Ten hours in Geneva

March 11, 2006 8:59 AM

I'm taking a week-long trip to Barcelona, and have a 10-hour layover in Geneva on the way there (during the day). Any recommendations?

Ten hours isn't a lot, but if there's some cheap/convenient way to do so, I'd much rather spend a few hours in the city than waiting around at the airport.

I'd also be interested in any personal recommendations you might have for Barcelona (things to see & do, interesting neighborhoods, cheap places to eat, etc.).

[I'm an American college student, traveling on the sort of budget typical of such.]

posted by kickingtheground to Travel & Transportation around Geneva, Switzerland (7 answers total)

The area around the train station is kind of modern and depressing, so definitely get yourself to the old city. The view from the cathedral is well worth the climb, and maybe a stroll around the University' campus if its a nice day.
posted by hwickline at 9:31 AM on March 11, 2006

UN Building tour is good and an hour or so as I recall.

Separately, ensure you are visa'd to exit the airport and so on - if you're 'in transit' you may not be eligible to break free for the duration of your layover.
posted by DrtyBlvd at 9:38 AM on March 11, 2006

Exactly what hwickline said - see the old town. Wander around the lake, marvel at the oddness that is the flower clock. Very few things are "cheap" to do in Switzerland besides wandering around, but the contrast of ultra-modern banking center and old-world European is very strong in Geneva.

re: DrtyBlvd's comment above - If you are a US citizen visiting as a tourist you should not need a visa to get out of the airport and into the city. When in doubt check the consular information sheets at travel.state.gov.
posted by whatzit at 9:43 AM on March 11, 2006

I have no advice for Geneva, but having just spent a week in Barcelona (wonderful city) let me advise you to be very careful with your valuables.

Among the six others traveling with me on business, three had laptops and passports stolen from under their nose on three separate occasions. And these are people who travel all the time; two of the three victims were European. So: think money belt.
posted by donovan at 11:03 AM on March 11, 2006

Was it at the 3GSM conference donovan? That was like Christmas for petty thieves in Barcelona. My girlfriend had her phone yanked right out of her hands as she was texting on the street (in the barrio gothico) and another colleague had his laptop snatched from right under his nose. You really have to crank the awareness up in Barcelona. But I'm sure hordes of businesspeople with expensive gadgets really brought them out of the woodworks for that conference.
posted by lovejones at 2:19 PM on March 11, 2006

I lived in GVA last summer: 10 hours is plenty of time. A minimum of 4 trains an hours run between the city and airport - the ride only takes 15 minutes.

The Red Cross museum is very sobering and humbling.

The jet d'eau is silly and whimsical.

My favourite though: If its either a nice sunny or very misty day, I strongly recommend a cruise out to the Chateau du Chillon.

These sites have lots of info. Enjoy!
posted by lalochezia at 9:46 AM on March 12, 2006

CERN
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 10:00 AM on March 12, 2006