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WHAT'S NEW IN GENEVA!
by Sylvie Bigar
Geneva is
home to one of the most beautiful freshwater bays in
Europe, with Mont-Blanc and the Alps as a backdrop and
the stunning Jet d’Eau, the tallest water fountain
in the world, saluting its wide-eyed audience. Add to
this newly opened galleries, shops, boutique hotels,
and eateries that are attracting a new hip crowd to
the shores of this gorgeous Swiss city. Summer is the
best time to visit Geneva, and if you like a party,
Les Fêtes de Genève (July 31 to August 10, 2008)
dresses the town up as a monumental international
street fair.
Start your visit by climbing toward the Old Town and, why
not, the 157 steps to the top of the St.-Pierre
Cathedral (Cours Saint-Pierre 6. Tel:
011-41-022-311-75-75. www.site-archeologique.ch)
for a bird’s-eye view of the city. Check out its
oldest bell, the 12,000-pound la Clémence. Back down
on the Place du Bourg-de-Four, do as the locals do and
forget any craving for latte. Café au lait/croissant
is the way to go before exploring the (often) pricey
antique shops and boutiques on the pedestrian-only
Grand Rue. Cheese-lovers, step down to Les Armures
Hotel and Restaurant (rue du Puits-St-Pierre 1. Tel:
011-41-022-310-91-72. www.hotel-les-armures.ch),
which serves some of the best fondue and raclette. Ask
to sit downstairs in the cellar and debut with an
assiette valaisanne, a medley of Swiss charcuterie.
Later, you can stroll down past the longest bench in
the world to admire the view from the romantic
promenade, Rampe de la Treille. The Place Neuve,
framed by the Conservatory and the Grand Théâtre,
opens up to a beautiful park, Les Bastions, favored by
a young crowd in search of adventure. At La Théière
qui Rit (the laughing teapot) (15 rue de la Cité.
Tel: 011-41-022-310-36-47), the baroque décor matches
an elegant tea service.
As long as you do not check the terrifying exchange rate
between the euro and the dollar, the Rues Basses,
between the rue du Rhône and rue du Marché area, is
a shopper’s paradise. The top department store, le
Bon Génie (34 rue du Marché. Tel:
011-41-022-818-11-11), offers a wonderful selection of
designer clothes and accessories. For some of the best
Swiss chocolate, step into Chocolats Rohr (3 place du
Molard. Tel: 011-41-022-311-63-03. www.rohr.ch)
for artisanal marvels. If you want to see where the
Davidoff (2 rue de Rive. Tel: 011-41-022-310-90-41. www.davidoff.com)
empire started, step into the gorgeous wood-paneled
boutique where the most elegant cigars in the world
originated. Nearby, the French-style brasserie, Café
du Centre (5 place du Molard. Tel:
011-41-022-311-85-86), is famous for its fresh seafood
as well as old Swiss favorites. Don’t miss the
boutiques within the Confédération-Centre mall
clustered around the Swiss branch of Parisian
Brasserie Lipp (8 rue de la Confédération. Tel:
011-41-022-318-80-30. www.brasserie-lipp.com),
and if you cannot live another moment without sushi, Nô
Sushi’s (8 rue de la Confédération. Tel:
011-41-022-810-39-73) conveyor belt makes for a fun
and delicious meal.
Geneva may not have a sea, but it’s very proud of its
pebble beach, Les Bains des Paquis (quai du Mont-
Blanc 30. Tel: 011-41-022-732-29-74. www.bains-des-paquis.ch),
located on a pier that reaches out into the middle of
the bay. Now that the lake water has been purified,
these retro baths, complete with hammam and sauna, are
one of the centers of gay Geneva. The Buvette du Bain
des Paquis (Tel: 011-41-022-738-16-16), open all day,
offers a light menu, but the languid atmosphere and
the stunning view from the pier may be its main asset.
Credits:
Geneve Tourisme
Stroll along the Quai du Mont-Blanc and check out the
lavish Grand Hotel Kempinski (19 quai du Mont-Blanc.
Tel: 011-41-022-908-90-81.www.kempinski-geneva.com),
completely renovated and redesigned with transparency
as its theme. Make your way to the second floor, at
least for a drink, in front of the Jet d’Eau.
Afterwards, walk toward the Cornavin Station through
Les Paquis, a haven for various ethnic groups and
creatures of the night. Leave your luggage at my
favorite place to stay, the brand new and
beautifully-decorated Eastwest Hotel (6 rue des Paquis.
Tel: 011-41-022-708-17-17. www.eastwesthotel.ch),
and prepare for a night on the town.
For more about Traveling to Gay Friendly Europe, contact our agency at 1-877-901-8687
Tours we offer & Recommend
Whether you wish to take part of a small escorted group tour, or travel on your own, we do recommend
traveling to Switzerland off season (May-June or
September-October). Make sure you have at least 7 full
days to explore that small yet fulfilling country.
Switzerland is not part of the European Union. Please
make sure you have a valid passport. StandOut can design your very own itinerary based on your dates and budget. Contact us toll free at 1-877-901-8687
