Getting Into Geneva
By Plane
Geneva is serviced by a large airport that is nestled on the Swiss-French border and which has both Swiss and French customs zones. Geneva Cointrin International Airport, which sees well over ten million passengers annually, is one of only a few airports that caters to passengers entering and exiting more than one country (Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg is the other, which serves Switzerland, France and Germany). Because of Geneva Cointrin's border complexity, there are Swiss and French sectors, each with their own baggage carousels, customs areas and stores. It is possible to cross through the border into the opposite section to that which you arrive in, though this can be more hassle than it's worth.
Geneva Cointrin is a major hub for easyJet and Flybaboo airlines, though it also receives numerous flights from Air France, Swiss International and Lufthansa. Routes from the United Kingdom are flown by British Airways, Flybe, bmiBaby, Jet2.com, Flyglobespan, Thomsonfly and Saudi Arabian Airlines.
Although Geneva Cointrin has both French and Swiss sectors, the default sector for passengers to disembark from (unless otherwise indicated on the ticket) is the Swiss area. If you prefer to go through the French customs area and straight into France but have landed in the Swiss sector, you will have to arrange with airport authorities to have your baggage brought through to the French luggage carousels.
Car hire from the airport is relatively straight forward despite the dual sectors - Avis, Hertz, National/Citer and Europcar are located on both sides of the airport, whilst Budget, Sixt and Alamo are only on the Swiss side. If you have organized to pick up (or drop off) your car from the opposite sector to the one you land in, you will have to show rental documentation at customs to be allowed through to the other side.
Conversely, if you want to travel into Geneva (or some of the surrounding French suburbs) without having to hire a car, the airport now offers a free public transport ticket that is valid for 80 minutes after collection. Run by the Unireso organization, the tickets are valid for use on trains, boats, trams and buses.
By Train
Geneva is serviced by a number of railway companies and is on many major European routes. The main station, Gare de Cornavin, is close to the centre of Geneva and is only a few streets away from the banks of Lake Geneva. The national railway company in Switzerland, Swiss Federal Railway or SBB-CFF-FFS, runs numerous routes throughout the country as well as into France and Italy. The Cisalpine Railway connects Switzerland to Italy (under the Alps) and to Milan and Venice. There are also numerous High Speed (TGV) train connections to other European cities, such as Paris.
By Bus
Due to Geneva's proximity to the French border there are a number of cross-border bus routes that service the wider region. That said, it is probably easiest to get to Geneva using the bus by taking inter-city services within Switzerland, for example from Lausanne, Bern, Basel or Zurich. Private coach companies also run a number of tours through Geneva.
By Boat/Ferry
Located as it is on the banks of Lake Geneva, one of the most enjoyable ways to get to Geneva from anywhere else is by boat or ferry. Known as 'mouettes', these boats often take the form of old steam paddle-boats and will cruise at speeds that are perfect for taking photos of the beautiful surrounds. Connections from Thonon-les-Bains (France), Lausanne (Switzerland) and Montreux (Switzerland) are possible. Localised ferry connections also run regularly, as do river cruises up the Rhône.
By Car
Switzerland is a remarkably easy country to drive around, though it is important to remember that if you are using your own vehicle you will have to obtain a customs sticker at the border before you are legally allowed to use Swiss roads. These customs stickers are relatively inexpensive and can be purchased from the customs offices stationed on the major roads leading into Switzerland. The major motorway in Switzerland, the A1, connects Geneva with Lausanne, Bern, Zurich and the Austrian border.
