Shopping in Geneva is a joy: whether you stroll through the Rue Basses with its hip little boutiques or the chic Rue du Rhone, Rue de la Confédération, Rue du Marché, Rue de la Croix-d'Or and Rue du Mont-Blanc.

Shopping Streets and Areas

City Center – Extending from the banking district to Eaux Vives, the parallel streets of Rue du Rhone and Rue du Marche (becoming Rue du Rive further east) make up Geneva’s most famous shopping district. Designer retail stores and world famous watchmakers line the streets packed with window shoppers. Often resembling a fashion runway, the area is also great for people watching.
Rue du Mont Blanc – Although not as fashionable as the City Center, there is an equally large selection of clothing and jewelry on display along Rue du Mont Blanc and its surrounding streets. This is also the best area in the city to pick up souvenirs such as Swiss pocket knives, chocolates and other Swiss knick-knacks.
The Old Town – If you’re looking for art or antiques, the Old Town is the place for you. The Grand Rue is the primary shopping street but don’t be afraid to get lost in one of the Old Town’s many winding alleys because every turn promises a new surprise. Many antique shops are museums unto themselves filled with relics dating back to Geneva’s medieval days.
Rue des Paquis – Filled with trendy vintage clothing stores and interesting ethnic boutiques, the Paquis is home to the best bargains in the city. Sex shops, bookstores, jewelry, kitchenware, antiques and oriental rugs are just a few of the staple goods available.

Eating and drinking combine in the Geneva hinterland in such a wonderful way that Geneva has become the culinary capital of Switzerland. Haute cuisine restaurants and bistros with classic or innovative cuisine du terroir - in the city and in the country - attract a remarkable number of people to the Rhône city.
Despite all their enthusiasm for the unknown the people of Geneva don’t forget their traditional dishes. For example, the classic Filets de perche, the Longeole, a raw sausage which is not completely matured, made from coarse-grained meat and the gelatinous parts of pig, often spiced with wild fennel, garlic, muscat nut and white wine.
And Cardons – Karden or Kardy –, a thistle-type-stalk vegetable, which tastes a bit like artichoke and likes to be enjoyed "au gratin".

Virtually every sport can be practised in Geneva, whether indoors or outdoors. The lake is ideal for sailing, rowing, water-skiing and, of course, swimming, which is a "pure" pleasure, literally speaking. Neither efforts nor expenses are spared by the authorities to keep the city's waters pollution-free.
The Rhône and Arve rivers which flow through Geneva offer additional pleasures such as canoeing and rafting. Enchanting streams and brooks in the vicinity invite the fisherman.
The Salève mountain attracts paragliding addicts and hikers, while climbers find their happiness in the nearby Jura and Alps.
Winter sports enthusiasts should note that Geneva is situated near the best skiing areas of the Alps. In 1 or 2 hours, famous Swiss mountain resorts like Gstaad, Crans-Montana, Zermatt, the village of the Matterhorn, or the French towns of Chamonix and Val d'Isère can easily be reached via road or rail. Anyone in a particular hurry can hire a private plane or helicopter.
A number of exciting annual events take place in Geneva: the Bol d'Or in June, Europe's biggest lake sailing race, the Geneva Challenger ATP Tour in August, the Escalade Run, a popular 4-mile (7 km) foot-race through the city's Old Town, open to anyone feeling fit and attracting over 16'000 competitors at the beginning of December, the Coupe de Noël, a swimming competition taking place around Christmas time in the lake icy waters, and the Geneva International Horse Show Jumping and Dressage Competition that welcomes the ten best riders of the year.

The local climate is tempered by the presence of the lake, while the Jura create a screen that diminishes rainfall. Average temperatures in Geneva are about 32° F (0° C) in January and about 64° F (18° C) in July. Geneva is thus neither disagreeably hot in summer nor cold in winter, but it must sometimes endure the harsh north wind known as the bise.