"Central and Cosmopolitan" a Geneva Travel Page by Kiriel

Geneva is a fascinating city. Nestled among the hills, it has both a small town feel, and big city appeal. You see, although Geneva is quite a small city (with only 150,000 inhabitants or so), being the centre of the United Nations brings to it a fascinating mixture of cultures and people.

French is the official language of the area, but you are as likely to hear English as you walk the streets. The varied nationalities of the population here mean that the range of different cuisines in the restaurants is great, although it is quite expensive to eat here.

Geneva isn't seen as an exciting place, and for good reason. In a frustratingly typical European style, all the shops are closed on Sundays, and a fair few are closed at lunchtimes too. The best nightlife in Geneva, I am told, is in Lausanne, a town about 40 minutes drive North of Geneva!

Yet, in its own special way, Geneva has got life and vibrancy. The streets of the central town maybe deserted on a Sunday, but in the evenings, restaurants are open, and there are clubs to be found. A Sunday is still a great day to go into the city, as entry into all the museums is free for the day. If history is one of your interests, then there is certainly a lot to see!

But I think that the greatest plus to Geneva is its centrality. You can drive to Italy for lunch, Germany for dinner, and many people commute from France to work each day. To live in Geneva places Europe at your fingertips.