With a pleasant setting, green parks, colourful gardens and lakeside promenades, Geneva is considered one of the healthiest places to live in the world. The city sits astride the River Rhône, where it streams into Lake Geneva, and is set against a dramatic backdrop of mountains. At the lake's south shore the Jet d'Eau shoots water 460ft (140m) into the sky from the end of a pier - the city's landmark attraction and Europe's most powerful fountain.

Undoubtedly Switzerland's most cosmopolitan city, Geneva's reputation for religious and political tolerance dates back more than five hundred years. In the 16th century the city spawned the religious teachings of John Calvin, and Geneva was where Lenin spent his 'years of recreation'. Little of their Puritanism is left today - stately homes line the banks of the lake, overlooking an armada of luxury yachts. Jewels and designer labels spill out of exclusive boutiques and into chauffer-driven limousines that glide down palatial avenues.

As well as a host of museums and fine galleries, Geneva has a lively cultural calendar. Most notable is the celebration of l'Escalade in December, which involves costumed and torch-lit processions through the town, and the consumption of sickly amounts of chocolate and marzipan.

Geneva is a gateway to Switzerland's luxury ski resorts, an important banking centre and home to thousands of international delegates and diplomats. Among the many international organisations based in the city are the United Nations and the International Red Cross.

Lake Geneva (Lac Léman)

Address: Geneva

Lausanne

Address: Geneva

Château de Chillon

Address: Avenue de Chillon 21 Geneva

Admission: Sfr12 (adults), Sfr6 (children 6-16). Concessions available. A guided tour costs Sfr6 extra for adults, no charge for children Open daily from 9am to 7pm (April to September), 9:30am to 6pm (March and October), 10am to 5pm (January, February, November, December). Closed 25 December and 1 January

Telephone: (0)21 966 8910

Jet d'Eau

Address: Quai du Général-Guisan Geneva

Admission: Open from 10am to 4pm in winter and 9am till 11.15pm in summer. Closed for three weeks in November for annual maintenance

International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum

Address: 17 Avenue de la Paix Geneva

Admission: Free Open daily except Tuesday from 10am to 5pm. Closed on 24, 25 and 31 December and on 1 January

Telephone: (0)22 748 9525

St Peter's Cathedral

Address: Cour Saint-Pierre Geneva

Admission: Access to the tower Sfr8 (adults), Sfr4 (children). Combined admission to the Archaeological site and tower: Sfr16 (adults), Sfr8 (children) Monday to Saturday 10am to 5.30pm and Sunday 12pm 6.30pm (1 October to 31 May). Monday to Saturday 9.30am to 6.30pm and Sunday 12pm to 5.30pm (1 June to 30 September)

Public Parks

Address: Place Neuve, Quai Gustave-Ador, Route du Lausanne and Jonction respectively Geneva

Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art

Address: 10 rue des Vieux-Grenadiers Geneva

Admission: Sfr8 (adults), children free. Free from 3pm on the first Sunday of every month and 7pm on the first Wednesday of every month Open Tuesday to Friday, 12-6pm. Saturday and Sunday, 11am-6pm. Open from 12pm to 9pm on the first Wednesday of every month.

Telephone: (0)22 320 6122

Palais des Nations (United Nations)

Address: Pregny Gate, 14 avenue de la Paix Geneva

Admission: Sfr12 (adults), Sfr10 (students and seniors) and Sfr7 (children) Open daily from April to October from 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 4pm. July and August from 10am to 5pm. The rest of the year from Monday to Friday from 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 4pm, except over the Christmas period

Telephone: (0)22 917 4896

Plaine de Plainpalais Flea Market

Address: Plaine de Plainpalais Geneva

Admission: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 6:30am to 6pm

Barbier-Mueller Museum

Address: 10 Rue Jean-Calvin Geneva

Admission: Sfr8 (adults), Sfr5 (concessions). Children under 12 years are free. Daily from 11am to 5pm

Telephone: (0)22 312 0270

Place Neuve

Address: Geneva

Museum of Art and History

Address: Rue Charles-Galland 2 Geneva

Admission: Permanent collection, free. Temporary exhibits: Sfr5 (adults), children under 18 free Tuesday to Sunday from 10am-6pm

Telephone: (0)22 418 2600

Patek Philippe Museum

Address: Rue des Vieux-Grenadiers 7 Geneva

Admission: Sfr10 (adults) Tuesday to Friday 2pm to 6pm, Saturday 10am to 6pm

Telephone: (0)22 807 0910

Musée d'Historie Naturelle

Address: 1 Malagnou road Geneva

Admission: Open Tuesday – Sunday from 10am – 5pm

Telephone: 022 418 6300

Aquaparc

Address: 1987 Le Bouveret Geneva

Admission: Full day entry: EUR46 (adults); EUR38 (children) Open daily from 10:30am–7:30pm. Hours vary by season.

Telephone: 024 482 0010

Forestland

Address: 01220 Divonne-les-Bains Geneva

Admission: EUR19 (adults); EUR11.50 (children) Open daily from 10am to 7pm

Telephone: 450 205 394

La Ferme Foraine Bonaventure

Address: Route de Loex, 20, chemin des Blanchards Geneva

Admission: Open daily from April to October

Telephone: 079 203 5703

Happyland

Address: Rue du Foulon Geneva

Admission: Sfr25 (adults); Sfr22 (children) Open daily during season from 11am–6pm

Telephone: 027 458 3425

Geneva Festival

Where: Various,Geneva

When: 19 July to 12 August 2012

Geneva Music Festival

Where: Various,Geneva

When: 22 - 24 June 2012

L'Escalade Celebration

Where: Old City,Geneva

When: 14 -16 December 2012

Montreux Jazz Festival

Where: Various. Montreux is 56 miles (90 km) from Geneva,Geneva

When: 29 June to 14 July 2012

Les Armures

Address: 1 Rue Puits-St-Pierre Geneva

Food Type: Local

Café des Bains

Address: Rue des Bains 26 Geneva

Food Type: Café

La Perle du Lac

Address: Rue de Lausanne 126 Geneva

Food Type: French

Café du Soleil

Address: Place du Petit-Saconnex 6, Petit-Saconnex Geneva

Food Type: Local

Auberge de Floris

Address: Route d'Hermance 287 Geneva

Food Type: French

Les Papilles de Lavinia

Address: Rue de Coutance 3bis Geneva

Food Type: Spanish

Parc des Eaux-Vives

Address: Quai Gustave-Ador 82 Geneva

Food Type: French

Heaven Lounge

Address: Rue Phillippe-Plantamour 25 Geneva

Food Type: Modern Eclectic

La Mamounia

Address: 10 boulevard George-Favon Geneva

Food Type: Moroccan

Le Chat-Botte

Address: Quai du Mont-Blanc 13 Geneva

Food Type: French

Locanda Ticinese

Address: 13 Rue Rousseau Geneva

Food Type: Italian

L'Ange des Dix Vins

Address: 29 Rue Jacques-Dalphin Geneva

Food Type: French