Cyclists and cafe bars at the Vieille Ville (Old Town) Geneva,Switzerland.Credit:Alamy
$ PENNY-PINCH
One of the world's priciest cities doesn't have to be expensive. Get yourself a couple of croissants ($4) and a day bus ticket (tpg.ch;$9) and check out the Reformation Monument,140-metre Jet d'Eau fountain and beautiful lake-shore parks. In the old town,learn about Genevese history at Maison Tavel (ville-ge.ch;free),parts of which date from 1303. Then duck into the Museum of Art and History
(ville-ge.ch;free) before enjoying cathedral tower views (saintpierre-geneve.ch;$4). Get the dish of the day at lakeshore Buvette des Bains (buvettedesbains.ch;$13). See the Museum of the Red Cross (redcrossmuseum.ch;$15) and have an early dinner at Manora cafeteria (manor.ch;$20). Sleep at the highly regarded youth hostel (yh-geneva.ch;$35).
TOTAL: $100
$$ EASY DOES IT
After a breakfast of muesli and baguette at Le Pain Quotidien (lepainquotidien.ch;$25),wander along lakeshore promenades with views to the French Alps,and on through Parc Mon Repos before joining a tour of the Palais des Nations (unog.ch;$13),the United Nations'European headquarters. Nearby Musee Ariana (ville-ge.ch/ariana;free) houses one of Europe's best glass and porcelain collections in a 19th-century villa. Have salad,steak and endless fries at Cafe de Paris (cafe-de-paris.ch;$45). In the afternoon,take to a lake steamer for a cruise to the French mediaeval town of Yvoire (cgn.ch;$60). For dinner,the 1764 Brasserie de l'Hotel de Ville is so old-fashioned it's hip (hdvglozu.ch;$57). Sleep at stylish boutique Hotel Tiffany (hotel-tiffany.ch;$204).
TOTAL: $404
$$$ SPLASH OUT
Have a fine breakfast at cosy Cafe Metropole (cafemetropole.ch;$30) before admiring the splendid Brunswick Memorial and Geneva's old town,where you can enjoy a lake perch at Les Armures (hotel-les-armures.ch;$39). After your morning walk,get around by taxi (taxi-phone.ch;$46). In the afternoon,the Baur Collections (fondation-baur.ch;$11) showcase superb oriental art. Then take in the Patek Philippe Museum's (patekmuseum.com;$10) antique timepieces. At dinnertime,the regional French food at Le Chat-Botte (beau-rivage.ch;$140) is exquisite. For opera and ballet,head to the Grand Theatre (geneveopera.ch;$155 mid-range seats). Stay in style at Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues (fourseasons.com/geneva;$744).