Is Geneva a nice city?

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I was researching travelling to Geneva this summer , then on to Chamonix. But in my researching I found a forum where someone said Geneva is a crime ridden hole ! I thought it was a nice place? Have anyone been?

It’s a beautiful city but it’s small and expensive. Hardly any crime, very safe

I’ve been there and thought it was great. Downside is that it is expensive

Thanks. That’s what I thought most peoples experience was.

Not far from Geneva, over the border is Annecy, one of my favourite places on the planet,so beautiful with lots to do in the surrounding area. I don't really like Chamonix, at this time of year full of British rich kids.

It's lovely, but crushingly expensive - as is most of Switzerland. Try French Alps or Southern German lakes instead.

Oh ? Why do you prefer Annecy? I was under impression Chamonix was easier with public transport so that’s largely why I went for Chamonix over annecy

Only spent a day there but it was absolutely stunning. One of the calmest and nicest places ive been

I go on holiday to Chamonix every year at the start of summer. I like to avoid crowds, it does get busy in high season. Unless you're a runner avoid late August like the plague.

I've been to Annecy a couple of times, I don't really get why people love it so much. The town is cute, the lake is nice but I must be missing something.

What happens in late August?

The ultra trail du mont blanc. Runners descend from all over the world. It's insane and incredibly busy.

Thanks thats good to know. Don’t think we will go then

There's probably lots of dodgy goings on in Geneva since there is so much money floating about, so perhaps it's a crime-ridden hole in the white-collar sense. But it's a very beautiful and calm city to visit. The only robbery you are likely to experience is of the daylight variety, pretty much every time you buy anything... basically everything costs close to double what it does in the UK, outside perhaps of Mayfair.

I second Annecy, visited 4 times but only in mid June when there's a massive animation festival on. I think the place is magical, but that's because it's like a little "Cannes" for animation.

The natural beauty, canals, shops and surrounding areas, as well as being right on the lake. There are cycling paths everywhere, taking you around the lake. It has a lovely friendly feel. Chamonix didn't even feel French, so many pretentious English people, not unlike Antibes. I am a down to earth Northerner, so disliked that.

We've just returned from a touring holiday which took in Lake Geneva. Wasn't that impressed to be honest but like several others on here I really liked Annecy and also Evian les Bains. Traffic much worse than most other places in France we've visited, with the exception of the Riviera but we used trains and trams in that area. Scorching hot this last week too.