Switzerland » Getting to Geneva

An approximate flight time to Geneva from London is 1 hour and 45 minutes.

By Air

Geneva airport is served by almost all European carriers, and by two daily transAtlantic flights, one from New York, JFK on Swiss and one from Newark on Continental, else when flying from the U.S. you will have to change planes at your airline's hub airport. Within the last few years Geneva itself has become a hub for the low-cost carrier Easy Jet serving a number of destinations in Europe including Great Britain. To get into town from the airport, taxis cost approx. 30 CHF; the number 10 bus leaves every 15 minutes from 6am-11pm, get off at the 22-Cantons stop for train station; all trains leaving Geneva airport train station stop at the main train/bus station.

By Train

The Swiss Federal Railway serves Geneva's Gare de Cornavin with trains to most destinations in Switzerland at least once per hour, as well as to Paris via the SNCF's TGV or "High Speed Train," or Milan and Venice by the Swiss-Italian Cisalpino (CHEEZ-al-PEEN-o). The French SNCF also has a station in Eaux Vives which can be reached from Cornavin via the number 16 tram (Amandolier/SNCF stop). This station serves points south such as Annemasse, and Chamonix - Mt. Blanc. All trains arriving in the Gare de Cornavin will usually have the Geneva airport as their final destination.

By Road

The motorway network brings you right into Geneva: only 40 km from Annecy and 80 km from Chamonix with customs at Bardonnex - Saint-Julien; you need the required motorway sticker (single annual 40 CHF fee) to come through this customs office. Purchase of the motorway tax sticker at one of the customs must be done in order to drive on Swiss motorways.

By Bus

Geneva is served by a number of regular international bus routes (Bus station: tel. +41(0)22 732 02 30). Moreover, the TPG (Geneva Public Transport) provide regular services from the neighbouring French towns of Saint-Julien, Archamps, Thoiry, Ferney-Voltaire, Moillesulaz (tel. +41(0)22 308 34 34).

By Boat

Regular boat service is provided, mainly in turn of the last century steamboats from ports all around Lake Geneva by Compagnie Générale de Navigation. All boats arrive at the Paquis port after docking briefly at Parc des Eaux Vives, and the Jardin Anglais.