Geneva city guide

Geneva is located in the south west corner of Switzerland, close to the French border and surrounded by the Swiss Alps. A modern, affluent city split in two by the Rhône, Geneva is home to the European headquarters of the United Nations, the World Health Organization and the International Red Cross. The city provides the largest hotel and catering capacity in Switzerland, with over 14,000 beds and 1,100 restaurants. Hotels range from five-star luxury establishments to tourist-style accommodations. All are well managed, combine modern efficiency with old-world charm, and have multilingual staff offering the time-honoured Swiss tradition of personalised service. Most are equipped for conferences.

Geneva's International Airport handles more than 8,000,000 passengers and 150,000 flights a year, with 40 carriers providing direct links to continental and intercontinental destinations. Paris, London, Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, Milan, Rome and Barcelona are an hour's flight away. The airport, just 3 miles away from the heart of the city. The Palexpo exhibition and congress complex is a major convention center in Switzerland.

Organisations in Geneva

Geneva’s position as a leading international city goes back centuries but gained global importance when it was chosen to be the seat of the League of Nations in the 1920’s. Later, the establishment of the European Headquarters of the United Nations heralded the arrival of many international organisations, multinational corporations, non-governmental organisations and international companies. For over half a century, Geneva has thrived in developing a rich, rewarding multilingual, multicultural environment that, coupled with the exceptional character and location of the city, offers an unequalled location for carrying on international activities.

Geneva History

Settled since Neolithic times, Geneva became an imperial city in 1032, under Emperor Conrad II, before achieving independence in 1530 and joining the Swiss Confederation in 1814. Geneva’s reputation for religious tolerance during the Reformation proved to be a major influence on its subsequent development. For centuries, exiles from religious or political persecution chose the city as their refuge, ranging from the English regicides in the 17th century to Lenin in the early 20th century. Even the manufacture of watches was fostered by one of the most intolerant of religious exiles, John Calvin, who lived here from 1541 to his death in 1564. This extraordinary mix of nationalities, coupled with the fact that most émigrés were of an intellectual disposition, led to the establishment of disparate centres of learning. These soon developed such a fine reputation that Geneva became a popular choice for the sons (and later daughters) of well-to-do families to finish their education.