Any suggestions please for short stay in Geneva?

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I am planning a short break to Geneva in Switzerland for myself and 15 year old ds - who is autistic - because he has expressed an intense desire to visit CERN.

It will be 3 or 4 nights during October half term. I have been casually researching online so have read some general useful blurb about Geneva. But I wondered if anyone here has any special nuggets of advice or info about going there and what we might like to do or see?

Thank you very much for any insights 😊

Have a good Airbnb recommendation for a 1 bed apartment we recently stayed in. Happy to provide details if interested. Highly recommend staying on the left bank near Jet d'Eau. Close walk to the charming old town, the boat cruises and the fabulous shops.

Sorry I can’t help on Geneva itself but Annecy is lovely and not too far if you fancy a day trip. Also Evian, Yvoire and Thonon-les-Bains are pretty small towns to visit around the lake.

We did cern recently

You can't Pre book the tours so get there early to then book on

Geneva public transport is excellent

We also went up the cable car in nearby France, trip to fountain, park, old town

We also did chamomix, fabulous trip to Mont Blanc and ice cave but a bit of a trip from Geneva ( we were on way to Milan)

Geneva is majorly expensive, like New York or Oslo. Consider staying on the French side (Ferney-Voltaire, Saint-Genis-Pouilly) and taking the excellent cross-border bus network. In fact from the Ibis Budget hotel in Saint-Genis-Pouilly to the CERN visitor exhibit (in the big wooden globe) on the Swiss side is only about 40 minutes on foot!

The Choco Pass is great fun! You get a tasting plate of chocolates at each location https://www.geneve.com/en/attractions/detail/choco-pass-geneva#/

We took the cable car up up Mont Salève for the views and some easy hikes. It’s easy to get to by bus.

CERN is only open from Tuesday to Sunday at 9.00am. A tram goes from Geneva city itself past the airport direct to CERN (its the last stop on the line).

Would advise arriving there as early as possible because there could well be a lot of people there. You line up and buy tickets for the tour, there is no advance booking. You won't see the Hadron Collider tunnel, the tour is conducted all above ground.

They are closed in October on the following dates:

• Tuesday 1 October 2024
• Wednesday 2 October 2024

Its a 40 minute train journey from Geneva to Lausanne which is also worth a day trip.

Geneva is generally eye wateringly expensive and closes down each Sunday so try not to be there then. Balexert near the airport is a nice shopping centre.

Do check locally and or with the hotel but boat tours on Lake Geneva tend to stop running in mid September.

The Olympic museum in Lausanne is nice

Hotels usually provide you with a free transport pass that’s valid on all Geneva buses, trams etc - make sure you ask.

Definitely go to the Olympic museum in Lausanne.

Yes to the hotel giving out free transport passes so the commuter type trips on the lake can be free. Also free is the Queen exhibition at the casino in Montreux just near the Freddie Mercury statue on the front - short train ride away. Things can be expensive, but you have all the local cheap chains like McDonald's if those suit. Also supermarkets are sensible prices for sandwiches and pastries etc if you have packed lunch.

@BecuaseIWantItThatWay please can you send me your Airbnb recommendation thank you

The Visitor Center at CERN is really interesting and I’d highly recommend it, I could have spent a lot longer there. Food-wise, I liked Chez Ma Cousine in Bourg du Four for rotisserie chicken and fries; there’s a great ice cream place (Gelato Mania) nearby as well.