Like a sparkling jewel nestled on the shores of Lac Léman (Lake Geneva) and surrounded by the Alps and Jura mountains, with views of Mont Blanc, Geneva is a city that exudes luxury, quality, elegance and a cosmopolitan lifestyle. A global hub for diplomacy and banking, the buzzes with people from all corners of the world. Geneva boasts excellent restaurants, exclusive shops, beautiful parks, vibrant cultural life and outstanding museums. Due to its compact geography, you can easily see all the highlights on foot. Fast and efficient public transportation makes day trips from Geneva a delight, too.
Swiss Franc (CHF) 1 = 100 Rappen
European SOS: 112
Ambulance: 144
Police: 117
Fire Brigade: 118
Le Temps — www.letemps.ch
Tribune de Genève — www.tdg.ch
Le Matin — www.lematin.ch
24 Heures — www.24heures.ch
The normal opening hours for shops in Geneva are 8:30 am to 7 pm on weekdays. Most shops close for lunch between noon and 2 pm. Shops stay open until 8 pm on Thursdays but are open on Sundays at their own discretion.
203,951 (2020 estimate)
Geneva Tourist Information Office
Quai du Mont-Blanc 2, Genève
Open Mon–Wed, Fri & Sat 9:15am–5:45pm; Thu 10am–5:45pm, Sun 10am–4pm
info@geneva-tourism.ch
+41 22 909 70 00
www.geneve.com
Geneva takes full advantage of its wonderful location on Lake Geneva and has surrounded it with parks, modern monuments and branded buildings. The city is just as small as it is large, with new exciting discoveries at every corner. It has about 200,000 inhabitants, and is very easy to get around by foot. At the same time, this is a very lively place because of its International character. Geneva hosts the European headquarters of the United Nations as well as a myriad of diplomatic embassies. Foreigners constitute one-third of the population, and it feels like every language can be heard when following the flow of busy businessmen or strolling on the lake banks.
There are glossy bank palaces along the lakeside, and picturesque restaurants serving piping-hot fondue and raclette. Geneva offers everything from gentle strolls around the antique shops in the Old Town or the impressive park by the Lake, exclusive shopping along the luxurious rue du Rhône to thought-provoking visits to the United Nations or the Red Cross. Museums and exhibitions are too many to be counted and expose a wide array from classic arts to modern and bold creations. The architecture has its share of surprises and changing neighborhood you might feel like you have entered a whole different city. Geneva is definitely a place that gives you a taste for more.
Jet d´Eau
UN Headquarters - Palais des Nations
Botanical Garden / Jardin Botanique
Lake Geneva
Russian Church
Geneva has a strongly built reputation as a gourmet town and deserves it without a doubt. The cuisine here is, of course, Swiss as well as highly influenced by France and Italy. But the best part is that it could probably pin down every single country in the world, as it has a restaurant for it, and here the most fastidious visitors will find restaurants to delight their taste buds. You can also enjoy local fish delicacies from Lake Geneva such as "filet de perches", "filet de féras", and traditional Swiss dishes such as cheese fondue and raclette -- ideally accompanied by some of the local Swiss and French wines.
Restaurant Le Lyrique
Domaine de Châteauvieux
Miyako
Vino Olio Caffè
Le Chat-Botté
Bistrot du Boeuf Rouge
Les Curiades
La Plancha
Café des Banques
Inglewood
Gaya
La Gondola
Brasserie de Hôtel-de-Ville
Geneva is covered by a multitude of cute and fancy cafes, and you can just about pick any of them for a coffee treat or a quick meal. Being a true business centre, the art of coffee is thriving, and the always busy locals love running from meetings to meetings with a nice takeaway cup of Joe. But here, the coffee shops are also the ultimate place to take a break and relax, a natural meeting point for colleagues, family, and friends to catch up. They are the fuel of the city life and always buzzing on Sunday afternoons.
La Clémence
Demi Lune Café
Le Bouchon
Boréal Coffee Shop
BIRDIE food and coffee shop
Muller's Factory
Just Bubble
Viverra Coffee
Coffee Lab
Although Geneva is a relatively small city, there is a wide and varied range of entertainment -- probably because of its international mix of people. Many start the evening with an aperitif at one of the hundreds of bars in town and then go on to some hot nightspot. Geneva’s nightlife is unexpectedly colourful with people and music from all corners of the world. The dance floors are full of all sorts of people, Geneva jet set, smartly dressed diplomats, rockers in black leather, and trendy people just enjoying some time off.
