Life
Genève city life
For many students the first point on the sightseeing list is the Geneva harbour. In nice weather, you have the Quai at the port of a wonderful wide views of the mountains. A nice view of the city can be seen from the Cathedral of St. Pierre, which should be part of your list in any case. Visit the beautiful Notre Dame Church of Geneva, or the local Russian Church.
Anyone interested in art and history can visit the Place du Bourg-de-Four. In addition to traditional markets you can find small galleries and a number of cosy cafes. Visit the Place des Nations and the Broken Chair, Reformers’ Wall, or the iconic Giant Fountain – the international symbol of Geneva and its main tourist attraction.
More than 80 buildings or sites in Geneva are listed as Swiss heritage site of national significance. You can find archeological sites such as Fondation Baur and Museum of the Arts d'Extrême-Orient, Parc et Campagne de la Grange and Library (neolithic shore settlement/Roman villa).
Other cultural hot spots in the city include the Conservatory, the Botanical Gardens, Museum of Voltaire with Library and Archives, Museum of History and Art, or the Museum of the International Red Cross.
It is possible to discover the city more easily with a volunteering local via specialised associations.
International atmosphere in Genève
The country is divided between Germans, Italians, French and Swiss natives, creating an internationally friendly climate. In Geneva, the most spoken language is French, one of the four national languages of Switzerland.
The common ethnic origins of Geneva added to the four national languages are Croatian, Serbian, Slovenian and Albanian. More than 10% of the people living in Geneva speak another mother language.
Geneva is home to over 300 international NGOs and organisations, such as the UN, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
Geneva is one of the most diverse and international cities in the world with 184 nationalities living here.
Weather Genève
Geneva has cool winters with thawing conditions during the day and warm summers, although autumn is slightly wetter than the other seasons. In the summer, the temperatures reaches at 25,8°C (78,4 °F), while the average maximum temperature in January being 4,5 °C (40,1 °F).