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Transfer Options from Geneva Airport to City Centre

Geneva Airport is located quite close to the city of Geneva, so luckily whichever transportation option you choose shouldn’t take too much time, to reach your destination. You have three options from the airport; bus, taxi or train. Taking a Geneva airport taxi is the quickest and most comfortable option. Be warned that taxis in Geneva are notoriously expensive. You can expect to pay around 35-45CHF (30-40€) for a 12 minute journey. Alternatively you can take a bus or train. The train is the fastest option taking only 6 minutes and the bus, 20 minutes (but there are multiple stops via this method). Both services are free for those arriving at the airport and going into downtown Geneva. Otherwise, standard tickets are 3.00CHF (2.60€).

Welcome Pickups offers meet and greet services and a friendly introduction to Geneva at the same price as a regular taxi. Click here to see the cost.

Comparison of the options

PRICE FOR 2PASSENGERS
OPTION PRICE DURATION AVAILABILITY
Taxi €40 12min 24/7
Bus €0 20min 05:00–02:20
Train €0 6min 05:00–01:00

How to get from Geneva Airport to city centre by taxi

Geneva airport taxis are the most comfortable way of transport for those who wish for an easy and quick transfer to the city centre after their flight. An abundance of taxis are available at the airport at a rank outside of the arrivals hall, or you are able to book them in advance. Most taxis in Geneva are black with a yellow ‘TAXI’ sign on the roof. The journey in the usual traffic via taxi, should only take around 12 minutes maximum.

Taxi fare from Geneva Airport to city centre

Taxis in Geneva, are the most famously expensive in Europe. Being metered, they are also subject to traffic or weather conditions. Having said this, you can expect an average cost of around 35-45CHF (30-40€) for the trip. Bear in mind that these prices can be affected by public holidays, Sundays and night-time rates, so you may end up paying even more than this.

Taxi prices
Day time
(05:00–24:00)
Night time
(00:00–05:00)
Duration
FROM GVA TO CITY CENTRE
€40
€45
12 min
FROM GVA TO HOTELS IN CITY
€40
€45
12 min
FROM GVA TO GENEVA FOUNTAIN
€40
€45
12 min
FROM GVA TO LAUSANNE
€200
€240
45 min
FROM GVA TO CHAMONIX
€300
€340
72 min
FROM GVA TO ANNECY
€141
€166
40 min
Cost

40€

Trip Duration

12 Min

*Rates may vary unless booked in advance.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

Taxis are available 24/7 at Geneva Airport.

Where do I get it from?

Geneva Airport taxi ranks are located outside of the arrivals hall near the arrivals parking area. There is clear signage within the airport to direct you.

Convenience

Taxis are always the best way of transport for anyone who is weary after a long flight. They are comfortable and safe as well as quick. However, it is quite an expensive option. For those who are on a budget or have time to spare, it is best advised to take public transport to the city.

Editor’s Note

Although every driver in Geneva is required to be able to speak English, there is not a guarantee that their English will be good enough to understand you. Always have your location address written down to avoid any confusion.

Useful Tips

You might find that there is a bit of a wait for taxis at the queue after large flight arrivals.
There may be an extra charge for excessive luggage or over-sized items.
Make sure that you are taking the taxi you want as there are a variety of options and some charge more than others for extra benefits (e.g. luxury vehicles).

How to get from Geneva Airport to city centre by bus

There are multiple bus lines operating from Geneva Airport both during day and night. The bus service in Geneva is good and operates very regularly. The only downside to the bus is that it will take a little longer than the other options due to the multiple stops it makes along the way. You can expect that the journey by bus will take around 20 minutes to reach the city centre. You can take buses 5, 10, 28, 57, V, 5+, 23, 56 or 66 to reach different areas around the city. To get to the central train station, take 5, 10 or 5+ (the 10 runs along the night line, also).

How much is the bus from Geneva Airport to city centre?

