Geneva has all the trappings of a typical Swiss city - pristine, safe, clockwork and orderly, with its fair share of shops teeming with excellent timepieces and those oh-so-tempting chocolates, plus of course, the obligatory snow-clad mountain backdrop. But one thing stands it apart, and that is its unique status as a meeting place for many international organizations (to trash out almost every global issue there is), resulting in the city's name being used as a prefix to many a convention concluded at its famous neutral negotiating tables. It is therefore not surprising that the city has become a "united nations" capital, with one in three residents being non-Swiss.

Yet, despite its multi-national community of diplomats, delegates, government administrators and bankers, Geneva retains a serene elegance with graceful buildings, cathedrals and parks, a wonderful collection of museums and a fascinating history, which I was to discover, all on my brief stay in this city tucked comfortably by the lovely Lake Geneva.

Brought here for official matters as with most other visitors, I began my exploration of the place strolling on the shores of Lake Geneva, a pleasant experience indeed. Neat rolls of dancing tulips decorate the walkway while swans and ducks frolicked in the waters. A splendid plethora of colourful sailing boats docked, against a calm of shimmering bluish-grey punctuated by the dramatic Jet d'Eau, the signature centrepiece of Geneva. Many cameras clicked away as the spectacular jetspray swings joyously with the winds, skimmed by a faint rainbow. Boat cruises are also available which go up the Rhone River on a round trip.

Located on the south bank of the river, the Old Town is dominated by the impressive Saint-Pierre Cathedral. Built in 1160-1232 AD, the architecture is part Romanesque, part Gothic with a 157-step high North Tower offering panoramic views of the city. Geneva adopted Protectionism in 1536. Standing in the imposing cathedral building, I wondered how it must have been in the days of austere preachings by John Calvin, a leader of the Protestant Reformation. Visiting the archaeological museum under the Cathedral gives further fascinating insights into the earlier church buildings on the same site built during the Roman Empire.

A stone's throw away lies an intriguing Old Arsenal with magnificent grand old cannons laid out against lively paintings by Gustave de Beaumont, summarizing the history of Geneva. Above, the building is decorated with mosaic frescoes depicting Julius Caesar's arrival in 58 BC, the fairs of the Middle Ages, and the welcoming of Huguenot refugees during the Reformation.

If the Old Town is charming and full of quaint shops selling bric-a-bracs, the Place du Molard at the foot of the hill marks the start of modern temptations, with department stores, luxury boutiques, flower market stores... in other words, a grand shopping street waiting to relieve your Swiss francs!

A number of museums are located in the Old Town itself. The excellent Art and History Museum contains a diverse collection, ranging from Egyptian, Greek and Roman archaeological artefacts, Middle Ages applied arts like textiles, silverware, stained glass, furniture and woodwork, to my favourite - a fine arts collection spanning from the 15th to 20th century which include prominent Swiss works and impressionist pieces by Renoir, Monet and Cezanne.

Tired of "museum-crawling"? Hop on to tram 12 or 13 which takes one from the city centre, across River Arve, to the picturesque Sardinian town of Carouge. Rows of pastel-coloured houses, bedecked with pretty interior courtyards, flowered gardens, and decorated with carvings and frescoes, spread out neatly along spacious walks and wide park spaces. King Victor Amideus built the town in the 17th century to compete with Geneva. While it never overtook Geneva economically, Carouge is today a pleasant abode for artists and craftsmen, with lots of curiosity shops selling antiques, bric-and-bracs and pretty art and craft.

Forewarned was I before I embarked on my trip, that Geneva is a none-too-exciting place. Maybe not of the superlative adrenaline-pumping type, but boring Geneva certainly is not. A lovely charming city it has proved to be, with this writer having learned to enjoy and savour the unique and harmonious blend of its distinctly Swiss roots with the internationalism it has so comfortably adorned.