Geneva Switzerland Tourism (2024) Travel Guide Top Places

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8 Days / 7 Nights

Discover the Best of Switzerland in 7 Nights

Geneva(2N) → Interlaken(2N) → Lucerne(2N) → Zurich(1N)

$1,140/person

18 Days / 17 Nights

18 Days Europe Tour Package

London(2N) → Paris(2N) → Brussels(0N) → The Hague(1N) → Amsterdam(0N) → Cologne(1N) → Geneva(2N) → Lucerne(1N) → Innsbruck(1N) → Florence(2N) → Vatican City(0N) → Barcelona(1N) → Valencia(1N) → Madrid(2N)

$ 3,528

9% off

$3,198/person

12 Days / 11 Nights

Balkan Adventure: Bucharest to Tirana Itinerary

Bucharest (1N) → Sighisoara (1N) → Timisoara (1N) → Belgrade (1N) → Sarajevo (1N) → Dubrovnik (2N) → Tirana (1N)

$1,440/person

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Geneva Travel Essentials

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Ideal duration: 2-3 days

Best Time: June to August, as this is considered to be off season and the weather is ideal for a spot of sight Read More

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"Where Beauty & Modernity Co-exist"

Geneva Tourism

Considered to be the second most populated city in Switzerland, Geneva is charmingly scattered around the beautiful Lake Geneva, at the mouth of River Rhone. It is also guarded by Alpine peaks and the hills of Jura. This metropolitan city is also blessed with plenty of natural beauty, depending on where you choose to go! Geneva also holds the seat for the UNO in Europe, which only serves to elevate its prestige.

Popularly known as the 'city of peace', Geneva is Switzerland's second largest city, and with good reason. This is a city that clubs architecture and art with nature and natural beauty. French is spoken here on a large scale. However, the locals can also converse in other languages such as English, Italian and Spanish. The postcard perfect city is largely known for its jet d'eau. The jet d'eau, located on the edges of Lake Geneva, is a large water jet or a fountain and can be spotted from anywhere across the city. Geneva is also a city steeped in culture and always hosts a number of exhibitions and trade fairs. And when one speaks of Switzerland, talking about watches becomes essential! Geneva boasts of an extremely famous symbol that represents its watch industry - the Horloge Fleuri, or the flower clock. The mere backdrop of Geneva, with its majestic mountains fringed by Lake Geneva, is reason enough to draw in tourists by the dozen.

Old Town

St Pierre Cathedral Zurich

United Nations Office Geneva

Geneva Fountain

Lake Geneva

Paquis Bath

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Currency in Geneva

As Switzerland is not yet a part of the European Union, they have not yet incorporated the Euro into their currency systems. The Swiss Franc is the currency used and accepted in Switzerland. Nonetheless, a couple of shops do accept Euros, so you could always ask.

Shopping in Geneva

Geneva can easily be dubbed as every shopaholic's paradise! Shopping for watches is easier said than done here, since there are so many options to choose from! Authentic watch makers including Swatch, Frank Muller, Piaget and more are scattered around the city, offering you a plethora of designs. Rue de Mont Blanc 13, 19 and 22 include shops by Expace Temps, Swatch and Bucherer, respectively. In terms of fashion, Geneva gives you big, shiny and glossy stores filled to bursting with the latest trends. There are several boutiques in Geneva to head to to satiate your cravings for designer clothes. Bon G_nie, on Rue du March_ 24, is a proper store with 7 entire floors laid out with the most fancy and classy clothes. If you're looking to go retro and would like your wardrobe to look like a visit to the 80s, visit Plainpalais for the coolest retro designs. Speaking of Plainpalais, if you are in Geneva on a Sunday, head to the Farmers Market here. Offers range from juicy mangoes brought all the way from Peru for CHF 1 per fruit, homemade jams, quality mushrooms and mounds of delicious cheese. The Plainpalais Flea Market is organised on Saturdays and Wednesdays, filled with second hand books, clothes, accessories, electronics, etc.

