Geneva runs one of the most visitor-friendly public transport systems in Europe — and most tourists use it free for their entire stay. The TPG network (trams, buses, trolleybuses), the SBB suburban trains, and the famous yellow “Mouettes” water taxis crossing the harbour all run on a single ticket, a single fare zone (Zone 10 for almost everything you’ll do as a visitor), and one of the most generous tourist policies on the continent: a free Geneva Transport Card for every overnight hotel guest, automatically issued at check-in and valid for the duration of your stay.
This is our complete 2026 guide to Geneva public transport — every tram line (12, 14, 15, 18, plus the new cross-border 17 launching in 2026), the bus network, the four Mouettes water-taxi routes, how the Unireso ticketing actually works, how to use the TPG app, and a series of “I’m staying at X, how do I get to Y” routes for the most common visitor itineraries. By the end you’ll move around Geneva like a local — and pay nothing for the privilege.
Table of Contents
Geneva Public Transport at a Glance
One agency — TPG (Transports Publics Genevois) — runs the trams, buses and trolleybuses. The same Unireso ticket is also accepted on the suburban SBB trains, the local Léman Express commuter railway, and the Mouettes water taxis. The whole network is integrated under the Unireso fare community, so a single CHF 3 ticket lets you switch between modes for 60 minutes.
The headline numbers visitors care about:
- Single ticket (Zone 10): CHF 3, valid 60 minutes, all modes.
- Day pass (Zone 10): CHF 10, all modes, all day.
- Geneva Transport Card: Free for every overnight hotel guest. Valid for the entire stay. Covers airport-to-hotel and all subsequent transport.
- Operating hours: Roughly 05:00 to 00:30 daily, with reduced night service Fridays and Saturdays.
- Average wait: 6–12 minutes peak, 12–20 minutes off-peak.
Zones & Tickets Explained
Unireso splits the Geneva region into concentric zones, but as a visitor you will almost certainly stay inside Zone 10 — Tout Genève, which covers the entire city of Geneva, Carouge, the surrounding municipalities and the airport. Everything in this guide assumes Zone 10 unless noted. The other zones only matter if you travel into French-side cross-border destinations (Annemasse, Saint-Julien) or into Vaud canton (Nyon).
Ticket types (2026 prices)
| Ticket | Price | Valid for |
|---|---|---|
| Single ride (60 min) | CHF 3.00 | One trip + connections within 60 min |
| Short trip (30 min, 3 stops max) | CHF 2.00 | Quick hop only |
| Day pass (Tout Genève) | CHF 10.00 | Unlimited rides in Zone 10 |
| Day pass 9 am+ (Tout Genève) | CHF 8.00 | Off-peak, after 09:00 |
| Day pass Junior (6–24 yo) | CHF 8.00 | Children & students |
| Multi-day passes | CHF varies | 3-day/week available |
| Geneva Transport Card | Free | Hotel guests, full stay |
Where to buy
Vending machines at every tram, bus and train stop — cash (coins only) and credit/debit cards. The TPG mobile app (iOS and Android) sells the same tickets, validates them digitally, and lets you check live arrivals. SBB Mobile sells the same Unireso ticket and is the better app if you plan to combine Geneva public transport with onward rail travel.
You must buy before boarding. There are no ticket sellers on board. Spot-check inspections happen frequently; the fine for travelling without a valid ticket is CHF 100 (first offence) plus the cost of the ticket. Inspectors do not accept “I didn’t know” as a defence — every stop has a machine.
The Tram Network
Geneva has five tram lines as of 2026 — four established lines (12, 14, 15, 18) plus the new cross-border line 17 to Annemasse (France), commissioned in 2026, making Geneva one of only a handful of cities globally with an international tram service.
Line 12 — Bachet ↔ Moillesulaz (via centre)
The longest and most-used tram line in Geneva. Runs from Bachet (south) through the centre (Bel-Air, Rive, Eaux-Vives, Augustins) to Moillesulaz on the French border. Key visitor stops: Cornavin, Bel-Air, Rive, Carouge-Marché. The Carouge service alone justifies the line for visitors — 12 minutes from Place du Molard to Carouge.
