New to Geneva?
We have cooked up a survival guide for you to help you settling in!
If you need more personalised guidance, make sure to check out our Buddy System program!
If you need more personalised guidance, make sure to check out our Buddy System program!
We now have a Facebook group dedicated to housing. If you still haven't found anything, you might be lucky there.
Ask anyone you like,it's hard to find a place to stay in Geneva. The prices are terrifying and the availables options are scarce.
Unfortunately, ESN Geneva can't help you directly because we don't have any kind of residence available for exchange students at out disposition. It's difficult even for local students of l'Université de Genève to find a place...
You can start to look for accomodation on the following websites:
Don't wait until the last minute, start looking as soon as you know you're coming to Geneva !!!
Many people come to Geneva to do their internships at International Organisations, which makes it even harder to find a room.
Ask anyone you like,it's hard to find a place to stay in Geneva. The prices are terrifying and the availables options are scarce.
Unfortunately, ESN Geneva can't help you directly because we don't have any kind of residence available for exchange students at out disposition. It's difficult even for local students of l'Université de Genève to find a place...
You can start to look for accomodation on the following websites:
- L'office du tourisme de Genève has a list of student residences.
- Le Bureau des logements de l'Université de Genève can also help you.
Don't wait until the last minute, start looking as soon as you know you're coming to Geneva !!!
Many people come to Geneva to do their internships at International Organisations, which makes it even harder to find a room.
Travelling in Geneva
Public transportation (TPG) : the best way to travel in the canton of Geneva if you don’t feel like walking or biking (because of the weather, the distance, a hangover…) is using public transportation. Transports Publics Genevois (TPG) hopefully have a wide network of buses, trams and boats (“mouettes”) in the whole canton. You can get a single, daily, monthly or yearly pass, depending on how often you plan to use it.
Taxi : the more expensive option, but still better than being stranded somewhere in the city in the middle of the night. It’s better to save TaxiPhone or Taxis202 numbers in case you’re staying out late.
Travelling in Switzerland
There’s no better way to explore Switzerland than by train. You can get almost anywhere (even in that small village hidden in the mountains with 22 inhabitants). The tickets are more expensive than in other countries, but there are a few tricks to save a bit of money.
Public transportation (TPG) : the best way to travel in the canton of Geneva if you don’t feel like walking or biking (because of the weather, the distance, a hangover…) is using public transportation. Transports Publics Genevois (TPG) hopefully have a wide network of buses, trams and boats (“mouettes”) in the whole canton. You can get a single, daily, monthly or yearly pass, depending on how often you plan to use it.
Taxi : the more expensive option, but still better than being stranded somewhere in the city in the middle of the night. It’s better to save TaxiPhone or Taxis202 numbers in case you’re staying out late.
Travelling in Switzerland
There’s no better way to explore Switzerland than by train. You can get almost anywhere (even in that small village hidden in the mountains with 22 inhabitants). The tickets are more expensive than in other countries, but there are a few tricks to save a bit of money.
- Demi-tarif: 50% off any trip, as well as discounts on city public transportation and some boat trips. It costs 185 CHF a year.
- Demi-tarif + voie 7: if you’re under 25, this extra-pass will allow you to travel for free between 7pm and 5am on any route. You need to buy it together with “demi-tarif”, which will cost 314 CHF altogether.
- Carte journalière: this daily card will allow you to travel anywhere in Switzerland for a whole day for 40 CHF. Reservation is necessary!
- Billets dégriffés (soldés): discounted tickets for some routes and hours. Reservation is necessary and you can’t get your money back if you don’t go.
What better way to get to know the city, or simply interesting way to pass a rainy day, than to visit one of its many museums and cultural attractions? The city offers many options to whoever may be interested, and so do the CERN and the UN. Here are some pieces of information that you could use if interested.
United Nations
10 CHF for University students
Open Monday to Friday:
Mornings: 10 a.m. to 12 noon (tours start at 10:30 a.m. and 12:00 noon)
Afternoons: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. (tours start at 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.)
CERNEvery visit at the CERN is free, but as you will read below, the LHC and the other operating areas of the CERN can be seen only with an appointment/ reservation.
Opening hours: 10am to 5pm
Closed on Sundays
Comment of an ESN committee member: This is my favourite place in Geneva, or well, close to it. If you like science, or even if you don’t it’s a great place with an amazing atmosphere. In the globe you will have the chance to see a presentation called “Universe of Particles” and the whole place is very interactive. And if like me you still don’t know what Antimatter is, this is still, definitely, the place for you.
