Geneva : Formalities and administrative procedures
Geneva : Organize your stay
Money Geneva
A banking town with some 140 branches, you'll generally find them open from Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.30pm. Few branches are open on Saturdays. ATMs allow you to withdraw cash at any time in the local currency. Exchange bureaus are mainly located near the Cornavin train station, and have longer opening hours. You're best advised to use a street-side exchange office, such as the one at Cornavin station (www.cff.ch) or the Migros bank exchange offices (Balexert, Mont-Blanc, Parc La Praille, Rive, Plan-les-Ouates, Thônex and Vernier - www.migrosgeneve.ch). By law, proof of identity is required for withdrawals of CHF 5,000 or more.
The currency unit is the Swiss franc (CHF).
Denominations range from CHF 10 to CHF 1,000, with different colors and personalities: CHF 10 (yellow), CHF 20 (red), CHF 50 (green), CHF 100 (blue), CHF 200 (brown), CHF 1,000 (purple). each denomination is 11 mm longer than the previous one. The CHF 200 banknote was introduced in the 1980s, replacing the CHF 500 banknote. The latter was not very popular with the public, as its value was too high for everyday payments and too low to serve as a store of value.
Coins have the following denominations: 5 centimes (sometimes called "1 sou"), 10 centimes ("2 sous" or "1 batz"), 20 centimes ("4 sous"), 50 centimes, 1 CHF, 2 CHF, 5 CHF ("100 sous" or "1 thune").
While it's possible to pay in euros in most cases, it's preferable to carry Swiss francs with you (ATMs are plentiful everywhere except in the old town).
In February 2025: 1 CHF = 1.06 €.
Budget & Tips Geneva
Geneva is not known for being a low-cost destination! But you can find good deals to optimize your stay's budget, such as traveling on weekends when hotels favor special offers, or taking the Geneva City Pass to get access to low-cost sightseeing. It's not in the Swiss spirit to negotiate, and prices are fixed. However, it's always a good idea to show your appreciation with a tip in cabs, hotels and restaurants.
Budget ideas. Small budget: CHF 140 per day (night in a youth hostel or camping site, two meals "on the go", bus, one drink in the evening, incidentals). Medium budget: 250 CHF per day (night in a small hotel, two meals in "cheap" restaurants, bus, one drink in the evening, incidentals).
Large budget: from CHF 400 per day (night in a charming hotel, two meals in good restaurants, bus, cab, one evening drink, incidentals).
Transport: TPG bus and streetcar tickets CHF 2 (three-stop hop-on hop-off) and all of Geneva 60 minutes CHF 3, day pass CHF 10. Hotels distribute the Geneva Transport Card, which gives free access to public transport.
Car parks: most parking meters require you to enter your license plate number, and you can pay in euros. Approx. 1 CHF/20 minutes. You can also pay directly with your cell phone.
Accommodation. If you're on a really tight budget, you can book a hotel on the French side of the border. Ferney-Voltaire and other villages in the canton and Pays de Gex offer hotel rooms at much lower rates than in Switzerland, for the same quality/price ratio. The area is well served by a regular bus service to downtown Geneva. You should also bear in mind the exchange rate, which, depending on the current exchange rate, may not be very advantageous if the euro/Swiss franc exchange rate is lower.
What's more, Ferney-Voltaire, a border village, and numerous towns such as Annecy, Annemasse, Thonon-les-Bains, etc., belong to the Greater Geneva area. It is planned that these towns will be served by the streetcar linking them to Geneva, making transport much easier. The Léman Express already links Annemasse to the Cornavin station, and the whole project will be completed by 2026.
Passport and visas Geneva
Geneva and Switzerland are not part of the European Union, but only one of the identity documents recognized by the Swiss government is required to stay in Switzerland for less than three months. Passports and national identity cards are accepted but not driver's licenses.
Driver's license Geneva
While a French driver's license will allow you to drive in Switzerland, it's advisable to leave a few bad French habits at the border, or risk heavy penalties.
Switzerland has long installed a large number of speed cameras to monitor speeding. The legislation is very much in favor of safety, and driving licenses are withdrawn for speeds of between 21 and 24 km/h in localities. Speeding offences of 25km/h in towns, 30km/h outside towns and 35km/h on the freeway are recorded in the criminal record and mentioned for some time in the extract from the criminal record. We don't play around with speed here, and rightly so! What's more, your license can be withdrawn for three months, and a fine of CHF 40 is imposed for exceeding the speed limit by 1 km/h.