Line 14 — Meyrin–Gravière ↔ Bernex–Vailly
Cross-city east–west line. Useful for visiting Plainpalais and crossing the city to the western suburbs (where some sports facilities and the convention centre are located). Stops at Plainpalais, Cornavin, Lyon.
Line 15 — Nations ↔ Cornavin (some services extending south)
The UN-and-Botanical-Gardens line. Connects Cornavin to the Place des Nations (UN) and the diplomatic quarter. Essential for visitors going to the Palais des Nations, the Red Cross Museum, or the Botanical Gardens.
Line 17 — Lancy–Pont-Rouge ↔ Annemasse (France)
The newest tram line, commissioning in 2026. Runs from the Lancy-Pont-Rouge SBB station, through central Geneva, to Annemasse in France — the first international tram line linking Switzerland and France. Worth riding once just for the cross-border experience.
Line 18 — CERN ↔ Augustins (via centre)
Connects CERN (the particle physics laboratory) in Meyrin to central Geneva via Cornavin and Plainpalais. The CERN visit route — visitors heading to the Microcosm exhibition or the Globe of Science take this tram from Cornavin to Meyrin terminus (~25 minutes).
Buses & Trolleybuses
The TPG bus network covers everywhere the trams don’t. There are over 60 day lines plus the night services. The most useful for visitors:
- Bus 1: Hôpital ↔ Petit-Lancy via Plainpalais and Bel-Air. Good for the southern centre.
- Bus 5: Airport ↔ Hôpital via Cornavin and the centre. The airport bus alternative to the train.
- Bus 6: Veyrier ↔ Vernier (cross-city). Useful for the eastern suburbs.
- Bus 8: OMS ↔ Veyrier-Douane via the centre. Stops near the Place du Bourg-de-Four — useful for Old Town hotels.
- Bus 10: Aéroport ↔ Plateau-de-Bel-Air. The airport-to-UN-corridor option.
- Bus E: Bachet ↔ Veigy-Douane (express to French border).
Bus stops show a flag-style sign with the route numbers and live-arrival display. Most stops have shelters; all have ticket machines.
Mouettes — Geneva’s Yellow Water Taxis
The single most charming way to move around Geneva is by Mouette (literally “seagull”) — the bright yellow water taxis that cross the harbour between the right and left banks every 10 minutes. The same CHF 3 Unireso ticket (or your Geneva Transport Card) covers them. The crossings take 5–7 minutes and offer the best 30-second view of the Jet d’Eau you can get from sea level.
The four Mouette lines (M1, M2, M3, M4)
- M1 — Pâquis ↔ Molard. The signature crossing. Right bank lakefront to the Place du Molard. 7 minutes.
- M2 — Pâquis ↔ Eaux-Vives. Right bank to the Eaux-Vives marina. 8 minutes.
- M3 — Pâquis ↔ Genève-Plage. Right bank to the public bath complex on the left bank. 7 minutes. Summer-heavy traffic.
- M4 — De-Châteaubriand ↔ Genève-Plage. Right-bank quai (north of Pâquis) to Genève-Plage.
Operating hours: 07:30 to roughly 21:00 in summer (Apr–Oct), shorter winter hours. The M3 line in summer is the most-used route and runs every 5–10 minutes from late morning into the evening.
Tip: Even if you have no specific reason to cross the harbour, take a Mouette once on a sunny morning — CHF 3 (or free), 7 minutes, and you’ll see the Jet d’Eau, Mont-Blanc on a clear day, and Old Town’s silhouette from a perspective most visitors miss.
SBB Suburban Trains (Léman Express)
Geneva’s suburban rail network — the Léman Express, launched in 2019 — is the often-overlooked secret weapon for visitors heading to lakeside towns or French-side day trips. Six lines (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L6) radiate from Cornavin and the new underground Geneva-Eaux-Vives station, connecting Geneva to:
- Coppet, Nyon, Versoix (Vaud, lake’s right bank toward Lausanne)
- Annemasse, Saint-Gervais, Évian, Annecy (France)
- Bellegarde (France, the high-speed rail entry point)
Within Zone 10 the same Unireso ticket applies; for cross-zone travel, an upgrade fare applies. The Léman Express is the fastest way to get from central Geneva to a French-side day trip (Annecy ~50 min via Léman Express + connection).
