A cosmopolitan city hosting more than 90 nationalities, Geneva is also home to numerous international organizations - which gave the city its famous trademark: “a world of its own”.
Geneva, city of parks
Geneva hosts the largest United Nations office, second only to the Headquarters in New York. Two thirds of UN system activities take place in Geneva - over 10,000 meetings and conferences annually. You can easily access the Palais des Nations taking bus Nº28 from Cornavin train station and alighting at “Appia”. Close by is the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum. Its permanent exhibition invites its visitors to an awareness-building experience. Nearly 20 international organizations are hosted in Geneva, contributing largely to the city’s cosmopolitan nature. Close to the airport is Palexpo, the city’s Exhibition and Convention Centre. A great variety of conventions and sporting events take place in Palexpo throughout the year.
With 20% of the country covered in green areas, Geneva is one of the greenest cities in Europe, hence its well-deserved reputation as the “city of parks”. Stroll down the lanes of Ariana Park or enjoy the rich biodiversity of the Botanical Gardens - over 16,000 species can be found in the park. The quayside of Lake Geneva is yet another invitation to a leisurely stroll. Take some time to contemplate the scenery before you: the lake and the Jet-D’eau fountain presided over by the snowy Mont Blanc. Don’t forget to visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Geneva, a stop for pilgrims on their way to Compostela. The city provides a wide range of shopping opportunities in the vicinity of the train station and on the streets down to the Lake.
