Geneva, Switzerland

Geneva is Switzerland’s second-largest city. It is located at the western tip of Lake Geneva, near the French border, with the Rhône River flowing through the city. Geneva is surrounded by the Alps and Jura Mountains, providing scenic views and easy access to outdoor recreation such as hiking, skiing, and boating. Geneva is widely recognized as a global center for diplomacy and international cooperation. It is home to the European headquarters of the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the World Health Organization, the World Trade Organization, CERN, and many other international organizations and non-governmental agencies. This international presence gives the city a highly multicultural population and a strong concentration of professionals working in diplomacy, science, finance, humanitarian work, and international law. The city is also an important financial and business center. Geneva is known for private banking, wealth management, commodity trading, luxury goods, watchmaking, and professional services. Its location near France and its international airport make it an important transport and commercial hub for western Switzerland and the surrounding cross-border region. Geneva has a high quality of life, with efficient public transportation, a clean urban environment, extensive parks, and access to Lake Geneva. French is the principal language, although English is widely used in international workplaces and many residents also speak German and Italian languages. We visited Geneva twice, in 2022 and 2025, and stayed in the city for a few days on each occasion. We took a ferry around Lake Geneva, which stops at several towns and villages along the shore, including the village of Yvoire and the city of Lausanne. Geneva is an expensive city, but it is a very pleasant place to visit, with plenty to see and do.