Geneva Limousine Service

Limousine service at Geneva Airport: how your pick-up works

Geneva Airport lies north-west of the city, next to the Palexpo exhibition centre and a few minutes from the Nations district. It is Switzerland’s second-largest airport and the gateway to the whole region: Geneva, the Lake Geneva shore, Haute-Savoie, Valais and the major ski areas of the Alps. Here is how a limousine journey to or from the airport works, step by step.

When your flight lands

After landing, you go through passport control if your flight requires it, collect your luggage and walk out into the public arrivals hall. Your chauffeur is waiting there at the time shown in your confirmation. He helps with your suitcases, walks you to the vehicle and checks the destination address with you before setting off.

To make everything run smoothly, give your flight number when you book and choose your flight’s scheduled arrival time as the pick-up time. If your flight is delayed, or if you are held up at passport control or at the baggage belt, simply send us a WhatsApp message on +41 78 871 71 33: we let your chauffeur know.

Swiss sector or French sector

Geneva Airport has an unusual feature: it has a Swiss sector and a French sector. Unless you tell us otherwise, the pick-up takes place in the arrivals hall of the Swiss sector, which is used by the great majority of flights. If you are arriving through the French sector, say so in the note on your booking so that the chauffeur waits on the right side.

When you are flying out of Geneva

For a departing flight, the chauffeur collects you from your hotel, your home or your office, loads your luggage and drops you in front of the departures terminal. From the centre of Geneva the drive usually takes about a quarter of an hour, longer at rush hour or during a major trade fair at Palexpo.

To choose the pick-up time, start from the time you need to be at the airport, in other words the time your airline recommends, then add the journey time and a safety margin. If in doubt, ask us for advice: we know the usual journey times for each hour and each day of the week.

Business aviation

Geneva Airport has a large business aviation area, with its own terminals, separate from the main terminal. We also pick up and drop off there. Give the name of the terminal or the operator in your booking, together with the aircraft’s scheduled arrival or departure time.

From the airport to your destination

From the airport, we drive you wherever you wish: a hotel in the city centre or on the lakeside, a private address, a company’s head office, an international organisation, a clinic, a school or a railway station. We also drive directly from the airport to other Swiss cities, to neighbouring France and to the ski resorts, without going through the centre of Geneva.

If you cannot find your chauffeur

It rarely happens, but an arrivals hall can be very busy. Do not leave the hall: call us or message us on WhatsApp and we will put you in touch with your chauffeur straight away. Save our number in your contacts before you travel.

Geneva limousine service for companies, hotels and organisations

Geneva is a city of business and diplomacy. It is home to banks, trading companies, watchmakers, the head offices of international companies and law firms, as well as the United Nations Office and many international organisations. For all of them, a reliable limousine service is part of everyday organisation.

Welcoming a client or a colleague

When you are hosting someone, their first contact with Geneva is often at the airport. By booking a limousine in your guest’s name, you spare them the trouble of finding their way and you know what time they will arrive. Simply give us their name, their flight number and the address to drive them to. You receive the confirmation and can forward it to them.

A day of meetings

For a busy day, hourly hire is the simplest option. The chauffeur collects you in the morning, drives you from one meeting to the next and waits for you at each stop. You can leave your things in the car, prepare your next meeting on the way and change the programme during the day.

Delegations, seminars and conferences

For a group, we arrange several vehicles at once: sedans for executives, vans for teams, and a minibus on request for larger groups. Send us the list of arrivals with the flight numbers and we allocate the passengers to the vehicles. The same applies to seminars, conferences and trade fairs held at Palexpo or in the city’s hotels.

Roadshows

On a roadshow, time is short: several meetings on the same day, sometimes in several cities. A chauffeur-driven car at your disposal lets you move from one meeting to the next in Geneva and then continue to Lausanne or Zurich, without depending on train timetables or looking for a taxi at every stop.

Hotels and concierge services

Hotels and concierge services can book on behalf of their guests: a transfer on arrival and departure, a car for the day, an excursion in the region. The price is known in advance and the booking is confirmed in writing, so the guest can be informed immediately.

International organisations and diplomatic missions

The Nations district is only a few minutes from the airport. For delegates, international civil servants and their guests, we provide journeys between the airport, hotels, organisations and residences, with the punctuality and discretion these trips call for.

Invoicing

On request, we issue an invoice in the name of your company or organisation. Simply give the billing details in the note on your booking, or write to us after booking. If you have regular needs, contact us: we will agree together on the simplest way to proceed.

