Geneva Cointrin International Airport GVA

Geneva Cointrin International Airport (GVA).

The official name of the Geneva airport is Cointrin International Airport and it is a very peculiar airport. It has a French and Swiss side. The airport is located 6 kilometers northeast of Geneva and can be reached from both France and Switzerland. In air transportation, Geneva Airport is abbreviated as GVA (IATA code) and LSGG (ICAO code). There is a pretty big commercial area with about 50 stores, including five duty-free shops. There are 9 restaurants and 14 bars and cafes. Wireless internet is available in the entire terminal. For additional convenience, you can also find banks, exchange offices, and ATMs there.

Link to the official Geneva Airport website: https://www.gva.ch/en/

Geneva — what does the city offer? What are the transport solutions in the city?

The airport has a train station with a direct connection to both, France and Switzerland. You can also catch a bus there, which is going to the center of Geneva every 10 minutes or simply rent a car. There are several car rental services located at the airport. In addition, every 20 minutes there are distribution buses traveling to neighboring hotels. 

However, most of the hotels and restaurants are located on the right bank of Lake Geneva. The old town is swinging on the left bank, where i.a. the Cathedral of St. Peter is located. However, the real center of the old city is Place du Bourg-de-Four, which is the oldest square in the city. Promenades, numerous parks, bustling streets in the old town and elegant shops encourage tourists for long walks. A good way to discover the city and the surrounding area is to rent a cheap passenger car or minivan if you travel in a larger group.

Geneva is often referred to as Genève in French and is the second-largest city in Switzerland. This beautiful city is blessed with the wonderful natural landscapes of Lake Geneva and the Jet d’Eau fountain, which is actually the highest fountain in the world. The city’s attractions also include monuments, art galleries, and other interesting places. Car rental is a great idea to view all beautiful sites to take advantage of a vacation in the region.

The European headquarters of the United Nations, along with more than 200 other important international organizations, can be found here, which shows the importance of the city at an international level. There are as many business travelers arriving in Geneva every day, as are vacationers.

There are tons of hotels to choose from in Geneva, so accommodation is not a problem at all. Many of these hotels are known for their grand architecture and great hospitality. Visitors always provided with a warm and friendly welcome. The city is truly the cultural capital of the region and tourists can enjoy a range of activities related to fashion, arts, and crafts here. The city offers an exciting nightlife and many events such as festivals, which are held here every year.

Popular attractions of this beautiful city include miniature train travel, Aquaparc, Geneva Beach, Bâtiment des Forces Motrices, vivarium Elapsoidea and many more. It is an ideal place for those who love water as they can enjoy many activities through the pool and paddling pools, water sports, rafts, and volleyball courts. The Aquaparc is one of a kind and includes large swimming pools, themed areas and fast slides that are perfect for an active day. Of course, taking the whole family to attractions such as Aquaparc is much more easier and convenient with a rented car. By choosing a car or van rental, you don’t have to worry about public transport timetables and spend there as much time as you and your family want.

Train rides are to ensure that visitors can see as much as possible, including Lake Geneva, Quai de Mont Blanc, Quai Gustave Ador and the botanical garden in a very short time. Children will love taking photos on the road. Those who are reptile lovers have a great time in the vivarium Elapsoidea, an attraction that provides the home of the most venomous snakes from around the world, as well as amphibians, turtles, lizards, and other creatures.

The Bâtiment des Forces Motrices attracts opera lovers from around the world, partly because the building is more than 100 years old, and partly because it is the center of many cultural events in Geneva including ballets and musicals. No matter what your own personal Geneva vacation schedule is, renting a car can ensure that everything goes smoothly.

Geneva — tips and useful information.

• Currency — when traveling to Geneva, we recommend taking Swiss Francs (CHF) with you to avoid unwanted surprises. There are many currency exchange offices to change the local currency at the airport.

• Language — Geneva is the capital of the Republic and Canton of Geneva which is French-speaking, but most of the people speak fluent English as well.

• Time zone — the local time code for Geneva are CET (UTC+1) — begins on the last Sunday in October, and CEST (UTC+2) — begins on the last Sunday in March.

• Weather — when traveling to Geneva, check the local weather conditions to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

• The inhabitants — Geneva has about 200,000 inhabitants.

