Geneva
Geneva is the second-most populous city in Switzerland and the most populous in French-speaking Romandy.
Situated in the southwest of the country, where the Rhône leaves Lake Geneva, it is the capital of the Republic and Canton of Geneva. Geneva is a global city, an international financial centre, and a worldwide centre for diplomacy, which has led to it being called the "Peace Capital".
Getting to Geneva
Geneva is the transportation hub for the French-speaking Switzerland and the western access point to the Swiss Alps.
- 01Geneva Airport
It is served by several major European carriers and has good connections from several major Northern African and Middle Eastern airports.
- 02Gare de Genève-Cornavin
Where to eat
Geneva has a huge number of restaurants for a city its size, and the international community means there's more variety than you'll find in most Swiss cities. On the downside, Geneva is possibly the most expensive city in an expensive country. Additionally, it can be quite difficult to find food on Sunday night, so it might be worth planning ahead or just visiting the more touristy region near the train station.
Getting around Geneva the local way
- Go nextSmall towns in neighbouring France that can also be visited as a half-day trip are Saint-Julien en Genevois south of Geneva and Ferney-Voltaire (with the small castle once owned by the philosopher Voltaire) just north of the airport.
- Go nextHere are just a few places which make a good day trip from Geneva: Lausanne Montreux Gruyères Chamonix Evian Annecy Yvoire Thonon Hitchhiking is relatively safe and more common in Switzerland than France, for example, but almost as difficult if you're not a woman.
- Go nextTo hitchhike to the direction of Lausanne (North) take bus number 29 towards Gare Zimeysa and step out at stop Blandonnet.
- Go nextThen walk forward 200 m.) Walk down 100 m along the on-ramp and hitchhike before the speed gets high.
- Go nextYou should accept a ride at least to Nyon, where you can continue hitchhiking on the on-ramp.
- Go nextYour best bet is usually to try to get a ride at one of the gas station/restaurants on the autoroute itself.) To hitchhike to the direction of Chamonix and Turin (South-East) take bus 27 towards Thônex-Vallard-Douane and go to the end of the line.
- Go nextTo hitchhike to the direction of Lyon and Paris (South-West, West, North-West) take the bus 29 to stop Blandonnet.
- Go nextWalk through the customs and hitchhike - preferably with a sign - before the cars speed up.
From Wikivoyage: Geneva, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Björn S (CC BY-SA 3.0), Wikimedia Commons.
