Travel Insurance:
We recommend that all participants should take out personal travel and health insurance to cover this trip.
Entry Visa:
The conditions for entry to Switzerland vary according to nationality. Switzerland is a Schengen Area member. Please check on the website Swiss representations and travel advice, or with the Swiss embassy in your country, what specific papers you personally need in order to participate in the workshop in Geneva.
We have sent you an official invitation letter, which can for sure be attached to your VISA application dossier. Please feel free to reach us if you need any further help from us.
Arriving in Geneva
- By Air: Geneva Airport is located in the North-West of the city centre. The typical transfer time to the city center is 20-30 minutes with public transport. Geneva is extremely well connected as you can see on the airport site. If you land at Zurich Airport, to reach Geneva you can either take the train (~3 hours) or book a local flight (~45 min).
- By Train: Switzerland's train network is of excellent standard. Thanks to its central location, Geneva is easily accessible by train, e.g. Paris (~3h30) or Milan (~3h50). Cornavin is the central station in the heart of the city with a non-stop connection to Geneva airport (8 min). You can find train connections and timetables on the SBB-CFF page.
- By Road: Thanks to the efficient road network throughout Switzerland and Europe, getting to Geneva by car is easy. Note that a tax sticker, the so-called "vignette," is compulsory to drive on Swiss highways and semi-highways. The "vignette" is sold at customs, post offices, and garages for 40 CHF and is valid for one calendar year.
- Moving in Town: Unireso stands for a group of 8 transport companies in Geneva and its region, including Geneva's public transport (TPG). The circuits represent more than 450 kilometres all around Geneva and into the near borders of the canton of Vaud and of France. The agreement between these companies makes it possible to travel with the same ticket on all the different forms of transport (bus, tram, boat, train). Since 2007, all visitors staying at a hotel, youth hostel or camping in Geneva can benefit from the Free Geneva Transport Card, at no additional cost. This personal and non-transferable pass is established upon the visitor's check-in at the hotel of his choice, enabling its holder to use the entire public transportation network without restriction (bus, train and boat), with validity for the entire duration of the stay including the departure day. Before your trip, you could also try to contact the hotel for a pre-check-in online, they may be able to send you a digital pass starting on your arrival date.
Going to the Swiss Alps:
- For the invited participants, we will arrange a shuttle from the university (departure at around 13:00).
- If someone wishes to go directly to the Swiss Alps and skip the kick-off session in Geneva (please let us know if you plan so), they can first take a train to Sion station, then take bus 351 (Anzère télécabine) and get off at the stop "St-Romain, centre". The main chalet (Mayen 2003, Rue de l'Eglise 5, 1966 Ayent), which we will work there, is just next to the stop. For example, if you start from the Geneva Gare Cornavin, the whole route will take you 2.5 hours.
Travel after the workshop
If you plan to spend a few private days in the Swiss Alps, you may need to purchase some travel day passes for public transportation. There are two options for that:
- Swiss Travel Pass. This is sold by the official railways, and it costs <100 CHF/day (the longer duration the cheaper).
- Coop SBB Day Pass. This is a special promotion from the local supermarket (you need a local to purchase for you in advance); the price is 55 CHF/day.
Swiss Power Plugs:
See details here. The 2.5 Amps type C (two wires) European plugs fit in the Swiss (type J) sockets.
