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Getting around
You'll also find information at this WMO webpage.
Free public transport
It is very easy to get around the city by using the united network of public transport UNIRESO. Only one single ticket is required to travel by train, tram, bus or boat throughout the « Tout Genève » zone of the Geneva Public Transport system. Taking public transport from the Geneva Airport is FREE. You can pick up a free UNIRESO ticket from a machine located in the baggage claim area just before the exit doors into the Arrivals hall. The ticket is valid for 80 minutes. If you stay in a hotel or youth hostel you will receive upon arrival a "Geneva Transport Card" free of charge. This personal and non-transferable card permits unlimited travel on Geneva's public transport network (UNIRESO: bus (TPG), train (CFF) and boat (Mouettes Genevoises)) for the full duration of your stay.
To get to Geneva City Centre from the airport
Train: It takes only 6 minutes from the Airport to Geneva city centre (Gare Cornavin central station) by train (every 12 minutes during rush hour). The airport railway station has direct access to the airport Check-in and Arrival levels. All trains stop at Gare Cornavin. Do not forget to pick up the free public transport ticket from the baggage hall (see above).
Taxi: If you prefer, you can take a taxi outside the Arrivals Hall (Ground floor). Taxi fares from the airport to downtown range from CHF 35 to 45 depending on traffic.
To get to WMO building from the airport
Train: From the airport, take the train to Gare Cornavin and then take the local train in the direction of "Coppet” to “Genève-Sécheron” station located right next to WMO. The ride from Gare Cornavin to "Genève-Sécheron" takes 2 minutes and leaves every 15 or every 30 minutes (depending on the time of the day) from platform 1.
Bus: Another option to get to WMO from the airport is to take Bus n° 28. The stop is situated outside the Terminal Building (first floor) to the left. The bus goes all the way to Jardin Botanique (last stop) in front of WMO and takes 20 minutes.
Taxi: If you prefer, you can take a taxi outside the Arrivals Hall (Ground floor). A one-way Taxi fare from the airport to WMO should not exceed CHF 45.
To get to WMO from town
Bus lines n° 1, 11, and 25 heading in the direction of “Jardin Botanique” all drop you off in front of the WMO building (stop “Jardin Botanique”). A map of the bus/tram network can be obtained free of charge from the UNIRESO Information Centre at Cornavin Station or found online on the TPG website (http://tpg.ch).
Accommodation
Several hotels, listed below, are in walking distance from the WMO building. Hotel prices vary, so one must check upon reservation. Otherwise, one can find hotels on booking.com and hotels.com. There are some AirBnB flats in walking distance, which are sometimes cheaper than the Geneva hotels.
The train station Genève-Sécheron is located just next to WMO. The local train that stops here calls at several stations between Geneva and Coppet, so one can also look for hotels in places like Chambésy, Bellevue, Genthod, Versoix, Pont-Céard, Mies, Tannay and Coppet. Train info can be found at http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html
Hôtel Eden: Rue de Lausanne 135, 1202 Geneva. 300 m, 4 min. walk.
Hôtel Mon Repos: Rue de Lausanne 131, 1202 Geneva. 350 m, 4 min. walk.
Hotel Drake-Longchamp: Rue Butini 7, Paquis, 1202 Geneva. 1.1 km, 14 min. walk.
Hotel Montbrillant: Rue de Montbrillant 2, Saint-Gervais / des Grottes, 1201 Geneva. 1.7 km, 22 min. walk.
Ibis Genève Centre Nations: Rue du Grand Pré 33-35, Saint-Gervais / des Grottes, 1201 Geneva. 1.8 km, 24 min. walk
Hotel Les Nations: Rue du Grand Pré 62, Petit-Saconnex / Servette, 1202 Geneva. 1.8 km, 24 min. walk.
Electricity
The electric current used throughout Switzerland is 230 Volts AC, 50 cycles (continental European standard). However, Switzerland has unique wall outlets. Please make sure to bring the appropriate plug adaptor for your laptop computer and other electronic devices.
There is limited compatibility with other continental European plugs: the standard continental type hexagonal plugs with two round pins (Euroconnectors, pin distance 19 mm [3/4 inch], pin diameter 4.0 mm [1/6 inch]), applied for many electrical travel products, may be used without problems. Please note that German / French / Austrian plugs with thick pins (diameter 4.8 mm [1/5 inch]) and Italian plugs with three thin pins in a row are not compatible with Swiss wall outlets, despite of the equal distance of their two main pins.
Money and banking
The currency in Switzerland is the Swiss franc (CHF). Euros are sometimes accepted. There are numerous ATMs at the airport.
The nearest bank to WMO is UBS Bank located inside the World Trade Organization just steps from WMO. You will need to show your passport in order to enter the building. Business hours: Monday to Friday, 9am–12:15pm and 1:30–3:30pm
Useful links
Geneva Tourism http://www.geneve-tourisme.ch
Weather http://www.meteoschweiz.admin.ch/web/en/weather.html
Bus Schedule http://www.tpg.ch
Train Schedule http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/en/reisen.htm
Geneva Airport http://www.gva.ch
