Some information on Geneva

For a printable short version of this page, click here.

how to get from the airport to the department

by train: follow the train signs inside the airport, take any train whatever and get out at "Gare CFF Cornavin"; tickets can be bought on ticket machines or at the counter inside the airport railway station (just before the rails). Take the bus ticket "tout Genève" for 3 CHF (the red button). You can also pay your tickets in Euro. Put the exact amount, because the dispensers do not return change.
by bus: also follow the train signs, then take the elevator to the upper floor, step into bus n 10, direction Onex and get off at the main station ("Gare CFF Cornavin"). Go to the tram station just in front of the train station, then take either the bus Nr 1 (direction Rive) or the tramway n 15 (direction Lancy-Pont-Rouge ) and get off at "Cirque".
From the tram/bus stop, walk towards an ugly building having red digital numbers on it -- the departement is behind it, on the other side of the street from the park ("parc des Bastions), at 2, rue de Candolle, on the fourth floor of the building where the "Chase Landolt" bar is on the ground floor.
The locations of the bus and tramway stops around the department, the department and the main university building are indicated on the following plan, which is downloadable as gif, pdf and jpg.

how to get from the airport to your hotel

First, go to the station, either by train oro by bus n 10 (direction Onex) [as described above].
If your hotel is the "Comédie", get first from the station to the department; the hotel is very close, as can be seen on this map, which is downloadable as gif, pdf and jpg.
If your hotel is the "Bel'Espérance", you can either take bus n 8 (direction Conches) from the station and get out at "Rive" or you can walk (8 min). The iterary is indicated on this bigger map, which is downloadable in gif, pdf and jpg.
If your hotel is the "Ambassador", walk there from the main train station (2 min). The iterary is indicated on this bigger map, which is downloadable in gif, pdf and jpg.

how to get around

There is a very useful scalable map of Geneva. Another searchable map is found here.
The best way to get around in Geneva is by public transport. The public transport company (TPG) have a very useful route planner.
Taxis are rather expensive: some phone numbers 0223314133, 0223202202, 0223202020 and 0794496147. The first of these also does "taxibus", the taxi service that goes to the airport very early in the morning (< 5 am), when public transport is idle. The last one has 5 places. Some taxis are usually waiting at the place du Cirque.
The best way of getting around in Switzerland is by train. The electronic timetable is here. If you come to Switzerland more than once a year or travel a lot, consider buying a Half-Fare card. It ives you access to reduced fares and costs 150 CHF, which is what you save if you travel twice to Berne and once to Zurich (per year).
This is the timetable of the airport. Other Swiss airports are located in Zurich, Basel and Berne. A very useful overview is Swiss Aviation.

hotels

Le Prince, close to Uni Mail:
- 16, rue des Voisins, 1205 Genève; tel: +41228070500; fax:+41223202870
- singles at approx. 100 CHF
- click here for a map
Bel'Espérance, in the old town:
- rue de la vallée 1, 1204 Genève; tel: +41228183737; fax:+41228183773
- singles at approx. 100 CHF
- click here for a map
Carmen, close to Uni Mail:
- 5 rue Dancet, 1205 Genève; tel: +41223291111; fax:+41227815933
- singles at approx. 100 CHF
- click here for a map
Beau Site (no email address):
- place du Cirque 3, 1204 Genève; tel: +41223281008; fax:+41223292364
- singles at approx. 110 CHF
- click here for a map
Aida:
- 6, avenue Henri-Dunant, 1205 Genève; tel: +41223201266; fax:+41223212853
- singles at approx. 120 CHF
- click here for a map
Des Tourelles:
- 2, boulevard James Fazy, 1201 Genève; tel: +41227324423; fax:+41227327620
- singles at approx. 130 CHF
- click here for a map
Comédie, close to the department:
- 12, rue de Carouge, 1205 Genève; tel: +41223222324; fax:+41223222323
- singles at approx. 140 CHF
- click here for a map
Le Grenil:
- avenue Sainte-Clotilde 7, 1205 Genève; tel: +41223283055; fax:+41223216010
- singles at approx. 180 CHF
- click here for a map
Ambassador, close to the station:
- 21, quai des Bergues, 1201 Genève; tel: +41229080530; fax:+41227389080
- singles at approx. 300 CHF
- click here for a map
This is the list from the Geneva tourism office.
Here is a general list