What's more, contrary to the bad French habit of "pas vu, pas pris", you can't just leave your car anywhere, because it suits you... You'll be expected to turn up, and denunciation is the order of the day in this country. You'll be subject to heavy fines, and no excuses will be taken into consideration.
Remember to have your blue disc indicating your arrival time in a parking lot and to pay for your space in the outside parking lot. If you forget, the fine is just around the corner, as is exceeding the "rented" time for a space. In Switzerland, a rule is a rule!
If you're using a Swiss freeway, for example passing through Bardonnex customs from Annecy, Chamonix or anywhere in France, you'll need to pay an annual vignette entitling you to use Swiss freeways. The vignette costs CHF 40 and is valid for 14 months (valid from December1 to January 31 of the following year). You can buy them at customs offices, service stations or post offices. It's a moderate price for Swiss residents or cross-border commuters, as there are no tolls in the country except for tunnels. If you don't have this sticker when you are stopped in Switzerland, you will be fined CHF 200.
The Mont Blanc bridge and quays can be very congested during rush hour, so avoid driving in this time slot if you can, from 8am in the morning or from 5.30pm in the evening.
Health Geneva
Switzerland does not present any particular health risks and its health system is one of the most efficient in the world. The service is excellent, but the fees charged are much higher than in France, reflecting the reality of health costs.
Mandatory vaccination Geneva
To travel to Switzerland, it is not necessary to plan any additional vaccination to those required in France.
Security Geneva
According to the Mercer 2024 quality of life survey, several Swiss cities feature in the top ten worldwide. Zurich takes first place, followed by Geneva in third, Berne in ninth and Basel in tenth.
Time difference Geneva
No time difference, Switzerland and France (like Belgium and Luxembourg) operate on the same time zone and switch to summer and winter time at the same time.
Spoken languages Geneva
The use of French is an important issue for many of our compatriots who do not speak foreign languages. However, Geneva is one of the world's major meeting and conference centers and it is common to speak English in hotels and to hear many other languages on the street. German and Italian, Switzerland's other official languages, are commonly spoken in shops.
Communication Geneva
When you cross the border, your mobile operator will inform you of the conditions for Switzerland. Please note that, depending on your operator, the cost of a call or SMS may vary considerably.
Although Swisscom no longer uses the name Natel, for many Swiss people it still refers to their smartphone. So don't be surprised if someone asks you for your Natel.
112: emergency number - fire, police, medical emergencies... (common to most European countries, including Switzerland). 114: information. 117: police. 118: fire department. 140: roadside assistance. 144: first aid.
Electricity and measurements Geneva
The measurements are identical. For electricity, a little subtlety... For information, in France we use a type E plug. In Switzerland, a J-type plug (three male pins) is used for appliances operating on 220/230 V and a frequency of 50 Hz. You can use all your electrical appliances with a "flat" (two-pin male) plug in Switzerland. However, you won't be able to connect appliances (e.g. household appliances) with a female N pin (neutral, the plug for "earth") without an adapter. In short, charging your cell phone is no problem, but charging your laptop can be tricky..
Luggage Geneva
The climate in Geneva being semi-continental, as in Lyon, with the coolness of the lake and the surrounding mountains, it is better to pack a hat and gloves in winter, shorts and sunglasses in summer. A casual outfit for walking, but also a more elegant one if you plan to go out in the evening.
Geneva : Daily life
Hello? Geneva
Useful phone numbers. 112: emergency number - fire, police, medical emergencies... (common to most European countries, including Switzerland). 114 : information. 117 : police. 118 : fire brigade. 140 : roadside assistance. 144 : first aid.
Swiss international dialling code : 00 41. To call from France to Switzerland: international call code + 41 + area code without the 0 + 7-digit local number. For example, to call from Grenoble to Geneva: 00 + 41 + 22 (area code without the 0) + 123 45 67.
Calling from Switzerland to abroad. As everywhere, the international calling code is 00. So 00 + country code (33 for France, 32 for Belgium, 352 for Luxembourg) + area code or mobile + local number. Example, from Geneva to Paris: 00 + 33 + 1 + 12 34 56 78.
Calling from one Swiss region to another and within the same canton. From wherever you are calling in Switzerland to any other point in the country, dial the full area code followed by the 7-digit number. Thus to call Montreux from Geneva: 021 999 99 99. For Geneva, dial 022 before the other 7 digits.
Accessibility Geneva
The banks of the lake are well laid out, with cycle paths - including the famous greenway - and pedestrian walkways. Access is more difficult in the old town, where the streets can be steep and narrow. You can, however, take the TPG 36 bus to the Place Bourg de Four. Information on PRM access can be found on the City of Geneva website: https://culture-accessible.ch.
