Dining

Best value-for-money dining with panoramic view:

Bains des Paquis

Forget the expensive luxury hotels along the banks of Lake Geneva and pop to the Bains des Paquis instead. A real local institution for swimming, saunas, Turkish baths and massages, it’s also home to the Buvettes des Bains. This bistro on the jetty serves fantastic local cuisine, including cheese fondues at budget prices. It’s open from 8am, so it’s also the perfect spot to have breakfast looking out over the lake.

Where: Buvettes des Bains, Bains des Paquis, Quai du Mont Blanc 30, Geneva, Tel: +41 (0)22 738 1616

Website: www.bains-des-paquis.ch/

Best sports bar:

The Clubhouse

Sure you're on holiday, but that doesn't mean your team back home is. If you want to stay up-to-date, head down to The Clubhouse for your pick of TV screens, sporting events and yummy gastro pub grub.

Where: The Clubhouse, Rue Philippe Plantamour 25, Geneva, Tel: +41 (0) 22 732 1022.

Website: www.theclubhouse.ch/

Lake

Best taxi ride:

Water taxi

If you don’t fancy trekking from one side of the lake to another, simply grab one of the mouettes (water taxis) instead and enjoy the sights. It’s one of the easiest ways of jumping from one bank to the other without crowding into a sweaty bus or tram of commuters on their way to and from work. Just take a “Saut de puce” ticket from the machine and it’s a “flea jump” across! (flea jump is the translation of the Saut de puce”)

Where: You can pick up a water taxi at the Quaidu Mont Blanc, opposite the Grand Casino or outside the Perle du Lac on the Right bank and from the Quai Gustave Ador at Molard or Parc des Eaux-Vives or Geneve Plage on the Left bank. Geneva, Tel: +41 (0)22 732 2944.

Website: www.swissboat.com/

Bars

Best multicultural night out:

Charly O’Neill’s

Uniting the nations is its motto and Charly O’Neill’s tries to do just that in a convivial setting. This pub/restaurant with large outdoor terrace is close by to the United Nations, so plays host to customers of all nationalities, religions and languages, and with regular live music sessions, it’s a cornerstone of Geneva nightlife. The former Director General of the UN, Mr Kofi Annan has even been spotted in here!

Where: Charly O'Neill’s, Rue Hoffman 18, Geneva, Tel: +41 (0) 22 7404530.

Website: www.ireland.ch

Days out

Best way to pretend you’re in Friends:

Central Perk

Head to Central Perk, an eerie replica of the infamous coffeehouse in the hit show, tuck your feet under yourself on one of the comfy sofas, flick your hair constantly and say only hilariously witty things as you sip endless cups. As Chandler would say “Could life BE any better?”

Where: Central Perk, Avenue du Mail 6, Geneva, Tel: +41 (0)22 800 1545.

Website: www.centralperk.ch/

Best free Wi-Fi in a scenic setting:

City parks

Take the laptop outside and get some fresh air as you work from a park bench. The city of Geneva has gifted its many beautiful and tranquil leafy green parks with free Wi-fi – and it certainly beats sitting in an office!

Where: Favourite spots include the Parc des Bastions, Parc La Perle du Lac, Parc des Granges or Parc des Eaux-Vives, Geneva.

Best one-stop shop:

Manor

Forget pricy souvenir shops and instead check out the classy department store Manor, just a short walk from the train station. Great for souvenirs, it also has just about everything else you can imagine, including a supermarket and wonderful rooftop restaurant with brilliant views of the city and delicious food to boot.

Where: Manor, Rue Cornavin 6, Geneva, Tel: +41 0848 802 804. 

 Website: www.manor.ch/