Practical information for Geneva Airport.
The things travellers actually ask about — opening hours, water, prayer and quiet rooms, smoking, emergency numbers — and where to find the detail on everything else.
The terminal is not open around the clock
Genève Aéroport states that Terminal 1 is open from 04:00 to 00:00, and that for security reasons you cannot remain inside during the overnight closure. Plan an early departure or a long layover around that, not around the assumption that an airport never sleeps.
The airport lists opening hours for each of its 28 bars and restaurants: the earliest opens at 04:00 and the latest closes at 00:30. None of them runs 24 hours. Check the hours of the specific outlet on the airport’s own site if you are counting on a meal at the edge of the day.
Water, prayer, quiet
Drinking water is free: fill your bottle at a fountain after security rather than buying one airside. There is a chapel and prayer space in the terminal, and the Marhaba lounge on the mezzanine has its own separate prayer room for passengers with access. Free Wi-Fi covers the terminal — connect to the airport network and follow the on-screen instructions.
In an emergency
| Service | Number |
|---|---|
| Police | 117 |
| Ambulance | 144 |
| Fire | 118 |
| European emergency number | 112 |
Cash, cards and the VAT refund
Cards are accepted everywhere at the airport, and withdrawing Swiss francs from an ATM or simply paying by card is usually better value than an airport bureau de change. If you are exporting purchases made in Switzerland, the VAT refund applies from CHF 300 of purchases in the same shop on the same day, at the Swiss VAT rate of 8.1 %. The procedure differs depending on where you bought the goods — the airport’s own tax-refund page sets out the three cases.
Where the detail lives
Rather than repeat figures that go stale, each of these subjects has its own page, checked against the operator that actually sets the price.
- Lounges — the four independent lounges, their real opening hours and how to get in.
- Priority Lane — CHF 13 per flight, or CHF 90 for three months.
- Hotels near the airport — measured walking distances, seven of them under ten minutes.
- Parking — the tariff steps the airport publishes, P1 to P51.
- Car rental — the eight Swiss-sector desks and the six on the French side.
- Services A–Z — left luggage, pharmacy, showers, bureaux de change.
- Overnight at GVA — what happens when the terminal closes.
- Baggage — allowances by airline.
Geneva Airport information — FAQ
Is Geneva Airport open 24 hours?
No. Genève Aéroport states that Terminal 1 is open from 04:00 to 00:00 and that passengers cannot remain inside during the overnight closure, for security reasons. If your flight lands very late or leaves very early, plan for that.
Is there free Wi-Fi at Geneva Airport?
Yes, free Wi-Fi covers the terminal. Connect to the airport network and follow the instructions on screen. We do not publish speeds or data caps: they are not figures the airport publishes, and they would age badly if we invented them.
Can I refill a water bottle at Geneva Airport?
Yes. Drinking-water fountains are available and refilling is free, which beats buying a bottle airside. Empty your bottle before security and fill it on the other side.
Are the restaurants at Geneva Airport open at night?
Not around the clock. Across the airport’s 28 bars and restaurants, the earliest opens at 04:00 and the latest closes at 00:30 — none operates 24 hours. Check the individual outlet’s hours if you are relying on it.
How does the VAT refund work at Geneva Airport?
Swiss VAT is 8.1 %, and the refund applies from CHF 300 of purchases in the same shop on the same day when you export the goods. The procedure differs according to the country where you bought them, so follow the airport’s own tax-refund page rather than a generic explanation.
What are the emergency numbers in Switzerland?
Police 117, ambulance 144, fire 118, and 112 works as the European emergency number. These are national numbers and they work from any phone, including without a SIM card.
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