Geneva (Genève)
Known as a centre for international diplomacy, Geneva (or Genève in French, Genf in German) is apparently home to the most headquarters of international organisations in the world. Whilst it sounds tiresome & bureaucratic, somebody has gotta do it, and it may as well be in Switzerland! Thankfully that is not the reason to come to this beautifully located city. The reason is proximity to the greatest ski terrain in the world. Genève is one of the most popular entry points to ski Europe. Geneva airport (GVA) is convenient for skiing the Swiss & French Alps, plus the Valle d'Aosta in Italy.
As lovely as Geneva can be with its Rhône River & Lac Léman location, we are not going to suggest spending alot of time here. However, here's the thing about Geneva; the main reason you are here is to head to the snow & mountains ...... so do it. If your only memory of Geneva is of the airport's interior and the walk out to the train station, you haven't missed too much. Get on the train and head straight to Zermatt, Portes du Soleil, Verbier, Villars-Gryon-Diablerets or elsewhere and suck in some clean mountain air. Otherwise get in your rental car and head to Chamonix or lovely Les Contamines in France. It only takes an hour! Forget Geneva. You can thank me for it later .....
Pros & Cons for Geneva
Pros
- Some of the world's greatest skiing is within an hour drive of the city & airport.
- A safe, pleasant city, centred on the river & lake shore.
- Geneva’s airport & main train station are amongst the better gateways in Europe for ski travellers to visit Switzerland, the French Alps, and Aosta Valley Italy.
- Public transport & regional connections are fantastic, particularly into Switzerland.
- The city's ‘old town’ is the largest in Switzerland and has the excpected European charm.
- High-quality hotels & restaurants.
- Car rentals from the airport are easy to access, and driving out of the city toward the mountains is straigthforward.
Cons
- Geneva airport (GVA) has far fewer direct flights from intercontinental origins than Zurich.
- Not a great deal to do for tourists.
- An expensive city.
Pro or Con (depending on your perspective!)
- Snow rarely falls in Geneva these days, so keep your winter cityscape expectations low.
- The home of the Jet d’Eau, one of the world's most recognisable fountains (that was never meant to be a fountain .... fun fact!)
- Great place to buy a watch or clock of exceptional quality.
- Nightlife is ho-hum but what exactly did you expect?
Review
The Powderhounds have visited Geneva on numerous occasions and last visited in March 2023. More info on Geneva is coming soon - we have been a tad slack in writing up this page, but skiing is more importanterer(!), don't you think? Click on the review link in the left column of the overview (or top page if on a mobile) to read our thoughts.
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If you have a question about skiing & snowboarding in Switzerland or the rest of Europe, CONTACT US.