Novara
Novara is 283 km from Geneva Airport, roughly 3 hours 25 minutes by road; the route crosses into Italy either over the Simplon Pass or, via France, through the Mont Blanc Tunnel, depending on conditions. This Piedmont city between Turin and Milan is crowned by the soaring dome of the Basilica of San Gaudenzio and surrounded by the flooded rice fields of the Po plain. AirportsTransfers.ch offers private transfers there directly from Geneva arrivals.
- Distance from GVA: 283 km
- Drive time: about 3 h 25
- Border crossing: into Italy, via the Simplon or via France and the Mont Blanc Tunnel
- Known for: the San Gaudenzio dome, the Broletto, rice and risotto, Gorgonzola
- Best for: business between Turin and Milan, food, a base for the lakes
From Geneva Airport to Novara
There are two main routes. The first follows the Rhône valley to Brig and crosses the Simplon Pass into Italy, then descends past Domodossola and along the Toce valley close to Lake Maggiore, before continuing south on the motorway to Novara. The second route goes through France and the Mont Blanc Tunnel, then down the Aosta Valley and east across the Piedmont plain. Your chauffeur chooses the route according to the season, weather and traffic; in winter the tunnel route is often preferred.
By train, the journey from Geneva normally requires at least one change, usually via Domodossola or Milan. For business visitors and families, a door-to-door transfer is the straightforward option.
The city of San Gaudenzio
Novara's skyline is dominated by the dome of the Basilica of San Gaudenzio, designed by Alessandro Antonelli, the architect who also built Turin's Mole Antonelliana. The slender brick and stone spire, topped by a statue of the saint, rises high above the city and can be seen from far across the rice fields. Antonelli also designed the neoclassical portico of the cathedral, which stands opposite the old baptistery, one of the oldest buildings in the city.
Nearby, the Broletto is a medieval complex of civic buildings arranged around a courtyard, now used for exhibitions and home to the city's art gallery. The Visconti-Sforza castle, restored and partly converted for cultural use, sits beside a park on the line of the old walls. The Teatro Coccia, an elegant opera house, keeps a rich musical tradition alive. Arcaded streets such as Corso Italia and Corso Cavour invite an evening stroll.
Rice country and local food
The province of Novara, together with neighbouring Vercelli, is one of Europe's main rice-growing areas. In spring the fields are flooded and the plain turns into a vast mirror reflecting the sky and the distant Alps, a striking sight from the road. Rice naturally dominates local cooking: the speciality is paniscia, a hearty risotto with beans, vegetables and salami. The area is also one of the historic production zones of Gorgonzola cheese, and the city is known for its biscottini, light biscuits traditionally dipped in wine or coffee.
Day trips and business
- Lake Maggiore: Stresa, Arona and the Borromean Islands, under an hour away
- Lake Orta: the island of San Giulio and the Sacro Monte of Orta
- Milan: the Duomo, the Last Supper and fashion districts, within easy reach
- Vercelli: the Basilica of Sant'Andrea and the heart of rice country
Novara's location between Turin and Milan, close to Milan Malpensa airport, makes it a convenient base for companies and a logistics hub. Business travellers can combine meetings in several cities with a chauffeur by the hour, minimum two hours, and companies can receive invoices for every journey.
Practical tips
Novara is flat and easy to explore on foot or by bicycle. Summers in the Po plain are hot and humid, and mosquitoes are common near the rice fields, so plan accordingly. Hotels are found in the historic centre and on the outskirts near the motorway junctions. If you are flying home from Malpensa instead of Geneva, a one-way transfer from Geneva to Novara can be part of an open-jaw trip; just tell us your plans.
How to book your transfer to Novara
Book online with AirportsTransfers.ch; the fixed price per vehicle is shown before you pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Your chauffeur monitors your flight, greets you in arrivals with a name sign and waits at no extra charge if you land late. The Mercedes E-Class and S-Class carry up to three passengers, the V-Class up to seven with ten bags, and the Sprinter minibus suits groups. Child seats are fitted on request, and skis or bulky luggage should be declared at booking. For questions, call or WhatsApp +41 78 346 56 77.
