Neighbourhoods
Plainpalais
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It is located on Rive Gauche but still relatively close to the WHO (by bus or tram it will take about 30 min, and there are good connections in all directions). Neighbouring districts are Carouge, Acacias, Vieille Ville and Champel. As the University of Geneva is close by, there are many cafés, pubs, and clubs for young people. In or fairly close to Plainpalais you will find everything you need from small boutiques and bookstores to supermarkets, theatres, cinemas, museums, nightspots, sports centres, and the university park (Parc des Bastions).
If you need to do some grocery shopping past 7 PM or on Sundays, you can go to one of the many small stores that are open 7/7 and until 10 or 11 PM. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, there is a flea market on the Plain of Plainpalais (from early morning until about 4 PM). In general the plain is used for all sorts of events, such as circuses, markets, fairs, etc.
You may find housing in a shared apartment with wooden floors and high ceilings from 600 CHF.
Les Pâquis
As Geneva’s “Red Light District,” it is one of the most animated neighbourhoods of the city! There are a lot of nightclubs, bars, boutiques and restaurants. If you come to Geneva by train, “les Pâquis” will be the first district you’ll visit, as the Cornavin Train Station is located just next door.
You are not far from Lake Geneva as this district faces the harbour of the Right Bank. There are also two beautiful parks in “les Pâquis” which are both behind the train station: the “Parc des Cropettes” and “Parc Beaulieu.”
One of the best places to be when the weather permits it is the Bain des Pâquis where you can swim in Lake Geneva, eat in a reasonably priced restaurant (reputed for one of the best fondues in town!), or enjoy a Turkish bath. If you like kebabs, “les Pâquis” is probably the best place for you to be in Geneva. Be aware, this neighbourhood is the least safe for walking alone at night.
Carouge
One can talk about the rich history of this little “town”, but actually it is just separated from Geneva by the Arve River. Carouge is in fact a whole different kind of atmosphere compared to the centre of Geneva, especially when you go to Vieux- Carouge: the old houses, the market square, little (and expensive) boutiques, little parks, the remarkable church, artisan stores, etc.
You get the feeling that you're not living in such an international city like Geneva, but instead a little town, although it's only a few minutes away from downtown Geneva!
You can get there by tram (12 & 13) and bus (14, 18, & 21). Going there by car can be tedious as parking spaces are scarce. For more information on Carouge, you can always visit its official website: www.carouge.ch
Ferney - Voltaire
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This is a village in neighbouring France. Dis/Advantages of living in Ferney:
1) Housing might be cheaper than in Geneva, though prices have risen a lot lately
2) There are some big supermarkets that are cheaper than the ones in Geneva; you could go there on a Saturday to shop, just as most of people living in Geneva do
3) It is rather close to the WHO by bus (about 15 min.), though the bus doesn’t run very frequently (at rush hours every 15 min., during all other times much less, last weekday bus is at midnight, weekends there is a night bus).
Highlights: Saturdays (morning until about 2 p.m.) there is a nice market offering homemade cheese, fresh veggies, fruit, fish, meat, bread, pasta, flowers, etc.
Cinemas Voltaire which often show films in the French version, sometimes also in the original version.
How to get to Ferney: Bus F leaving from the back side of the Cornavin train station, which passes the WHO on its way, will bring you there. You have to buy a “zone B” ticket for 3,20 CHF for the zone Nation-France or 3,80 CHF for the zone Cornavin-France. Don't forget to bring your passport as you will cross the French/ Swiss border, and sometimes you will be checked, even on the bus.