Nightlife in Geneva

Geneva has a number of night clubs, bars and pubs. The bars here are open until 2 am and the clubs are open until 5 am. It's important to note that smoking is not allowed inside any of the clubs/pubs/bars. The key areas where you can find the most amazing nightlife in Geneva are La rue de l'_cole m_decine, Place de L'Ile and Carouge. The first is very popular among students and has more of an energetic vibe. You will also find here bars and clubs that are cheaper, catering well to its daily audience. Place de l'Ile is located in the middle of River Rhone and makes for an unforgettable experience. This is also a popular choice among tourists. Carouge is ideal if you want to visit a club with disco vibes and is typically very crowded.

History of Geneva

A calm and sedate border town, Geneva was acquired by the Romans in 121 BC. Due to this acquisition, the city turned predominantly Christian. However, towards the end of the 14th century, there was a charter that was bestowed upon Geneva, granting it a degree of self-governance. During the 15th century, a republican government was created in the city, due to the formation of the Grand Council. Gradually, Protestant beliefs spread throughout Geneva, through the Protestant Reformation. However, the tables turned in the 18th century, when Geneva was deeply influenced by France, a Catholic state, which began to mould the city as per its beliefs. In 1798, France annexed Geneva. By 1907, there was a separation of the Church and the State in the city. As a result, the 19th and the 20th centuries saw Geneva flourish as a burgeoning city of finance and infrastructure as it went on to become the seat of several respected organisations across the globe.

Language of Geneva

The most commonly spoken language in Geneva is French. So, using phrases like Bonjour to greet someone, Merci to say thank you and Parlez-vous anglais? to ask if they speak English, can be of some use. Locals also speak other languages like Portuguese, Italian, Spanish and English.

Geneva Customs

In Geneva, it is considered a rule of thumb to dress well. This does not mean going overboard. Make sure to carry a couple of elegant and sophisticated outfits with you for a night out in the city. Black is always in style in the big cities of Switzerland and Geneva is no exception. In terms of dining, after your meal, do not expect the staff to bring you your bill immediately. After your meal, call for a waiter and say, "l'addition, s'il vous plait". This translates to 'Bill, please.' When it comes to tipping, the locals here tip up to 10% of their total bill. Service charges are always included in the final bill.

Religion of Geneva

Christianty is the predominant religion in Geneva. However, the city is also home to a couple of Muslims. Roman Catholics and Protestants make up most of the population here.

Daily Budget for Geneva

Traveling within Geneva on a shoestring budget for 3 days will cost you CHF 100. This includes food and alcohol, transport which you can subtract in case you avail of your free travel pass, and entertainment like an entry fee or going to a concert or a movie. Comfortable travel will cost you over CHF 200. A luxurious stay at Geneva, including fine dining, 5 star hotels and the like can cost you CHF 500.

Exchanging Money in Geneva

Geneva has tons of ATMs for this purpose. Visa and Master Card are very widely accepted. Railway stations also exchange cash, which makes it very convenient. There are also many banks in the city that can help you exchange currency.

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How to Reach Geneva

How to Reach Overview

Geneva Airport is just 4 kms away from the city itself. Buses, trains and cars are available to take you to the city from there. It is also easy to get here from nearby places, by bus or by car.

How to reach Geneva by flight

Geneva's International Airport sees several flights landing and taking off each day. Most of the European carriers as well as some trans-Atlantic ones are avilable. The city is located very close to the airport itself and can be reached by bus, train or car. A train ride is ideal however, as it takes only about 6 minutes from the airport. It takes 15 minutes to get to the city by road.

How to reach Geneva by road

It is a scenic route down to Geneva, with the mountains and the lakes dazzling you at every turn. If you're getting a cab to take you into Geneva, it will easily cost you around CHF 70 or more. If you are renting a car, make sure that you buy a vignette or a sticker, easily available at the border towns. A sticker is mandatory and costs CHF 40.

