Genève (CH)

[starrymarkb]

I've just booked a couple of days in Genève in Feburary. Does anyone have suggestions for things to do and see (as well as possible photo/film locations)

Thanks in Advance

 

[pablo]

My daughter lives there. I don't go very often!

The ski season has started already and there are bargain ski-passes going.

 

[eastwestdivide]

The line towards Brig skirts the lake for a bit around Montreux, and further down that line, there's the option of some local lines into the mountains from Martigny, including the one liveried with a St Bernard dog on the side. Not tried it myself (yet).

 

[Butts]

I've just booked a couple of days in Genève in Feburary. Does anyone have suggestions for things to do and see (as well as possible photo/film locations)

Thanks in Advance

I will be there for the Motor Show in March with my son. Make sure you take a decent "wedge" with you as it makes London look cheap

There are various bus trips - but I'm not sure about February. Also Boat Trips around Lake Geneva also home to the whacking great "water spout" - forget it's proper name. Went to The City Museum once which was ok with a nice café. Plenty of tourist info available at airport/city centre.

If you like Football the FIFA Museum may have reopened by now, it was shut last time I went for a refurbishment. Also Red Cross Museum.

Dead easy to get about with your free ticket on the trains, bus and trams

if you are staying in a Hotel you get a card for free use of Public Transport whilst in the locality. Also if you are flying in you can get a free ticket for the train/bus into town from the arrivals hall.

Nice smoking lounge at the airport as well !!!

 

[starrymarkb]

I'm hosteling but still get the free transport Will probably be dining Chez Migros or Chez Coop or similar basics

 

[Butts]

I'm hosteling but still get the free transport Will probably be dining Chez Migros or Chez Coop or similar basics

Which Hostel ? - the one just down the road from the Railway Station.

 

[30907]

Long time since I've used it, but the Nyon-St Cergue-Morez (as was, hasn't gone beyond the French border for at least 50 years!) is pleasantly scenic. It has been modernised, of course, so nothing exotic in the way of railcars.

 

[starrymarkb]

This one http://booking.com/ac911dd400f561f9

 

[Butts]

This one http://booking.com/ac911dd400f561f9

I stayed at the City Hostel 2 rue de ferrer - yours looks a bit posher. A twin private room without carsey was still about £60 in March.

 

[Squaddie]

This one http://booking.com/ac911dd400f561f9

Swiss youth hostels are generally fantastic (although I've never stayed at the one in Geneva, which is not exactly my favourite city). If you've booked through Booking.com you probably won't have had the opportunity to book an evening meal, so I suggest you contact the hostel directly to let them know you'll be wanting to eat there in the evenings. The meals are very good value for money (even better value than the Co-op!).

In case you're not aware, there is an additional charge of CHF 6 (£4) per day if you are not a member of the Youth Hostel Association, payable directly to the hostel on arrival. You can get annual membership of the England & Wales YHA for about £20.

 

[Frothy]

There are works ongoing for an underground rail link in Geneva, the CEVA line. Most of the station sites are open air and fun to look at. You'll probably see one if you take a lengthy stroll around town.

 

[Gordon]

As I have close family ties in the Geneva area I know it like the back of my hand having walked it streets and ridden its transport for 53 years, I can help with your query, but can you tell me more specifically what you want to see. Is it trains, trams, or general sightseeing you are after.

In the meantime, my web galleries show numerous views of the Geneva area due to my frequent visits to the family:

eg:

http://gwizz.zenfolio.com/lemanjun12

http://Gwizz.zenfolio.com/p971852428/e3e27284e

http://gwizz.piwigo.com/index?/category/33-switzerland_november_2012

http://gwizz.piwigo.com/index?/category/110-geneve_jonction

http://gwizz.piwigo.com/index?/category/142-geneve_ceva_railway_project

http://gwizz.piwigo.com/index?/category/108-celigny_ge_coppet_renens_vd

http://gwizz.zenfolio.com/p1057926583

http://gwizz.zenfolio.com/p660620830

Please personal message me if you need more detail location details for any of my Geneva era pictures

Gordon

 

[WestCoast]

Big fan of the Geneva - Lausanne - Montreux - Brig line. As mentioned you've got quite a few especially scenic mountain runs from there.

 

[Butts]

I've just booked a couple of days in Genève in Feburary. Does anyone have suggestions for things to do and see (as well as possible photo/film locations)

Thanks in Advance

How are you getting to Geneva by Train or Plane ? - you can walk into The Republic of France whilst in the same Airport - it's quite groovy

 

[starrymarkb]

Swiss youth hostels are generally fantastic (although I've never stayed at the one in Geneva, which is not exactly my favourite city). If you've booked through Booking.com you probably won't have had the opportunity to book an evening meal, so I suggest you contact the hostel directly to let them know you'll be wanting to eat there in the evenings. The meals are very good value for money (even better value than the Co-op!).

In case you're not aware, there is an additional charge of CHF 6 (£4) per day if you are not a member of the Youth Hostel Association, payable directly to the hostel on arrival. You can get annual membership of the England & Wales YHA for about £20.

I've been to the German speaking parts and Locano but never properly visited the Francophone parkt

Thanks for the food advice - I'll email them about food later and I was looking at signing up for the YHA after Christmas anyway

As I have close family ties in the Geneva area I know it like the back of my hand having walked it streets and ridden its transport for 53 years, I can help with your query, but can you tell me more specifically what you want to see. Is it trains, trams, or general sightseeing you are after.

