Geneva is a cosmopolitan French-speaking city at the southwestern tip of Lake Geneva, framed by the Alps and the Jura. Known for the Jet d'Eau, a compact medieval Old Town, Calvin's Reformation, the Red Cross and the United Nations, it is also a world capital of watchmaking, banking and science with CERN on its doorstep. Despite its high prices, Geneva rewards visitors with lake swimming, museums, fondue and easy day trips to France and the Alps.
Cultural orientation
Essential context for travellers.
Greet shopkeepers, hotel staff and bus drivers with 'Bonjour'; skipping the greeting is considered rude
Be punctual: Swiss trains, trams and business appointments run to the minute
Stand to the right on escalators and queue patiently at bakeries, post offices and bus stops
Keep noise down in residential areas after 10PM and on Sundays; quiet hours are enforced
Recycle: separate glass, PET, paper and general waste in public bins and use official yellow bags for rubbish
Respect the neutrality of international organisations: do not photograph delegates or enter off-limits zones
Sundays are quiet: most shops, supermarkets and many restaurants are closed, apart from stations and the airport
Always carry a passport or national ID to enter the UN, CERN and border areas such as France's Salève
Do's and don'ts
Quick guide to local norms.
Do
- Do say 'Bonjour' or 'Bonsoir' when entering shops and cafes
- Do pay with cards; contactless payment works almost everywhere, but carry some CHF for markets
- Do carry a refillable bottle: Geneva's hundreds of public fountains provide free drinking water
- Do validate or buy tickets before boarding trams and buses; inspectors check frequently
- Do use the free Geneva Transport Card given by your accommodation for travel
- Do look people in the eye when toasting and say 'Santé'
- Do cross only at green pedestrian lights; police fine jaywalkers
- Do bring a passport when crossing into France on day trips such as Annecy or the Salève
Don't
- Don't tailgate or push in queues
- Don't talk loudly on trams or trains
- Don't tip as much as in the US: CHF 1-5 or rounding up is fine
- Don't jaywalk or ride a bicycle on the pavement
- Don't photograph military sites, border posts or UN delegates
- Don't wash your car or mow lawns on Sundays, as local rules are strict
- Don't swim where signs forbid it, such as near the Jet d'Eau and ferry docks
- Don't drink cold water or tea with fondue, as locals believe it hardens the cheese
Etiquette by setting
How to navigate everyday situations.
- Greetings
- Handshake with eye contact for first meetings; three cheek kisses (left-right-left) among friends in Romandie; use 'vous' with strangers until invited to use 'tu'
- Dining
- Wait for the host to say 'Bon appétit' before starting; keep hands visible on the table; do not split fondue pots unevenly
- Dress
- Smart casual is the norm; swimwear only at the lake and baths; formal dress for UN visits and upscale restaurants
- Gifts
- Bring good chocolate, flowers (not chrysanthemums) or wine to a host's home; unwrap gifts when received
- Business
- Punctuality is essential; first meetings are formal, with business cards exchanged; French is preferred in Geneva, English in international firms
- Tipping
- Service is included; round up or add CHF 1-5
Useful phrases
A few words go a long way.
Bonjour
Hello / Good morning
bohn-ZHOOR
Bonsoir
Good evening
bohn-SWAHR
S'il vous plaît
Please
seel voo PLEH
Merci beaucoup
Thank you very much
mehr-SEE boh-KOO
Excusez-moi
Excuse me / Sorry
ex-kew-ZAY mwah
Parlez-vous anglais ?
Do you speak English?
par-lay voo ahn-GLAY
Au revoir
Goodbye
oh ruh-VWAHR
L'addition, s'il vous plaît
The bill, please
lah-dee-SYOHN seel voo PLEH
Santé !
Cheers!
sahn-TAY
Où est la gare ?
Where is the station?
oo eh lah GAHR
Je voudrais une table pour deux
I would like a table for two
zhuh voo-DRAY ewn TAH-bluh poor DUH
Septante / nonante
Seventy / ninety (Swiss usage)
sep-TAHNT / noh-NAHNT
Religion & spirituality
Understanding faith in Geneva.
Main: Historically Protestant (Reformed) and today religiously diverse, with Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Orthodox, Jewish and non-religious communities reflecting international Geneva
Sites: Cathédrale Saint-Pierre (Reformed), Basilique Notre-Dame (Catholic, Rue des Alpes 1), the Russian Orthodox Church (Rue Toepffer 9), Geneva Mosque (Petit-Saconnex) and the Great Synagogue (Place de la Synagogue)
Holy Days: Easter, Ascension, Whit Monday, 1 August (Swiss National Day), Jeûne genevois (Thursday after the first Sunday of September) and Christmas Day are public holidays when shops close
Conversations: Religion is a private matter; avoid contentious debate and always dress modestly in places of worship