Night Service & Frequency
Most day services run 05:00 to 00:30. Friday and Saturday nights, the Noctambus service operates from 00:00 to 04:30 from Bel-Air and Rive, covering 15+ city and suburb destinations every 30–60 minutes. Same CHF 3 fare. Outside Noctambus hours, taxi is the only public option.
Frequency rules of thumb:
- Trams in centre: every 6–10 minutes peak, 10–15 off-peak.
- Main bus lines: every 8–15 minutes peak, 15–20 off-peak.
- Mouettes: every 10 minutes in summer day, 15–20 in winter/off-peak.
- SBB Léman Express: every 10–30 minutes depending on line.
TPG App & SBB Mobile
TPG Préférences app (iOS, Android, free): real-time arrivals for every TPG stop, ticket purchase, journey planner, line maps. The single most useful app for any Geneva visitor — install before arrival.
SBB Mobile (iOS, Android, free): the Swiss Federal Railways app. Sells Unireso tickets, all SBB tickets, regional and international rail. Has the same TPG live data as the TPG app plus the full Swiss rail network. The app of choice if you’ll combine Geneva public transport with onward Swiss travel.
Google Maps and Apple Maps both integrate TPG real-time data and are reliable for visitor journey planning.
Common Visitor Routes
Cornavin → Old Town (Place du Bourg-de-Four)
Walking: 15 min along Rue du Mont-Blanc + Pont du Mont-Blanc. Or: tram 12 from Cornavin to Bel-Air (3 min), then 5 min uphill walk.
Cornavin → Carouge (Place du Marché)
Tram 12 direct from Cornavin to Carouge-Marché — 12 minutes, every 6–8 minutes.
Cornavin → Plainpalais Market
Tram 15 from Cornavin to Plainpalais — 6 minutes.
Cornavin → UN / Palais des Nations
Tram 15 north from Cornavin to “Nations” — 7 minutes. Or bus 8 / bus F (the airport bus alternative for hotels in Pâquis).
Cornavin → Eaux-Vives
Tram 12 from Cornavin to “Rive” or “Eaux-Vives” — 8–12 minutes. Or bus 7, 9 along the lake.
Cornavin → CERN (Meyrin)
Tram 18 direct, terminus stop — 22 minutes.
Cornavin → Airport
Train under the station — 6 minutes, departs from platform 7 or 8. See our airport transfer guide.
Right bank → Old Town (via Mouette)
Mouette M1 from Pâquis quay to Molard — 7 minutes, every 10 minutes. Walk 5 minutes uphill to the Bourg-de-Four.
Old Town → Genève-Plage (the public lake baths)
In summer: tram 12 to Rive, then Mouette M3 to Genève-Plage. 20 minutes total, scenic. In winter: bus 9 direct from Rive.
Practical Tips & Etiquette
Validate your ticket or save it on the app. Paper tickets from the machine are pre-validated; mobile tickets activate at purchase. Keep them visible — inspectors do random checks.
Boarding: Doors open with a press button (not automatic). Inside, hold the rail; Geneva drivers brake decisively.
Priority seating: The blue-marked seats are for elderly, pregnant, mobility-impaired and parents with infants. Offer your seat if asked.
Quiet by default. Swiss transport is quieter than London or Paris — phone calls on speaker are unwelcome. Conversation at normal volume is fine.
Bikes: Most trams allow folding bikes for free at all times and full-size bikes outside peak hours. Buses: folding only. Mouettes: bikes allowed (CHF 2 extra ticket).
Luggage: Allowed on all services; large bags go in designated luggage racks at the ends of trams and buses.
Pets: Small pets in carriers free; larger dogs require a half-fare ticket.
Strollers: All low-floor trams and buses accept strollers. Dedicated wheelchair/stroller spaces in centre of vehicle.
FAQ: Geneva Public Transport
Is public transport free in Geneva?
For overnight hotel guests, yes — the Geneva Transport Card issued automatically at check-in covers all TPG trams, buses, trolleybuses, Mouettes water taxis and SBB suburban trains in Zone 10 for the entire stay. For non-overnight visitors, a single ticket is CHF 3 and a day pass is CHF 10.
