The practical handbook.
WiFi, ATMs, food, showers, lost & found, pharmacy, family services — the small things that make a layover bearable, at a glance.
What you need at GVA
Tap any card for the practical details — opening hours, prices, locations.
Free WiFi
Network: GVA-WiFi. Sign-in: email or social. Unlimited time, ~25 Mbps. Coverage: T1, T2, train station.
No password needed →ATMs & currency
UBS, Credit Suisse, PostFinance. CHF dispensed, some EUR at Travelex. Best rates: use your home-bank ATM. Avoid exchange counters (poor rate).
Arrivals + departures levels →Food & drink
Pret a Manger 24/7. McDonald’s 24/7 landside. Most restaurants close 22:00. Vending machines overnight.
24/7 options exist →Showers
Aspire lounge · CHF 50. SkyView lounge · CHF 65. Hotel day-rate (NH, Ibis). No standalone shower booths.
Cheapest: Aspire →Sleep / rest
No sleeping pods at GVA. Day-rate: NH Geneva CHF 80+. Day-rate: Ibis CHF 75+ (shuttle). Chapel Level 1 (quiet, no beds).
Best for long layovers →Pharmacy
Pharmacie de l’Aéroport. Level 1 departures. Open 06:30–22:00 daily. CH/EU prescriptions accepted.
Level 1 · daily →Lost & found
Arrivals hall Level 0. Open 06:00–22:00 daily. Online: gva.ch/lostandfound. Aircraft items: contact airline.
Arrivals Level 0 →Family & baby
Nursing rooms gates A20, B6. Family rooms Level 1. Free stroller rental (info desk). Kids play area near A1.
Family-friendly facilities →Save these before you fly
Switchboard, emergency services, lost & found, and a 24/7 pre-booked taxi line.
| Service | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General information | +41 22 717 71 11 | GVA switchboard · 24/7 |
| Lost & found | +41 22 717 78 02 | Open 06:00–22:00 |
| Police (emergency) | 117 | Swiss emergency line |
| Medical emergency | 144 | Ambulance + medical |
| Fire / rescue | 118 | Fire department |
| Pre-booked taxi | +41 22 884 88 88 | 24/7 · English |
Practical questions answered
Is there free WiFi at Geneva Airport?
Yes. Connect to “GVA-WiFi” (no password) and sign in via email or social login. Unlimited free WiFi, no time limit, available throughout T1, T2, and the train station level. Average speed: 25 Mbps download. For business: GVA Lounge Pass premium WiFi via paid lounges (CHF 50-70 walk-in).
Where are the ATMs at Geneva Airport?
ATMs are in the arrivals hall (UBS, Credit Suisse, Postfinance), departures level (UBS, Travelex), and inside the boarding zone after security. ATMs dispense CHF (and EUR at Travelex booths). Best rate: use ATM with your home bank card; avoid currency exchange counters (poorer rate, fees).
Can I shower at Geneva Airport?
Showers are available inside three lounges: Aspire (CHF 50 walk-in includes shower), SkyView (CHF 65 walk-in), Swiss Senator (Star Alliance Gold status required). For a private shower without lounge access, use the day-rate at Ibis Genève Aéroport (~CHF 75 for 4–6h day-use, 1.2 km from terminal, free shuttle).
Can I sleep at Geneva Airport during a layover?
No dedicated sleeping pods at GVA. Options for long layovers: 1) airport hotels with day-rates — NH Geneva (500m walk, CHF 80+ day-rate), Ibis (1.2 km, free shuttle, CHF 75+); 2) lounge access with quiet area (Aspire, SkyView); 3) the chapel on Level 1 (open 24/7, quiet but no beds).
Are there restaurants open 24/7 at GVA?
A small selection: Pret a Manger (24/7 in departures), Starbucks (05:00–23:00), McDonald’s (24/7 landside). Most full restaurants close around 22:00–23:00. Vending machines and convenience stores operate overnight in the central hall.