The Leopard Room Bar & Lounge
Arthur’s Rive Gauche
Chat Noir Club
Mr. Pickwick Pub
Lady Godiva English Pub
MAMBO
Barbershop
If Switzerland is the country of luxury, then Geneva is surely the jewel on this crown. The main shopping area lies between Rue du Rhône and Rue de Rive, with uncountable chic and high brand boutiques. Geneva is the perfect city to renew your wardrobe but make sure you came with the necessary funds, because in this city quality certainly comes at a cost! You might also find yourself falling in love with the perfect watch: watchmaking is a serious matter and a true art here.
If you are looking for more touristic purchases, worry not, you will also find typical Swiss things like clocks, chocolate and cheeses, all of top quality.
Rue des Alpes
Rue du Marché
Plain Palais
La Perla
Manor Genève
Geneva International Airport
Geneva International Airport is located about 4 kilometres from the city centre and is easy accessible from the city of Geneva.
Unireso public transportation network has various means of transport like trains and buses and the same ticket can be used for both. The trains take about 6 minutes between the airport and the Central Station in Geneva (Cornavin) and are very regular. The station is very well indicated at the airport and you can purchase tickets from the machines at the station. Bus number 10 to the Central Station takes about 15 minutes and the ticket is valid for one hour on public transport. The urban buses stop every 8-15 minutes to pick up passengers. The tickets can be bought from the ticket machines and the railway station.
Note that the Geneva Unireso Network is free for anyone arriving by plane at Geneva Airport. This offer is limited to 80 minutes, counted from arrival time. Pick up your free ticket from the machine in the baggage collection area. In many hotels you will receive the Geneva Transport Card which gives you a free pass to the entire transport network.
There are free shuttle bus services transporting guests to a selection of Swiss hotels. Visit the website to see if your hotel is on the list.
Address: Geneva International Airport, Geneva
Email:
Phone: +41 22 717 71 05 / +41 22 717 71 11
Website: www.gva.ch
More Information:
Public Transport
Geneva has excellent local public transport consisting of bus, trolley bus, tram, boat and train. The Unireso public transportation network lets you use the same ticket for all means of transportation.
Tickets can be bought from ticket machines, agencies and online. A weekly pass and a monthly pass are also available.
Note that the Geneva Unireso Network is free for anyone arriving by plane at Geneva Airport. This offer is limited to 80 minutes, counted from arrival time. Pick up your free ticket from the machine in the baggage collection area. At your hotel you will receive the Geneva Transport Card which gives you a free passport to the entire transport network.
TPG (Trams and buses)
www.tpg.ch
TAC (Buses)
www.reseau-tac.fr
TPN (Buses)
www.bustpn.ch
SBB (Trains)
www.cff.ch
SMGN (Boats)
Address:
Email:
Phone: +41 9 00 022 021
Website: www.unireso.com
More Information:
Taxi
There are numerous taxis you can easily find around town and they are very reliable and fast. Note that taxis are fairly expensive in Geneva.
Here are examples of taxi companies:
AA Genève Central Taxi
+41 22 3 202 202
www.geneve-taxi.ch
Taxi-phone SA Geneva:
+41 22 33 141 33
www.taxi-phone.ch
Address:
Email:
Phone: +41 22 33 141 33
Website: www.taxi-phone.ch
More Information:
Post
There are many post offices throughout the city. Mailboxes are yellow, and you can purchase stamps in the post offices and in some press shops.
The main post office is the Poste Mont-Blanc located in the centre.
Address: Rue du Mont-Blanc 18, Geneva
Email: custcare@post.ch
Phone: +41 8 48 88 88 88
Website: www.post.ch
More Information:
Pharmacy
You can find many pharmacies around the city. For emergencies and all night pharmacies, please consult the webpage given. It is updated daily with the information of the pharmacies you can visit by night on the date.
Address:
Email:
Phone:
Website: pharmageneve.pharmacity.ch
More Information:
Electricity
230 Volt, 50 Hz
Address:
Email:
Phone:
Website:
More Information: