Renowned as an expensive city, Geneva’s best features won’t in fact cost you a single euro as the beautiful setting and surroundings are more enjoyable than anything a price can be placed on.

The city is set upon the shores of Lake Geneva, Europe's largest Alpine lake, which is a great place to take a stroll. The yacht-packed harbour makes a fine spot for people watching or if you’re feeling adventurous then you can rent a boat and row the day away.

Geneva is the watch-making capital of the world and the superb clock museum on rue de Malagnou is an interesting stop. The extensive collection dates back as far as the 16th century and showcases the intricacy and art involved in the creation of top quality time-pieces.

The Town Museum on rue Puits-St-Pierre is generally free to visit as is the Museum of Art and History, which is home to a vast collection of paintings, sculptures, weapons and archaeological displays. The Museum of Natural History contains a stuffed version of just about tiger species that has ever existed.

The Art Deco Palais des Nations is the European branch of the United Nations and the workplace of more than 3000 international civil servants. You need to bring your passport to gain entry but once inside you can see the place where world affairs are discussed and decisions made. The gardens are particularly extensive and well worth a peek before your departure.

The Red Cross have offices in Geneva as well as the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum which, through a combination of films, photographs and sculptures, tells the stories of atrocities in recent history. Despite the rather sombre subject area the museum is without doubt worth a look.

In sharp contrast to the world of politics is the contemporary and modern art gallery MAMCO which specialises in sculptures and performance art. The Cathédrale St Pierre is an interesting sight to see in itself and also rests on a significant archaeological site giving double the reason to stop off there. What's more, Vieille Ville is the old cobble-stoned quarter that stretches around the cathedral and if you take a short walk to rue Hotel-de-Ville you can see the town hall where the Geneva Convention was signed.

Sticking with the outdoors you could take a trip to Geneva’s Botanic Gardens where you could wile away a few hours investigating the exotic plants and aviary on display. There are also plenty of parks and green spaces dotted around to take a stroll in or simply to take a seat and enjoy an afternoon picnic.

Of course, when planning your journey it is also important to know that flights to Geneva all arrive at the international airport - Aéroport International de Genève - which has frequent connections to major European cities and many others worldwide. Therefore, wherever you are you can take a trip to Geneva with ease, which is the perfect start to a trip to this popular destination.

Disclaimer:
The information contained within this article is the opinion of the author and is intended purely for information and interest purposes only. It should not be used to make any decisions or take any actions. Any links are included for information purposes only.