For train travel from Geneva, you can contact the call center for people with disabilities ✆ 0800 007 102 (free from Switzerland) /+41 800 007 102 (from France) - www.cff.ch - [email protected], daily from 5am to midnight. Assistance in accessing direct trains at support stations, as well as certain regional trains.
Geneva Family www.genevefamille.ch and Geneva Tourism www.geneve.com/fr/ can provide information on activities and site accessibility for children and baby carriages.
Health Geneva
A city of water that offers "almost spring" water, 90% of which comes from Lake Geneva and 10% from the canton's groundwater. You will be amazed to find more than 200 fountains to refresh and quench your thirst. It is drinkable and of very good quality, controlled by the Industrial Services of Geneva (SIG).
Hospitals. International city, many languages are spoken. Geneva is in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, so French is the usual language. The Cantonal Hospital (HUG) is the main hospital. You will find all practical information here: www.hug-ge.ch/guide-proches/hopital-batiment-hospitalisation
The 24-hour emergency service is located at rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 2: +41 22 372 81 20. The service is excellent, but very expensive compared to the price of a consultation in France.
Emergency numbers Geneva
Firefighters (✆118) in Switzerland are mainly involved in rescue and fire-fighting operations. In the event of an accident, the emergency number is 114. The number for life-saving assistance and emergency medical care (ambulance) is 144.
On the following website, you'll find all the emergency numbers you need to know in Switzerland: www.ch.ch/fr/numeros-urgence-premiers-secours/
The price of a fast, efficient, highly professional and top-quality intervention is very high. It's difficult to give an idea of the price, as it depends on the type of intervention.
Securty Geneva
✆117 to reach the police. For more general information live: www.ge.ch/organisation/corps-police. For the SBB transport police, the number is 0800 117 117.
According to international indicators (Mercer ranking of the safest cities), Geneva is among the ten safest cities in the world, along with Basel, Bern or Zurich.
LGBTQ Geneva
Geneva, a cosmopolitan city with many influences, is distinguished by its tolerance and commitment to respect and equal rights for LGBTQIA+ people. Several local federations and associations actively support this cause, including the Geneva Federation of LGBT Associations and the 360 Association, which organizes numerous events.
Geneva Pride is a major event that attracts large numbers of people to the streets of Geneva every year: www.genevapride.ch.
Same-sex marriage was legalized in Switzerland on July 1, 2022, following a federal referendum in which 64.1% of voters voted in favor of amending the Civil Code. This breakthrough gave same-sex couples the same marriage and adoption rights as heterosexual couples.
Embassies and consulates Geneva
Consulate. Contrary to popular belief, Geneva is not the capital of Switzerland, so you won't find any embassies here, but the French consulate (https://geneve.consulfrance.org). By appointment only Mon-Fri 8.30am-12pm/13pm-4.30pm/3.45pm on Fridays. It's best to make an appointment on the website. For visas: by appointment only by calling 0900 847 237 (flat rate of CHF 7.50 per call from a landline in Switzerland) 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The French embassy is based in Berne. To contact the embassy, use the contact forms available on their official website: https://ch.ambafrance.org/-Francais
The Swiss embassy is located at 142, rue de Grenelle 75007 Paris. www.eda.admin.ch/paris. Open Monday to Friday, 9am to noon.
The Swiss Confederation website (www.ch.ch/fr/) provides information on legal and practical matters, as well as customs formalities. It also describes the workings of the cantonal government and parliament.
The Alliance française de Genève (http://afge.ch) offers courses and organizes events.
Mail Geneva
Follow the yellow logo to send parcels or postcards by Swiss Post. The price of a stamp for a card to Europe is CHF 1.90.
This site lets you find out the price of your shipment according to size and delivery speed: https: //service.post.ch/vsc/ui/sending-type
Local media Geneva
Geneva has an extensive media offering. The Geneva region has its own television channel, Léman Bleu (www.lemanbleu.ch). Web TV Genève also broadcasts continuous news on the Net. Over 40 print media titles in French-speaking Switzerland alone! Geneva's written press is quite diversified: newspapers can be bought at newsstands and in boxes located in popular places (train stations, streetcar stops, etc.). Free newspapers are also available, often on streetcars and buses.
The most widely read dailies in the canton are Le Temps and La Tribune de Genève. Also published are 24 heures, Le Matin, with its more colloquial writing style, and Le Courrier, La Liberté and Le Nouvelliste.
