Geneva

[m4tt]

Hi everyone,

Having now reached 16 i'm looking at expanding my travels to mainland Europe and have booked a cheap easyjet return to Geneva for Saturday 26th November (next Saturday).

I only have about 6 1/2 hours from landing to departure again as the trip mainly serves to act as a test journey before commiting to longer, more complex ones. Despite this I would like to check out any trains/trams and was wondering if anyone with knowlede of the area could point out things to see/do. What ticket should I look at getting for public transport and where would I purchase this from?

Any other reccomendations for more general things to see would be good as well

Thanks

 

[Bletchleyite]

Go for a ride to Montreux and back, this is regular SBB, get it from the ticket machine. It is beyond stunning. About an hour each way. Sit on the right.

 

[m4tt]

Go for a ride to Montreux and back, this is regular SBB, get it from the ticket machine. It is beyond stunning. About an hour each way. Sit on the right.

Thanks for the suggestion, looks like a great journey.

On a side note, do SBB tickets offer break of journey along the route? Say something happened and I had to turn around and head to the airport, would I be able to get off at Lausanne and head back?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Thanks for the suggestion, looks like a great journey.

On a side note, do SBB tickets offer break of journey along the route? Say something happened and I had to turn around and head to the airport, would I be able to get off at Lausanne and head back?

Yes, this is allowed on a normal ticket.

They do also do "Advances" online but it would likely not be allowed on these.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Geneva has a number of trams, a fair few different types which are mainly all quite modern, and there are plenty of different types of SBB stock you can get on journeys between Geneva Airport and Geneva Cornavin. 6.5 hours seems quite a lot... but please don't forget to return two hours or so before the flight

Have a great day doing it. My parents wouldn't let me go abroad alone (apart from with friends) until I was eighteen I'm sure you'll very much enjoy the experience.

 

[railfan99]

In two hours in Geneva recently as part of extensive Eurailpass travel, we travelled by tram for a few stops despite an unattractive rainy day. As always, we needed a separate ticket but this was easily purchased from a ticket machine at the major undercover stop outside the very good railway station with its extensive food offerings.

I agree that the Montreux line is great, and years ago did that complete round trip.

 

[StephenHunter]

Depends what you're into. CERN is good if you like science.

 

[Zerothebrake!]

Do they still offer a free rail ticket to get into the city? Look for the machine as you exit the luggage area airside.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I agree that the Montreux line is great, and years ago did that complete round trip.

I think it is the most beautiful standard gauge electrified mainline in the world. Utterly stunning, all the way to Brig and onto Milan, though in the time the OP has Montreux is probably a realistic there and back, and is a nice place for a wander along the lake. Vevey is another option - stop off there for a ride up the Mont Pelerin funicular for an utterly stunning view which I had the privilege to call (weekday) home for a year or so.

 

[Snapper37]

Plus one for Montreux, if you have time, a quick run up the mob is good, or if you have had enough of railways a walk along the lake front is very enjoyable.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Plus one for Montreux, if you have time, a quick run up the mob is good, or if you have had enough of railways a walk along the lake front is very enjoyable.

Other nice one from Montreux is to go up the curious little cog railway to Caux, only hourly but a short trip. It's a curious little place to wander round with nice views, and the stock has the curious feel of being an electric cogwheel Pacer, forward view included!

Or if you're into trolleybuses, you could take that back to Vevey along the lakefront (again stunning views) then rejoin the IR back to the airport. Though you'll need a separate ticket for that, there are TVMs at the stops. The timetable should be in the SBB planner, or if not the operator is VMCV (Transports Publics Vevey-Montreux-Chillon-Villeneuve, if I recall). Last time I checked it was route 101.

Returns are just the price of two singles, so feel free to mix it up as you like!

It is one of the most beautiful places in the world (if a little expensive), I am sure you will enjoy it. Getting to do that line twice a week for a couple of years and get paid for it was a true privilege.

As a slight aside, you may want to take a signed (and possibly notarised, if there's a handy Notary Public in your town - you tend to find a lot of them anywhere there's a lot of Indian people because Indian bureaucracy makes a lot of use of them) letter from your parents - ideally both of them (easier if they're together, I know!), confirming you're allowed to travel. It may not be asked for, but it could be - immigration staff in most countries are pretty hot on possible child trafficking when an under 18 travels alone.

 

[Snapper37]

Other nice one from Montreux is to go up the curious little cog railway to Caux, only hourly but a short trip. It's a curious little place to wander round with nice views, and the stock has the curious feel of being an electric cogwheel Pacer, forward view included!

Or if you're into trolleybuses, you could take that back to Vevey along the lakefront (again stunning views) then rejoin the IR back to the airport. Though you'll need a separate ticket for that, there are TVMs at the stops. The timetable should be in the SBB planner, or if not the operator is VMCV (Transports Publics Vevey-Montreux-Chillon-Villeneuve, if I recall). Last time I checked it was route 101.

Returns are just the price of two singles, so feel free to mix it up as you like!

It is one of the most beautiful places in the world (if a little expensive), I am sure you will enjoy it. Getting to do that line twice a week for a couple of years and get paid for it was a true privilege.

As a slight aside, you may want to take a signed (and possibly notarised, if there's a handy Notary Public in your town - you tend to find a lot of them anywhere there's a lot of Indian people because Indian bureaucracy makes a lot of use of them) letter from your parents - ideally both of them (easier if they're together, I know!), confirming you're allowed to travel. It may not be asked for, but it could be - immigration staff in most countries are pretty hot on possible child trafficking when an under 18 travels alone.

Oh yes forgot about that line! Ideal for a quick trip. Can get very busy in rush hour.