Women-Friendly Travel in Geneva
The Geneva women-friendly travel guide places explicit women-friendly and family confidence signals first, while keeping uncertain details visible for review.
Geneva
Confederation Centre Shopping Mall
Ideally situated at a centralized location along the main shopping street of Geneva. Comprises of around 50 stores and cafes, and offers baked goods stalls throughout the shopping center.
Geneva
Migros
Located in almost all neighborhoods around Geneva, and essentially all of Switzerland, the Migros is undoubtedly the most popular chain of supermarkets in the country. It is conveniently cheap and contains general goods instead of designer and brand labels. Typical items on sale are clothes, toys, footwear, electrical goods, and home appliances. Migros does not sell alcohol of any kind. It also offers sports and recreational activities, leisure trips, and language courses at inexpensive prices. Some of the locations of the M stores, as they are commonly called, are:
Geneva
Coop
A rival to, but not quite up to the standard of, the Migros chain, this is another popular name in Switzerland. It offers brand-name goods as well as foodstuff, fresh and frozen, organic and processed. Coop, unlike the Migros stores, offers alcohol and alcoholic products. Other items on sale are office materials, household products like cleaning and washing equipment, cosmetics, electrical appliances, sports equipment, and also flowers! Some of the Coop stores also contain self-service restaurants.
Geneva
Denner
This is a chain of discount supermarkets, its outlets being situated conveniently at busy shopping districts of Geneva. It is open almost all day, but is closed during lunch hours in the afternoon.
Geneva
Rue du Mont Blanc
Not very catchy at first sight, but contains a plethora of treasures when it comes to Swiss souvenir shopping. That is why the market attracts more tourists than local citizens. It stretches as a wide boulevard up to the quay area. The major gift shops are 15 Mont-Blanc, Swiss Tradition, Affolter Kurt et Eric Noll, Devillon, NIC SA 5 and La Civette. The traditional Swiss crafts and souvenirs offered include chocolates and confectioneries, folk-style blouses, porcelain cows, fragile decorative chinaware, laced dresses for girls, all kinds of interesting watches and clocks, including cuckoo clocks, a wide selection of local clothing and jewelry, and, of course, Swiss penknives. The nearness to the quay means the atmosphere is always fresh and pleasant. Cafes and bistros line the broad walkways and successfully lure exhausted customers.
Geneva
Handicrafts
All kinds of handmade goods to remind you of Swiss creativity, and, more importantly, Swiss hospitality. Prices are much lower than other souvenir shops.
Geneva
Smaller shops
Smaller souvenir stores are situated in the following neighborhoods, each containing its own special treats:
Geneva
Antique shops
If you are on the hunt for ancient art pieces or antiques, the small secluded shops of the Old Town are sure to delight you. The most popular shopping street is definitely the Grand Rue, but feel free to wander aimlessly in any of the narrow alleyways of the Old Town, as each street has its own little surprise for you.
Geneva
Watches
The art and study of timekeeping has been an ancient tradition in Geneva. The city's watch industry was initiated somewhere in the mid 17th century, and Geneva has retained the status of a world leader in watch making ever since. Patek Phillipe, Omega, Swatch, and Frank Muller are a few of the most prominent names in the watch making industry, all emerging from this very city. The quality, however, comes at a fairly expensive price. A few of the leading stores are:
Geneva
Chocolate
Geneva is heaven on earth for any chocolate lover. Almost all grocery stores around the city have an exciting assortment of Swiss delicacies. But it is the larger bakeries and specialty shops that offer the real treat, from the chocolate filled to the chocolate covered and chocolate coated goodies. Some are:
Geneva
The Conservatoire de Musique
The Conservatory of Music is a relic from the Byzantine Empire. Decorated with muses of civilizations long gone by, the Conservatory hosts a modern academy of music consisting of several classrooms, in addition to a spacious hall for concerts and performances.
