Known by Locals as : Genève (French)

Super calm Geneva is a great spot for a relaxed Summer break. As the base for the UN and an international business hub Geneva has a very small city vibe, yet is extremely diverse and therefore has a very cosmopolitan feel about it. It is known as the Capital of Peace and you can feel it when you are there as everyone is relaxed, happy and content. It is a place of safety and extremely good health care. There are lots of young families and mamas to be – no surprises there as the excellent healthcare makes it a great location for bringing up a family.

It is a city that you can walk easily and there are many parks around to offer beautiful scenery whilst you do.

What to do :

Besides walking around the city and exploring the gorgeous parks there are also the spectacular lakes to visit. It is easy to spend a whole day there and although it was busy it did not feel too overcrowded as everyone respects your personal space. The water is wonderfully crystal clear and we were accompanied by the occasional swan which makes a swim on the lake feel majestically magical.

In this same location you will also find a women’s only area where women can meet for sunbathing sessions without worrying about the luring eyes of men enabling complete relaxation.

Geneva Day :

Geneva has an extensive line-up of festivals during the year and I just happened to be there during ‘Fetes De Genève‘ which celebrates Geneva over a 10 day period of festivities. We spent a relaxed evening at parc de la grange where there were all sorts of festivities taking place including a concert and fireworks. All the locals were invited to take part in the firework display themselves and a group of children carried lanterns. In another part of the park a huge jazz concert was taking place and all this was completely free of charge! For dinner options there are many food stalls offering a variety of different cuisines. We wandered over to a more secluded part of the park where there was a great vegetarian health food restaurant.

Carouge :

Carouge is referred to as the Greenwich village or little Italy of Geneva due to the French-Italian architecture and the artistic vibe. There are many cafes, jazz bars and nightclubs to choose from along with Italian restaurants.

We ate at a Sicilian restaurant called Mizzica De Giuseppe Cusumano owned (unsurprisingly) by Sicilians so all the food is completely authentic and very delicious. I would highly recommend the parmigiana which was so good I had to fight a wasp to eat mine.

Geneva Perks :

When coming from the airport make sure to pick up your free ticket to get the train to Geneva city centre completely for free. You get this in the airport. Click here for more info.

Another big perk in Geneva is that there are public taps everywhere with free Evian from the mountains (that’s right, Evian, we are in Switzerland after all) so it is easy to stay hydrated in the heat.

What to Eat/Drink :

Daytime :

After swimming in the lake you’ll need to refuel at the local cafeteria. The menu is basic but super yum and they offer a vegetarian option. It’s not too expensive (francs equivalent to around £10) and the food is good quality and healthy.

For a yummy healthy (almost heart shape) sandwich stop in the centre of the old town go to Bio Fred. Not cheap but very good quality ingredients, generously sized and everything is vegetarian friendly (as oppose to my favourite dinner recommendation below). You can also take the opportunity to stock up on your wildest of health food desires as their products range to everything from wild almond pureee to tumeric juice and the like.

Evening :

I had one of the best steaks of my life in Le Relais de l’Entrecôte where the sauce used is a secret recipe. Not a location for vegetarians and vegans as the menu consists solely of greens for starter, steak & French fries for main and a selection of gorgeous dessert. It’s pricey but well worth it as what they do they do really well. Minimalism at its best for sure.