Geneva
Temperature
15°
Time
2:53 AM
Geneva
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.Find your trip
The Jet d’Eau ranks among the tallest water fountains in the world and is a well-known sight in Geneva, shooting around 500 litres of water every second up to 140 metres. You can see it from most of the city centre and even across the border.
Place du Bourg-de-Four is the oldest square in Geneva and still one of the liveliest. Right in the heart of the Old Town, it’s lined with cafés, restaurants, and small shops, and works well as a meeting point or a quick stop while exploring nearby sights. On Thursdays and Saturdays, a market sets up with local produce, flowers, and some handmade goods.
The Palais des Nations, once home to the League of Nations, now serves as the UN’s European headquarters. You can take a guided tour (with advance booking) to see spaces like the Assembly Hall and the Council Chamber, where international negotiations still happen today. The building sits inside Ariana Park — a quiet, green space dotted with old cedars, roaming peacocks, and views down to the lake.
At the highest point of the Old Town, Saint Pierre Cathedral dates back to the 12th century and is Geneva’s most visited monument. It’s known as John Calvin’s home church during the Reformation, and its underground archaeological site — the largest north of the Alps — offers a look at earlier layers of the city’s history. Brave visitors willing to climb the 157 steps of the north tower will be treated to a breathtaking panorama of both the city and the lake — worth it if the weather is clear.
Sandwiched between Switzerland and France, Lake Geneva (called Lac Léman in French) is a stunning natural gem known for its picturesque landscapes and beauty. One of the largest lakes in Europe, it offers breathtaking views of the Alps and the Jura Mountains. The lake's shores are dotted with charming towns and cities, including Geneva, Montreux, and Lausanne, as well as the iconic Chillon Castle.
L’Horloge Fleurie is a super-sized watch with a diameter of five metres, made of 6,500 flowering plants and shrubs, symbolising Switzerland’s world-famous watch industry. This symbol has been around since the 1950s, and the decorations and plants are changed in harmony with the season.
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum dives into the history and ongoing work of humanitarian aid around the world. Through interactive exhibits, personal stories, and multimedia installations, it explores issues like conflict, disaster response, and human rights. There’s a permanent exhibition, plus rotating temporary ones. Its focus is to promote understanding of the history, current affairs, and challenges of humanitarian actions worldwide.
The Conservatory and Botanical Garden is a peaceful spot just outside the city centre, home to over 16,000 plant species from around the world. It also holds the world’s largest herbarium, with more than six million preserved specimens — though that part isn’t open to the public.
The Jet d’Eau ranks among the tallest water fountains in the world and is a well-known sight in Geneva, shooting around 500 litres of water every second up to 140 metres. You can see it from most of the city centre and even across the border.
Place du Bourg-de-Four is the oldest square in Geneva and still one of the liveliest. Right in the heart of the Old Town, it’s lined with cafés, restaurants, and small shops, and works well as a meeting point or a quick stop while exploring nearby sights. On Thursdays and Saturdays, a market sets up with local produce, flowers, and some handmade goods.
Right in the centre of town, Rue du Marché is a pedestrian street lined with high-street brands, watch shops, and a few local boutiques. You’ll find a Swatch store, Davidoff cigars, and plenty of options for clothes, accessories, and gifts.
Rue du Rhône is renowned as one of the city's premier shopping streets, offering a high-end and luxurious shopping experience. It is like a pearl necklace of exclusive shops, reminiscent of Marbella, Gstaad and Beverly Hills. Rue du Rhône attracts shoppers seeking top-tier fashion, jewellery, watches, and other luxury goods. Here, Cartier, Patek Philippe and Rolex share the stage with Piaget, Audemars Piguet and Gucci.
Spanning three floors on chic Rue du Rhône, Globus is an upscale department store with a carefully chosen range of designer clothes, beauty products, and home goods. The ground floor deli is known for Swiss chocolates, cheeses, and other gourmet treats.
On Rue des Alpes near the main station, Alptitude sells all the classic Swiss souvenirs — chocolate, Swiss Army knives, cuckoo clocks, Montblanc pens, and cow-themed everything. Easy place to stop if you’re after something traditional.
The Marché aux Puces de Plainpalais is a bustling flea market held every Wednesday and Saturday (and every first Sunday of the month since 1970), transforming the Plainpalais district into a lively hub of second-hand treasures. Vendors offer a diverse range of goods, including clothing, books, jewellery, furniture, antiques, and vintage items.
Manor is the go-to department store in Switzerland — a one-stop shop spread over several floors, packed with everything from clothes and makeup to home décor and electronics. The ground floor market is perfect for fresh food, and the restaurant upstairs makes a solid lunch spot when you need a break from shopping.
