French-speaking Geneva is one of Europe’s most unique cities. It is the headquarters of many international organisations. But it is also a real crossroads: a place where many different people and cultures have made their home. These influences all make for a fascinating getaway.
Most importantly, it is a city that those of us who use wheelchairs and mobility scooters also find easy to get around. So, here is Quingo Scooters’ run down of some of the very best places to visit in wonderful Geneva.
Enjoy the views along the Promenade du Lac Léman
Geneva sits on the shores of a spectacular lake of the same name (although it is also known as Lac Léman, confusingly!). The promenade along the lakeshore is level, accessible and well worth exploring.
There is an excellent obstacle-free route here which we recommend. The trail takes you along the western edge of the lake and offers a fantastic view of the lake’s huge fountain, the Jet d’Eau. If you are feeling adventurous and would like to swim in the lake itself, then head to the city beach at Genève Plage.
Soak up the atmosphere of Geneva’s old town
Geneva isn’t the most modern (or flat) city, and the Old Town offers the biggest challenge to those of us who use a mobility scooter or a wheelchair. But despite the hills (and a few cobbles) it should definitely be on your list of places to visit while you’re in Geneva.
Our tip is just to roam and see where your explorations take you: the area is packed with countless shops and historic buildings. One of the highlights for us was the Maison Tavel. It’s the oldest building in Geneva but it is also largely accessible and is a fascinating (and free) insight into the history of the city.
See world class paintings and artefacts at the Geneva museum
Many artists have been drawn to Switzerland by its incredible light and natural beauty. It is also home to some remarkable historical collections. So it is no surprise that Geneva’s Museum of Art and History has some real highlights. The place is huge (it has over 70,000 archaeological artefacts alone), so set aside plenty of time to fit it all in.
From an exhibition inspired by the writings of Ovid to dedicated personal tours for youngsters, the galleries are a peaceful and beautiful space to spend time in. The great news is they are also fully accessible, with a lift to all floors.
Relax and unwind
Geneva is packed with parks, and if you want to spend a little bit of quiet time away from the hustle and bustle, it couldn’t be easier. Our tip is to head to the Geneva Botanical Gardens (they do a lovely herbal tea in their café too, which won us over!).
The gardens themselves are packed with fascinating plants, both native to the alpine regions and from around the world. The Herbarium is also not to be missed – it has over 6 million plants, making it the largest in the world! It is almost completely accessible too, with the exception of some parts of the greenhouses.
Did you know?
Surprisingly, Switzerland does not actually have an official capital city. Bern is the seat of government, while Zurich and Geneva are also major administrative and cultural centres. But no capital.
Getting to Geneva
Located right in the heart of Europe, Geneva is simple to get to from the UK. You can fly from the London airports, as well as from Liverpool, Bristol, Manchester and Edinburgh.
Geneva airport is as modern and well designed as you’d expect, and they offer an excellent assistance service to any travellers with different mobility needs. To find out more about to arrange it, just take a look on their website here.
It is also easy to get into the city from the airport too. If you’re driving to and from the airport there is a dedicated car park with accessible spaces. Alternatively there are regular trains, although the team ask you to get in touch with them up to an hour before if you have any specific mobility needs. You can call them on 0800 007 102. There are also regular, accessible shuttle buses.
For more general information about getting about on public transport within the city, take a look at the city’s official page here. There is also a dedicated page on accessibility in Geneva here.
Travelling with scooters
The great news for those of you travelling abroad is that Quingo Scooters are all approved for air travel by IATA so you won’t have any problems taking them on the plane. That said, it is always well worth getting in touch directly with any train, bus and airlines you want to use just to double check their rules on scooters before you go. For more handy tips on travelling with your scooter by air, take a look at our page here.
Share your accessible getaways abroad with us
Do you have any accessible getaways abroad recommendations? In Europe or perhaps further afield? If you do, we’d love to hear from you, so drop us a line and we’ll feature them.
About Quingo Scooters
The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. New models are now available from just £22/week on our new contract hire scheme which includes all servicing and maintenance, Insurance, Roadside Recovery, Call Outs and Consumables including Batteries and Tyres. For more information on this or the latest Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any Service questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.
Keep up to date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog. Connect with Quingo and keep up to date with all our latest news on Facebook and Twitter.
All Quingo Personal Mobility Vehicles are provided by Forever Active, the UK’s exclusive distributor. Forever Active is a trading name of Advantage Marketing Corporation Limited (AMC). AMC Limited is an appointed representative of First Senior Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 30847