Districts and places in Geneva where we pick up and drop off

Our chauffeurs drive all over Geneva every day. Here are the districts and places our customers ask for most often. Whatever your address, you simply enter it in the booking form.

The Nations district

North of the city centre, a few minutes from the airport, this district is home to the Palais des Nations, the European headquarters of the United Nations, and to many international organisations, including the World Health Organization, the World Trade Organization, the International Labour Organization, the World Intellectual Property Organization, the International Telecommunication Union and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Access to some buildings is controlled: tell us which entrance you have been asked to use.

The right bank and the lakeside

Many of Geneva’s large hotels stand along the lake on the right bank, between the Mont-Blanc bridge and the Nations district, facing the Jet d’Eau. Cornavin railway station and the Pâquis district are close by. From here, the airport is usually about a quarter of an hour away outside rush hour.

The left bank, the Old Town and the shopping streets

On the other side of the lake are the Old Town, with St Peter’s Cathedral, the banking district and the main shopping streets, followed by Eaux-Vives and its lakeside parks. Some streets in the Old Town are narrow or reserved for pedestrians: the chauffeur drops you as close as possible to your address.

Carouge, Champel and Cologny

Carouge, south of the centre, is known for its squares, craft workshops and restaurants. Champel is a residential district close to the university hospitals. Cologny, on the left bank, looks down over the lake from its hillside. We pick up from private addresses in all these areas.

Meyrin, the airport and Palexpo

To the north-west are the airport, the Palexpo exhibition and conference centre and the Arena concert hall, as well as Meyrin, where CERN, the European laboratory for particle physics, has its main site. On trade-fair and concert days, allow a margin for traffic.

Stations, clinics and schools

We also drive to and from Cornavin station and the other stations in the canton, the hospitals and private clinics, and the international schools. For a medical appointment or a school run, give us the exact time you need to arrive: we plan the pick-up accordingly.

Reaching the ski resorts by limousine from Geneva

Geneva Airport is one of the most convenient airports for reaching the Alps. In winter, a large share of our journeys link the airport with French and Swiss resorts. A private transfer avoids changing transport with suitcases and skis: you get into the car outside the airport and get out in front of your hotel or chalet.

The table below shows the usual distance and journey time to a selection of resorts. In winter, the actual time depends a great deal on the weather, the state of the roads and the traffic, particularly on Saturdays during the school holidays.

Which vehicle for a ski trip?

For two or three people with suitcases, a sedan is enough if you hire your equipment in the resort. As soon as you bring your own skis, or from four people upwards, choose the van: it carries up to seven passengers and their luggage. In the note on your booking, give the number of ski or snowboard bags so that we can prepare the loading.

Zermatt, a car-free resort

Cars are not allowed in Zermatt. The road ends at Täsch, where a shuttle train covers the last few kilometres. Your chauffeur drops you in Täsch, as close as possible to where the shuttles leave. Allow for this last stage in your timetable, on the way there and on the way back.

Winter Saturdays

On Saturdays in February, most holidaymakers arrive and leave at the same time. The roads up to the resorts are then very busy and a journey can take much longer than usual. If you have a return flight on a Saturday, allow a comfortable margin: we are happy to advise you on what time to leave the resort.

Geneva and its region by limousine: ideas for journeys and day trips

Geneva is a good base for discovering French-speaking Switzerland and neighbouring France. With a car and a chauffeur at your disposal, you plan your day as you please, without worrying about the road, parking or train timetables. Here are a few ideas to adapt to your own interests.

A tour of the city

In a few hours, hourly hire lets you see the essentials of Geneva: the harbour and the Jet d’Eau fountain, the Old Town and St Peter’s Cathedral, the Nations district with the Palais des Nations, the lakeside parks, and Carouge with its Italian-inspired streets. The chauffeur drops you as close as possible to each stop and waits while you visit.

Lausanne, Vevey and Montreux

The Swiss shore of the lake is easy to explore in a day. Lausanne, about 63 km away, is home to the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee and to the Olympic Museum. Further on, the road runs through the terraced vineyards of Lavaux, a UNESCO World Heritage site, before reaching Vevey and then Montreux, about 95 km from Geneva. Just beyond Montreux, Chillon Castle, on the water’s edge, is one of the most visited monuments in Switzerland.

Gruyères and the Fribourg countryside

The small medieval town of Gruyères, with its castle, lies in the canton of Fribourg, at the foot of the Pre-Alps. The region is known for its cheese and its chocolate. It is a pleasant outing in any season and can be combined with a stop in Vevey or Montreux on the way back.

