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Switzerland : Geneva - January 2009 Country Code: Dial ++41 for Switzerland
January is the perfect time of
year to see Geneva at its winter
wonderland best: crisp, fresh air,
an icy lake and snow-covered
mountains. Then there’s the
cultural calendar this month. The
visually stunning Festival Arts et
Lumierès is on until 4 January,
while the renowned Festival
Suisse Diagonales Jazz 09 arrives
here in January. Lou McMullen
books her tickets
Getting around
Geneva Cointrin International Airport
Bus: If staying on the left bank, the No 10 will get you to Cornavin Station in 10 minutes and across the river in about 15 minutes Train: The train from the airport to the city centre takes six minutes. A one-hour Tout Genève pass costs €1,90/CHF 3, which you can also use on buses.
Taxi: Taxis cost €19-25/CHF 30-40 and take about 15 minutes to the centre. Tourist information: 18 Rue du Mont-Blanc (tel. 022 909 7000, www.genevetourism.ch).
COINTRIN
The district near the airport is gaining a
reputation for bargain accommodation
and has one of the best one-stop
shopping centres in the city.
Shop til you drop – A short walk away
is Balexert (27 Avenue Louis Casai), a
giant shopping complex that also offers
restaurants, bars and a cinema. It takes
a while to get around it, so factor in
plenty of time and make sure you have
suitcase space!
Sleep soundly – At prices that won’t
break the bank, both the Etap and the remarkably reasonable
four-star NH Geneva Airport Hotel
offer comfortable stays.
They are also just a 10-minute bus ride
from the centre.
LAKESIDE
At this time of year, both banks of the
lake are perfect for a brisk winter walk
Dance the night away – Unleash your
inner Paris Hilton and hit Platinum
Glam Club (18 Quai de Seujet). Dress
to impress and bring a full wallet if you
want to fit in with the glossy crowd here.
Must drink – Nothing beats a rich hot
chocolate at one of the waterside cafés
such as Le Casanova (3 Quai du Mont
Blanc). A cocoa rush as you look out
over the Jet d’Eau fountain – what more
could one ask for?
Sleep soundly – For old-fashioned
luxury and excellent service, look no
further than the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues
Culture vultures – Take a brisk stroll
along the lakeside and spot the Festival
Arts et Lumières, which sees the trees
strung with lights.
LES PAQUIS
Between the train station and the lake
lies a bustling quarter of contrasts:
red-light districts and deluxe hotels,
tourist traps and local establishments,
and, above all, multicultural diversity.
Dance the night away – The touring
jazz celebration Festival Suisse
Diagonales Jazz 09 comes to Geneva
from 17 to 24 January. Catch the
festivities at improvised music club
Sud des Alpes (10 Rue des Alpes),
a great place to let your hair down.
Must eat – If you fancy authentic
Spanish food, try paella at the lively El
Ruedo (12 Rue de Fribourg, tel. (0)22
732 6508). L’Entrecôte Couronnée (5
Rue des Pâquis, tel. (0)22 732 8445) is
simply one of the best restaurants in the
city for steak. Try the medallions of beef
with mushrooms and herbs or, if you
fancy something less red-blooded, the
salmon flambéed with absinthe. The
lunchtime plat du jour is reasonably
priced and popular, so arrive early.
Sleep soundly – A relative
newcomer, the four-star
Hotel Eastwest is already going down a treat. Elegant and refined,
rooms are all dark woods and clean
lines, making for a really relaxing stay.
OLD TOWN
Sample high-class dining among the
cobbled back streets of Geneva’s
Vieille Ville.
Must eat – Café Papon (1 Rue Henri-
Fazy, tel. 022 311 5428) is a Genevan
institution, offering a varied menu full of
local produce and dishes like roast duck
breast in green pepper sauce and tarte
tatin. For cheese specialities, it’s hard
to beat Restaurant Les Armures
(Hotel Les Armures, 1 Rue du Puits-
Saint-Pierre, tel. 022 310 3442) with its
delicious fondues and raclettes (grilled
cheese and potatoes).
Must drink – Start with an apèro at
La Clémence (20 Place du Bourg-de-
Four). It’s a tiny bar with a large terrace
that is still heaving during
winter thanks to its
heaters and a
well-deserved
reputation as the
place to meet
people in town.
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