City pass Geneva: transport and tourist card for Geneva

During our visit to Geneva, we chose to buy the Geneva city pass: the Geneva Pass. And it was a great initiative! Indeed, this city pass is complete and allows you to visit a multitude of tourist places but also to benefit from attractive reductions.
This pass really convinced us and that's what I'm going to show you in this article by detailing all its advantages, the visits included as well as the reductions and possible alternatives to this pass.

• The Geneva Pass, Geneva's city pass
• Alternatives to the Geneva city pass
• Summary: Geneva Pass and activities
• My opinion on the Geneva city pass

City pass Geneva:
Buy your city-pass for Geneva directly and benefit from free admission and discounts on a large number of visits and excursions. Buy your pass

The Geneva Pass, Geneva's city pass

I will start this article by presenting this Geneva city pass in more detail. Indeed, it is very complete and there are many things to say about it! Without forgetting the practical side which can prove to be useful and interesting if you are interested in this city pass: prices, periods of validity, purchase,... Let's take stock right away!

• Presentation of the Geneva Pass
• How long is the Geneva Pass valid for?
• How much does the Geneva city pass cost?
• Where to get the Geneva Pass?
• What is included in the Geneva city pass?
• Is the Geneva city pass really interesting?

Presentation of the Geneva Pass

Before starting to tell you more about the Geneva Pass, here is a quick reminder of what a city pass is from a general point of view. A city pass is a tourist card that gives you access to places to visit in the city for free or with a discount. This pass can also give access to activities, discounts in certain stores, restaurants, shops, etc. Public transport is also often included in city passes. Each city pass has its own specificities and is adapted according to the city in which it is offered. Some will be very comprehensive, as is the case for the Geneva Pass. Let's take a look at the main advantages offered by the Geneva city pass:

• Free entries:
  This is one of the most important main points of this pass: the free entrances that you will be able to benefit from. In total, there are no less than 40 possible free admissions: museums, visits, activities, cruises, etc. We detail all of this just after!
• Reductions :
  In addition to these free admissions, you can also benefit from reductions for certain activities: between 5CHF and 10CHF or from 10% to 50% depending on each location.
• Public transport :
  An equally important point in this Geneva city pass is access to all public transport throughout the city of Geneva! A very interesting advantage if you stay several days in Geneva.
• A detailed guide:
  And in order to present all of these advantages to you, you will have a complete guide presenting all the places and activities to which you will have access, whether free of charge or with a reduction; as well as a map of the city.

As you will have understood, this Geneva city pass is really complete at first sight. Other important elements are also to be taken into account before buying this pass, such as the period of validity for example.

How long is the Geneva Pass valid for?

The validity period of a pass is an important element to take into account. Depending on the length of your stay in the city, the pass may or may not be interesting.
Once again, the Geneva city pass has it all! You will have the possibility to choose between different durations: 24h, 48h or 72h. Whatever the length of your stay, there is a good chance that you will find the city pass that suits you!

How much does the Geneva city pass cost?

The price of the Geneva Pass will vary depending on the validity period you choose. Here is a summary of the prices per person for this pass:

• Pass 24h : 24 €
• Pass 48h : 34 €
• Pass 72h : 42 €

Where to get the Geneva Pass?

To buy the Geneva Pass, it's simple. You can buy it online very easily. Simply follow the link below, then choose the number of people and a date, then select the desired validity period.

Buy your Geneva city pass!

When you have purchased your pass, you simply have to go to the Geneva tourist office to collect your definitive pass and receive the essential information documents for visiting Geneva.

What is included in the Geneva city pass?

Now that you know a little more about this city pass, its prices, its different validity periods, ... let's go into detail about what is included in this pass. First, I will introduce you to the visits and activities that are free thanks to the Geneva Pass.

How to use your Geneva city pass?
Using the city pass is relatively simple. For each of the museums and activities you wish to do, show your city pass when paying. You will be able to access the activity or the visit for free, or benefit from the reduction indicated.

Activities

• The mini train:
  The Geneva mini-train offers different tours: Old Town, parks and residences or even Left Bank. Whatever trick you want to do, they are all accessible for free.
• The tourist bus:
  The Geneva tourist bus takes you to discover the international district and then the Left Bank of Geneva.
• Guided tours:
  As with the mini-train, various guided tours are included in the pass. You will have the choice between visiting the Old Town, visiting Carouge or even themed guided tours.
• The Salève cable car:
  Take a little height to admire Geneva thanks to the cable car taking you to the top of Mont Salève, on the French side!
• Cruises :
  Lake Geneva has an important place in Geneva and what could be better than discovering it aboard a boat! Different boat excursions are included in the city pass: one-hour cruise, Mermaid cruise, cruise aboard a solar-electric boat and even pedal boat rental.
• Nautical activities:
  Aside from cruises, you can also enjoy the lake by renting a Stand up Paddle or by going to Genève Plage: diving board, Olympic pool, slide, etc.