For those arriving at the airport and transiting to the city centre, the airport offers a free transfer ticket. Therefore, you don’t have to pay! However, if you for some reason cannot use the free ticket, the transfer will cost you 3CHF (2.60€).

Cost

Free

Trip Duration

20 Min

There can be up to a 15 minutes wait for the bus.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

Buses are available between 05:00 - 00:00 daily and the night bus service runs from 00:00 - 02:20. Buses leave around every 9-15 minutes.

Where do I get it from?

Bus stations for all services are available outside of the arrivals terminal, near the arrivals car park along the Route de L’Aeroport.

Convenience

Although bus services are free for the initial transfer, and cheap thereafter, there can be a long wait for the bus. As well as this, buses can be crowded, and due to the lack of a designated airport bus on the public service, there is a lack of space for bags. You also might need to change lines, depending on your final destination.

Editor’s Note

There is an early morning, more direct service that runs from the city via the airport called the Aerobus. It is not good to take it from the airport, as the lines don't do return journeys, but is good for an early morning flight. Check out the timetable above for more info!

Useful Tips

Tickets are valid for 80- minutes from the free ticket machines.
Make sure you hang on to your boarding pass, it is your validation for your free ticket.
There will likely be a bus service running to where you need to go, check the line information above to make sure you catch the right one - this might save you from having to transfer!
The best routes to take are the 5, 10 and 5+ as these all go to the central station, Gare Cornavin. From there you can take an array of trains, trams and buses to get to your final destination in the city.

How to get from Geneva Airport to city centre by train

Like the bus, taking the train is a great option for those who wish to save some cash on their holiday. Train services are quick and relatively frequent in Geneva, taking only 6 minutes to get to Gare Cornavin (central station) in the city centre. The only downside is that you are likely to need to switch to another method of transport to get to your final destination via this method.

How much is the train from the airport to city centre?

Luckily, like the bus services, the train qualifies for a free ticket for those who are arriving at the airport and taking the service to downtown Geneva. If you do not qualify, the service costs 3.00CHF (2.60€).

Cost

Free

Trip Duration

6 Min

There can be up to a 20 minutes waiting for the train.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

Trains are available between 05:00 and 01:00 leaving every 12-20 minutes.

Where do I get it from?

The train station is located in the airport shopping centre, just a short 5 minute walk from the arrivals hall. You’ll need to go downstairs to reach it.

Convenience

The train is a very convenient option for those who have time and wish to save some money – as the service is quick and free. The only downside is that the waiting time between trains can be long and trains can be crowded at peak hours.

Editor’s Note

If you need to get to Gare Routiere for an onward journey, simply take the train to Gare Cornavin and then walk 5 minutes or take one of the bus routes 8, 9 or 25 for a couple of stops to reach it.

Useful Tips

Free tickets for the service are available in the arrivals hall - baggage reclaim area.
Tickets purchased for public transport are valid for bus, train and tram.
Trains don't operate as long as bus services do, but are much quicker.

Welcome Pickups has a Net Safety Score of 99 of 100

We’ve introduced a metric indicating how safe travellers feel when using our services during the COVID-19 pandemic. After every ride, we ask each traveller to leave a review.

  • 20 minute gap between transfers

  • Regular Car Sanitisation

  • Contactless ride

  • Sanitiser in every car

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Frequently asked questions

How much is a taxi from Geneva Airport to city centre?

Taxis in Geneva are metered from the airport, and are known for being expensive. You can expect to pay around 40€ for a taxi to the city. However, this price can be affected by late nights, holidays and weekends.

Is public transport free in Geneva?

Public transport is free under certain conditions (youth hostels or campsite dwellers are entitled to a free pass) however, everyone arriving at the airport and transferring to the city centre via public transport is entitled to a free ticket, which can be claimed in the baggage reclaim area of the airport.

Does Geneva Airport have a train station?

Yes! Geneva Airport has both a train and bus station within the airport that you can take to get into the city centre with ease. The train station is located underground, next to the terminal.

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