Your property in Geneva
Pristine villas set amid private, secure communes or leafy, residential neighbourhoods and modern penthouse apartments with lake views make up just some of the exceptional high-end property in Geneva.
The city offers a wide range of property within the city centre, as well as in its various suburbs, including Anieres, Cologny, Chene-Bougeries and Vandœuvres.
Inside Geneva
The truly international city of Geneva readily competes with its larger European peers in terms of global status, hosting around 200 international organisations and non-profits, including the World Trade Organisation, International Committee of the Red Cross, and the second-largest global branches of the World Bank and United Nations.
But the city absolutely has a fun and lively culture underneath its professional exterior, with a wealth of luxury hotels, high-end restaurants and upmarket boutiques to explore, as well as a vibrant art scene.
Beyond that, the city’s position on Lake Geneva means it’s convenient to take a relaxing swim within sight of the Jet d’Eau or go sailing or water skiing, while the city is close to the Jura mountains for true escapism.
The city’s Left Bank (on the southern edge of the lake), the desirable areas of Cologny and Collonge-Bellerive command the highest property values due to their exceptional lake and mountain views, and contemporary houses, while on the Right Bank (on the northern edge of the lake) Chambésy, Versoix and Grand-Saconnex are most in demand.
In the city centre, the historical old town, the trendy districts of Eaux-Vivres and Pâquis are popular, as is Carouge, where Geneva’s artists and designers live.
Landscape
Geneva is located at the southwestern end of Lake Geneva at its junction with the Rhône River.
The city lies in the centre of a natural basin and is encircled by mountains, the Jura to its north and the Alps to its south.
Education
Geneva has an enviable array of international schools for families considering relocating to the area.
Among its most notable are Ecolint, the city’s first international school, Collège du Léman and the Institut International de Lancy.
In terms of universities, the University of Geneva was founded in 1559 and is today the country’s second largest university. It is a member of the League of European Research Universities, which includes the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.
Activities and Entertainment
Whether you want to be active, relaxed, entertained or educated, Geneva has no shortage of ways to do it.
In the summer, Lake Geneva offers swimming and a host of water sports, and the city is perfect for golf, horse riding, hiking and cycling, while in winter, Geneva is within three hours of 288 ski resorts, with the nearest Saint-Cergue, Les Brasses and Montriond being just 45 minutes away.
The city has numerous parks and gardens, including the Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques, which has over 12,000 species of plants from around the world, and its history is richly preserved in monuments such as the Cathédrale St-Pierre. Furthermore, the city offers truly unique sights, such as the Jet d’Eau in the middle of Lake Geneva and Cern, the nuclear particle physics laboratory west of Geneva.
Art and Culture
Geneva is a cultural leader with a large variety of excellent museums and galleries charting everything from the Reformation at the Musée International de la Réforme, modern art at the Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain, and even time at the Patek Philippe Museum.
Music and theatre play starring roles in Geneva’s cultural offering too, with operas held at the Grand Théâtre de Gevève, classical music recitals at the Victoria Hall through to world music at Alhambra and performing arts at Bâtiment des Forces Motrices, a former riverside pumping station.
Numerous excellent festivals are held throughout the year too, including car shows, sailing regattas and music events, with the L’Escalade chocolate-focused festival in December, which includes a torch-lit procession, being particularly popular.
Food and Drink
Geneva’s diversity is showcased through its truly international food offering, with Japanese, Lebanese, Peruvian and Thai restaurants being just as at home in the city as Swiss, French and Italian.
The city has a wide range of cafés, bistros and restaurants – including several Michelin-starred destinations – which serve up local specialities such as fondue and raclette, while also making use of the exceptional local ingredients produced in the area, including fruit, vegetables, cheese and dried and cured meats, such as longeole.
The canton of Geneva is the country’s third largest wine producer and accounts for 10 per cent of Swiss vineyards. Gamay is the predominant grape variety, with Chasselas (often labelled Fendant) and Pinot Noir next most prevalent.
Accessibility
Geneva Airport, which serves domestic and international destinations, is just 6 kilometres from the city centre, while Lausanne’s private international airport is roughly an hour away.
Geneva’s main train station is the hub of the country’s high-speed train network, with trains to Swiss cities and across Europe running regularly.
The city is extremely well-connected by road, with the A1 skirting the city before heading north-east, with several routes heading into France.