Getting around · Geneva · Switzerland
Getting around Geneva
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Gfuerst, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Geneva is compact: the station, lakefront, Old Town and Plainpalais are all within about 20 minutes' walk. Trams, buses, the Mouettes water taxis and the Léman Express regional trains share one ticketing system, and hotel guests receive free public transport. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- GVA
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- Geneva Transport Card
Ways to get around
Walking
The lakefront, Old Town, Jardin Anglais and Pâquis are all within a short walk; the Old Town is uphill from the lake.
Tram
Trams link Cornavin station with Plainpalais, Carouge (line 12), the international district and CERN (line 18).
Ask your hotel for the Geneva Transport Card, which gives free travel for your stay.
Bus
Buses cover the rest of the city and the airport, and run to the French border for the Salève cable car.
Boat
The yellow Mouettes cross the harbour on regular tickets, and CGN boats sail to lakeside towns in Switzerland and France.
Train
The Léman Express links Cornavin and Eaux-Vives with the French side of the region, and Swiss trains reach Lausanne in about 40 minutes.
Cycling
Bike lanes run along both lakeshores, and bike-sharing is available across the city.
Tickets and passes
Geneva Transport Card
Given free to guests of hotels, hostels and campsites, covering public transport in the city for the length of the stay.
Geneva Pass
A city card for 24, 48 or 72 hours with free entry to many museums and attractions and discounts on activities.
From the airport
Geneva Airport is about 5 km north-west of the centre. Trains reach Cornavin station in about 7 minutes, and a free public-transport ticket valid for about 80 minutes is available from a machine in the baggage reclaim hall. Buses also run to the city, and taxis take around 15–20 minutes.
Do you need a car?
No. Public transport is free for hotel guests and covers the city. A car helps only for remote Alpine valleys and French villages; trains and buses reach Lausanne, Montreux, Annecy and Chamonix.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Lausanne | About 40 minutes by train | Train from Cornavin station |
| Montreux and Chillon Castle | About 1 hour 10 minutes by train | Train from Cornavin station |
| Lavaux vineyards | About 50 minutes by train | Train to Lutry, Cully or Chexbres |
| Annecy | About 1 hour by bus | Coach from Geneva or the Léman Express with a change |
| Chamonix | About 1 hour 30 minutes by bus | Coach from Geneva or the airport |
| Yvoire | About 1 hour 30 minutes by boat | CGN lake boat in the warmer months, or car |
| Gruyères | About 2 hours by train | Train via Lausanne or Palézieux and Bulle |
| Mont Salève | About 45 minutes by bus and cable car | Bus 8 to Veyrier-Douane, walk across the border, then the cable car |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Geneva?
No. Public transport is free for hotel guests and covers the city. A car helps only for remote Alpine valleys and French villages; trains and buses reach Lausanne, Montreux, Annecy and Chamonix.
+How do you get from the airport to Geneva?
Geneva Airport is about 5 km north-west of the centre. Trains reach Cornavin station in about 7 minutes, and a free public-transport ticket valid for about 80 minutes is available from a machine in the baggage reclaim hall. Buses also run to the city, and taxis take around 15–20 minutes.
+What is the best way to get around Geneva?
Walking: The lakefront, Old Town, Jardin Anglais and Pâquis are all within a short walk; the Old Town is uphill from the lake.