Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

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Switzerland : Geneva - March 2008

Country Code: Dial for Switzerland

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 (, www.genevetourism.ch).

LES GROTTES

Once full of squats, this area still has a whiff of counterculture about it, despite the upmarket selection of bars and restaurants.

Sleep soundly – Hotel Le Montbrillant is a welcoming family-run hotel with a four-star rating.

Must eat – For classic French fare, try L’Evidence (13 Rue des Grottes, tel. ), a small, exquisitely decorated restaurant. Lo’13’to (Rue des Gares, tel. ) – pronounced ‘l’autre resto’ – serves pan-global cuisine.

Must drink – If you like a pint, head for Brasseur des Grottes (6 Rue de la Servette), which has its own brewery.

SERVETTE

This up-and-coming area is packed with new hotels and exciting restaurants.

Sleep soundly – Hotel Grand-Pré is blissfully quiet. Rooms at the recently renovated Hotel Les Nations boast kingsize beds.

Culture vultures – For literary buffs, a visit to the Institut et Musée Voltaire (25 Rue des Délices) is a must. Devoted to one of France’s most famous thinkers, it includes a library of some 25,000 volumes and 4,000 manuscripts.

Must eat – If you just want a quick bite to eat, Saveurs d’Orient (19 Rue de la Servette, tel. ) serves good kebabs and falafels while Faim? (5 Rue Châtelain, tel. ) offers international cuisine and beer sourced from a local Alpine brewery. Don’t miss Sunday brunch here.

Shop til you drop – Planète Charmilles (11 Promenade de l’Europe) is a large shopping mall teeming with bars, restaurants and some 50 boutiques.

RIVE

Rive is the bustling heart of the city’s business district.

Sleep soundly – Hotel de La Cigogne is decorated in opulent Belle Epoque style.

Must eat – Open all night at weekends, Délifrance (2 Cours de Rive, tel. ) is perfect for early risers and late-night revellers alike. Pick up a fresh, flaky croissant or pain au chocolat. The achingly fashionable Sushi Train (21 Rue Neuve du Molard, tel. ) is another favourite, largely thanks to the miniature train set that delivers dishes to your table.

Dance the night away – All smooth, clean lines, White ’n’ Silver (15 Glacisde-Rive) is something of a local institution. Its look is sleek and polished, just like its clientele.

Shop til you drop – Chocoholics should look no further than La Bonbonnière (11 Rue de Rive), where you can choose from truffles, pralinées, and local speciality pavés de Genève (tiles or slabs of finest Swiss chocolate).

PLACE NEUVE

The cultural centre of Geneva boasts some beautiful architecture.

Sleep soundly – If you’re on a budget, try the Hotel Carmen ( 5 Rue Dancet, tel. , geneva-hotel.ch/ carmen, rooms from €65/CHF 100).

Culture vultures – Place Neuve is flanked by Geneva’s Opera House, the Grand Theatre, the Conservatory of Music and the Musée Rath (the first Swiss museum devoted to the fine arts). In the centre of the square, a statue depicts the Genevan general Henri Dufour, a national hero who was the first to establish a map of Switzerland.

Must eat – Le Dorian (1 Place RenéPayot, tel. ) serves traditional cuisine, while the slightly pricier Lyrique (12 Boulevard du Théâtre, tel. ) offers fine French food.

Dance the night away – Kick off your shoes at La SIP (10 Rue des Vieux-Grenadiers). Styled to look like a loft apartment, this large club has found favour with the city’s smart set.

Compiled by Lou McMullen