Why Geneva

Why Geneva

At the Heart of Europe

Geneva is the ideal gateway to Switzerland, served by 200 trains a day and 935 direct flights. Geneva’s international airport, a hub for European low-cost airlines, is only six minutes by train from the city centre. All tourists staying at a hotel receive a Geneva Transport Card entitling them to free public transport.

An Idyllic Landscape

Geneva offers its visitors exceptional views. The lakeshore with its "Jet d'Eau", the Mont Blanc, the charming villages and vineyards all delight the visitor.

Unrivalled Quality of Life

Geneva is ranked as the 8th most pleasant city in the world in 2012. Its 50 parks make it one of the greenest destinations in Europe, an ideal place to relax in calm and peaceful surroundings. Everything is nearby in this humane city. It is even possible to go skiing and shop downtown in the same day!

The Cradle of Luxury Shopping

For a very long time now, Geneva's master watchmakers have made the city the center of excellence for the finest and most prestigious watches. They can be admired in the shop windows on the Rue du Rhône: the main thoroughfare for luxury shopping, which is also home to the most beautiful pieces of jewelry and the world's most prestigious brands in more than 80 exclusive boutiques.

The Capital of Peace and Freedom

Geneva, which hosts the European headquarters of the United Nations and some 200 other organizations, is one of the major international cities. It is also the birthplace of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent Movement. Due to its vocation for peace, Geneva occupies a prominent place in negotiations and decisions that affect the whole world.

A Mark of Excellence

In its 15 five-star hotels, 10 starred and 36 gourmet restaurants in Michelin’s Guide plus 64 restaurants selected by Gault & Millau, Geneva plays host to the most demanding clientele. It is renowned for its excellent services: concierge services, private jet companies, private clinics and schools. On weekends and in the months of July, August, November and December, hotels offer very attractive rates.

A Crossroads for European Culture

Due to its international dimension, Geneva offers exceptional multi-cultural diversity. Steeped in more than 2,000 years of history, the city boasts 40 museums, as well as numerous festivals and international trade fairs. The Geneva Pass allows visitors to take part in more than 50 activities and attractions either for free or at preferential rates.

By plane

Genève Aéroport key figures: - more than 50 European and international airlines- some 142 direct flight destinations
- a 'French sector’ to arrive in or board from France without entering Switzerland
- a railway station with connections to the centre of Geneva, Switzerland and Europe
- more than 80 boutiques and a wide selection of restaurants
- long-stay parking
- two duty-free shops (arrival and departure)
- from the airport, it only takes six minutes to reach the city centre free of charge with tickets available from the ticket machine in the baggage reclaim hall

Genève Aéroport
Information: +41 22 717 71 05
Flight information: 0900 57 15 00
www.gva.ch

By train

Next stop, Geneva!

You are well on track with Geneva and its three railway stations at the core of Europe’s rail network. The Swiss Railway network reaches every corner of Switzerland. And France’s high-speed trains TGV from Paris reach Geneva’s main railway station in just three hours!

Place Cornavin
Phone: 0900 300 300 (CHF 1.19/min)
www.cff.ch

TGV Lyria
www.tgv-lyria.com/en

By bus

Close to the railway station in the heart of the city, you find the coach station whose routes serve some 20 European countries, the Geneva canton and the French ski resorts. From here start the city tours and excursions.

Place Dorcière
Phone (from Switzerland): 0900 320 230 (CHF 1.50/min)
Phone (from abroad): +41 22 732 02 30

www.gare-routiere.ch

By car

All roads lead to Geneva!

Geneva is located at the crossroads of the European motorway network. A perfect city for a perfect city break - or a weekend – on the way from North to South.

The N1 motorway alongside Lake Geneva circles the city and also leads straight into the centre. At the French border in Bardonnex, it joins the A40 towards Lyon and Paris, or Chamonix and Italy.

Distances from Geneva:

Zurich: 279 km
Basel: 237 km
Paris: 541 km
Rome: 880 km
Access to the Swiss motorways requires a motorway tax sticker (40 CHF), available at post offices, at the border or at garages.

Driving speed:

In town : 50 km/hr (some zones 30 km/hr)
outside built-up areas (national roads) : 80 km/hr
motorways : 120 km/hr
The wearing of seat belts both in front and back seats of vehicles is compulsory.

Nehmen Sie das Boot in Genf!

Sie können kaum in Genf bleiben, ohne den grössten See Europas zu überqueren! In Genf können Sie mit dem Wasserbus von einem Ufer ans andere gelangen, einen Bootsausflug machen, um versteckte Perlen an den Küsten zu entdecken und im Sommer Kapitän eines Mietboots Ihrer Wahl sein.

Die Mouettes

Die Mouettes Genevoises (Genfer Möwen) sind diese kleinen gelben Wasserbusse, mit denen Sie in wenigen Minuten problemlos von einem Ufer ans andere gelangen. Mit der Geneva Transport Card können Sie die Boote kostenlos nutzen. Abfahrt alle zehn Minuten:

• Linie M1: Pâquis-Molard

• Linie M2: Pâquis-Quai Gustave Ador

Abfahrt alle 30 Minuten:

• Linie M3: Pâquis-Genf-Strand

• Linie M4: Genf-Strand-De-Châteaubriand

www.mouettesgenevoises.ch

Parkmöglichkeiten

Auf freien Plätzen in der Badge-Zone: max. 1 Stunde, mit blauer Parkscheibe (obligatorisch). Die blauen Parkscheiben erhalten Sie in der Touristeninformation oder bei der Fondation des Parking. Tipp: Erwerben Sie einen öffentlichen Parkschein für mehrere Zonen, mit dem Sie in allen Badge-Zonen des Kantons einen halben oder einen ganzen Tag lang parken können.

Auf Plätzen mit Parkuhren oder Parkautomaten.

In kostenpflichtigen Parkhäusern, darunter zahlreichen «Park an Ride»-Einrichtungen im gesamten Kanton: www.geneve-parking.ch

Auf kostenpflichtigen weissen Plätzen mit Stechuhren oder über Ihr Smartphone mit den Apps PayByPhone, Parknow, Easypark, PrestoPark und Parkingpay.

Auf einem der vielen öffentlichen «Park and Ride»-Parkplätze im gesamten Kanton.

Tipp: Viele «Park and Ride»-Plätze sind ohne Anmeldung und ohne Auflagen zu CHF 14.00 pro Tag (Parken + öffentlicher Nahverkehr All Geneva) für 2 Personen nutzbar.

Nähere Informationen erhalten Sie auf der Website der Fondation des Parking: www.geneve-parking.ch oder telefonisch unter +41 22 827 44 90.

Genf mit dem Fahrrad

Das Fahrrad ist König in Genf! Kurze Entfernungen, kilometerlange Radwege und kostenloser Fahrradverleih. Erkunden Sie Stadt und Land gemütlich auf zwei Rädern.

Alle Infos zum Fahrradverleih in Genf finden Sie auf https://www.geneveroule.ch/en/rent-loan

Nutzen Sie auch die einmalige Gelegenheit und fahren Sie auf einem wunderbar bequemen E-Bike durch das Umland von Genf, um die herrliche Natur zu entdecken!

Kontakt, Information und Anmeldung:

Touristeninformation Genf
Rue du Mont-Blanc 18
+41 22 909 70 00