Geneva on business

Geneva on business

With skiing an easy day trip from here, world-class vineyards right on your doorstep and a gorgeous lakeside setting we hardly need to tell you about, Geneva is one of the best business hubs for a bit of R and R. Here are four ideas to get more from your trip.

Head up the mountain

Of course! If you're here in winter, how can you not go skiing? If your dates give you the option to roll your travel on to the weekend, it's legitimately worth doing, even if just for a single day – hire a car and several of the best resorts in the Alps are within easy reach of Geneva and are very easily done as a round-trip in a single day. La Clusaz and Praz de Lys-Sommand are both around an hour's drive away, and the massive Portes du Soleil region is only a little further and a viable day trip at under 90 minutes' drive, as is Chamonix.

Check out our ski map to find the closest resorts and browse our in-depth resort guides to find out what you can expect from each.

Stay out of the city and out of work mode

Ok, we know this one won't be for everyone – but if you're already keen to see a little more of Switzerland (and particularly if you've been to the city before), Geneva's transport links with neighbouring towns are excellent. Stay in nearby Lausanne, or a little further in Montreux, and you'll get the most scenic commute you're ever likely to experience, with a direct train ride of 40 minutes or an hour, respectively, along the shore of Lake Geneva. Admittedly, if you're after pure convenience this won't be for you, but the train ride is a genuine attraction and a great travel experience in itself; and just the physical distance from the place you're working can put you more in leisure mode and the right mindset to have some fun. Search for a hotel wherever you choose on our booking portal.

Walk the Geneva Wine Trail

The canton of Geneva is home to some of the best-kept secrets in European wine, with dozens of wineries surrounding Lake Geneva – most of them open for tours and tastings year-round. Domaine Les Perrières is one of the closest to Geneva, just 15 minutes away in the village of Peissy.

And if you're travelling between April and October, you're within easy reach of Switzerland's longest official wine trail – the Geneva Wine Trail, which takes you on walks through some typically idyllic, green scenery, with a fixed price for a single glass, which covers tastings at every vineyard you pass. There are several possible routes – particularly around Dardagny and Satigny just a few miles outside Geneva. You can pick up information and itineraries at Geneva's main tourist office on Rue du Mont-Blanc. Head to nearby Choulex in 20 minutes on the 33 bus from Place des Eaux-Vives for the walk to Hermance right on the lakeshore. You can also reach the many wineries in Dardagny with a 20-minute train ride from Geneva's main train station to La Plaine station.

Burn the candle at both ends

Well actually, because of the short flight time and one-hour time difference you can fly back Geneva early evening and still be home at a very civilised time. If you're travelling late in the week, you can take the 1755 Sunday departure from Geneva to London City Airport to get a full weekend here and still get home for an early night, landing at 1840. Check the London City Airport-Geneva timetable for full information or look for flights. You can also get a quick view of cheap fares available between London City Airport and Geneva from the two airlines that operate the route – check out our deals from Swiss International Air Lines and British Airways.

24/10/2017