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Switzerland : Geneva - March 2009

Country Code: Dial for Switzerland

March sees the snow and ice melt, and Geneva slowly warm up. Added to which, the 79th International Motor Show – one of the five biggest car shows in the world – rolls into town. Lou McMullen goes full throttle ahead

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).

GRAND-SACONNEX

Grand-Saconnex is conveniently close to the airport and packed with hotels.

Sleep soundly – There’s no need to go far to lay your weary head. Both the Ramada Park Hotel (75-77 Avenue Louis Casaï, tel. , ramada parkhotel.ch, rooms from €182/CHF 270) and the Mövenpick Hotel (20 Route de Pré Bois, tel. , movenpick-hotels.com, rooms from €316/CHF 470) are luxurious without being too pricey.

Culture vultures – Go car crazy at the 79th International Motor Show at Palexpo (5-15 March, salon-auto.ch). It’s the largest of its kind in Europe and premieres all the latest vehicles and accessories. The No. 5 bus goes there directly from the airport or train station. If you prefer classic cars, pop over to the nearby International Automobile Museum (40 Voie de Traz), where more than 400 are on display.

PETIT-SACONNEX

Petit-Saconnex is home to the Place des Nations, a large square whose impressive centrepiece, a giant chair with a broken leg, serves as a reminder of the struggle against land-mines.

Sleep soundly – For a quiet night’s sleep, try the Hotel Les Nations (62 Rue du Grand Pré, tel. , hotel-les-nations.ch, rooms from €188/ CHF 280), a charming, recently renovated four-star.

Culture vultures – Tour the United Nations (8-14 Avenue de la Paix) then wander through the Parc D’Ariana. Look in at the Ariana Museum (10 Avenue de la Paix) for spectacular ceramics and glass.

Must eat – Do as the locals do and sample fondue (a cauldron of boiling cheese that you dip your bread in) at one of the best places in town, the Café du Soleil (6 Place du Petit- Saconnex, 3 3417). Be sure to book in advance as tables are scarce.

RIVE

The best place to go to fill your suitcases full of shopping, and a great area for food and drink.

Must drink – Stop off at Soleil Rouge (32 Boulevard Helvétique) and add some sunshine to your life as you snack on tapas and sip Spanish wines.

Dance the night away – Le Francis (8 Boulevard Helvétique) is a refined restaurant-slash-club which pulls in a smooth, moneyed crowd. Perfect for high-octane fun.

Must eat – No Sushi (8 Rue de La Confédération, tel. ) is a contrary place – it serves just what it says it doesn’t! You can even put your sushi together yourself.

Shop til you drop – Follow the tramline down the main street and stop off at designer boutiques along the way. Pop into Globus (48 Rue du Rhône), a luxury department store, then browse the many watch and jewellery shops that line these streets.

EAUX-VIVES

This leafy district on the left bank is a dining hotspot, and a good place for a weekend stroll.

Culture vultures – Take advantage of the warmer weather and walk through the lush greenery of the immaculate Jardin Anglais. Continue to the Jetée des Eaux-Vives that leads out to the Jet D’Eau, an impressive 140m water fountain, beautifully illuminated at night.

Must eat – For good, quick grub, pick up pizza or pasta at the curiously named N’Oublie Pas les Poissons Rouges (2 Place des Eaux-Vives, tel. ). Try the salmon tartare with tapenade and grilled courgettes, or the thinly sliced caramelised endives, with poached egg and dijon mustard, parma ham and rocket leaves. Or for a real treat, go for the Restaurant du Parc des Eaux-Vives (84 Quai Gustave-Ador, tel. ). Set in rambling lakeside gardens, the restaurant serves rich French cuisine, like fillet of beef in a béarnaise sauce with sautéed potatoes and rocket salad, and lamb that’s been marinated for 36 hours.

Must drink – To warm up after those Lake Geneva winds have blown right through you, indulge in a tipple at the lively, welcoming La Bodega (21 Rue des Eaux-Vives).

Compiled by Lou McMullen