Gay Geneva · City Guide

Geneva | Genève

The second largest city in Switzerland and the largest city in the French speaking region of Switzerland. The municipality of Geneva is home to around 200,000 people but is the heart of a commuter region of around 1 million people.

Geneva has a rich and varied history. It was taken by the Romans in 121 BC and suffered massive devastation in 586AD due to a massive tsunami from lake Geneva. It was the home of Calvinism and became one of the main centres of Europe during the Protestant reformation.

Nowadays, the city is known for being the headquarters of many of the world's international organisations, including the United Nations. It frequently ranks highly in terms of quality of life for its citizens and in 2017 was ranked the most expensive city in the world. Its wide-ranging cultural activities draw many visitors to the city.

Gay Rights in Switzerland

For gay rights in Switzerland, please check our Gay Zurich City Guide page.

Gay Scene in Geneva

In comparison to the hedonistic dance clubs of Zurich, Geneva's gay scene is a lot more laid back. That does not mean that Geneva's gay scene is by any means boring as there is a good selection of saunas, cruise clubs, gay bars and dance clubs catering for gay customers.

There isn't a regular pride festival in Geneva as there is a national gay pride festival that rotates amongst the major cities of Switzerland. In 2018 it will be held for the first time in Lugano.

Getting to Geneva

By plane

Geneva Airport (GVA) is located 5km from the city centre. It is well connected to locations in Europe and offers a decent range of long-haul flights to destinations in North America, the Middle East and China. It does get busy in the winter months with people coming to nearby ski resorts.

You can take public transport for free from the airport and it is valid with your boarding pass. The ticket machine is located in the luggage reclaim area and is valid for up to 80 minutes on both trains and buses. Trains take 6 minutes into the centre whereas buses take around 20 minutes.

Some hotels arrange free shuttle buses specific to their hotel which is worth checking out in advance to see if your hotel offers this. Taxis can be hailed from the airport or ordered in advance. Journeys take around ten minutes and cost in the region of 35 to 45 CHF, depending on traffic conditions, time of day and number of passengers.

By train

Geneva is well connected to destinations in Switzerland by rail. There are also a few high-speed rail connections that take you to destinations in France.

By boat

A popular way for tourists to get in and out of Geneva. A variety of paddle steamers, mostly built in the early 20th Century, stop at the towns and villages on the shores of Lake Geneva.

Getting around Geneva

On foot

Geneva's old town is relatively small, which makes it quite easy to navigate by foot. The only thing that is worth noting is that it is not uncommon for streets to change names within a relatively short distance.

By public transport

Geneva has a good integrated public transport network of buses, trams, suburban rail and boats. Short hop journeys start at 2CHF with day passes starting at 8CHF. If you are staying in a hotel, hostel or campsite in the canton of Geneva you will receive a free travel pass for the duration of your stay, that is valid with your passport.

The yellow shuttle boats, Les Mouettes, that cross the lake are popular with tourists. They leave every ten minutes between 7.30am and 6pm. On Friday and Saturday nights there is a night bus service that runs into the early hours.

By taxi

There are around 60 taxi ranks situated throughout the city making it easy to find a city on the street however booking is advised at busy times. Taxi drivers in Switzerland are required by law to speak English although the levels of English might vary. Prices may vary depdending on time and date. Uber is commonly used by locals.

Where to Stay in Geneva

For the latest hotel offers in Geneva, please visit our Gay Geneva Hotels page.

Things to See & Do in Geneva

• Jet d'Eau - one of the defining symbols of Geneva. This fountain jet was originally an occasional pressure release for a hydro-electric power plant on the Rhone however the people of Geneva liked it so much it became a permanent feature in 1891.
• Cathédrale St-Pierre - originally a catholic church, this was a key location of the Protestant reformation that swept through Europe. There is a fascinating museum here but just witnessing the splendour of this cathedral is enough to delight.
• Museum of the International Committee of the Red Cross - an exceptionally interesting museum that explores the humanitarian work done by the Red Cross. Expect to be humbled by some of the photo exhibits.
• Palais des Nations - originally built to house the League of Nations, the forerunner to the modern-day United Nations. The main attraction here is its grand hall and the public art in its grounds.
• Old Town - the main draw for tourists to Geneva. Here you will find many traditionally Swiss eating and drinking establishments. It is especially notable for its antique shops.
• Rue du Marché - one of Geneva's main thoroughfares and one of the best spots to buy gifts or treat yourself. Practically anything you could imagine can be found here.

When to Visit

Geneva's best weather unsurprisingly coincides with the peak tourist season in July and August. December through to April can be quite chilly but this coincides with the ski season that many visitors arrive in the city for. Late spring and early fall are probably the best times to visit if you want to reduce costs and avoid the hoards.

There is a wide program of events in Geneva scattered throughout the year. The Antigel Festival, which takes place in the first 2 weeks of February, brings music and dance events to unconventional venues across the canton. June's music festival sees a wide range of artists from a variety of genres perform in the city.

Visa

Switzerland is within the Schengen visa area. If travelling from outside Europe, you should check to see if you require a Schengen visa.

Money

The Swiss currency is the Swiss Franc (CHF). Prices in Switzerland are generally far higher than in other parts of Europe.