Where to stay · Geneva · Switzerland
Where to stay in Geneva
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Photograph by Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net )., CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Old Town (Vieille Ville). Hilltop lanes around St. Pierre Cathedral, Place du Bourg-de-Four and antique galleries. Best alternatives — families: Eaux-Vives; budget: Pâquis; nightlife: Pâquis.
Key facts
- First visit
- Old Town (Vieille Ville)
- Families
- Eaux-Vives
- Budget
- Pâquis
- Nightlife
- Pâquis
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Old Town (Vieille Ville) | Hilltop lanes around St. Pierre Cathedral, Place du Bourg-de-Four and antique galleries |
| Families | Eaux-Vives | Left-bank lakeside district of parks, the Jet d'Eau and neighbourhood restaurants |
| Couples | Old Town (Vieille Ville) | Hilltop lanes around St. Pierre Cathedral, Place du Bourg-de-Four and antique galleries |
| Budget | Pâquis | Multicultural streets between the station and the lake, with the city's best-value eating |
| Luxury | Rive and Rues Basses | Central shopping streets below the Old Town, from Rue du Rhône to the Rive market hall |
| Nightlife | Pâquis | Multicultural streets between the station and the lake, with the city's best-value eating |
| Food lovers | Pâquis | Multicultural streets between the station and the lake, with the city's best-value eating |
| Solo travellers | Plainpalais | University district of the flea market, museums and student bars |
| Shopping | Carouge | Italianate 18th-century town of artisans, cafés and markets just south of the Arve |
| Quiet stays | Old Town (Vieille Ville) | Hilltop lanes around St. Pierre Cathedral, Place du Bourg-de-Four and antique galleries |
Geneva neighbourhoods in detail
$$$$ · Best for couples, culture, quiet stays and first-timers
Old Town (Vieille Ville)
Geneva's Old Town crowns the hill on the left bank, with St. Pierre Cathedral, the Town Hall, Maison Tavel and the café terraces of Place du Bourg-de-Four, the city's oldest square. Grand-Rue and Rue des Granges are lined with antique dealers, galleries and patrician houses, and the Parc des Bastions lies just below. Hotels are few and characterful.
- Good
- Historic, atmospheric streets; Quiet at night; Walkable to the lake and museums
- Watch out
- Few hotels and high prices; Steep, cobbled streets
- Nearby
- St. Pierre Cathedral, Place du Bourg-de-Four, Maison Tavel, Parc des Bastions
$$ · Best for budget, food lovers, nightlife and first-timers
Pâquis
Between Cornavin station and the right-bank lakefront, the Pâquis has Geneva's widest choice of inexpensive restaurants, from Eritrean and Lebanese to Portuguese and Thai, along with bars, budget hotels and the Bains des Pâquis on the lake. Grand hotels line the Quai du Mont-Blanc on its lake edge. Parts of the area are Geneva's red-light district, so some streets feel rough late at night.
- Good
- Steps from the station and lake; Diverse, affordable food; Lively evenings
- Watch out
- Some seedy streets at night; Noisy in places
- Nearby
- Bains des Pâquis, Cornavin station, Quai du Mont-Blanc, Brunswick Monument
$$$ · Best for families, couples and quiet stays
Eaux-Vives
Eaux-Vives stretches east from the Jardin Anglais along the left shore, taking in the Jet d'Eau, the Baby-Plage swimming area and the large lakeside parks of La Grange and Eaux-Vives. Inland, its streets have bakeries, markets and restaurants popular with locals, and the Eaux-Vives station on the Léman Express gives fast cross-border rail links.
- Good
- Lakeside parks and swimming; Residential, local feel; Walkable to the Old Town
- Watch out
- Fewer hotels than the right bank; Busy roads along the quay
- Nearby
- Jet d'Eau, Parc La Grange, Jardin Anglais, Genève-Plage
$$ · Best for solo travellers, budget and nightlife
Plainpalais
Plainpalais centres on a huge diamond-shaped square that hosts a flea market and fairs, surrounded by University of Geneva buildings, the Patek Philippe Museum and bars around Rue de l'École-de-Médecine. It is lively, younger and slightly cheaper than the lakefront, with trams in every direction.
- Good
- Lively student atmosphere; Good tram links; Reasonable restaurants
- Watch out
- Fewer sights within the area; Busy with traffic
- Nearby
- Plaine de Plainpalais, Patek Philippe Museum, Parc des Bastions, Carouge
$$$ · Best for couples, food lovers, shopping and quiet stays
Carouge
Built in the late 18th century by the Kings of Sardinia as a rival to Protestant Geneva, Carouge has low, colourful houses with courtyards, a Mediterranean feel, artisans' workshops, independent boutiques and a lively bar scene. A market fills Place du Marché on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and tram 12 reaches the centre in about 15 minutes.
- Good
- Village atmosphere and good restaurants; Independent shops; Direct trams to the centre
- Watch out
- Limited hotel choice; A tram ride from the lake
- Nearby
- Place du Marché, Carouge market, Arve river
$$$$ · Best for shopping, luxury and first-timers
Rive and Rues Basses
Between the Old Town and the left-bank lakefront, the Rues Basses and Rue du Rhône hold Geneva's watchmakers, jewellers and department stores, while the Rive area has the Halle de Rive covered food market and a dense mix of restaurants. It is central and convenient, close to the Jardin Anglais and the Jet d'Eau.
- Good
- Central location; Best shopping; Good restaurants
- Watch out
- Expensive; Quiet after shops close
- Nearby
- Rue du Rhône, Halle de Rive, Jardin Anglais, Place du Molard
$$$ · Best for quiet stays, families and culture
Nations
North of the station, the international quarter around Place des Nations holds the Palace of Nations, the Red Cross Museum, the Broken Chair and the offices of many international organisations, set among lakeside parks such as Mon Repos and the Perle du Lac and the botanical garden. Business hotels cluster here, and trams and buses run to the centre in about ten minutes.
- Good
- Green, calm and close to the lake; Major sights on the doorstep; Easy airport access
- Watch out
- Few restaurants open in the evenings; Corporate feel
- Nearby
- Palace of Nations, Red Cross Museum, Broken Chair, Botanical Garden
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Old Town (Vieille Ville) | $$$$ | St. Pierre Cathedral, Place du Bourg-de-Four, Maison Tavel, Parc des Bastions |
| Pâquis | $$ | Bains des Pâquis, Cornavin station, Quai du Mont-Blanc, Brunswick Monument |
| Eaux-Vives | $$$ | Jet d'Eau, Parc La Grange, Jardin Anglais, Genève-Plage |
| Plainpalais | $$ | Plaine de Plainpalais, Patek Philippe Museum, Parc des Bastions, Carouge |
| Carouge | $$$ | Place du Marché, Carouge market, Arve river |
| Rive and Rues Basses | $$$$ | Rue du Rhône, Halle de Rive, Jardin Anglais, Place du Molard |
| Nations | $$$ | Palace of Nations, Red Cross Museum, Broken Chair, Botanical Garden |
Getting to your hotel
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.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Geneva for first-time visitors?
Old Town (Vieille Ville). Geneva's Old Town crowns the hill on the left bank, with St.
+Where should families stay in Geneva?
Eaux-Vives: Lakeside parks and swimming.
+Which area of Geneva is best for a budget stay?
Pâquis ($$): Multicultural streets between the station and the lake, with the city's best-value eating.