Red Cross Musem7 CHF for < 22 y.o., otherwise 15 CHF
Opening hours : 10am to 5pm (Nov-Mar), 10am to 6pm (Apr-Oct)
Closed on Monday
Ariana Museum (Glass and pottery)Free entrance for the permanent exhibition, 6 CHF for the temporary exhibition
Opening hours : 10am to 6pm
Closed on Monday
Musée international de la Réforme (International Museum of the Reformation)8 CHF for students
Opening hours : 10am to 5pm
Closed on Monday
Musée d’Art et d’Histoire (MAH)
Free entrance
Opening hours : 11am to 6pm
Closed on Monday
Musée d’ethnographie (MEG)Free entrance for the permanent exhibition
Opening Hours : 11am to 6pm
Closed on Monday
Natural History MuseumFree entrance
Opening hours : 10am to 17pm
Closed on Monday
Comments of a member of ESN: I love this museum, I’ve been there four times already, if you want to learn more about the fauna and the flora of the area, you must visit the museum! But most importantly, they have a beautiful two-headed turtle, you can’t miss it!
Musée d’histoire des sciencesFree entrance
Opening hours : 10am to 5pm
Closed on Tuesday
Musée RathBetween 10 CHF and 20 CHF depending on the exhibition
Opening hours : 11am to 6pm
Closed on Monday
Maison TavelFree entrance
Opening Hours: 11am to 6pm
Closed on Monday
MAMCO (Modern and Contemporary Art)Free entrance for students
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Friday 12pm to 6pm
Saturday & Sunday 11am to 6pm
United Nations
10 CHF for University students
Open Monday to Friday:
Mornings: 10 a.m. to 12 noon (tours start at 10:30 a.m. and 12:00 noon)
Afternoons: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. (tours start at 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.)
CERNEvery visit at the CERN is free, but as you will read below, the LHC and the other operating areas of the CERN can be seen only with an appointment/ reservation.
Opening hours: 10am to 5pm
Closed on Sundays
Comment of an ESN committee member: This is my favourite place in Geneva, or well, close to it. If you like science, or even if you don’t it’s a great place with an amazing atmosphere. In the globe you will have the chance to see a presentation called “Universe of Particles” and the whole place is very interactive. And if like me you still don’t know what Antimatter is, this is still, definitely, the place for you.
Red Cross Musem7 CHF for < 22 y.o., otherwise 15 CHF
Opening hours : 10am to 5pm (Nov-Mar), 10am to 6pm (Apr-Oct)
Closed on Monday
Ariana Museum (Glass and pottery)Free entrance for the permanent exhibition, 6 CHF for the temporary exhibition
Opening hours : 10am to 6pm
Closed on Monday
Musée international de la Réforme (International Museum of the Reformation)8 CHF for students
Opening hours : 10am to 5pm
Closed on Monday
Musée d’Art et d’Histoire (MAH)
Free entrance
Opening hours : 11am to 6pm
Closed on Monday
Musée d’ethnographie (MEG)Free entrance for the permanent exhibition
Opening Hours : 11am to 6pm
Closed on Monday
Natural History MuseumFree entrance
Opening hours : 10am to 17pm
Closed on Monday
Comments of a member of ESN: I love this museum, I’ve been there four times already, if you want to learn more about the fauna and the flora of the area, you must visit the museum! But most importantly, they have a beautiful two-headed turtle, you can’t miss it!
Musée d’histoire des sciencesFree entrance
Opening hours : 10am to 5pm
Closed on Tuesday
Musée RathBetween 10 CHF and 20 CHF depending on the exhibition
Opening hours : 11am to 6pm
Closed on Monday
Maison TavelFree entrance
Opening Hours: 11am to 6pm
Closed on Monday
MAMCO (Modern and Contemporary Art)Free entrance for students
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Friday 12pm to 6pm
Saturday & Sunday 11am to 6pm
Sports à l'Université de Genève: le Bureau des Sports de l'UNIGE propose un grand nombre d'activités sportives gratuitement ou à des prix réduits pour les étudiants.
Randonnée à Salève: une randonnée gratuite a lieu chaque dimanche à 10 heures, mais vous pouvez visiter le Salève en téléphérique pour 7,60 euros.
