Geneva
Switzerland · Country profile
Geneva is the small, wealthy, international city on the great lake of the same name, a paragon of the well-ordered world of the banks, the lectures and the humanitarian organisations, set in one of the most beautiful of the Alpine settings. The famous jet of the fountain leaps from the lake, the old town climbs its hill of the cathedral, and the whole city sits under the massive, always visible tooth of the Mont Blanc. The museums of the city, the park of the United Nations and the diplomatic quarter give it the intellectual and the worldly character, and the lakefront, the beaches and the mountains around it hold the weekends of the whole city. Discreet, elegant and spectacular, Geneva is the model, the orderly Swiss city at its most complete.
About Geneva
Geneva is a city in Switzerland. The city's documented population is around 210,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Swiss Franc (CHF) and German, French and Italian are spoken; the dialling code is +41. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Geneva Airport.
The Jet, the Lake and the Tooth of the Mont Blanc
Geneva is a compact, elegant, wonderfully situated city, where the lake, the fountain and the great white pyramid of the Mont Blanc frame every vista. It is an international city of the organisations, the banks and the conferences, but the everyday face is a small, polished, walkable place of the old town, the lakefront and the quiet parks. The city is a base as much as a destination, with the lake cruises, the Alpine train journeys and the villages of the region all within an easy reach. It is safe, punctual, expensive and quietly beautiful, and its evenings across the lake are among the most refined in Europe.
Swiss Precision, the Seasons and Booking the Mountain Views
The seasons are clean-cut: the summer is warm and lively, the winter is cold and crisp and very beautiful, and the spring and the autumn sit in between with the lake at its best in the long evenings. The classic sights, the lake cruise and the visit to the peak of the Salève or the cable car of the Alps, book ahead in the season and need the clear weather. The city is walkable, the tram and the bus networks cover the lakeside and the international quarter, and the Swiss franc means the prices run high. The etiquette is punctual and orderly, the English is spoken everywhere and the tipping is modest. Dress for the altitude, since the mountain air reaches the city itself.
The Quays, the Tram Lines and the Water of the Lake
The lakefront of the city, from the Jet d’Eau to the old quarter, is the great walk, and the boats of the lake, run by the public services, double as the cruise and the transport. The old town climbs the hill of the cathedral, with its painted lanes, its old shops and its museums of the reformation and the history. The park of the United Nations and the broken chair of the disarmament monument are the world-politics sights. The banks of the lake, the swimming beaches and the picnic shores fill the warm months, and the peak of the Mont Blanc, visible in the morning, dominates every view of the city. Geneva rewards the walkers, the watchers and the strollers of the lakeside.
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- Country
- Switzerland
- Population
- 210,000
- Coordinates
- 46.2381, 6.1090
- Capital
- Bern
- Region
- Europe
- Currency
- Swiss Franc (CHF)
- Languages
- German, French, Italian
- Calling code
- +41
- Country code
- CH
Entry requirements for Switzerland
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Switzerland for tourism.
Getting to Geneva
Airports we list for Geneva:
Other airports in the area:
Cities in Switzerland
Other cities we cover in Switzerland:
Frequently asked questions
Is Geneva the capital of Switzerland?
No — the capital of Switzerland is Bern.
What currency do I need in Geneva?
The local currency is the Swiss Franc (CHF). Languages spoken in Switzerland include German, French and Italian.
What is the dialling code for Switzerland?
The international dialling code for Switzerland is +41.
Which airport should I fly into for Geneva?
Geneva Airport (GVA) is the airport we list for Geneva.
How far is Geneva from the nearest airport?
Geneva is about 230 km from Zurich Airport.
Do I need a visa to visit Switzerland?
It depends on your passport. Among the origins we track, travellers from Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda and Argentina currently enter Switzerland visa-free for tourism. Use the entry requirements tool to check your own nationality and purpose of travel.
Flying out of Geneva? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.