car hire geneva
Pick up your hire car at Geneva airport and enjoy this peaceful and cosmopolitan city and beyond. Book car hire Geneva now.
the 60-second guide to Geneva
in its own head
"We are the centre of the peaceful civilised world, the capital city of diplomacy!"
but more realistically
Yes Geneva is peaceful, but it's also so quaint, cheerful and sweet it actually hurts. Behind Zurich, a recent poll suggests that it has the second best quality of life in the whole world.
the vibe
Clean, fresh, classy and great looking.
the natives
Locals are reserved but courteous. It's a real melting pot too, with the foreign community making up 45 per cent of the population..
the weather
During the summer months, it tends to sit easily in the mid-20s, while it can drop to around -2 in February.
the local speciality
Those who spent the 70s wearing polo necks and slacks will already be accustomed to a fondue - the gooey cheese mixture that's just brilliant for dipping.
the celebrity
In 1988 the performance artist/pop icon Yoko Ono, controversial wife of John Lennon, moved into town. Another Beatle, George Harrison, also lived nearby at one point.
did you know?
In some quarters Geneva is known as the 'Protestant Rome' after famous theologian Jean Calvin tinkered around with the local church in the 1500s.
they say
"Embedded between nearby Alpine peaks and the hilly terrain of the Jura, Geneva is known as the 'capital of peace'." - myswitzerland.com
5 to see in town...
Every year around 25,000 delegates visit this building to row hysterically with one another about world peace.
where to park?
Unless you've got some sort of flash security pass, you won't be allowed to park in the UN building. Try the meter parking on Avenue de la Pais instead.
5 to see in town...
Just a spitting distance away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre is the old town, crammed with narrow passages, hidden treasures and good vibes.
where to park?
Don't bother actually driving into the Old Town, it's a headache. Instead park at the Parking Du Mont Blanc in Quai du General Guisan.
5 to see in town...
For fans of floral art, great news - this is the biggest flower clock on the planet. The dial alone is made up of around 6,500 flowers.
where to park?
Also in the Old Town, if you have no luck at Parking du Mont Blanc try the Rive-Centre car park in Boulevard Helvetique. They charge CHF1 for 25 minutes rising to CHF35 for 12 hours.
5 to see in town...
This gigantic house of God overlooks the entire city and accompanying lake, meaning that the views are pretty spectacular. But, be warned, it takes 157 steps to get to the summit of the north tower.
where to park?
The St Antoine car park on Boulevard Emile Jaques-Dalcroze is another Old Town option if Parking Du Mont Blanc is full.
5 to see in town...
A grand square, the kind of place where you'll find big buildings where they put on operas, earnest looking museums and a 'Conservatory of Music'.
where to park?
Use the Plaine de Plainpalais car park in Boulevard Georges-Favon. They charge CHF1 for 30 minutes rising to CHF33 for 12 hours.
and 4 to drive to...
The highest mountain on the Swiss part of The Alps is Dom, which - contrary to a hunch - isn't short for Dominic. A must-tick-off for skiers or ramblers.
how to get there?
Base yourself at the village of Saas Fee, about 141 miles from Geneva, along the A1 then the A9/E62.
and 4 to drive to...
Cheese enthusiasts simply have to go to Gruyeres, if only to get their hands on some fresh fromage straight from the cow.
how to get there?
Take the A1, then A9 around the north shore of Lac Leman, before joining the A12 and following signs.
and 4 to drive to...
Got some time on your hands? So has La Chaux-de-Fonds, the birthplace of the watchmaking industry and home to the 4,000-exhibit International Watchmaking Museum.
how to get there?
Go north on the A1 before joining the A5 and following signs to La Chaux-de-Fonds.
and 4 to drive to...
The picture-perfect Swiss capital boasts one of the largest covered shopping arcades in Europe, a Gothic cathedral and a quite spectacular medieval clock.
how to get there?
Berne is around 100 miles north of Geneva, along the A1.
ask a Geneva cabbie!
Local taxi driver Christophe Degen on car hire in Geneva: "Geneva roads are good and you'll find most drivers are very polite. Some roads are quite narrow, especially in the Old Town, and there are quite a few one-way streets, but it shouldn't be hard for a tourist to drive. Sometimes it can be hard to find parking spaces on the streets, so it's always better to look out for the large blue and white signs with the letter 'P' - they indicate the underground parking garages, which are rarely full."