Where is lost & found at Geneva Airport?
The Lost & Found office is in the arrivals hall (Level 0), behind baggage claim, signposted “Objets trouvés”. Open 06:00–22:00 daily. After hours: report online at gva.ch/lostandfound. For items lost on aircraft, contact the airline directly. For items lost at TSA/security, contact security office: +41 22 717 71 11.
Is there a pharmacy at Geneva Airport?
Yes. Pharmacie de l’Aéroport is on Level 1 (departures), open 06:30–22:00 daily, including weekends. It stocks first-aid, over-the-counter medications, prescription refills (Swiss/EU prescriptions accepted), and basic medical advice. After hours: nearest 24/7 pharmacy is in Geneva city centre, 7 km away.
Are there family / baby-care facilities at GVA?
Yes. Family rooms with nursing and changing facilities are located near gates A20, B6, and on Level 1 departures. Stroller rental is free at the information desk (deposit ID). A kids’ play area is in the main hall, Level 1, near gate A1. Highchairs available at most restaurants.
Is Geneva Airport on the French or the Swiss side?
Geneva Airport (GVA) sits in Switzerland, in the Canton of Geneva, but it straddles the Franco-Swiss border and has a dedicated “France Sector” (Secteur France). Passengers flying between Geneva and France can arrive or depart on the French side without crossing into Switzerland or clearing Swiss customs — in the France Sector you pass French police and customs only. The main terminal (Swiss / international sector) handles all other destinations.
How do I reach the France Sector (Secteur France) by road?
From France, take the A40 motorway, exit at Bellegarde/Gex, follow the D984, then the white “Aéroport — Secteur Français” signs via the customs road from Ferney-Voltaire. You reach the airport directly from French territory without entering Switzerland, so no Swiss motorway vignette is needed if you stay on the French side. Dedicated parking and car-rental desks (Hertz, Sixt, Europcar, Avis) are located in the France Sector.
Can I check in baggage and fly from the France Sector?
Yes — the France Sector has its own check-in and baggage drop and is used for flights between Geneva and France. You can move internally between the Swiss / international sector and the France Sector only if you hold a valid same-day ticket (±1 day); otherwise you must travel between the two sides via the Ferney-Voltaire customs road. Always check which sector your flight uses, as the two have separate entrances.
Where to store luggage at GVA
Left-luggage service in the arrivals hall, plus oversize storage for skis, bikes and instruments. Run by the airport, not a third party.
| Item | Price / 24 h | Max duration | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hand luggage (small) | CHF 7 | 30 days | Arrivals Level 0 |
| Suitcase (medium) | CHF 9 | 30 days | Arrivals Level 0 |
| Suitcase (large) | CHF 12 | 30 days | Arrivals Level 0 |
| Ski bag / snowboard | CHF 15 | 30 days | Arrivals Level 0 (oversize) |
| Bicycle (boxed) | CHF 20 | 15 days | Arrivals Level 0 (oversize) |
| Musical instrument | CHF 15 | 30 days | Arrivals Level 0 (oversize) |
Open 06:00–22:00 daily. Cash CHF, Visa, Mastercard and TWINT accepted. Items left more than the maximum duration are transferred to lost & found and disposed of after 90 days. For shorter stays, self-service lockers are also available on Level 1 (departures) — small CHF 6 / large CHF 9 per 24 h, payment by coin or card.
The small things people always ask about
Smoking lounges, EV charging, prayer rooms, water fountains — where they are and what they cost.
Smoking areas
Two designated outdoor smoking zones landside (in front of arrivals, in front of departures). Airside: smoking lounges in Aspire and SkyView (lounge entry required). Vaping follows the same rules as cigarettes — banned in the terminal.
Electric vehicle charging
40+ EV charging points across parking lots P1, P2, P26, P50, P51 — Type 2 AC (22 kW) and CCS DC fast-charge (up to 150 kW). Payment via Swisscharge, MOVE, Plugsurfing or contactless card. Parking fee is separate from charging fee.