• Minimum age to rent a VAN in Geneva — to drive a car in Geneva, you must be at least 21 years old, with at least one year of driving experience. The drivers under 25 years old can apply for a discount for young drivers. For the detailed terms and conditions as well as additional driver fees — check the website of a selected car rental service.

Why renting a car in Geneva is the best solution?

• Easier access to local and nearby attractions.

Geneva, as the second-largest city in Switzerland, is also located very attractively, giving the availability to visit many interesting places within a radius of several hundred kilometers. It makes renting a car, during a stay in Geneva, very popular among visitors. Geneva is connected by a network of high-class roads and highways, including with Lausanne (63 km) in Switzerland, and Chamonix Mont-Blanc (81 km) or Lyon (150 km) in France. Traveling by car between attractions in the immediate vicinity of the city allows for time and organizational independence. So the best way to discover the location and surrounding regions is to rent a car.

• Convenient, money and time-saving.

Car rental in Geneva is possible at the airport. Geneva Cointrin Airport is located in the suburbs of the metropolis, just 4.5 km from the city center. Car rental offices are located in terminal 1 — the choice of service providers is very wide, so renting a car right after landing seems to be a very good solution. Remember to read the rental agreement and insurance conditions in great detail. It is quick and easy in managing and affordable in terms of costs. Booking a car at least 1 week before traveling, is an optimal solution to find prices below average. You should have an ID card and credit card with you during the rental process.

• Roads organization at a high level.

Geneva is an extremely friendly city when it comes to getting around by car, also for visitors who are there for the first time. The roads are of the highest quality, the metropolis is also very well organized. In addition, Switzerland is a country with an extremely high driving culture. You should remember that the rights of pedestrians and cyclists are under special care there — for the latter, there are many bicycle paths fitted directly into the street system.

• Traffic only at a specific time.
  
  
  

Geneva is a large city and also the home of many European institutions. Therefore, during the morning and afternoon rush hours (7:30-9:00 and 16:00-18:00), the traffic is heavy. It may happen that you will move more slowly throughout the city center, however, more serious downtime does not occur. In winter, there may be snowfall, but municipal services clear the streets very efficiently.

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• Car rental for every occasion.

Whether it is a family trip, visiting friends or a meeting/convention with colleagues, there are several types of cars available for you. You will be provided with the possibility of renting a car for: from 1 person to 12 people. Cheap economy cars or more exclusive cars, minivans or 7-9-12 passenger VANs. There will always be the right car waiting for you.

Frequently asked questions.

Going on a trip abroad is often connected to knowing the local law and customs. Moreover, the systems you know from your country may not necessarily be the same in the country you plan to visit. It always best to make sure if you have any doubts before reaching the destination. 

• ‘I’m going to rent a car but I don’t know how to get to the destination?’.

Most car rental companies offer a GPS navigation system to lead your way to the desired destination. Renting navigation system is optional, therefore an additional fee will be added to the total cost, as described in the Terms of Service. Please note that GPS navigation systems are subject to the availability of car rental companies.

• ‘Rented cars? And what about insurance?’.

Usually, all compulsory insurance, such as Collision Damage Waiver, Theft Prevention and The Accidents Involving Third Parties, are included in the car rental price, however, many times extra fees/deductibles apply. The surplus/deduction is the maximum amount you will incur for damage or loss.

• ‘What about toll roads in Switzerland?’.

In many cities and on highways you have to ride on toll roads. At the vast majority of the toll roads you can pay in cash or by credit card, however, some car-renting services offer electronic charging devices. Depending on the car rental price, this fee is included in the rental price. You can get detailed information on the conditions at each car rental agent. The electronic toll system allows for automatic payment of all fees due for passing through any electronic barrier, payable upon arrival at the car rental company, which can be activated via this device, and highway tolls will be automatically paid in the credit card.

Car rental at Geneva Airport in details and numbers.

• The average rental car length at Geneva Airport is 5 days.

• The most booked rental car type currently at Geneva Airport is COMPACT cars.

• Last year, the most-booked passenger car rentals at Geneva Airport were ECONOMY cars.

• How much does it cost to rent a car at Geneva Airport? Last month, the average car rental price was 305 USD. Last year, the average car rental price was 417 USD.

• What is the average rental price at Geneva Airport? Last month, the average rental price was 70 USD per day. Last Year, the average rental price was 77 USD per day.