the hotel or airport for free local trams and buses. It’s eye wateringly expensive however so be prepared.

LIZS · 08/05/2023 12:52

I would warn that November can be pretty gloomy, damp and foggy, unless you can get above the cloud level.

Londre · 08/05/2023 17:03

Surprised no one has mentioned the Red Cross museum - loved it!

Tottybotty · 08/05/2023 17:08

@BonnieGlasses why on earth are you reading that holiday forum?!
OP we are going in July so I will reply after that if I have any recommendations!

GCWorkNightmare · 08/05/2023 17:11

Did 4 days there in March for a gig. Eyewateringly expensive - £7 for a coffee expensive. I had a little studio flat about 10 mins walk out of the centre (on a tram route) for about £75 a night. Didn’t eat out at all. Not paying £40 for fish and veg. Paid £24 for a single cocktail.

Pollysmum2012 · 08/05/2023 17:14

The boat trip to Yvoire is very pretty and they do good lake fish at the restaurants there. If it’s foggy I’d recommend going high into the mountains above the clouds - the rail network is really good so you can get to Zermatt and Verbier by train. You can also get the cable car (or walk if you like hiking) up the Mont saleve for great views over the lake if the weather is clear.

Original poster
BettySweaty · 08/05/2023 19:20

@Tottybotty that would be great. Thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
BettySweaty · 08/05/2023 19:21

@Pollysmum2012 sounds great. Thank you. Not bothered at all if the weather's not great. Plenty of fun still to be had😁

OP posts:
LIZS · 08/05/2023 19:24

Boats and cable cars will be more limited in November. Chamonix is an easy train ride.

thimblgattle167 · 08/05/2023 19:27

It's a nice city but it is small and very very expensive. It's worth getting the train tk montreux or Lausanne. The train ride is beautiful. November can be very very cold so keep a close eye on the weather (be sure to check the real feel temp as the wind can be brutal)

KathieFerrars · 08/05/2023 19:28

Evian factory tour is really good. In fact Evian as a town is rather nicer than Geneva - perhaps a possible place to stay?

TizerorFizz · 08/05/2023 23:36

@BettySweaty
My DD lived there for a semester when she went to the university. The cheaper coffee shops are around the university! Not cheap though. They don’t exist.

Top tip; Patek Philippe museum. It’s amazing. Every watch is desirable!
Nowhere else has this.

Go into the cathedral and the old city.
The Rue du Rhone (expensive shopping street) might have its Christmas decorations up. Check it out. Also are any Christmas markets on? Look to see if Montreaux Christmas market has started. It’s fantastic. Don’t forget the United Nations either. a trip on the lake if the weather is bright and sunny.

Original poster
BettySweaty · 09/05/2023 13:05

Thank you everyone!

It's making me think about getting a hotel out of Geneva now!!

OP posts:
Madcats · 09/05/2023 13:50

We used to stay in this aparthotel (it was a hotel school when we were last there - perhaps not, now):
www.starling-residence-geneve.ch
We bought our food and wine from the nearest Aldi when we weren't eating out.

Last time I had a holiday there we bought a Swiss Rail pass (covering buses trams boats and trains for the region) and made good use of the scenic tourist trains. We had to spend some time at Cern but did mutter that we should look to stay at Montreux next time.

GCWorkNightmare · 09/05/2023 13:51

If you want to go to CERN, its far cheaper to stay that side of the border!

fluffiphlox · 09/05/2023 13:53

The Patek Philippe museum is interesting and free as far as I can remember. You can visit CERN too though you probably have to book.

TizerorFizz · 09/05/2023 13:54

@BettySweaty
Why? Geneva is a central hub. Really easy to get to the Airport. There is enough to see snd do in November. More than any location elsewhere. Which you would need to travel to anyway!

Pollysmum2012 · 09/05/2023 14:04

One more tip: unless things have improved since I lived there several years ago there are no supermarkets open on a Sunday except the one at the train station - so that's the place to be if you need anything on a Sunday! Also forgot to mention that the white wine they produce on the shores of the lake near Lausanne is very nice and I think you can visit the vineyards and sample the wines - nice scenery and walking trails through the vineyards too.

Madcats · 09/05/2023 14:09

Another nice thing about Geneva is, because of all the UN staff, there are restaurants galore!

This chicken chain is one of the cheaper places to eat:

www.chezmacousine.ch

Or maybe try the buffet restaurant on the top floor of Manor department store.

Original poster
BettySweaty · 15/05/2023 14:40

Good to know. Thank you 😊

OP posts:
Original poster
BettySweaty · 15/05/2023 14:59

@TizerorFizz I've very little idea about the country. Always thought it would be wonderful to go but never thought I would actually get there. So desperate to cram as much in as I can. Really excited about it.

OP posts:
Faircastle · 15/05/2023 15:35

I'm going to be in Geneva for a couple of days in August (en route from visiting DS in another Swiss city) so I'm glad you started this thread.