Right in the centre of town, Rue du Marché is a pedestrian street lined with high-street brands, watch shops, and a few local boutiques. You’ll find a Swatch store, Davidoff cigars, and plenty of options for clothes, accessories, and gifts.
Rue du Rhône is renowned as one of the city's premier shopping streets, offering a high-end and luxurious shopping experience. It is like a pearl necklace of exclusive shops, reminiscent of Marbella, Gstaad and Beverly Hills. Rue du Rhône attracts shoppers seeking top-tier fashion, jewellery, watches, and other luxury goods. Here, Cartier, Patek Philippe and Rolex share the stage with Piaget, Audemars Piguet and Gucci.
Located just 4 km from the city centre, Geneva Airport is extremely well-connected. The CFF/SBB railway station, directly beneath the terminal, offers frequent departures to Genève‑Cornavin, with the journey taking about 7 minutes. TPG bus lines 5 and 10 also run between the airport and central Geneva, with travel times ranging from 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic. Buses typically run every 8 to 15 minutes during peak hours. For early departures, the Aérobus shuttle service (lines A1–A6) operates between 4:30am and 6:30am, connecting several neighbourhoods in and around Geneva and neighbouring France. Taxis and ride-hailing services are available just outside the arrivals hall. Travellers staying in a hotel, youth hostel, or campsite in Geneva receive a Geneva Transport Card, valid throughout zone 10. This includes buses, trams, local boats (Mouettes), and the train between the airport and city centre — all free for the duration of your stay.
Switzerland can be visited visa-free for up to 90 days by citizens of most European countries, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Israel, the UAE and most countries in America. If you are unsure whether or not you need to apply for a visa, we recommend contacting the embassy or consulate in your country. International (non-Schengen) travellers need a passport that is valid for at least 3 months after the end of their intended trip in order to enter the Schengen zone. Citizens of Schengen countries can travel without a passport but must have a valid ID with them during their stay.
Geneva’s public transport is arguably one of the best ways for visitors to get around the city. It's reliable, frequent and covers most tourist spots. It includes trams, trolleybuses, buses, trains and even lake ferries (the yellow Mouettes Genevoises), all covered by one ticket. Tickets are valid across all modes within Zone 10, with day passes available. If you're staying in a hotel, hostel or campsite registered with Geneva Tourism, you'll receive a Geneva Transport Card — a digital pass sent before arrival that gives you free, unlimited travel on all local transport during your stay. There’s also a Geneva City Pass offering transport plus discounts on about 50 attractions for 24–72 hours.
Taxis in Geneva can be ordered by phone, hailed at specific stands, or booked via the Taxiphone Genève app, which is widely used. Ride‑hailing apps like Uber and Bolt also operate in the city. Taxis are fairly expensive, which is why most travellers opt for public transport.
Geneva has many Swiss Post branches throughout the city — just look for the bright yellow signs and mailboxes. You can buy stamps, send letters or parcels, and collect packages from lockers or counters. The most convenient location for travellers is Poste Mont-Blanc, centrally located on Rue du Mont-Blanc 18, just a short walk from the main train station. Some stamps and basic postal services are also available at newsstands and supermarkets.
In Geneva, the main pharmacy chains are Amavita, Sun Store, and Pharmacieplus. They are widely present across the city and offer prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, health products, and basic travel or hygiene essentials. For urgent needs outside of these times, Pharma24, at Boulevard de la Cluse 38, operates 24/7.
Switzerland operates on a 230V/50 Hz electrical system and uses both Type C (two-pin) and Type J (three-pin) plugs. Type C plugs are also compatible with Type J sockets.
Country code: +41 Area code: 22
Located just 4 km from the city centre, Geneva Airport is extremely well-connected. The CFF/SBB railway station, directly beneath the terminal, offers frequent departures to Genève‑Cornavin, with the journey taking about 7 minutes. TPG bus lines 5 and 10 also run between the airport and central Geneva, with travel times ranging from 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic. Buses typically run every 8 to 15 minutes during peak hours. For early departures, the Aérobus shuttle service (lines A1–A6) operates between 4:30am and 6:30am, connecting several neighbourhoods in and around Geneva and neighbouring France. Taxis and ride-hailing services are available just outside the arrivals hall. Travellers staying in a hotel, youth hostel, or campsite in Geneva receive a Geneva Transport Card, valid throughout zone 10. This includes buses, trams, local boats (Mouettes), and the train between the airport and city centre — all free for the duration of your stay.
Switzerland can be visited visa-free for up to 90 days by citizens of most European countries, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Israel, the UAE and most countries in America. If you are unsure whether or not you need to apply for a visa, we recommend contacting the embassy or consulate in your country. International (non-Schengen) travellers need a passport that is valid for at least 3 months after the end of their intended trip in order to enter the Schengen zone. Citizens of Schengen countries can travel without a passport but must have a valid ID with them during their stay.
