Delegates arriving for a conference in International Geneva land only a short drive from the main venues: the Palais des Nations, the Geneva International Conference Centre and the headquarters of many organisations lie between the airport and the lake, typically a matter of minutes by car outside rush hour. The steps that take time are accreditation and security, not the journey. AirportsTransfers.ch drives delegates from the arrivals hall to their hotel or straight to the venue gate, with flight tracking in case of delay.
- Distance: the international district is close to Geneva Airport, a short drive
- Key venues: Palais des Nations, conference centres and organisation headquarters
- Accreditation: often collected at a pass office before first entry
- Security: airport-style screening at entrances; allow time
- Transport: drop-off at the gate; vehicles rarely enter the grounds
The international district at a glance
Much of International Geneva is concentrated on the right bank of the city, around the Place des Nations, with its well-known Broken Chair sculpture facing the Palais des Nations. The Palais houses the United Nations Office at Geneva and hosts a large number of meetings each year. Nearby are the headquarters or offices of organisations such as the World Health Organization, the International Labour Organization, the World Intellectual Property Organization, the UN Refugee Agency and the International Committee of the Red Cross, along with numerous permanent missions. The World Trade Organization is located a little closer to the lake.
The district is green and spread out, with large sites behind fences and gates. Distances between buildings can be longer on foot than they appear on a map, which is worth bearing in mind when moving between meetings.
Accreditation and security
Most meetings require registration in advance and the collection of a badge or pass on arrival. At the United Nations, accreditation is normally handled at a dedicated pass office, separate from the meeting rooms, before you can enter the grounds. Expect to show a passport or identity document and your registration confirmation. Queues can be long on the first morning of a major conference, so many delegates collect badges the day before, if the organisers allow it.
Security screening is similar to airports: bags are scanned and visitors pass through detectors. Keep liquids, laptops and metal items easy to reach, and avoid bringing large suitcases to the venue. If you are coming straight from the airport with luggage, ask the organisers whether a cloakroom is available, or drop bags at your hotel first.
Getting from the airport to the venue
The drive from Geneva Airport to the international district is short, but traffic around the city can slow it at rush hour, and the area is particularly busy during high-level meetings when some roads may be closed or controlled. A private car takes you to the closest permitted drop-off point, usually at or near the main gate or pass office. Tell your chauffeur exactly which entrance your invitation specifies; large sites often have several.
- confirm the gate or entrance in your invitation letter
- arrive early for the first session to allow for badge collection
- keep your registration confirmation on your phone and on paper
- plan where to leave luggage on arrival and departure days
Where delegates stay
Hotels around the station, the right bank of the lake and the international district are popular with delegates because they are close to the venues. During major sessions they fill quickly, and some participants stay in other parts of Geneva, in Nyon or even in Lausanne, about 45 minutes away. A morning transfer and evening return can be booked for the duration of the conference, or a chauffeur by the hour can be arranged for days with meetings at several organisations or missions.
Departure day
Many conferences end late in the afternoon, and delegates often head straight for evening flights. Because the airport is close, this is usually feasible, but allow a buffer for traffic and for check-in queues, which can be longer when many participants leave at once. Arrange to collect luggage from your hotel on the way, or bring it with you if the venue offers a cloakroom.
Booking delegate transfers
AirportsTransfers.ch offers online booking with the fixed price per vehicle displayed before you pay securely by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Delegates are met in the arrivals hall with a name sign, which can show initials or an organisation name for discretion. Flights are tracked, child seats are available on request, and invoices can be issued to organisations. For delegations or multi-day programmes, call or WhatsApp +41 78 346 56 77, at any hour.