Prayer room / quiet space
Inter-faith chapel on Level 1 (landside), open 24/7. Ablutions room adjacent. No formal mosque or synagogue, but the chapel is non-denominational. Airside: no dedicated room — the Aspire lounge has a quiet corner.
Water fountains
Free drinking water fountains at every gate cluster post-security, plus near the central information desk landside. Bring an empty bottle — security accepts empty bottles, fountains refill from cold filtered water.
PRM & reduced-mobility assistance
Free assistance from car park to gate. Request via your airline at least 48 hours before your flight.
Geneva Airport provides free PRM assistance under EC Regulation 1107/2006 — covered by your airline ticket, no extra charge. Reception points equipped with a call button are located at every entrance to T1, at the train station exit, and in car parks P1, P2, P26 and P51. An agent arrives within 10 minutes (service 05:00–23:00). Wheelchair-accessible toilets are on every level, elevators connect Level 0 (arrivals) to Level 2 (departures), and all gates are reachable via jet bridge or lift-equipped bus.
Hearing-induction loops are installed at the information desk and most airline check-in counters. Service dogs are welcome throughout the airport with valid documentation. For visually impaired travellers, tactile floor strips run from the train station and main entrances to the central information desk; staff can escort you from there. If you arrive by pre-booked Mercedes transfer, your driver can wait at the dedicated PRM drop-off point in front of arrivals and assist with luggage to the check-in counter.
Keep exploring GVA
Lost & found
GVA office Level 0 + airline contacts + security desk. 30-day retention.
Accessibility & PRM
Free assistance car park to gate. EC 1107/2006 covered.
Free 80-min transport ticket
Voucher in baggage claim — train, bus, tram zone 10 + 21.
VAT refund (détaxe)
Reclaim Swiss 8.1% VAT on CHF 300+ purchases. Customs Level 1.
Need a ride after your layover?
Pre-book a Mercedes transfer from CHF 45 — driver waits with a sign in arrivals.
Book a transfer →Water fountains & bottle refill at Geneva Airport
Yes — Geneva Airport has free drinking-water fountains, and you can refill your own bottle for nothing instead of paying CHF 4–6 at a kiosk.
The fountains dispense Eau de Genève, the city’s own tap water, which is fully potable — like all Swiss tap water, it’s safe to drink straight from the spout. The main fountains sit airside, after the security checkpoint, with a recognised point near departure gate A8 and additional fountains around the lounge / mezzanine level. Landside (before security) you can also fill up at café and restaurant taps if you ask.
Practical tip: bring an empty reusable bottle through security — liquids over 100 ml aren’t allowed through the checkpoint, but an empty bottle passes fine. Once airside, fill it at a fountain before boarding. This saves money, cuts plastic, and means you’re not stuck dehydrated on a delayed gate. There’s no charge and no need to ask staff.
Water & refreshments — FAQ
Are there water fountains at Geneva Airport?
Yes. Geneva Airport provides free drinking-water fountains dispensing Eau de Genève (the local tap water). The main fountains are located airside, after the security checkpoint — a well-known one is near departure gate A8, with additional fountains at the lounge / mezzanine level. The water is fully potable, so you can drink and refill directly, at no charge.
Can I refill a water bottle at Geneva Airport?
Yes. Bring an empty reusable bottle through security (liquids over 100 ml can’t pass the checkpoint, but an empty bottle is fine), then refill it for free at the airside fountains before boarding. Swiss tap water is safe to drink everywhere, so refilling at Geneva Airport is a reliable, cost-free alternative to buying bottled water at the kiosks.
Showers & freshening up
Are there showers at Geneva Airport?
Yes — showers are available inside the airside lounges in Terminal 1 (for example Crystal by Aspire), accessible with a lounge ticket, Priority Pass or an eligible business/first-class boarding pass. There is no separate public pay-per-use shower area, so lounge access is the practical way to freshen up between flights.
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