City guide Geneva
- Highway Access A1 motorway connects to Lausanne and France (Vignette required: 40 CHF/year). The A1 enters at Bardonnex, passes the airport and runs on toward Lausanne and…
- Historic Buildings Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) where the first Geneva Convention was signed. Geneva City Hall stands next to St Pierre Cathedral in the Old Town. The Palais des…
- Historical Sites Palais des Nations (UN Headquarters) and Reformation Wall. The Palais des Nations, built from 1929 to 1936, is the European headquarters of the…
- Internet Speed 150-500 Mbps average via Swisscom or Sunrise; fiber widely available. Ookla's September 2026 Switzerland median was 488.94 Mbps on fixed broadband and 201.08…
- Language Classes Ifage (Foundation for Adult Education) or Université de Genève (French LSF courses). IFAGE runs French courses in Geneva, including DELF and DALF preparation. The University…
- Laundry Services Lavomatique (Rue de Zurich 21); approx 10-15 CHF per load. none
- Libraries & Study Spots Bibliothèque de Genève (Espace Ami Lullin) and UN Library (limited access). Bibliothèque de Genève, the start of the city's Plainpalais culture walk near Place de…
- Local Brewery Brasserie des Murailles and Brasserie du Virage (available at local bars). Brasserie des Murailles brews at 48 Route de Corsinge in Meinier, outside the city, and…
- Local Heritage The 'Cé qu’è lainô' anthem and the tradition of the Geneva Watchmaking. The Escalade anthem Cé qu'è lainô is still sung in the Old Town each December. Watchmaking…
- Local Markets Plainpalais Flea Market; Carouge Farmers Market (Saturday). The Plainpalais flea market is on Plaine de Plainpalais on Saturdays, and on some…
- Main Train/Transit Hub Gare de Genève-Cornavin (City Center). Gare de Genève-Cornavin is the main station, with trams outside the door. Every airport…
- Museums & Art Venues Patek Philippe Museum and MAMCO (Modern Art). The Patek Philippe Museum is open, with a Nautilus exhibition into early 2027, and the…
- Music Scene Victoria Hall for classical; L'Usine for underground/alternative music. L'Usine is the alternative room, used for Fête de la Musique and for late nights at The…
- Must-See Landmarks Jet d'Eau (140m fountain) and the Flower Clock (L'horloge fleurie). The Jet d'Eau, on Quai Gustave-Ador, rises about 140 metres and is free to watch. The…
- National Parks Nearby Swiss National Park (Zernez, 5 hours away) or Jura Vaudois Nature Park. Switzerland's only national park is the Swiss National Park in the Engadine, with its…
- Nearby Nature Escapes Mont Salève (French Alps visible from the city, accessible by bus + cable car). Parc La Grange and Parc des Eaux-Vives line the left bank of the lake. Mont Salève, just…
- Networking Events Glocals Geneva events and 'Geneva Digital Nomads' Meetup groups. none
- Parcel Delivery Service Swiss Post (Die Post/La Poste); DHL Express. Swiss Post (La Poste) handles letters, parcels and express inside Switzerland and abroad.
- Popular International Cuisine Luigia (Italian pizza) at Rue d'Adrien-Lachenal 24; Parfums de Beyrouth (Lebanese). Pâquis is where Geneva eats from elsewhere, from Eritrean and Korean counters to Japanese…
- Population 203,000 (City), 600,000 (Metropolitan) The City of Geneva had 210,601 residents at the end of 2025, and the canton 537,191…
- Power 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type J (Note: Some Type C plugs fit, but Type J is the Swiss standard). 230 V, 50 Hz. Household plugs and sockets follow Swiss standard SN 441011 (Type J). A…
- Property Tax Impt Foncier (0.1% to 0.2% of estimated value annually). Owners pay the impôt immobilier complémentaire on fiscal value: 1 per mille in general…
- Property Transaction Tax Droits d'enregistrement (approx. 4% in the Canton of Geneva). A paid transfer of Geneva real estate is charged 3% registration duty. From 1 March 2026 a…
- Public Transport Passes TPG Day Pass (10 CHF) or 'Tout Genève' monthly pass (70 CHF). unireso zone 10 covers the canton. A 60-minute ticket is CHF 3, a full day pass is CHF 10…
- Regional Travel CFF/SBB Trains to Lausanne (35 mins) or Lyon, France via TER/TGV. Direct SBB trains from the airport and Cornavin run to Lausanne, Bern and Zurich. Léman…
- Religious Sites St. Pierre Cathedral (Old Town). St Pierre Cathedral, at the top of the Old Town, has been a Protestant church since the…
- SIM Card Swisscom (best coverage), Sunrise, Salt. Prepaid plans from 20 CHF/month. Activation needs a passport or national ID, not a driving licence. Salt Start Max is CHF…
- Scenic Viewpoints The towers of St. Pierre Cathedral for a 360-degree city/lake view. The north tower of St Pierre gives a full view of the city, the lake and the Jet d'Eau…
- Short Term Rentals Vision Apartments, Churchill Residences (approx. 2,800 - 4,500 CHF/month). A furnished flatshare room near the UN and IHEID, in 1218 Geneva, was CHF 1,349 a month…
- Social Events for Expats The 'Expats in Geneva' Facebook group and events at Mr. Pickwick’s Pub. none
- Street Art Art-murs Geneva tours; heavy street art presence in the Pâquis district. The city contemporary-art fund (FMAC) runs an open-air collection, described in the 2026…
- Street Food Stalls Marché de Plainpalais (Tuesdays, Fridays, Sundays). Pâquis is the takeaway strip: Le Dhaba, Hidmona, Le Kampai, Seoul and Dim Sum Gourmand sit…
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center) Approx. 16,500 CHF per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 660,000 CHF) OCSTAT's 2024 free-market median in Cité-Centre was CHF 16,812 per m² (17 sales). A 40 m²…
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) Approx. 12,000 CHF per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 480,000 CHF) OCSTAT's 2024 free-market median in Lancy, outside the City of Geneva, was CHF 9,741 per…
- Table Tennis Spots Public tables at Parc Bertrand and Parc des Bastions. none
- Tap Water Safe and drinkable; high mineral content from Lake Geneva. SIG tap water is drinkable. About 90% comes from Lake Geneva and 10% from groundwater, and…
- Tax System Progressive system; taxed at Federal, Cantonal, and Municipal levels. Tax-resident individuals are taxed on worldwide income at federal, cantonal and communal…
- Tech Repair Services Apple Store (Rue de Rive) and SOS Smartphones (Rue des Alpes). Manor at Rue de Cornavin 6 includes an Apple shop, a few minutes from Cornavin.
- Theater Venues Grand Théâtre de Genève (Place de Neuve). Grand Théâtre de Genève (Boulevard du Théâtre 11) is putting current shows on at the…
- Top International Airline Air France, Etihad, Emirates, and easyJet (major base). Wikivoyage notes direct flights from New York, Washington D.C. and Montreal, without…
content removed, no page opened that could replace it: Networking Events; Social Events for Expats; Best Taxi/Ride App; Laundry Services; Best Food Delivery App; Grocery Delivery; Wine Bars; Cooking Classes; Birdwatching Locations; Bonfire-Friendly Spots; Table Tennis Spots; Gaming Lounges; Casino & Gaming Halls