Where to stay

With a rich history that stretches back to Roman times, and now encompasses modern international influences, Geneva has exceptional cultural attractions. A stay at one of the Old Town hotels surrounding Place du Bourg-de-Four is a great way to compare the Catholic and Protestant influences inside the Cathedrale de St-Pierre, which is nearly 1,000 years old. Les Eaux-Vives neighborhood has the engaging Museum of Natural History, while Geneva City Centre has the fantastic Museum of Art and History. Le Grand Saconnex is a good place to stay to visit many of the city's international organizations including the Palais des Nations and International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum. Stay in Meyrin to view exhibits of science and innovation inside the giant globe of the CERN Museum. For immersion in the everyday life of Geneva, choose accommodations in Carouge and shop at the Wednesday and Saturday markets.

Le Grand Saconnex is a great place to stay to enjoy the pleasant scents and sights of the Jardin Botanique. Select a hotel along Lake Geneva, locally known as Lac Léman, in Les Eaux-Vives neighborhood, to promenade along the water, where you'll come across park spaces filled with market stalls, a pretty flower clock, and the Jet d'Eau's giant fountain which shoots high over the lake. Hotels in Thoiry or Ferney-Voltaire, France, near the Geneva International Airport provide easy access to hiking and skiing in the Jura Mountains. French hotels in Annemasse and Saint-Cergues, just east of Geneva, are about a 1-hour drive from Chamonix, where Mont Blanc and other mountains of the Alps offer superb skiing.

Geneva is known for its rousing festivals happening year-round across numerous neighborhoods. Stay in Geneva Old Town to be in the heart of events of the l'Escalade, when hundreds of costumed marchers celebrate the successful defense of the city from the Duke of Savoy in 1602. Hotels in Jonction are very convenient for enjoying the techno beats of the Electron Festival, with electronic music, art installations, and parades centered in the neighborhood of L'Usine along the Rhône River. Plainpalais is a great place to stay with kids to enjoy the circus, with three or four visiting the city at different times of the year. Even American Independence Day is celebrated nearby at the Bout-du-Monde Stadium along the Arve River.