How do I pay for Geneva public transport?
Buy from a vending machine at any stop (cash or card), or use the TPG Préférences app or SBB Mobile app. You must buy before boarding — no on-board sales.
How many tram lines does Geneva have?
Five as of 2026: lines 12, 14, 15, 17 (new cross-border to Annemasse) and 18.
What are the yellow boats in Geneva?
The Mouettes — Geneva’s water taxis, four lines crossing the harbour. They run on the same CHF 3 ticket as the trams and buses and depart every 10 minutes.
How late does Geneva public transport run?
Most services run 05:00 to 00:30. Friday and Saturday nights, the Noctambus night-bus service runs 00:00–04:30 from Bel-Air and Rive.
How much is a day pass?
CHF 10 for a full-day Tout Genève (Zone 10) pass; CHF 8 after 09:00 or for juniors (6–24 years).
Do trams in Geneva accept credit cards?
Vending machines at every stop accept Visa, Mastercard, contactless and cash. On-board ticket purchase is not available, so plan to buy at the stop.
Is the Geneva Transport Card the same as the Swiss Travel Pass?
No — they are different. The Geneva Transport Card is free for hotel guests and covers Zone 10 in Geneva only. The Swiss Travel Pass is a paid national rail/transport pass that covers most of Switzerland. See our Swiss Travel Pass guide for whether it’s worth it on a Geneva trip.
Money-Saving Tips for Geneva Transport
If you’re not staying at a Geneva hotel and don’t have the free Transport Card, a few small habits will cut your transport bill significantly:
- Use the 30-minute short-trip ticket (CHF 2) for quick hops of three stops or less — a CHF 1 saving per trip adds up across a day. Available from any vending machine.
- The 9-am day pass (CHF 8) is CHF 2 cheaper than the standard day pass and valid all day after 09:00. If your day starts late, choose this version.
- Buy multi-day passes for a full week rather than daily tickets — the 7-day pass works out to roughly CHF 6 per day, vs CHF 10 for daily passes.
- SBB Saver Day Pass — an SBB-issued day pass that combines all Swiss public transport for a day, often discounted via SBB Mobile to CHF 39 for 1st-class equivalent travel beyond Geneva.
- Children under 6 travel free when accompanied by an adult; 6–24 year-olds pay the junior fare. Family Card (free for SBB Half-Fare cardholders) extends free travel to children under 16.
- Combine modes — use the Mouettes (free with Transport Card) for the harbour crossings rather than walking the long way around the lake. It’s free, and it’s the city’s best photo opportunity.
Accessibility & Mobility
Geneva’s transport network is one of the most accessible in Europe. All trams are low-floor with wheelchair-friendly ramps; most bus routes use low-floor vehicles; the Cornavin station and airport platform are fully step-free; all the major Mouettes piers have ramps. For visitors with mobility impairments, TPG operates a free accompanied-travel service (Service Accompagnement) on request — call 0800 808 091 at least 48 hours in advance to arrange. Wheelchair-accessible taxis are bookable through Centrale Taxi Phone (022 331 41 33), typically a 5–10 franc supplement.
Audio announcements at every stop and visual displays at most are bilingual French and English on tourist routes. The TPG app offers full screen-reader support for visually impaired users.
Official Sources & Further Reading
- TPG — Geneva Public Transport (official site)
- Unireso — Tickets & Zone Map
- Mouettes Genevoises (official site)
- Léman Express — Suburban Rail
- Geneva Tourism — Getting Around
Continue Planning Your Geneva Trip
- Getting to & Around Geneva (pillar)
- Geneva Airport to City Center
- Geneva Transport Card Explained
- Biking in Geneva
- One Day in Geneva Itinerary
Geneva’s public transport is the easiest in any European city of comparable size — one ticket, one zone, free for almost every visitor. Pick up your Transport Card at the airport or at hotel check-in, install the TPG app, and you’ll move from the Old Town to Carouge, the UN to the lake baths, the airport to the centre, all without paying a franc more than your hotel bill. The Mouettes alone are worth a trip.