THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO BUYING YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE IN GENEVA – 2019
by Brigitte Taylor
MAIN IMAGE: Hornbach
It is like the riddle of the sphinx: which Christmas tree is better, real or fake? And in a city as expensive as Geneva, what makes for the best investment? We’ve compiled a number of choices to help you make up your mind for yourself:
THE NO NONSENSE SOLUTION – THE FAKE TREE
The cheap & cheerful
Maxi Bazar is a prominent name for inexpensive décor year-round, and Christmas is no exception. You will find a selection of artificial Christmas trees here, of varying sizes and price range at their stores. You can find their locations here.
The usual suspects
Some of Geneva’s most popular stores carry a large variety of both artificial and real Christmas trees. Many will allow you to order online: the ideal solution if you were hoping to beat the crowds this time of year.
If you’re still on the fence, take a look at DIY giant Hornbach. It offers both real and fake trees online, and they deliver. Fake tree prices range from CHF 5.90 (for a tiny, 20 cm tree) to CHF 699 (for a respectably full tree of approximately 208 cm).
But if you decided that artificial is the way to go, you will be happy to discover a range of different sizes at Manor (from CHF 59,90 to CHF 699), Migros (where a fake, 150cm tree with LED lighting will cost CHF 189), Coop (ranging from CHF 19,90 to CHF 99,90) and even Ikea, which carries a small selection online (from CHF 9,95 and CHF 39,95).
Total luxury
Every year, Schillinger’s main store in Gland is transformed into a magical winter wonderland. The store offers one of the largest selections of Christmas trees (both real and fake) and decorations in the region. The trees are a real investment, but the quality is above average. You may not be able to order online, but they are open on Sundays from November 10th to December 15.th
THE TRADITIONALIST – THE REAL THING
While some of the stores mentioned above also carry real trees (usually Nordmann pines, of varying sizes), some vendors offer additional options to make your life easier.
One of them is Ecosapin.ch, which sells both planted and cut Christmas trees, chosen from nurseries in the cantons of Vaud and Fribourg as well as France, Germany and Belgium. Planted trees, delivered to your home in a pot, range from 90cm (CHF 119) to 180cm (CHF 139); cut trees are between 190cm and 210cm (CHF 119). Larger ones can also be arranged upon request.
The cost of a tree by Ecosapin.ch is a little higher, but for good reason: prices include delivery to your home, on the date that suits you best, and pickup after the holidays. Planted trees are re-planted to be used on another year, and a new tree is planted for every cut tree that is sold.
So will you be welcoming Christmas with a fake tree, or a real one? Let us know on Instagram (@thingstodoingeneva) using the hashtags #faketree and #realtree