Annecy and its lake

On the French side, Annecy is about 45 km from Geneva. Its old town criss-crossed by canals and its lake surrounded by mountains make it one of the most popular day trips. Allow half a day for the town, or a full day if you drive around the lake.

Chamonix and Mont Blanc

Chamonix is about 88 km from Geneva, around an hour and a quarter by road in normal conditions. In summer and winter alike, people come for the view of Mont Blanc, the Aiguille du Midi cable car and the Montenvers railway, which leads to the Mer de Glace glacier. Remember to book your lift tickets in advance in high season and to bring warm clothes, even in summer: it is cold at altitude.

Yvoire and Évian

On the French shore of the lake, the medieval village of Yvoire and the spa town of Évian-les-Bains, about 45 km from Geneva, are easy to visit on the same day. It is a relaxed outing, popular with visitors who want to see the lake from another angle.

A few tips for a day trip

• • Book hourly hire for the whole day rather than two separate journeys: you stay free to set your own timetable.
• • Carry an identity document for each passenger if you are crossing into France.
• • Tell us what you would like to see: we help you estimate how long you will need.
• • For a group of more than three people, choose the van.

Weddings, evenings out and special occasions in Geneva

A chauffeur-driven limousine is not only for business trips. It is also there for the moments that matter: a wedding, a birthday, a proposal, an evening at the opera, a dinner by the lake. On those days nobody wants to drive, look for a parking space or wonder how to get home.

On the wedding day

For a wedding, the car takes the couple from home to the town hall, then to the ceremony venue and on to the reception. The first-class sedan suits the bride and groom well; a van can carry the witnesses, the parents or guests who have travelled a long way. Give us the programme for the day, with the addresses and the times: we allow the time needed between each stage, including the photographs. We do not supply floral decoration for the vehicle, but your florist is welcome to fit it before departure if you wish: mention it when you book.

A carefree evening

For a dinner, a show or an evening with friends, you can book an outward and a return journey, or keep the car at your disposal for a few hours. The chauffeur drops you at the entrance and comes back for you at the agreed time. If the evening runs late, let us know: we adjust the return time wherever possible.

Guests arriving from abroad

When relatives travel a long way for a family celebration, meeting them at the airport with a car is a gesture they appreciate. Send us the list of flights: we organise the pick-ups and, if several guests land at similar times, we group them in a van.

Birthdays and surprises

Planning a surprise? Say so in the note on your booking. The chauffeur arrives at the agreed address and time without giving away the destination. For a birthday, a meal out or a weekend in the mountains, it is a simple way to start the celebration from the front door.

Preparing a special occasion

• • Book as soon as the date is fixed, especially for a Saturday in spring or summer.
• • Give us all the addresses and all the times, even approximate ones: we fine-tune them together.
• • Tell us the number of passengers at each stage, so we can choose between a sedan and a van.
• • Allow some extra time before the ceremony: weddings rarely start early.
• • Keep our WhatsApp number to hand on the day itself, for any last-minute change.

Three examples of how to organise your limousine service

Every journey is different, but some situations come up again and again. Here are three typical examples and the simplest way to organise them. They are given by way of illustration: your own programme may of course be different.

A working day in Geneva

You land at the airport in the morning, you have three meetings during the day and you fly out in the evening. The simplest solution is to book hourly hire for the day, with a pick-up at the airport at your flight’s arrival time. The chauffeur drives you to your first meeting, waits for you and then takes you to the next ones. Your suitcase stays in the boot. At the end of the day he drops you at the airport at the time you have set. If your meetings are far apart or the programme is likely to change, this option is more flexible than several separate journeys.

A family ski week

You are two adults and three children, you land on a Saturday and you are heading for a resort in Haute-Savoie. Book a van for the outward journey, with the return the following Saturday using the "Add return" option. In the note, give the age and weight of the children for the seats, and the number of ski bags. For the return, choose the time you leave the resort by counting the journey time, the Saturday traffic and the time you need to be at the airport. If in doubt, ask us for advice before confirming.

A wedding weekend

Your guests arrive on the Friday on several flights, the ceremony takes place on the Saturday and everyone leaves on the Sunday. Send us the list of flights with the names and the number of people: we group arrivals that are close together in the same vehicles. For the Saturday, send us the programme for the day, from the couple getting ready to the end of the evening. For the Sunday, we organise the journeys back to the airport according to each person’s schedule. One person on our side follows the whole thing, which avoids misunderstandings.