Museums

In addition to these activities and visits, admission to many museums is also included in the Geneva city pass:

• The International Museum of the Red Cross:
  An extremely interesting museum, a must-visit in Geneva! It presents the various missions of the Red Cross in the world, its issues, its challenges, etc. The testimonies and the various exhibitions are of high quality.
• The Philippe Patek Museum:
  Lovers of watches and jewelry, don't miss this museum. The collection of watches and clocks is impressive. A very nice exhibition!
• The International Museum of the Reformation:
  The history of Geneva is closely linked with the Protestant Reformation which took place in the XNUMXth century. This museum presents this part of the history of Geneva.
• The Martin Bodmer Foundation:
  A museum presenting a library made up of more than 150 pieces. One of the largest private libraries in the world.
• Saint-Pierre Cathedral:
  Entrance to the cathedral is free, however, thanks to the city pass, you can access the towers of the cathedral, offering you a breathtaking view of Geneva and the lake; as well as at the archaeological site of this cathedral.

• The Museum of Ethnography:
  One of the most beautiful museums in Geneva, rewarded many times. Its ethnographic collection is one of the finest in Switzerland.
• The Museum of Art and History:
  Another very nice museum in Geneva. You can admire the exhibitions retracing Western culture through archaeology, fine arts and applied arts.
  Some exhibitions can be seen at Rath Museum as well as Tavel House, both included in the city pass.
• The Ariana Museum:
  Specializing in the arts of fire, it exhibits many pieces explaining the history of ceramics and glass. One of the most important in Europe in this regard.
• The Baur Foundation:
  This foundation is dedicated to the arts of the Far East. More than 9000 objects from China and Japan.
• The Barbier-Muller Museum:
  Located in the Old Town, this museum presents one of the most important collections of primitive art.
• The Natural History Museum:
  One of the most important in the country, this museum offers beautiful exhibitions for both children and adults!
• And many others :
  The Exploracentre, an interactive museum; the Contemporary Art Center; the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art; the Swiss National Museum; the Museum of the Swiss in the World; the Maison du Salève; the Château de Voltaire; the Science History Museum; or even CERN, the largest particle physics laboratory in the world!

Transportation

We quickly mentioned it at the beginning of the article, the Geneva Pass allows free access to all public transport in the city for the entire period of validity of your pass.
In case of control, you just have to present your pass. ID may be requested at this time.

Discounts and other benefits

The main attraction of the city pass is the freebies it can offer. But the city pass also allows you to benefit from reductions which can prove to be very interesting.

• On visits:
  Reductions on the visit in the form of a “Geneva Mystery” game; on the Old Town Segway Tour; on the culinary tour of Geneva; on a TaxiBike ride; on a running tour of Geneva; on coach excursions; or even on an excursion to Chamonix.
• On the activities:
  Discounts on renting a motorboat on the lake; but also on the rental of kayaks, canoes or on a rafting descent; on a cruise along the Rhone; or on an Escape Game.
• Receive a gift:
  And yes, some museums even offer you a gift in addition to the entrance. This will be the case if you go to the Museum of the History of Science, the Maison Tavel or even CERN, the particle physics laboratory.
• Le pocket wifi :
  Take advantage of a 20% reduction on this pocket wifi allowing you to benefit from unlimited internet access.

Is the Geneva city pass really interesting?

Now that the Geneva city pass has no more secrets for you, you may still be wondering if this pass is really interesting.
In order to answer this question as simply and as clearly as possible, let's take a concrete example:
you want to stay one or two full day(s) in Geneva and visit the main places of tourist interest.
The must-see places that you are likely to do in priority over the day, or over two days, will be:

• a cruise on Lake Geneva: €16;
• visit to the Red Cross Museum: €14;
• a guided tour of the Old Town: €14;
• climb to the top of the towers of Saint-Pierre Cathedral: €6;
• a visit to at least one museum, the Philippe Patek museum for example: €9.

All the visits indicated are included in the Geneva city pass and the prices are per person. All of these visits, whether over one or two days, therefore cost €59 per person, whereas with one of the 3 city passes, you would have paid between €24 and €42.
Whatever the length of your stay and the activities you want to do, chances are that the sum of all the visits will be more than the price of a city pass.
So, for me, the Geneva Pass is a really interesting option to visit Geneva and save on the price of your visits.

Alternatives to the Geneva city pass

If, despite everything, the Geneva city pass has not convinced you or does not correspond to the visits you wish to make, you always have the possibility of booking your activities independently.
Personally, I find that this city pass is very complete and inexpensive, given all that it offers. It therefore seems difficult to me to plan so many visits for a budget lower than the prices of the 3 versions of the city pass.
In the next part, I offer you a summary including the activities to book independently if the city pass does not meet your expectations.

Summary: Geneva Pass and activities

Here is the summary of everything we mentioned in this article, namely the Geneva Pass and the activities that can be booked independently.

My opinion on the Geneva city pass

To conclude this article on the Geneva city pass, I was very pleasantly surprised by all that it could offer for the price displayed. It is really a good deal to opt for this pass. If, like us, you are visiting Geneva for the first time, then you will have plenty to occupy your days with all the activities and museums that are included in it. Some activities are even suitable for the youngest, so perfect if you are traveling with the family. This city pass really has it all and that's why I recommend it: buy your city pass with your eyes closed, you won't be disappointed!