Car & Van Hire - Le Grand-Saconnex

Le Grand-Saconnex is a small suburb of Geneva, but it makes a good base for exploring the city. This is one of the richest cities in the world, known for its stunning natural beauty and fascinating old town. When you arrive, be sure to visit the Jet d'Eau. This enormous water fountain, which shoots out more than 500 l of water every second, has become a true icon of Geneva. Taking a photo here is a rite of passage for most visitors.

The old town at the heart of the city is the largest of its kind in Switzerland, with charming historic buildings set around narrow streets. It's easy to explore on foot. You can easily lose yourself discovering the old town, but we recommend making some plans in advance, or you'll miss some of its most interesting secrets. For example, you can find a secret passage connecting the Museum of Art and History to the cathedral! The cathedral itself may well surprise you, particularly if you are used to the opulence of religious buildings in countries like Italy, France or Spain. This is a Protestant cathedral, so its interior is very simple, even austere. When you go into the adjoining Chapel of the Maccabees, which is bright and colourful, you'll be shocked by the contrast.

The mighty Lake Geneva can be seen from many parts of the city. The lake is swimmable in the summer months, and you'll also see people sailing or trying out different water sports. Cruises along the lake are available at different times of the day, including romantic sunset cruises.

While you're in Geneva, be sure to visit its most famous building: the Palais des Nations, home to the United Nations. You can take a guided tour of the building to teach you more about the UN and how it works. The curious can also pay a visit to the League of Nations Museum, which outlines the history of the organisation and how it evolved over the 20th century. The enormous sculpture in front, showing a chair with a broken leg, is a symbol of the campaign against the use of landmines.

For a day trip, take advantage of car rental in Le Grand-Saconnex and head to Mount Salève. This towering mountain gives you great views down over Geneva and has several hiking trails you can explore. In summer, you can rent mountain bikes to ride around the top of the mountain, while in winter, this is a hotspot for skiers.

You can also use car or van rental in Le Grand-Saconnex to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Lavaux Vineyard Terraces. There are five stunning villages in this area, all of which showcase Swiss history and architecture. This is a wine region, but even teetotallers will be impressed by the charming villages, which offer views of the lake and the Alps.

Rush hour in Geneva is shorter than in many cities, with traffic building up between 08:00-09:00 and again from 17:00-18:00. To avoid getting caught in rush hour, you can plan your trip to go against the flow of traffic (which heads into the city in the morning and out again in the evening). You should also avoid Mont-Blanc bridge, which is the city's worst hotspot for traffic jams.

There is some free on-street parking in Geneva, but finding an empty space can feel like looking for a needle in a haystack! A better option is one of the city's many underground car parks. If you are set on finding on-street parking, pay attention to the colour of the street markings. White zones are paid and usually have a maximum parking time of 90 minutes. Blue zones are free, but maximum parking time is often limited to an hour.

If you want to save money, try using a park-and-ride car park. These are extremely popular with locals and visitors alike, as they offer a very low-cost way of getting in and out of the city centre. You can buy a combined ticket that covers both the cost of parking and a day of public transport, a very budget-friendly option. You'll find that Geneva's old town is very walkable, so park and ride works well if you want to head there.

Roads in Geneva are often narrow, and there are several extensive one-way systems around the city. This can make navigating difficult, so using a GPS device is very helpful. Although Switzerland is a multilingual country, road signs are in French, the most common language for residents of Geneva.

Geneva is close to the border with France. Although Switzerland is not a member of the European Union, it is part of the Schengen zone, so there is no border control between the two countries. If you are planning to drive into France, be sure to discuss it when you are renting your Enterprise car, as it may affect your insurance.