Preparing your limousine journey: practical advice

A few details given at the right moment are enough for a journey to go perfectly. Here is what is worth preparing before you book and before you leave.

Luggage

Count your luggage the way you count your passengers. A sedan takes three passengers and three pieces of luggage; the van takes seven passengers and ten pieces of luggage. Bulky items should be mentioned in the note on your booking: ski bags, golf bags, a pushchair, a folding wheelchair, a musical instrument, boxes. If you are hesitating between two vehicles, take the larger one: travelling squeezed in with a suitcase on your lap is no pleasure.

Children

Baby seats and booster seats are available on request. Give the age and weight of each child in the note, so that the chauffeur can fit the right seats before coming to collect you. A family of four or five with suitcases travels more comfortably in a van.

Addresses

Give precise addresses: number, street, postcode and town, or the exact name of the hotel. In the booking form, always pick the address from the suggested list. For a residence or chalet that is hard to find, add a pointer in the note, such as the name of the building, the gate code or a landmark.

Times

For an arrival by plane, the pick-up time is your flight’s scheduled arrival time. For a departure, it is the time you want to leave your address. Keep a margin: at rush hour, during major trade fairs and at the start of school holidays, traffic around Geneva is heavier.

Crossing the border

Geneva is surrounded by France, and many journeys cross the border: Annecy, Chamonix, the resorts of Haute-Savoie, Lyon. Each passenger must carry a valid passport or identity card. Checks are not systematic, but they do happen. If you are carrying goods or large sums of money, find out about customs rules before you leave.

Passengers with reduced mobility

If a passenger uses a wheelchair or a walking frame, or needs help getting in and out of the car, tell us when you book. We check which vehicle is most suitable and the chauffeur takes the time needed. A folding wheelchair usually travels in the boot of the van.

Pets

Travelling with a dog or a cat? Tell us before you book, giving its size and whether it travels in a carrier. We confirm what is possible.

Changing or cancelling a booking

A change of time, flight or address? Let us know as early as possible by phone or WhatsApp: the sooner we know, the easier it is to adapt the journey. The conditions for changes and cancellations are set out in our terms and conditions.

Checklist before you leave

• • Your booking confirmation, saved on your phone
• • An identity document for each passenger
• • The exact destination address
• • The flight or train number, if there is one
• • The number of bags and any bulky items already mentioned to us
• • The child seats you asked for
• • Our number, +41 78 871 71 33, saved in your contacts

When to book: busy periods in Geneva

Demand for chauffeur-driven cars is not the same all year round. Knowing the busy periods helps you book at the right time and allow the margins you need.

Winter and the ski holidays

From December to April, weekends are in high demand, especially Saturdays during the school holidays, when holidaymakers arrive at and leave the resorts on the same day. For those dates, book your limousine at the same time as your flights and allow extra time on the mountain roads.

Trade fairs and conferences

All year round Geneva hosts trade fairs, congresses and international conferences, notably at Palexpo, next to the airport. During these events, traffic is heavier around the airport and hotels are very busy. If you are coming for a trade fair, book your transfers as soon as you know your programme.

Summer

In summer, visitors come for the lake, the region’s festivals and trips into the mountains. Day-long hourly hire is then in great demand. On the days of major events, such as concerts or lakeside festivities, some streets in the centre are closed to traffic: the chauffeur drops you as close as possible.

Rush hours

On weekdays, traffic is heavy in the morning and in the late afternoon, particularly on the city-centre bridges, around the airport and at the border crossings with France. If you have a flight or an important meeting at those times, leave a little earlier: it is better to wait a few minutes at your destination than to be short of time.

Limousine, taxi, app or public transport: how to choose in Geneva

Geneva offers several ways of getting around. None is the best in every case: it all depends on your journey, your luggage, your timetable and your budget. Here are the differences, to help you make an informed choice.

Limousine service

You book a high-end vehicle with a chauffeur in advance, for one journey or for several hours. The price is fixed before departure, the vehicle is reserved for you and the chauffeur is waiting at the agreed time and place. It is the most comfortable solution for an airport arrival with luggage, a business trip, a long journey or a special occasion.

Taxi

A taxi is usually taken without booking, at a rank or in the street, and the fare is calculated on the meter, according to distance and time. It is handy for a short trip decided at the last minute. On the other hand, the final fare is not known at the start and it rises in traffic jams.

