You just landed in Geneva and you wonder how to travel in the city? Here is some information to help you travel.
Geneva is compact, efficient, and well served by public transport. If you’re arriving at Geneva Airport (GVA) and want to get to the Old Town (Vieille Ville), here are your options, costs, pros & cons, and some tips for moving around once you’re in the city.
The historic Old Town is roughly in the center of Geneva. Depending on exactly where in Old Town you’re staying, “city center” (e.g. Cornavin station, Rive, the Cathédrale St‑Pierre) is a good reference point. From the airport there are several ways to get there.
TRAIN 🚊
You can take a train directly to Geneva from the airport. It is about 7 minutes ride. It goes directly to the main train station Cornavin (center of Geneva). It costs CHF 3.- (zone 10) for a valid ticket for 1 hour. It is fast, reliable , frequent and direct. You will be in the center of the city in just 7 minutes. You can take your ticket directly at the train station with the machine or go to the ticket office.
BUS 🚌
You can take the bus going to the city from the airport. Bus 5 and Bus 10 will drive you to the main train station Cornavin (center of Geneva), but it will take between 25 to 30 minutes depending on the route. It cost CHF 3.- (zone 10) for a valid ticket for 1 hour. You can use it for buses, trams, local trains, and boats. You can purchase your ticket directly at the machine at the bus stop. Be aware that Bus 10 has a space for luggage at the end of the bus, but not Bus 5.
If you are staying at a registered Swiss accommodation (hotel, hostel, etc.), you will receive a Geneva transport card that gives you free access to the public transportation in zone 10.
TAXI 🚖
It takes 15 minutes to go to the city center depending on the traffic. It is a good way to travel if you have heavy luggage, if you travel at odd hours or if you want the comfort traveling from the airport to your hotel directly. The price can be expensive depending on where you are going to. It can cost between CHF 40 to 50.- There is a possible extra charge for the luggage or a night charge and it can cost more in case of traffic. Taxis are right outside the arrival area.
UBER 🚘
To travel with Uber, you need to download the application. Then you can order a driver to come and pick you up at the airport. The prices will be a little cheaper than a taxi. You can choose your car and the level of comfort.
HOTEL SHUTTLE 🚐
They are very convenient as they will drive you directly to your hotel. Depending on your hotel, some of them are free of charge. Make sure that you don’t need to prebook your shuttle or check the hours it is running. Your hotel will provide you all the information you will need.
Best way to travel from the Airport to old town
Putting it all together, unless you have special requirements (lots of heavy luggage, arriving very late, or want door‑to‑door service), the best combination of speed, cost and convenience is:
- Train from Genève‑Aéroport to Cornavin using a Unireso ticket. From Cornavin station, either walk or take a tram/bus to your accommodation in Old Town.
- If your hotel provides the Geneva transport card, use that; it’s free transport for zone 10 for the duration of your stay. That often makes the train/bus option even better value.
If arriving very late, needing minimal walking, have heavy luggage, a taxi might be worth the extra CHF 45‑50.-
Enjoy your stay in Geneva.