Normal Geneva business hours are from 09:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday. Most businesses close on weekends, with tourist shops and department stores generally opening for reduced hours on Saturdays. Many larger department stores remain open until 20:00 on Thursday evenings.

Banks: 08:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday
Post Offices: 09:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday
Shops: 09:00 to 18:30, Monday to Saturday, closed on Sundays
Museums: 11:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday
Business Offices: 09:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday

Switzerland is one of the safest countries in the world for living and visiting, and Geneva is no exception, with safe roads and a very low incidence rate of violent crime. However, common sense should not be left at home when in busy tourist areas including bus and train stations, as petty thieves tend to congregate in these areas.

Only carry handbags with shoulder straps and never keep your wallet in a back pocket. While bum bags are touted by many as being the best place to carry your valuables, they are in fact an advertisement to a would-be thief that you have wealth. It is therefore recommended that you do not use a bum bag for carrying your valuables.

Electricity: 220V, 50Hz

Geneva has a plethora of top-quality clinics and hospitals that are in line with elsewhere in Switzerland. Pharmacies can be found in all areas and can be contacted out of hours if you have an emergency.

There are no endemic contagious diseases in Switzerland, although you should ensure that you are immunised against contagious diseases if you have visited a country that is known to have them at least two weeks prior to your arrival in Switzerland. If you are currently using any prescription medications, take them along with you as well as the generic name of the drug.

University Hospital of Geneva
Tel: +41 22 372 3311

Association des Pharmacies
Emergency telephone (after 23:00): 111 or 144

Ambulance: 144

Geneva is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world, with French, German, Italian and English all widely spoken, so you should have no problems conversing. There are three official languages: French, German and Italian, with French being the most widely spoken. A sizeable portion of the population speaks English including most of the foreigners, although tourists will be better received if they try to converse in French.

Switzerland is not part of the European Union and it therefore has not adopted the widely-used Euro. The Swiss Franc (CHF, SFr) is the unit of currency in Switzerland, with 100 centimes to one Franc and notes available in denominations of SFr 1,000, 500, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are issued in SFr 5, 2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, and 5 centimes.

The Euro is accepted at many establishments, although don’t expect a favourable exchange rate. Foreign exchange offices are available at Geneva-Cointrin Airport and at Gare Cornavin (the main train station) in the city centre. Bureaux de change stations tend to open longer than banks and are open on weekends, while Geneva also has automatic money exchange machines. Foreign exchange rates are listed at exchange booths, in banks and in major newspapers.

ATMs are widely available throughout Geneva, where CHF notes of up to 1,000 can be withdrawn using most major debit cards. Major credit cards may also be used to withdraw cash in Geneva and many hotels, restaurants and shops now accept them as form of payment for services and products. Travellers cheques are still the best way of carrying your cash and can be exchanged at banks and a growing number of shops, restaurants and hotels; banks traditionally offer the best rates on travellers cheques.

Visitors may bring in a number of items to Switzerland without attracting duty including personal effects such as clothing, sports equipment, musical instruments, cameras and camcorders. The limits for dutiable items are: two litres of alcohol (up to 15 per cent proof, or one litre over 15 per cent proof); 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, or 250 grams of tobacco. Those flying in from outside the European Union may bring in double the amount of cigarettes, cigars and tobacco.

Visitors on medication must declare medicines and ensure that they are for personal use only.

The Swiss are very proud of their country’s neutrality and cleanliness. People may be judged by the way they dress, where casual yet smart clothing should be worn unless you plan on dining at an exclusive restaurant, where more formal attire may be necessary.

Handshaking is the standard greeting in Geneva. There is a no smoking policy in place in Geneva in all public places including on pubic transport, although some restaurants provide smoking areas.

Wearing the right attire while dining in Switzerland is very important and you will be frowned upon if you appear too casual or messy. Dining in Geneva can be an all-evening affair, with many restaurants offering some form of entertainment to complement the food. It is always a good idea to address waiters and waitresses appropriately, as opposed to waving your hand. If you are dining at someone’s home, try everything offered to you and try not to leave any food on your plate as this is considered rude.

European Union citizens may enter Switzerland for up to 90 days on production of a national identity card or passport. North American, Australian and New Zealand citizens can also enter Switzerland for up to 90 days on production of a passport. Other nationalities should consult a Swiss embassy or consulate in their country of residence regarding visa requirements prior to travelling to Switzerland.

The Geneva Tourist Office is one of Switzerland’s best, with a wealth of useful information on Geneva. The tourist office is located in the main post office at rue du Mont-Blanc 18, CH – 1211, Geneva 1, Switzerland. You can telephone the office on: +41 22 909 7000, or send them an email at: info@geneve-tourisme.ch

In addition, the International Geneva Welcome Centre is open on weekdays and is located at 106, route de Ferney, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.