Geneva
What to do with Children in Tow
Geneva is a city for the young and the old alike, and it offers unlimited hours of fun for children aged 1 to 101, or a little underage or a little overage. Some of the major attractions for children of all ages include:
Geneva
The Treille Promenade
The Treille Promenade, near the southern part of the Old Town, offers scenic views of the city from a breathtaking height.
Geneva
Tavel House
This is an old residential building in Geneva that was destroyed by a massive fire in the early 14th century, but has been restored and converted into a cultural museum. It has on display articles of daily use in Geneva, dating back from the Middle Ages to the late 19th century. The attic has a miniature model of an ancient Geneva when the rampart walls were still in place around the city.
Geneva
The Grand Theatre
This theatre is very similar to the Garnier Opera House located in Paris. It was constructed in 1879, but later had to be restored in 1961 after a fire damaged the theater. The theater provides a varying yet pleasing mix of classic, opera, and chamber music featuring works of some of the most prominent composers of the past as well as contemporary times.
Geneva
Saint Peter's Cathedral
Located right in the center of the city, and dominating the buildings of the old town, the Cathedral is Geneva's oldest and most marvelous architectural heritage. Construction began around 1160, and took over four centuries to complete. Climbing the 157 steps of the north tower gives you breathtaking panoramic views of the entire city. The basement contains an Archaeological Museum that contains artifacts dating back to the 4th century AD.
Geneva
The Jet d'eau
The Jet d'eau in Lake Geneva spouting 140 meters into the air is regarded as the world's tallest water fountain, symbolizing Geneva's position as a leader in harnessing hydraulic power.
Geneva
Rath Museum
The Rath Museum is the first ever museum to be dedicated wholly to the fine arts in Geneva, in 1826. The building on its own is a masterpiece of architecture. It is located near the city's only remaining ancient rampart walls. The museum contains classical examples from Swiss art and design. Recent ongoing exhibitions from around Europe are also held here.
Geneva
Parc La Grange
This is the largest park in Geneva. It has a total land area of about 12000 square meters, and is situated alongside the Lake. The park houses the biggest and most splendid rose garden in all of Geneva. A theater inside the park, the Verdure Theatre, has free concerts and performances every Wednesday and Friday night during summers.
Geneva
United Nations
The Palais des Nations was built between 1929 and 1938 to act as headquarters for the League of Nations. The design is a collaboration of five contest winners. It is built in the Neoclassical style. In 1946, the Palais des Nations became the European headquarters for the newly minted United Nations. Over the next thirty years, the palace expanded to its present shape.
Geneva
Ariana Museum
The Ariana Museum, also known as The Swiss Museum of Ceramics and Glass, is dedicated to the ceramic arts. It is located in the front yard of the Palais des Nations in the Parc de l'Ariana. The building was constructed between 1877 and 1884 by Gustave Revilliod to house his prodigious art collection. It was named after his mother, Ariane de la Rive. The museum was eventually bequeathed to the city of Geneva and became part of Geneva's Museum of Art and History in 1934. More than 20,000 pieces are in the collection.
Geneva
International Museum of the Red Cross and Red Crescent
This is reputed as being one of the most visited museums in all of Geneva. This museum features the constant struggle of the world's humanitarian organizations, from their initial primitive stages to the modern, well-developed movements of today. The museum also offers a multi-media experience that is quite unique and informative, providing news and video footage of current issues.
Geneva
Bastions Park
This was formerly a botanical garden, and a site for the first university in Geneva. The tree lined walkways and broad avenues inside the park make it popular for romantic evening walks. The park is buzzing with people almost all day. In one corner of the park is a set of life size chess boards, where aspiring chess players of all ages test their skills. The Reformation Wall on the east side along the ramparts of the old city wall is a landmark, paying tribute to the Reformation founders and leaders. Finally, the Pavilion Cafe offers relaxation when you have finally exhausted yourself.
Geneva
The Bourg-de-Four
The Bourg-de-Four, an ancient Roman market, is one of the oldest public squares in the city, and still is a central attraction in the area. It is surrounded by cafes, bars, coffee shops, and other such outlets.