Ski et snowboard: si vous aimez le ski ou le snowboard, vous aurez plein de possibilités pour en profiter en Suisse
1. Bureau des Sports de l'UNIGE
Samedi de ski: une sortie de ski est organisée chaque samedi (entre 18 janvier et 15 mars 2014). Destinations: Avoriaz, Morzine, Chamonix-Les Houches et Les Contamines. Prix: 60 francs pour les étudiants (le transport, l'abonnement et le cours de ski ou de snwboard compris dans le tarif). Inscription: dès lundi avant la sortie pour les étudiants, le nombre de places étant limité, inscrivez-vous au plus tôt! Détails: www.sports.unige.ch/index.php/sports/64-ski-et-snowboard
Camps de ski: trois camps de ski sont organisés en hiver (à Zermatt, à Crans-Montana et à St. Moritz). Détails: www.sports.unige.ch/index.php/sports/64-ski-et-snowboard
2. Ski Club International de Genève
Le SCIG organise chaque samedi et dimanche (entre 7 décembre 2013 et 30 mars 2014) des sorties pour skier. Le prix varie selon la station choisie et il est également possible de suivre les cours de ski.
3. Gare routière
Il est possible de prendre le bus et partir dans différentes stations en France ou en Italie. Détails: 212.203.98.98/WD160AWP/WD160AWP.EXE/CONNECT/GRweb
4. Snow'n'rail
L'offre Snow'n'rail comprend un billet de train et un abonnement pour une ou plusieurs journées dans différentes stations de ski suisses.
Randonnée à Salève: une randonnée gratuite a lieu chaque dimanche à 10 heures, mais vous pouvez visiter le Salève en téléphérique pour 7,60 euros.
Ski et snowboard: si vous aimez le ski ou le snowboard, vous aurez plein de possibilités pour en profiter en Suisse
1. Bureau des Sports de l'UNIGE
Samedi de ski: une sortie de ski est organisée chaque samedi (entre 18 janvier et 15 mars 2014). Destinations: Avoriaz, Morzine, Chamonix-Les Houches et Les Contamines. Prix: 60 francs pour les étudiants (le transport, l'abonnement et le cours de ski ou de snwboard compris dans le tarif). Inscription: dès lundi avant la sortie pour les étudiants, le nombre de places étant limité, inscrivez-vous au plus tôt! Détails: www.sports.unige.ch/index.php/sports/64-ski-et-snowboard
Camps de ski: trois camps de ski sont organisés en hiver (à Zermatt, à Crans-Montana et à St. Moritz). Détails: www.sports.unige.ch/index.php/sports/64-ski-et-snowboard
2. Ski Club International de Genève
Le SCIG organise chaque samedi et dimanche (entre 7 décembre 2013 et 30 mars 2014) des sorties pour skier. Le prix varie selon la station choisie et il est également possible de suivre les cours de ski.
3. Gare routière
Il est possible de prendre le bus et partir dans différentes stations en France ou en Italie. Détails: 212.203.98.98/WD160AWP/WD160AWP.EXE/CONNECT/GRweb
4. Snow'n'rail
L'offre Snow'n'rail comprend un billet de train et un abonnement pour une ou plusieurs journées dans différentes stations de ski suisses.
Going out in Geneva
There are nerve centers in Geneva that attract students from all over the city on weekends. Knowing these places will allow you to live your Geneva experience as if you had always lived in Geneva!
The bars:
Il y a à Genève des centres névralgiques qui attirent les étudiants de toute la ville les week-ends. Connaître ces endroits te permettra de vivre ton expérience genevoise comme si tu avais toujours vécu à Genève !
The clubs:
There are clubs in Geneva, but it is also interesting to go out for cheap. And yes, it is possible!
The Restaurants:
For a little Fondue - a Swiss specialty - you can taste it everywhere in Geneva.
There are nerve centers in Geneva that attract students from all over the city on weekends. Knowing these places will allow you to live your Geneva experience as if you had always lived in Geneva!
The bars:
Il y a à Genève des centres névralgiques qui attirent les étudiants de toute la ville les week-ends. Connaître ces endroits te permettra de vivre ton expérience genevoise comme si tu avais toujours vécu à Genève !
- There is a street that you will not be able to avoid during your stay! This is the famous Rue de l'Ecole de Médecine. Also called REM, EDM or Rue de la Soif, it contains Geneva's most popular bars and is crowded on week-end evenings.
- But there are other trendy places in Geneva. La Petite Reine near the train station and the Stable (a cheap alternative bar), to name just two.
The clubs:
There are clubs in Geneva, but it is also interesting to go out for cheap. And yes, it is possible!
- L'Usine is an alternative place, self-managed, where concerts are held. There is also a bar for quieter evenings.
- The website of La Décadanse lists daily events in Geneva. There is something for everyone's taste and mood.
The Restaurants:
For a little Fondue - a Swiss specialty - you can taste it everywhere in Geneva.
- But a nice place to eat fondue is Les Bains de Paquis and its buvette on Lake Geneva - it's better to book in advance! The Bains de Paquis also offer daily and evening meals for good prices (around 14 swiss francs). And in winter, they also offer a hamam and a sauna ...
