Switzerland
Overview
Geneva is calm, international and very expensive. It sits at the tip of a huge blue lake with the Jet d'Eau shooting into the sky and Mont Blanc on clear days. You hear French, English and a dozen other languages on every tram because of the UN, the Red Cross and the banks. Keep in mind that the city is small: two or three days are enough, and a lot of its best things (the lake, CERN, the parks) are free.
Geneva was a Celtic town that Julius Caesar mentions in 58 BC. In 1536 the city adopted the Protestant Reformation, and under the French reformer John Calvin it became known as the "Protestant Rome", welcoming religious refugees from all over Europe. Those refugees, many of them watchmakers, started Geneva's watch industry. The city was an independent republic for centuries and only joined the Swiss Confederation in 1815. In 1863 Henry Dunant founded the Red Cross here, and the first Geneva Convention was signed in 1864. The League of Nations was based in Geneva from 1920, and today it is home to the European headquarters of the United Nations.
How long to stay: 2 days for the city. Add a day for Mont Salève, Lausanne or Annecy (France).
Last updated: October 2026
Quick Facts
Location
In the far southwest of Switzerland, at the point where the Rhône river leaves Lake Geneva (Lac Léman). It is almost surrounded by France; Annecy is 45 minutes away and Chamonix about 1.5 hours.
Budget
Per person, per day.
| Backpacker | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed | CHF 45–65 (€49–70, $54–79) | CHF 180–280 (€194–302) | CHF 450+ (€486+) |
| Food | CHF 35–50 (€38–54) | CHF 80–110 (€86–119) | CHF 150+ (€162+) |
| Getting around | Free with the Geneva Transport Card | Free | CHF 40+ |
Daily total CHF 80–115 (€86–124, $97–139) CHF 260–390 (€281–421) CHF 640+ (€691+) A coffee is about CHF 4.50–5, a simple lunch CHF 20–28, a fondue CHF 30–40. Supermarkets (Coop, Migros) are your friend.
Things to Do
The symbol of Geneva, a fountain that shoots water 140 m into the air at about 200 km/h. It started in 1886 as a simple valve to release pressure from the city's water network; people liked it so much that it was made into a fountain and moved to its current spot in 1951.
Price: free · Tip: you can walk out on the jetty, but you will get wet if the wind changes. It is switched off in strong wind and frost.
The hilltop Old Town has cobbled lanes, fountains and the Place du Bourg-de-Four, the oldest square in the city. St Pierre Cathedral was Calvin's church; you can see his simple wooden chair. Climb the towers for a view over the lake and the rooftops, and visit the archaeological site underneath, with remains going back to the Celts.
Price: cathedral free; towers and archaeological site a few francs each · Time needed: 2 hours.
A 100 m stone wall in the Parc des Bastions, built in 1909 for Calvin's 400th birthday, with giant statues of Calvin, Farel, Beza and Knox.
Price: free · Tip: look for the giant chessboards nearby where locals play.
A working clock made of about 6,500 flowers, created in 1955 as a tribute to Geneva's watchmakers. The flowers change with the seasons.
Price: free · Time needed: 5 minutes.
The European headquarters of the United Nations, built for the League of Nations in the 1930s. Guided tours show the Assembly Hall and the Human Rights room with its colourful ceiling by Miquel Barceló. In front stands the Broken Chair, a 12 m wooden chair with one leg broken, a protest against landmines and cluster bombs.
Price: tour about CHF 20; bring your passport · Tip: book the tour online in advance.
An interactive museum about humanitarian work, from the 7 million prisoner-of-war index cards of World War I to modern disasters.
Price: about CHF 15–20 · Time needed: 1.5 hours.
The home of the Large Hadron Collider, the 27 km particle accelerator under the French-Swiss border, and the place where the World Wide Web was invented in 1989. The Science Gateway visitor centre, designed by Renzo Piano and opened in 2023, has exhibitions and labs for visitors.
Price: free · Getting there: tram 18 to CERN, about 25 minutes · Tip: book a free guided tour online; they fill up fast.
The city's beloved public baths on a jetty in the lake, open all year. Swim in summer, take a sauna and eat fondue in winter.
Price: a few francs · Tip: morning swims with the sunrise behind the Jet d'Eau.
Five centuries of watches, automatons and enamelled pocket watches from the famous Geneva watchmaker.
Price: about CHF 10 · Time needed: 1.5 hours.
A small town next to Geneva built by the King of Sardinia in the 18th century, with Mediterranean-style squares, artisans and cafés. It feels like Italy.
Getting there: tram 12 or 18, about 15 minutes.
The mountain in France that overlooks Geneva, called "the balcony of Geneva". A cable car takes you to the top for views over the lake, the city and Mont Blanc.
Price: cable car about €15–20 return (it is in France, so prices are in euros) · Getting there: bus 8 to Veyrier, then walk across the border · Tip: bring your passport.
Transit Tips
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Airport: trains to Cornavin station take 7 minutes. A zone 10 "Tout Genève" ticket costs CHF 3 and covers 60 minutes. Keep in mind that the free airport ticket machines were removed in 2021.
By train: Lausanne about 40 minutes, Zurich about 2 hours 45 minutes, Paris about 3 hours 10 minutes by TGV Lyria.
Geneva Transport Card: if you stay in a hotel, hostel, campsite or registered rental, you get this card free by email before your stay. It covers all trams, buses, the Mouettes water taxis and the airport train within zone 10.
Single tpg ticket: CHF 3 for 60 minutes.
Uber works in Geneva; taxis are very expensive.
Walking: the centre, the lake and the Old Town are close together.
The airport has a French side; if you fly with a French domestic connection, check which side you arrive on.
Helpful Words
A few basics in French (Geneva) / German / Italian can make everyday conversations much easier.
Where to Stay
Plan & Book
Explore accommodation options and open hotel details directly from the map.
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