Cornavin, Switzerland

Gare Cornavin is located at Place de Cornavin 7, 1201 Genève, on the right bank of the Rhône. The main entrance faces Place de Cornavin, where trams and buses stop, and the taxi rank is located outside the main entrance. Entrances on the Montbrillant side, behind the station, are convenient for the residential districts to the north and some bus lines.

Geneva Cornavin Station sits in the heart of the city, between the lively Pâquis district, with its hotels, restaurants and international atmosphere, and Rue du Mont-Blanc, which leads down to the lake. Geneva's economy combines banking, commodity trading, luxury watchmaking and more than 30 international organizations, including the United Nations and the Red Cross. Because the station links the city with the rest of Switzerland, France and the airport, it plays a central role in moving the diplomats, business travelers, commuters and tourists this economy depends on.

Swiss Railways intercity trains leave the Cornavin train station in the direction of Lausanne, continuing to Bern, Zurich, Basel and St. Gallen, with frequent departures throughout the day, while other routes head in the direction of Neuchâtel, Biel and the Valais. TGV Lyria trains connect Geneva with Paris, and French regional trains run toward Lyon and Annecy. The Léman Express links the station with Annemasse, Évian, Thonon, Annecy and Saint-Gervais, forming one of the largest cross-border rail networks in Europe.

With 120,000 people passing through every day, Cornavin is a major station for local transport as well as trains. Several tram lines stop here, including lines 14 and 18 toward Meyrin and CERN and line 15 toward the Palais des Nations, along with many city bus routes. Visitors staying in Geneva hotels receive the Geneva Transport Card, which gives free use of public transport in the city during their stay.

The best way to reach Geneva Airport from the main train station is by train: frequent services run from Cornavin to Genève-Aéroport in about 7 minutes, and many intercity trains continue directly to the airport. A taxi from the rank outside the main entrance takes about 10–15 minutes depending on traffic. For the city center, the lakefront is about a 5-minute walk down Rue du Mont-Blanc.

Lake Geneva lies a short walk south of the train station, with views of the Jet d'Eau fountain, the Bains des Pâquis lakeside baths and the Brunswick Monument along the Quai du Mont-Blanc. Further south, across the Mont-Blanc Bridge, the Flower Clock in the Jardin Anglais and the Old Town, with St. Pierre Cathedral, are about 15–20 minutes away on foot. The Palais des Nations and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum are a short tram ride north.

The first Geneva railway station at Cornavin opened in 1858 as the terminus of the railway from Lyon. After a fire damaged the original building in 1909, a new station was built, designed by architect Julien Flegenheimer and completed in 1931. Today the station is being modernized again: Swiss Railways commissioned the GECOR consortium for the refurbishment, and construction work is gradually expanding and upgrading the station to cope with rising passenger numbers.

The station's official name is Genève-Cornavin, often written as Geneve Cornavin without the accent, and in French it is simply called Gare Cornavin or Gare de Genève. English speakers usually say Geneva Cornavin or Geneva main station. All these names refer to the same station on Place de Cornavin, so you can use any of them when searching for tickets or directions.

Cornavin's platforms are reached through underground passages from the main hall, each with stairs, escalators and lifts. Once you've arrived, check the schedule on the departure boards in the main hall and passages, which show every train departing, its platform and the sector where each part of the train will stop. Swiss trains are famously punctual, so it is worth being on the platform a few minutes before departure.

Step one is choosing your travel date: Supersaver tickets and TGV Lyria fares are cheapest when booked early, and trains to Paris on Friday and Sunday evenings fill up fast. Once you pay, your ticket is saved in your SBB or Lyria account and app and sent by email with a QR code. Note the train time, carriage and seat reservation before you travel, and show the ticket on your phone during the conductor's check.

There is no airport-style security screening at Geneva Cornavin, though railway police and staff patrol the station. Switzerland and France are both in the Schengen Area, so there are no routine passport checks on trains to France, but customs officers may carry out spot checks, so bring your passport or ID card. Arriving 10–15 minutes early is usually enough for catching your train, or a little longer for TGV Lyria departures.

Geneva Cornavin has lifts and ramps linking the main hall, the underground passages and the platforms, as well as accessible toilets. Passengers who need help boarding can book free assistance through the SBB Call Center Handicap in advance, and staff meet them at an agreed point in the station.

Public car parks are available near the station, and protected bicycle parking facilities are available at the station for cyclists. During the ongoing construction and refurbishment, some passages, entrances or parking areas may be temporarily closed or rerouted, so follow the signs on site and allow a few extra minutes. Drop-offs are easiest near the taxi rank outside the main entrance.

Inside the station you'll find shops, supermarkets, cafés and restaurants, many open late and on Sundays, along with toilets and currency exchange at the SBB counters. Free public Wi-Fi is available throughout the station, and automated self-service lockers are available at the station for luggage. The SBB Travel Centre in the main hall can help with tickets, passes and travel advice, and this FAQ aims to add practical tips to the official timetables, so you can plan your journey through Geneva Cornavin with confidence.

Geneva Cornavin Station is located at Place de Cornavin 7, 1201 Genève, on the right bank of the Rhône, about a 5-minute walk from Lake Geneva. At the Cornavin train station, taxis wait at the official taxi rank outside the main entrance on Place de Cornavin, where trams and buses also stop. A taxi from Geneva Cornavin to the airport takes about 10–15 minutes, although the train is often faster, reaching Genève-Aéroport in about 7 minutes.

Gare Cornavin is one of the busiest stops on the Swiss network, serving around 120,000 passengers a day, and the Geneva railway station is being modernized to keep up with demand. Swiss Railways commissioned the GECOR consortium for the refurbishment, and the long-term expansion plans include more capacity for trains and passengers, with additional platforms and improved passages. During the works, some entrances and passages may be temporarily closed or rerouted, so follow the signs in the station.

Cornavin station has shops, supermarkets, cafés and restaurants, many open late and on Sundays, along with toilets and currency exchange at the SBB counters. Free public Wi-Fi is available throughout the station, automated self-service lockers are available for luggage, and protected bicycle parking facilities are located at the station. The SBB Travel Centre in the main hall helps with tickets, passes and travel advice.