Entertainment & Nightlife
It seems there is always something going on in Geneva regardless of the time of year or the weather. The annual calendar is full of festivals, conventions and shows whilst every night in the centre of town a good time is to be had at the many pubs and bars. Geneva is certainly not a sleepy old city, that's for sure!
Annual Events
The most popular event in Geneva's calendar is the Salon International de l'Auto, or the Geneva Motor Show, which is held in March of each year. The show is regarded as being one of the world's best and usually sees the unveiling of several new prototypes and models. Typically hotels are booked out months in advance and the city is positively thriving with visitors during the show.
Another huge event in Geneva is the Bol D'Or Yacht Race which is held in June. Said to be the biggest yacht race in Europe, it is held on Lake Geneva and can be viewed from the many vantage points provided by the parks and outcrops all around the water.
Other annual events in the city include the Fete de la Musique, which is held in June and sees several stages set up around Geneva for the use of bands of all different shapes, sizes and persuasions; the Caves Ouvertes, which is held in May and showcases the delicious wines from the surrounding region; the Fete de Geneve, held in August and generally a celebration of feasts, parties and fireworks; and L'Escalade, the December festival which celebrates the successful resistance of Geneva against the Savoyans. Although not in Geneva itself, every Christmas the nearby village of Montreux holds a famous Christmas market that is also well worth attending.
Excursions & Things to Do
If you feel you've seen everything there is to be seen in Geneva, there are still other attractions to tickle your fancy, both within the city and further afield. On weekends the Plaine de Plainpalais is alive with it's famous market, providing shoppers with antiques, crafts, produce, odds and ends and everything else you can imagine.
Lake Geneva and the Rhône River also provide distractions - there are many different cruises available that explore the sights around the Lake and which journey down the Rhône River towards France.
If none of the above options prove alluring enough, there are also regular coach tours to Chamonix and Mont Blanc, as well as to Bern, Switzerland's capital.
Night-life
Geneva has a good spread of entertainment facilities that ranges from pubs (Les Brasseurs is popular and serves its own brews), cafés and restaurants (La Clemence is famed for it's vin chaud whilst Remor is said to be one of the best imitations of a Parisian café outside of France), and night-clubs (La SIP, Weetamix, Bypass, Shakers and The Zoo at l'Usine are all popular).
