One of the world’s most metropolitan cities, with some 180 different nationalities calling it home, is also one of Europe’s most pedestrian-friendly destinations.

“Geneva is the perfect place to explore on foot, whether clients have four days or just four hours,” says local guide Gianna Loredan.

While the Swiss city is a major player on the international stage, well known as a worldwide centre for global organizations, it still manages to keep its small-town charms, touting itself as “the smallest of the large capitals.”

“We consider ourselves a small town with all the advantages of a big city,” says Loredan.

Located in the southwestern corner of Switzerland, near the French border, clients visiting Geneva will find safe, walkable streets, wide open parks and picturesque bridges that span Lake Leman, one of the largest freshwater lakes in Europe that divides the city into its left and right banks.

Many humanitarian groups like the International Red Cross are among the more than 200 non-governmental organizations that have headquarters, mostly found on Geneva’s right bank, earning the city its nickname the “Capital of Peace.”

Located on the Avenue de la Paix is the Red Cross Museum, what Loredan describes as a “museum of hope,” with film and photo exhibits showing the organization’s history and its current projects around the world.

It’s just one of 40 museums found in the city, including the popular Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, the Patek Philippe Museum and the Natural History Museum. And as most museums close at 5 p.m., it’s prudent to plan for a morning or early afternoon visit.

Loredan counts a stop to the European headquarters of the United Nations, also located on the Avenue de la Paix, as a must-do for all visitors. It’s easy enough to find with a giant three-legged chair looming in front, a monument dedicated to landmine victims and a reminder to all of the city’s humanitarian reputation.

After visiting some of Geneva’s well-known multi-nationals and museums, visitors can stroll along the Quai de Mont Blanc, stopping for lunch at one of the many lakefront bistros dotting the street before heading to the Pont du Mont Blanc bridge to snap a photo of one the city’s most famous landmarks. The iconic Jet D’Eau, a 140-metre-high water fountain that lights up at dusk, shoots about 500 litres of water per second into the air and is visible from many parts of Geneva.

Another must-do on a short visit is a tour of the Old Town on the left bank, an area with restaurants and retail shops housed in 18th-century buildings lining cobblestone streets. Some buildings date as far back as the 15th century and one of the city’s most historic squares, the Bourg-de-Four, can be found in the Old Town.

With all hotels in the city offering clients a complimentary Geneva Transport Card letting guests ride on all buses and lake boats for free throughout their stay, visitors can hop on the bus to go the short distance from the Old Town to the “Greenwich Village of Geneva.”

An artsy district filled with sidewalk cafés, shops and open-air markets, the Genevan suburb of Carouge is known for its “secret gardens” hidden behind almost every gate in the neighbourhood. Most are open and can be explored for free.

While most Canadians visiting Switzerland stay an average of two or three nights, Geneva has much to offer clients who want to stay longer.

“Most people know that we are the headquarters of the UN, but how many people know that we are the third largest wine producing region in Switzerland?” asks Loredan, encouraging visitors to explore the farms and vineyards of the nearby countryside.

One of the most popular day trips from Geneva that receives about 1.2 million worldwide visitors annually is the small town of Gruyères, which has less than 100 inhabitants and is located about two hours from the city by train.

With a cheese making tradition that goes back almost a 1,000 years, Gruyères cheese is still considered to be some of the best by connoisseurs. Visitors can stop in at the family friendly cheese factory located right beside the train station for a taste of the award-winning local cheese while viewing live demonstrations from master cheese-makers.

A culinary destination par excellence, Gruyères is equally famous for its chocolate as it is for its cheese. Some of Switzerland’s best chocolate can be had not far from the cheese factory at La Maison Cailler, a “chocalaterie” in operation since 1819 that tourists are welcome to visit for free from April through October every year.

The factory produces more than 50 tons of chocolate each year, which visitors can sample before purchasing a few bars at some of the best prices found anywhere in the country.

With its proximity to France, most residents of Geneva and surrounding areas, including Gruyères, speak French, although English is also widely spoken.

And now Geneva is even easier to get to with Air Canada’s new year-round daily service between Toronto and Geneva via Montreal. The carrier’s Star Alliance partner Swiss International Air Lines offers seats on a codeshare basis on the new route.

Check out www.geneva-tourism.ch or visit www.friburgregion.ch for additional information.