How to do Geneva on the cheap

[dropcap]G[/dropcap]eneva is renowned for being expensive and has one of the highest living costs in the world. A 2012 survey carried out by The Guardian listed Geneva as the fifth most expensive city for ex-pats. However this startling statistic should not put you off visiting the beautiful Swiss city on holiday. It is possible to go there and not bankrupt yourself in the process, or pawn off half your belongings. I recently visited Geneva and carried out some research beforehand into how to make it affordable, but online I was met with a resounding and disconcerting ‘you can’t,’ and ‘go to McDonald’s.’  If I had gone to McDonald’s it would have been a massive waste of time, money and culture.

Many of the popular destinations around the world are swamped with tourists, particularly in the high season, and this is where Geneva scores some points. Whilst there are many culturally significant and unique sights to be seen, you are never going to encounter many tour groups with camera flashes blinding you from every angle.  I hear of people going to Vienna, Prague and Berlin, but rarely ever to Geneva and this seems a big shame.  The high cost associated with Geneva definitely affects the levels of tourism in the city, but these costs are often misconstrued and should not be the factor that stops you from visiting.  You can eat, sleep and travel for reasonable, affordable prices and I know because that is exactly what I did when I was there this August.

Photo: Julia Wessels

In terms of accommodation, there are many hotels in Geneva but most are not within a normal student budget, and some of those boasting hefty prices don’t look much better than my grandmother’s old bedroom, which isn’t exactly a great selling point for a 20-year-old. Ibis Hotels are a cheaper option and they are also clean and modern. I would particularly recommend the Ibis in the Petit Lancy area of Geneva; the tram station is on the doorstep and the prices were reasonable. £250 can get you a comfortable double bedroom with ensuite bathroom for four nights, and this was the price for two people.

There are Ibis hotels which are more centrally located within Geneva, but you essentially pay almost double just for the so-called luxury of not taking the tram for 15 short minutes to the city center from Petit Lancy.  If you prefer hostels, there are some in Geneva such as the Youth Hostel Geneva where you can stay in dormitories of six people with a shared bathroom, or a private double bedroom if you manage to book in advance. Prices start at £20 per person per night and reach about £40. This may be slightly cheaper if there is a larger group of you and is also a way to keep Geneva very affordable!

Transport is completely free for all those staying in hotels in the city; a transport card allows limitless travel

How much do you need to pay for transport?  Now, this is a winning area for Geneva. Why?  Transport is completely free for all those staying in hotels in the city; on check-in you are given a transport card which allows you limitless travel on the trams, buses and even boats across Lake Geneva for the duration of your stay.  This is a lifeline when it comes to saving money and I am praying that more cities will follow Geneva’s example.  The transport system itself is very efficient, clean and easy to follow and as someone who can sometimes find herself more than a tiny bit lost, this is actually a big statement. The cherry on top is the transport ticket you can collect in the baggage reclaim area of Geneva Airport, which allows you 80 minutes of travel, free of charge, and this will swiftly take you to your hotel. What was the cost of travel in Geneva during my stay? I’m proud to say that not even a single Swiss Franc was sacrificed.

Photo: Julia Wessels

On the topic of sacrificing some Swiss Francs, unfortunately, but not surprisingly, I did need to part with some in order to eat. There are innumerable restaurants in Geneva but many did require a sum of money which did not even seem legal to me.  Luckily I found some nutritious and tasty food for reasonable prices after a bit of research.  Chez Ma Cousine is a charming, small chicken restaurant with a traditional, welcoming atmosphere. Here you can enjoy half a roasted chicken with potato wedges and salad for 15 CHF (Swiss Francs), and drinks prices start at four CHF.  The food is truly delicious and if roast chicken doesn’t tickle the taste buds, they also have a wonderful chicken soup which was a welcome treat at the end of a busy day.

Chez Ma Cousine has three restaurants in Geneva and it is not only a paradise for tourists, but also for the locals who clearly recognize first rate food at a good price!  Another fortunate discovery was the Manor buffet restaurant, located on the top floor of the Manor Department store near Gare Cornavin train station. The restaurant exceeded my expectations and led to me going back several times! There is a vast selection for you to choose from which includes pizza, meat, fish, pasta, vegetarian dishes and even quiche.  The drinks are a delightful treat and I would particularly recommend their fresh fruit smoothies, whilst those with a sweet tooth will not be disappointed by their mouthwatering dessert selection.

The high cost associated with Geneva definitely affects the levels of tourism in the city, but these costs are often misconstrued

I have so far mentioned everything but sightseeing, the all-important pastime of a tourist.  One of the biggest attractions in Geneva is of course CERN.  In order to go on a guided tour it is integral to book far in advance to ward off the disappointment, although there are two permanent exhibitions you can walk into without pre-booking tickets. Initially I thought that visiting CERN may be a bit costly, especially if I wanted to go on a tour, but I was very surprised to discover that everything was completely free of charge. This meant that together with my transport card, I did not need to dig into my bag and retrieve my purse at any point.

Photo: Julia Wessels

St.Pierre Cathedral is also an absolute must see; aside from the stunning architecture there is an impressive and engaging archaeological site under the cathedral. The archaeological site was discovered in 1976 and contains the ruins and remains of churches which occupied the site before the current cathedral, as well as mosaics, wells and even skeletal remains. As an Ancient History student I may be slightly biased when I sing praises of the archaeological site, but it truly was a highlight of my trip and led to a few awestruck moments!  Admission for students is a bargain at four CHF (half the normal adult admission) and you are provided with a very illuminating audio guide, available in a range of languages. From the cathedral you can walk up the winding tower and be met by unparalleled views of Geneva – if you are lucky enough to go on a day with clear skies then this really is worth the four CHF.

Horologists can spend hours in the Patek Phillipe Museum, or alternatively at the Swatch exhibition located in the Cite Du Temps building. It is also possible to visit the United Nations Office in the Palais des Nations – admission is 10 CHF for university students and you are taken on a guided tour lasting an hour. You are allowed to take as many photographs as you like and can ask any question that pops into your mind.  You are also provided with a pretty cool identity card, which you can take away and keep as a souvenir.

Geneva is a lovely city and, contrary to its reputation, you can easily explore it on a student budget. I have very fond memories of my time there this summer and I implore you to go and experience the wonders the city has to offer you.

Do you have any money-saving tips for holidaying on a student budget? Tell us in the comments below.