In the meantime, my web galleries show numerous views of the Geneva area due to my frequent visits to the family:

eg:

http://gwizz.zenfolio.com/lemanjun12

http://Gwizz.zenfolio.com/p971852428/e3e27284e

http://gwizz.piwigo.com/index?/category/33-switzerland_november_2012

http://gwizz.piwigo.com/index?/category/110-geneve_jonction

http://gwizz.piwigo.com/index?/category/142-geneve_ceva_railway_project

http://gwizz.piwigo.com/index?/category/108-celigny_ge_coppet_renens_vd

http://gwizz.zenfolio.com/p1057926583

http://gwizz.zenfolio.com/p660620830

Please personal message me if you need more detail location details for any of my Geneva era pictures

Gordon

I'm generally after a mix of scenery and trains Will probably have a trip out towards Montreux - Will message you later about the pictures

Thanks in Advance

How are you getting to Geneva by Train or Plane ? - you can walk into The Republic of France whilst in the same Airport - it's quite groovy

Plane Found a cheap trip with a certain orange airline from BRS

 

[Gordon]

I'm generally after a mix of scenery and trains Will probably have a trip out towards Montreux - Will message you later about the pictures

Advice on trips and photo position depends on how much time you want to spend photting and how much time exactly you will have - you've only said 'a couple of days' so far!

Also, bear in mind on trips up the mountains in February you will be fighting with skiers and their stuff - in fact even at Geneve Cornavin main station in the morning peak you can come across skiers clomping along platforms wearing ski boots to travel all the way from Geneva to a ski resort for a day trip


Plane Found a cheap trip with a certain orange airline from BRS [/QUOTE]

That's because it is the ski season, my brother often flies from Bristol to GVA





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[Squaddie]

Thanks for the food advice - I'll email them about food later and I was looking at signing up for the YHA after Christmas anyway

The reason for doing this is that the hostels usually make just enough food for the number of guests who have requested dinner and understandably ask guests to let them know shortly after breakfast. If you arrive late in the day they may not be able to make additional meals available at short notice. (Some hostels will be accommodating, and try to squeeze you in at the last minute, whereas others are quite strict). The worst-case scenario is that you may have to eat at the Co-op on the first night.

If you plan to use youth hostels a lot in the future you should consider lifetime membership rather than an annual membership. The Scottish Youth Hostels Association lifetime membership is significantly cheaper than the England & Wales membership (£100 vs. £210!) and you don't have to live in Scotland to get one. You'll save £4 every time you stay at a Swiss youth hostel, so you'll soon recoup the cost. Allow a couple of weeks for the card to arrive, and make sure you take it with you to show at reception when you check into the hostel.

 

[starrymarkb]

I'm generally after a mix of scenery and trains Will probably have a trip out towards Montreux - Will message you later about the pictures

Advice on trips and photo position depends on how much time you want to spend photting and how much time exactly you will have - you've only said 'a couple of days' so far!

Also, bear in mind on trips up the mountains in February you will be fighting with skiers and their stuff - in fact even at Geneve Cornavin main station in the morning peak you can come across skiers clomping along platforms wearing ski boots to travel all the way from Geneva to a ski resort for a day trip


Plane Found a cheap trip with a certain orange airline from BRS

That's because it is the ski season, my brother often flies from Bristol to GVA





.[/QUOTE]

I'm stopping for 2 nights, will be getting the early flight from Bristol (arr approx 10am) and flying back in the morning of the third day (11am from GVA)

I'll probably spend a couple of hours photting on the first day (looking a bit at , mixed with some sightseeing I'm considering a trip to Montreaux on the second full day, but won't be venturing right into the mountains on this trip

On the map there is a suburban station quite close to the hostel (Sécheron) which I'm tempted to check out as a spot

 

[IKBrunel]

there is a regular bus from the gare routiere and airport to chamonix etc. tickets from the gare routiere geneve website. takes about 2 hours, lots to see & do in cham even if you're not into mountaineering/snowsports.

 

[Gordon]

I'm stopping for 2 nights, will be getting the early flight from Bristol (arr approx 10am) and flying back in the morning of the third day (11am from GVA)

I'll probably spend a couple of hours photting on the first day (looking a bit at , mixed with some sightseeing I'm considering a trip to Montreaux on the second full day, but won't be venturing right into the mountains on this trip

On the map there is a suburban station quite close to the hostel (Sécheron) which I'm tempted to check out as a spot

Based on these parameters I recommend the following:

General note: A lot depends on what time you go to places as the sun can be difficult in some of the best photo spots. Check The Photographers Ephemeris, a website that shows the angle of the sun at any date or tine of your choice. An alternative is Suncalc but this shows times in GMT so be careful.

Photting near Genève

The halt near Secheron is OK, but I prefer to nip out along the line to Les Tuileries, Genthod Bellevue or Creux de Genthod. There is a footpath alongside the north side of the railway most of the way from Chambesy station to Creux de Genthod (easily visible on satellite imagery). http://gwizz.zenfolio.com/p971852428#h37171270

Best option is to travel out on a local to your preferred outer destination looking at potential along the way, then come back to one of the stations.

Bear in mind that since the third track was built, most stations on the local service between Geneve and Coppet have single platforms on the south (lake) side of the fast lines


MOntreux:

I would recommend Aigle over Montreux. At Aigle you can spend a while photting the Aigle Leysin and Aigle Sepey Diablerets lines which leave Aigle on the street, including fighting against road traffic in narrow streets. Then spend some time on platform 2 at the station, or from the road that runs alongside the west side of the railway south from the station.

On a full day trip there would be time for you to do Aigle and Montreux in fact, and even pull in a stop at St Saphorin, a scenic station on the lakeside



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