Ride-hailing apps

With an app, you order a car for an immediate ride. It is convenient for a short journey in town. The price can vary with demand, and the type of vehicle and the driver are not known in advance in the same way as with a limousine booked for a precise time.

Public transport

Geneva has a good network of trams, buses and trains, and the airport has its own railway station. For someone travelling alone, with little luggage and a flexible timetable, it is the cheapest solution. It becomes less practical with several suitcases, children, skis, a very early start or a destination far from a station.

In short

• • A short trip, no luggage, decided at the last minute: a taxi or public transport.
• • Arriving at the airport with luggage: a limousine, which is waiting for you and drives you to your door.
• • Several meetings in one day: a limousine by the hour.
• • A ski resort or a distant city: a limousine, door to door with no connections.
• • A group or a family: the van, whose price is shared between the passengers.

Comfort, safety and discretion: what you can expect from us

A limousine service is judged on simple things. Here are the ones we care about.

Well-kept vehicles

Our vehicles are recent, clean and regularly serviced. They are air-conditioned and offer comfortable seats and room for luggage. Before each pick-up, the chauffeur checks the condition and cleanliness of the car.

Safe driving

Safety comes before speed. Our chauffeurs respect speed limits, keep their distance and adapt their driving to rain, snow and fog. In the mountains, they know the roads and their difficulties in winter. If conditions call for slower driving, that is what they do, and they explain why.

Punctuality

Being on time is the first thing you expect from a chauffeur. The route is prepared in advance, taking account of the time of day, the day of the week and the usual traffic. If something unexpected happens on the road, you are told.

Discretion

What is said in the car stays in the car. Many of our customers work or make calls during the journey; others simply want some peace and quiet. In every case, the chauffeur remains discreet.

A booking confirmed in writing

After you book, you receive a summary e-mail with the date, the time, the addresses, the vehicle and the price. You know exactly what has been arranged, and you can pass this information on to the person who is travelling.

A real person to answer you

A question, a change, something unexpected? You can reach us by phone or WhatsApp on +41 78 871 71 33, 24 hours a day. A person answers and looks for a solution with you. Our address: Rue de Genève 107, 1226 Thônex, Switzerland. Our contact page lists all our details.

Good to know when you arrive in Geneva

If this is your first visit, a few facts make the first hours easier.

• • Language: Geneva is a French-speaking city. English is widely understood in hotels, restaurants and shops.
• • Currency: the currency is the Swiss franc (CHF). Bank cards are accepted almost everywhere.
• • Two countries side by side: the French border is only a few kilometres from the city centre. Many visitors stay in Geneva and spend a day in Annecy or Chamonix, or the other way round.
• • Time zone: Geneva is on Central European Time, like Paris, Berlin and Rome.
• • Electricity: Swiss sockets take three-pin type J plugs. Two-pin European plugs generally fit; plugs from the United Kingdom and North America need an adapter.
• • Tap water: tap water is drinkable throughout the city.
• • Tipping: tipping is not compulsory in Switzerland. It is left to your discretion.
• • The lake: the lake is called Lac Léman in French and Lake Geneva in English. Geneva lies at its south-western tip, where the Rhône flows out.

If you have a question about your stay that relates to your journeys, such as the time needed to reach an address, the best time to leave for the airport or the choice of vehicle for an excursion, ask us: we are happy to help.

A short glossary of limousine service terms

A few words come up often when you book a chauffeur-driven car. Here they are, explained simply.

• • Transfer: a journey from one address to another, for example from the airport to your hotel. The price is fixed for the journey.
• • Hourly hire: the vehicle and the chauffeur stay with you for a chosen length of time. It is also called "by the hour" or "as directed".
• • Pick-up: the place and time at which the chauffeur comes to collect you.
• • Drop-off: the place where the chauffeur leaves you at the end of the journey.
• • Sedan: a four-door car with a separate boot, such as the Mercedes E-Class or S-Class. It carries up to three passengers.
• • Van: a taller, roomier vehicle, such as the Mercedes V-Class. It carries up to seven passengers and more luggage.
• • Minibus: a vehicle for larger groups, available on request.
• • One way and return: a single journey, or the same journey in both directions, on two different dates or at two different times.
• • Note: the free-text box in the booking form, where you write anything that can help the chauffeur, such as a child seat, a bulky item or a gate code.
• • Confirmation: the e-mail you receive after booking and paying, with all the details of the journey.

Frequently asked questions about our Geneva limousine service