How to reach Geneva by train

Gare Cornavin is the main train station in Geneva. Trains arrive here from across the continent, making connectivity really easy. In case you're coming in from Paris, take the TGV as it's the fastest route.

How to reach Geneva by bus

Taking a bus into Geneva is no problem at all. The A40 connects Geneva to Chamonix and the Alps, making it easy to get here by this mode of transport. There are buses coming in from Zurich, Chamonix and more, on a daily basis.

Local transport in Geneva

You can easily get around the city, owing to its convenient tram and bus system. There is also a taxi boat system which will take you across Lake Geneva. These modes of transport connect every bit of the city to the other, so you don't have to worry about getting around Geneva. Tickets for these can be purchased from machines close to the bus stops or even at newspaper stands. The UNIRESO ticket, as it is called can be used to travel by bus, tram and even by boat. A regular ticket for zone 10 (that grants you 80 minutes of travel), which is the city area of Geneva, costs CHF 3. If you are taking a short trip, which includes a total of 3 rides by tram or bus and 1 boat ride, your ticket will cost you CHF 2. In most cases, if you are staying in a hotel or a hostel, you as a tourist ought to receive a free Geneva Transport Card which includes all the modes of transport mentioned above. All you have to do is ask for it at the reception desk.

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FAQs on Geneva

What is the local food in Geneva?

Geneva is a city rich in different flavours. Owing to its multi cultural population, you will never get bored of eating here, as there is such a lot of variety in terms of the culinary scene! It has over 1,000 restaurants serving up food from around the globe. Specialties here include fondue chinoise, raclette, dishes prepared with lake fish, smoked sausage and more.
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What are the places near Geneva?

The top places near to Geneva are Lausanne which is 51 km from Geneva, Lucerne which is located 190 km from Geneva, Basel which is located 186 km from Geneva, Zermatt which is located 125 km from Geneva, Zurich which is located 224 km from Geneva

What are the things to do in Geneva?

The top things to do in Geneva are Jet D'Eau, The Geneva Tour Cruise, The Flower Clock or Horloge Fleurie, Mont Salve, Bains District, Old Town. You can see all the places to visit in Geneva here

What is the best way to reach Geneva?

Geneva Airport is just 4 kms away from the city itself. Buses, trains and cars are available to take you to the city from there. It is also easy to get here from nearby places, by bus or by car.
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What is the best time to visit Geneva?

Visiting the beautiful city of Geneva between June and August is perfect. Expect breezy evenings and pleasant nights during this time. This also makes it a great time for some boating on Lake Geneva. The lake also boasts of a number of water sport activites which you can opt for. If you visit anytime between December and April, make sure to carry tons of layers with you, as the weather will be chilly at best. The Alps will be covered with a sparkling white sheet of snow during this time, which means that it's time to ski!
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Geneva

Top Hotel Collections

Geneva Travel Packages

Discover the Best of Switzerland in 7 Nights

18 Days Europe Tour Package

Balkan Adventure: Bucharest to Tirana Itinerary

Geneva Travel Essentials

"Where Beauty & Modernity Co-exist"

Geneva Tourism

Things To Do In Geneva

Top Hotels In Geneva

More on Geneva Travel

Currency in Geneva

Shopping in Geneva

Nightlife in Geneva

History of Geneva

Language of Geneva

Geneva Customs

Religion of Geneva

Daily Budget for Geneva

Exchanging Money in Geneva

Best Time to Visit Geneva

Nearby Places

How to Reach Geneva

How to Reach Overview

How to reach Geneva by flight

How to reach Geneva by road

How to reach Geneva by train

How to reach Geneva by bus

Local transport in Geneva

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Geneva Photos

FAQs on Geneva

What is the local food in Geneva?

What are the places near Geneva?

What are the things to do in Geneva?

What is the best way to reach Geneva?

What is the best time to visit Geneva?

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Geneva Reviews

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