All hotels should be able to give you free day-tickets for public transports (they get reimbursed for this by the Geneva Tourism Office).

hostels

Accommodation in Geneva is very expensive. By far the cheapest place is run by the university. Here is another place which costs you only 20 CHF/night if you stay 5 days. Click here for general information about university accommodation.
There are (at least) two youth hostels, the 'official' one (which is terrible), and another, much better one.
Among cheap hotels, there is the "Rhodania" (5, rue Paul-Bouchet (angle rue Chantepoulet 17), 1201 Geneve, phone 0227314720, fax 0227384089, no internet): 75 CHF for single room, better rooms below 100 CHF.

places to eat

Good and affordable restaurants include
- "L'Echalotte" (17 rue des Rois. 0223205999) [French] Excellent food at good-value prices. Close to the department.
- "Auberge de Coutance" (25 rue de Coutance, close to the station, 0227327919) [French] A classical address, but not too cheap.
- "Au Vieux Carouge" ( 27 rue Jacques-Dalphin, Carouge, 0223426498) [French] Very good fondue.
- "L'Universal" (26 bd du Pont-d'Arve, close to the university, 0227811881) [French] Nice salads, though the service is not too friendly. Close to the department.
- "Chausse Coq" (14 rue Micheli-du-Crest, 0223202092) [French] Little choice, but very moderately prized and a nice atmosphere.
- "Caf? Gallay" (42 Bd St-Georges, 0223210035) [French] A nice conveniently located restaurant.
- "Le Milan"( 9 rue Chaponnière, 0227324665) [Italian] Serves excellent pasta and other Italian non-pizza dishes. Close to the station.
- "Il Padrino"(41 rue Dancet, 0223203104) [Italian] Excellent pizzeria.
- "Pasta d'Oro"(16 rue Micheli-du-Crest, 0223297298) [Italian] Good pizzeria.
- "O Sole Mio" (boulevard Carl-Vogt 43, 0223217507) [Italian]. Good pizzeria. Close to the department.
- "Le Comptoir" (Rue de Richemond 9, Pâquis, 0227313237) [Asian] Very good and inventive Asian fusion food. Close to the station.
- "Shahi" (pl. de Cornavin 2, close to the station, 0227384436) [Indian] Very good curries. Close to the station.
- "Ghandi"( 37 rue de Neuchatel, 0227314112) [Indian] Smallish Indian restaurant.
- "Sam-Lor Thai" (17, rue de Monthoux, Pâquis, 0227388055) [Thaï]
- "La Mamounia" (Bd Georges Favon 10, 0223295561) [Maghrebian] Close to the department.
- "Le Thé" (65 rue des Bains, 0794367718) [Chinese] A very small charming Dim Sun place. Close to the department.
- "Café Bleu Nuit" (4 rue du Vieux-Billard, 0223283444) [Mexican]. Nice for lunch. Close to the department.
- "Le café des Négociants" (29, rue de la Filature, Carouge, 0223003130) [French]. Nice not too expensive French restaurant.
- "Les recyclables" (53, rue de Carouge, 0223282373) [French]. Has lots of books, non-smoking. Close to the department.
For excellent and less affordable restaurants, ask Kevin Mulligan.
a good guide

where to go out

© 2007 Philipp Keller
Université de Genève
Département de Philosophie
2, rue de Candolle
CH-1211 Genève 4
mobile +41786092579
office +41223797056
fax +41223791131
home +41223217657

Visitors since March 2004: