Geneva is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich) Situated where the Rhône River exits Lake Geneva, it is the capital of the Republic and Canton of Geneva. The city has a population of approximately 186,825 in,and the metropolitan area had 812,000 residents. It is a city of parks and has 310 hectares of parks, 40'000 trees in public areas, 428'000 plants to embellish the city, including 40'000 rose bushes. Geneva has much to offer in terms of cultural variety and quality. Its vibrant cultural life involves many partners - public institutions, first and foremost, as well as scores of private institutions and foundations.

With a myriad of boutiques and department stores, Geneva offers something for everyone. It’s the watch capital of the world, a center for exquisite jewelry, and a place to find high quality Swiss and imported items. Before you leave, don’t forget to purchase some chocolate from one of Geneva’s master chocolate-makers. And why not stock up on Swiss army knives? They make the ideal gift for anyone - including yourself! Geneva is a worldwide centre for diplomacy and international cooperation, and is widely regarded as a global city, mainly because of the presence of numerous international organisations, including the headquarters of many of the agencies of the United Nations and the Red Cross. Today, Geneva is home to around 200 international organisations, both governmental and non-governmental. It is also the place where the Geneva Conventions were signed, which chiefly concern the treatment of wartime non-combatants and prisoners of war. Geneva has been described as the world's sixth most important financial centre by the Global Financial Centres Index, ahead of Tokyo, Chicago, Frankfurt and Sydney, and a 2009 survey by Mercer found Geneva to have the third-highest quality of life in the world (narrowly outranked by Zürich). The city has been referred to as the world's most compact metropolis and the "Peace Capital".