Geneva

Geneva is a lake city in southwest Switzerland with Reformation sites, UN offices and views of Mont Blanc. Go for history, lake swims and a base for day trips to the mountains.

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Geneva sits in southwest Switzerland, where the Rhône flows out of its lake. It is the second-largest city in the country and the capital of its canton, though not the national capital. Geneva is known as the Peace Capital because it hosts more international organizations than any other city in the world, including the UN's European headquarters at the Palace of Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Lake Geneva is the city's main natural feature, and the Jet d'Eau fountain on the Quai Gustave-Ador is one of its best-known landmarks. In summer, many people swim at public beaches such as the Bains des Pâquis. In the Old City, Cathedral St-Pierre is where John Calvin and other Protestant reformers preached. Mont Blanc, the highest Alpine peak, can be seen from most of the city. Summers are relatively warm and winters are cool.

Geneva in five

Take the free ticket at the airportA machine in the baggage hall gives arriving passengers a free public transport ticket to reach the city. The train to Cornavin takes about 7 minutes.
Ask your hotel for the transport cardHotels, hostels and campsites give guests a Geneva Transport Card with free public transport for the stay.
Visit CERN for freeCERN's Science Gateway visitor center is free. Check the site for guided tours, which are booked ahead.
Carry your passport for France day tripsChamonix and Annecy lie across the border. Switzerland and France are both in Schengen, so you rarely stop, but you should carry ID, and some bus routes cross at a checkpoint.EES explained

Things to do in Geneva

See all attractions in Geneva

Garden · GenevaConservatoire et Jardin BotaniquesSpring is a good time to see flowers in bloom.

Museum · GenevaMAMCO GenèveFor more context across the exhibitions, join a guided tour.

a large fountain spewing water into the air

Fountain · GenevaJet d'EauCheck the official website before setting out, as bad weather can affect whether the fountain is running.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to GenevaPut the places you like in Geneva on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Geneva (GVA), about 7 min by train
Getting there: Trains from Zurich in about 2.75 hours, from Paris in about 3
Getting around: Trams, buses and lake shuttles
Best base: Near Cornavin for trains, the old town for charm
Time needed: 2 days

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days
Days with storms

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain14 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh5°Low-1°Cold, bise wind
FebruaryPartly cloudy10 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh8°Low1°Cold
MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh11°Low2°Spring
AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh15°Low5°Mild
MayRain14 rainy daysHigh18°Low9°Warm
JuneRain14 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh24°Low14°Lake season
JulyPartly cloudy11 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh26°Low15°Swimming
AugustClear10 rainy daysHigh26°Low15°Swimming
SeptemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°Warm, clear
OctoberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh16°Low8°Autumn
NovemberRain14 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh10°Low3°Fog
DecemberRain13 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh7°Low0°Escalade, cold

Average daily high and low in Geneva, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Geneva

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 3°
Humidity: 74%
Wind: 25 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Geneva

09:47 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

Today8°5°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 0%.
Tue9°6°3%Tuesday: Rain. High 9°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 3%.
Wed10°5°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu10°4°15%Thursday: Rain. High 10°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 15%.
Fri11°6°35%Friday: Rain. High 11°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 35%.
Sat13°4°29%Saturday: Rain. High 13°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 29%.
Sun11°4°37%Sunday: Rain. High 11°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 37%.

Updated 06:26 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.8245 CHF

Amount

Converted to

CHF · Swiss Franc

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Geneva

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Arena de Genève · concertSabaton The Legendary Tour Part 2Apr 20, 2027 · Rooms near the venue

Every year

JulMontreux Jazz FestivalMontreux, a day trip
JulPaléo FestivalLake Geneva Region, a day trip

Day trips by train

Before you go to Geneva

Swiss rail tickets and passesCompare a pass with point-to-point faresRead the guide

Lake cruises and Alps day tripsGuided runs to Chamonix and LavauxCompare day trips

eSIM for Geneva and FranceSwiss data sits outside most EU plansRead the guide

Insurance for GenevaSwiss care is costly without coverRead the guide

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Rules for Geneva, checked

Check the entry rules for your passport before you book. The Swiss State Secretariat for Migration publishes them at sem.admin.ch.Source
The city centre is only about 1.9 km from the French border, so many people cross into France each day.
Dial 112 for any emergency in Switzerland. The police number is 117 and the ambulance number is 144.
Some taxis may refuse to carry babies and children because of seating rules. Book child seats in advance.

Plan around Geneva

All of Switzerland

Rail passes, regions, money and entry rules

Read the guide Lake Geneva and Vaud

Lausanne, Lavaux vineyards and boats along the shore

Read the guide Chamonix

Mont Blanc and the Aiguille du Midi, across the border

Read the guide Annecy

Alpine lake town in France, short of two hours away

Read the guide Zermatt

Matterhorn village, a long train ride east

Read the guide Swiss Travel Pass

Whether it pays for a Geneva-based trip

Read the guide EES at the border

Registration rules for non-EU visitors

Read the guide

Geneva FAQ

Is public transport free in Geneva?

For hotel, hostel and campsite guests, yes: the Geneva Transport Card covers public transport during the stay. Arriving passengers also get a free ticket at the airport.

How many days do you need in Geneva?

Two days covers the old town, the lakefront, a museum and CERN. Add a day for Lausanne, Montreux or Chamonix.

Can I visit CERN without booking?

Yes, the Science Gateway exhibitions are free and open without booking. Guided tours need a booking ahead.

Is Geneva worth visiting or should I go to Zurich?

Geneva suits a short stay built around the lake, the UN district and easy trips to Chamonix and Annecy. Zurich is the better base for German-speaking Switzerland and for rail links to Lucerne and the Oberland.

Is Geneva expensive, and what is free?

It is among Europe's priciest cities. Free items include the airport transport ticket, the guest transport card, the CERN exhibitions, lakefront walks and the Jet d'Eau viewpoint.