- Getting around
- Geneva Airport is barely 10 minutes by train from the central Cornavin station, and there is a free public transport ticket in the baggage hall for your first 80 minutes. Hotels give guests a Geneva Transport Card covering trams, buses and the little yellow Mouettes water taxis that cross the lake, so you rarely need to pay for local transport. The city is compact and flat around the water, with the only real climb being into the old town, so most sightseeing is on foot. Trams and buses are frequent and punctual. Paddle-steamer cruises and the cable car to Mont Saleve, just across the French border, need separate tickets, and the Saleve trip requires your passport.
- Money
- Geneva uses the Swiss franc, though its French border location means euros are sometimes accepted at a poor rate. Cards and contactless are the norm, but keep some cash for the Bains des Paquis buvette, markets and small kiosks. The city is one of the world's most expensive, so budget generously: restaurant meals and drinks run high. Save by eating rotisserie chicken or a bathhouse fondue, self-catering picnics, and drinking the free fountain and tap water. Tipping is not required as service is included, but rounding up the bill for good service is customary and welcome.
- Safety
- Geneva is a safe, orderly city with little violent crime. The main issue is pickpocketing around Cornavin station and the Paquis district, which is also the red-light and nightlife quarter and busier after dark, though generally fine if you stay aware. Keep bags zipped on crowded trams and in tourist spots by the lake. Traffic and silent trams move quickly, so cross with care. The lake water is clean but cold and deep, so take normal swimming precautions at the bathhouses. In winter, watch for icy pavements, and if you cross into France for Mont Saleve, carry your passport.
- Best season
- Late spring to early autumn, roughly May to September, is the best window, when the lakefront, terraces, bathhouses and boat cruises are in full swing, with summer the liveliest and priciest. Spring and autumn are pleasant and quieter, good for museums and old-town wandering. Winter is cold and can be grey, but brings festive lights, the December Escalade festival and hot fondue at the bathhouse, plus easy access to nearby ski areas. Note that the city hosts frequent international conferences year-round, which can spike hotel prices and availability, so book ahead whenever you visit.
- Where to stay
- The City Centre and lakefront around the Jardin Anglais put you steps from the water and the sights, with polished but pricier hotels. Paquis, near Cornavin station, is the most convenient and best-value base, walkable everywhere, packed with restaurants of every nationality, and lively, though it is also the nightlife district so pick your street. The old-town Vieille Ville is atmospheric and quiet at night for those wanting charm over convenience. For a local, bohemian feel, artsy Carouge to the south is a tram ride from the centre with its own cafe scene.
Switzerland
