How much does it cost to travel to Geneva?
You should plan to spend around $210 (Sfr192) per day on your vacation in Geneva. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $52 (Sfr48) on meals
- $9.38 (Sfr8.57) on local transportation
- $289 (Sfr265) on hotels
A one week trip to Geneva for two people costs, on average, $2,934 (Sfr2,682). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Geneva has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Geneva expensive to visit?
Prices in Geneva are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.
Within Europe, which is known to be an expensive region, Geneva is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Inverness or La Spezia.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Geneva Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Geneva?
The average Geneva trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Geneva travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
Sfr265
($289)
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
Sfr8.57
($9)
|
|
Food 2
|
Sfr48
($52)
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
Sfr27
($30)
|
|
Tips and Handouts 1
|
Sfr1 -
3
($1 - 3)
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
Sfr10 -
30
($11 - 33)
|
Accommodation Budget in Geneva
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Geneva is $145 (Sfr132). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Geneva is $289 (Sfr265). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Geneva? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Geneva
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Geneva is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $9.38 (Sfr8.57) per person, per day, on local transportation in Geneva.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$9.38
Sfr8.57
How much does it cost to go to Geneva? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Geneva will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Geneva
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Geneva can vary, the average cost of food in Geneva is $52 (Sfr48) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Geneva should cost around $21 (Sfr19) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Geneva is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$52
Sfr48
Entertainment Budget in Geneva
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Geneva typically cost an average of $30 (Sfr27) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$30
Sfr27
Tips and Handouts Budget in Geneva
Calculated from travelers like you
Alcohol Budget in Geneva
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $22 (Sfr20) on alcoholic beverages in Geneva per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$22
Sfr20
Geneva On a Budget
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva is the second largest city in Switzerland and was previously the home for the United Nations Headquarters. The UN is now housed in New York City, but there is still a very strong presence in Geneva. Geneva is not known to be as energetic as some other European cities, but if you search it out, then you're sure to find some interesting places and lively nightlife. It's a very international city, in part because of the heavy UN presence, giving it an interesting feel. It is a French speaking city, and advertisements, signs, and television are all done in French.
Geneva's climate is temperate, oceanic. The winters are cool with frosts at night and occasional ice storms. Summers are comfortable and warm. Rain falls relatively evenly throughout the year. Swimming in the lake is a popular activity during the summer months and skiing in the nearby mountains is common during the winter months.
Sights
There are plenty of sights around town, many of which reflect the city's rich history and its current international feel. Make sure you make a point of visiting Cathedrale St-Pierre, Palais des Nations, Quartier des Grottes, and Monument Brunswick. Popular museums in the city include the International Museum of the Reformation, the Museum of the International Committee of the Red Cross, and Musee d'Art Moderne et Contemporain.
Neighborhoods
Geneva can be divided into two section, the Rive Gauche and the Rive Droite, or the left and right banks of the River Rhone and the lake. You'll find many of the international organizations as well as many of the international residents on the Rive Droite. Here you'll also find the airport and the main train station, in the Paquis district. On the Rive Gauche you'll find the old town, also called Vieille Ville. For shopping you can go to Rue du Rhone and Rue du Marche, which run parallel to each other. Eaux-Vives is a residential area with many shops, bars and restaurants. Carouge is also on this side of the river.
Activities
There are several interesting events throughout the year in Geneva. Of particular interest are the Bol D'Or Yacht Race in June, Fete de la Musique, also in June, Caves Ouvertes in May and Fete de Geneve in August.
Also take some time to explore the many parks around town. Notable parks include Parc des Bastions, Parc des Eaux Vives, Parc de la Grange, and Bois de la Batie.
Food and Dining
There is no shortage of restaurants of all types in Geneva. The city's international flair is apparent in the restaurant selection as well. Unfortunately, Geneva is probably the most expensive city to eat out in an already expensive country. If you're hoping to find some budget food options, head to the area around the train station or in the Paquis district where you will find most of the budget eating options. Also try near rue de l'Ecole de Medecine off of Plaine de Plainpalais. Cooking for yourself is also a good way to save money. The cheapest places to pick up food are the supermarkets in France where you can expect to pay about half of what you might in Geneva.
Also take note that food options may be limited on Sunday nights. Your best options will probably be near touristy areas around the train station. Plan ahead and have reservations in advance if you can.
Transportation
Geneva has a wonderful public transportation system and this is the recommended means of travel within the city. All visitors to the city can access a free travel pass which is good on all local Transport TPG. You can inquire about this at your hotel. Geneva is also an excellent city for cycling. If you have access to your own bicycle, that is ideal, but there are also several good and reasonably priced options to rent bicycles. The city itself is quite flat and has many facilities and amenities catering to cyclers.
The public transportation system includes buses, trams, mouette (boats) and a suburban train service. Trams are frequent and the lines have a hub at the Cornavin train station as well as Place Bel-Air in the old town. Suburban trains run to the outer areas of the city every half hour during the day and every hour in the evening until midnight. Most trains are used by commuters, but several stops, including Versoix and Coppet, may be of interest to tourists. The mouette service runs from the Paquis station near the Quai du Mont-Blanc to the other side of the lake near the Jardin anglais. Boats run every ten minutes.
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.