Getting around Geneva
Public transport:
Geneva's superb bus and tram network is operated by Transports Publics Genevois (TPG) (tel: 0900 022 021, in Switzerland only; www.tpg.ch). Services in general operate between 0500 and 0030.
Coin-operated ticket vending machines are situated at all bus and tramway stops. These provide a variety of tickets including the ‘Tout Genève’ ticket, which allows unlimited travel for one hour, or cheaper ‘Saut de Puce’ tickets for three-stop trips or one lake crossing (maximum 15 minutes) on a ‘Mouette’ boat.
Every visitor will receive a Geneva Transport Card upon check-in at their hotel, hostel or campsite, valid for the entire duration of their stay, covering buses, tramways, boats and trains. If you’re just passing through, you can buy a one-day Unireso pass for buses, trams, trains and Mouette boats at CFF stations, TPG sales offices and tourist information offices.
Taxis:
Taxis in Geneva can be ordered by phone, hailed in the street or found at authorised taxi ranks around the city. Taxi drivers are required by law to be able to speak English, although this does not apply to minicab drivers. Taxi-Phone Centrale SA Genève, Geneva's central taxi service (tel: (022) 331 4133), provides a 24-hour daily service.
The fare is shown on the meter, which includes a tip and VAT (rates rise at night and on Sundays and holidays).
Driving:
The roads in Geneva are good and rarely congested. There are speed limits on narrow sections of road, such as in the Old Town. White markings with a meter signify pay to park for a limited period of time, white markings without a meter signify free parking for unlimited time, while blue indicate free parking for a limited time with a parking disk and red, 15 minutes. Parking discs can be obtained from police stations. Once in possession of this disk, parking is free of charge in designated zones.
Car hire:
Cars can be hired at the airport, railway station and hotels. A national driving licence and credit card are required. Drivers must be at least 21 years old. Providers include Avis (tel: (022) 731 9000; www.avis.ch) and Budget (tel: (022) 717 8675; www.budget.com).
Bicycle hire:
You can hire bikes from Rentabike at Cornavin railway station (tel: (051) 225 1482; www.rent-a-bike.ch) and Hot-Point, Rue des Pâquis 22 (tel: (022) 738 3696; www.hotpoint.ch).
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