Geneva

[Anonymous]

I will be in Geneva for about a day in early September. We're getting in early in the morning and will have the whole day in the city and the next day leaving for Chamonix at some point to start walking the Tour du Mont Blanc the day after that.

What neighborhoods would be good to stay in--prioritizing easy travel from the airport and then on to Chamonix, the possibility of an early checkin and luggage storage (or cheap enough that we could book for the night before and check in as soon as we arrive), and near a few sites? Red Cross museum, maybe the botanic gardens and a place to get fondue or chocolate are on our lists, but other suggestions of things we can do with jet lag and wanting to stretch our legs but not get sore before days of hiking are also welcome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will be in Geneva for about a day in early September. We're getting in early in the morning and will have the whole day in the city and the next day leaving for Chamonix at some point to start walking the Tour du Mont Blanc the day after that.

What neighborhoods would be good to stay in--prioritizing easy travel from the airport and then on to Chamonix, the possibility of an early checkin and luggage storage (or cheap enough that we could book for the night before and check in as soon as we arrive), and near a few sites? Red Cross museum, maybe the botanic gardens and a place to get fondue or chocolate are on our lists, but other suggestions of things we can do with jet lag and wanting to stretch our legs but not get sore before days of hiking are also welcome.

The airport is very close to the city center- there are trains every 10-15 minutes and the ride is only 5 minutes. The buses to Chamonix (trains go the long way around the lake and take an extra 2 hours and have multiple transfers) leave from from Place Dorciere, which is right in the middle of the 5 block walk from the train station to the lake. So a hotel anywhere in the central city should be fine. Most will probably have luggage storage for people staying at the hotel.

Tor Hotel looks reasonably priced and across the street from the bus stop.

[Anonymous]

That is very useful--thanks!

[Anonymous]

Geneva is very compact and hotels will give visitors a card that can be used on public transport for free. The botanic gardens are an easy bus trip away from the city center, but I’d recommend taking boats across the lake (also free with that card).

[Anonymous]

See the Lake and the fountain and flower clock. As others have said-- it's fairly compact. Walking around that area is nice.

If you want to do something a little different-- look into the tours at CERN.

Any hotel should allow you to have your luggage held.

Cafe du Soleil is great for fondue.