I’d like to formally nominate Geneva, Switzerland as the most underrated city in the Europe.

Stay with me here. What do you know about Geneva? I can’t even remember what I associated it with before we planned this trip. Lake Geneva? The Geneva Treaty? Watches? The Princess Diaries?* Maybe I’m just in the wrong circle of friends, but of all the people I know who have studied abroad or traveled overseas for pleasure, I can think of very few who have chosen to visit Switzerland at all, and if they did, it was almost always Interlaken.

We decided on somewhat of a whim to spend a night here, once we realized how close it was to Annecy. Probably the best decision of our entire trip… with a charming old town [which in looks is very similar to Paris actually!], a big ‘ol lake with actual [small, but there] sandy beaches and yachts, and a LIGHTHOUSE, I’m sure you can understand why I fell a little in love. Throw in some mountains for MJF and we had found our happy place.

*Ok, that was Genovia, you caught me.

We had even less of a plan in Geneva than we had in Paris or Annecy. A train in, a plane out, and a hotel booked, but beyond that we winged it. Here’s what I did gather for you::

If you’re looking at the above photos, you’re seeing either Old Town or Lake Geneva. Old Town, or Vieille Ville, overlooks the lake, and it’s this beautiful maze on a hill that you don’t even realize you’re climbing. Cafes, churches, shops, it’s got the whole Parisian charm thing going for it.

Within Old Town is Place du Bourg-de-Four, the famous town square. I’m sure their locals look at it as we look at Faneuil Hall now: touristy, but for a good reason. We stayed right next to it at the Hotel Longmalle, which I would normally consider a splurge, but first lesson of Switzerland:: everything is expensive here. I would have extended our trip for no reason other than a second night in this hotel; it reminded me of everything I love about the Fairmont Copley and has a petit déjeuneur to boot.

While we’re on the subject, the currency is the Swiss Franc (not a part of the European Union!), and the language in this part of the country, at least, is French.

Beyond exploring Old Town, my two favorite things were having a picnic on the lake with some swans and relaxing at the Bains des Paquis. I still cannot figure out what the American equivalent of this is, but if it exists I’m going to go out on a limb and guess it’s in Miami. Picture a jetty that reaches out to the middle of the lake, a lighthouse at the end, and a restaurant and Turkish baths on either side. Plus sunbathers everywhere; your typical European speedos, never mind that it was barely 60°. Oh and more swans. File this one under where-am-I-days too.

Yes, you should also get your history on and visit Sainte Pierre Cathedral and Palais des Nations.

Now go enjoy Geneva but don’t tell anyone about it– I kind of like knowing one of Europe’s best kept secrets 😉

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