Transitioning from Driving to Dreaming
Geneva International Airport (GVA)
The IATA code of Geneva airport is GVA. The Geneva International Airport sits along Zurich, as one of Europe’s leading airports; it is the second-largest airport in Switzerland. Therefore, it is one of the busiest airports, and they fly to 100 destinations. Location Genève Aéroport, Route de l’Aeroport 21, 1215 Le Grand-Saconnex, Switzerland. Logistics The three busiest routes of this airport, calculated by passenger each year, are London with (2,469,786), Paris with (1,052,447), and Amsterdam with (679,826). It serves domestic, regional, and international passengers and cargo services for over 30 airlines. The airport sits along the Swiss-French border and is four kilometers away from the city center. The airport connects with the city center by bus, train, taxi, and hotel shuttles. Before leaving the arrival zone, make sure to pick up your free 80-minute public transport ticket at the luggage retrieving hall. The airport’s parking lot is free for 10 minutes; after that time, you are expected to pay CHF 2 per hour or CHF 30 per day. However, parking by the Palexpo complex, 500m away from the terminal, is free for up to three hours. You can find more information about arrivals and departures on their website.
Facilities
- You can use free Wi-Fi throughout the airport, but you will need an access code, which you can seek at the little purple stations by scanning your boarding pass.
- You can use showers at the airport for around CHF 15. The showers are located at the arrival and luggage area.
- Children can spend their time at the playground between gates A5 and A8 and the Children’s Area in the Transit Zone.
- You can find a meditation room in the Transit Zone, near the airline lounges.
- The airport offers 25 bars, restaurants, and cafes, where you can get takeaway food in spots like Street Food Company or sit-down places in areas like Bistro Geneve.
- There are 29 shops where you can shop, from the mainstay duty-free shops to high-end stores and vending machines stocked with essential goods and pharmacy items.
Main Airports in Switzerland Switzerland is located in the center of Europe, which makes this country’s airports some of the busiest in the world.
Zurich Airport (ZRH)
Zurich airport is the main airport in Switzerland and is also recognized as one of the best airports in Europe, with over 10 million passengers in the past year. This airport offers all kinds of services to make travelers feel comfortable, and it also provides a variety of ways for them to pass the time. Location Zurich Airport, 8058 Kloten, Switzerland Logistics The three busiest routes of this airport, calculated by passengers per year, are London (888,876), Berlin (508,589), and Vienna (429,968). You can reach the airport from the city center by train or car in only 11 minutes. You can park your vehicle for a short time to pick up passengers from the arrival hall in the Arrival curbside lane. However, for more extended stays, it is recommended to park in P1 or P6. You can find information about their arrival and departure on their website. Many airport hotels offer free transport services to and from the airport. Therefore, you will find your bus along the inner curbside lanes of Arrival 2. You can find the timetables and get the online ticket to Zurich Airport here. You can find information on car rental services within Zurich Airport here. It will take you 30 minutes to get from the check-in desk to the gate since the airport is a manageable size, meaning that transfer times and routes are short.
Facilities
- More than 80 shops and grocery stores are open seven days a week, usually until 21:00.
- You can use fast internet and Wi-Fi service throughout the airport, for two hours, free of charge.
- A separate bus collects SWISS Business passengers on short-haul flights that land on the platform. The bus goes straight to the gate with no waiting time.
- Because of the short transfer times and direct routes, changing flights can be quick and efficient.
- The transit area offers shops, restaurants, showers, and lounges for travelers who stay longer.
- If you want to use showers, you can find them at the Service Center for a fee of CHF 15.
- You can check out webcams around the airport to indulge some of your voyeuristic tendencies.
- If you are looking for a hotel, two options are recommended, a mid-range hotel such as Hyatt Regency, or a luxurious hotel like Radisson Blu.
- If you lose something at the airport, you can check here to help you find your lost goodies.
Switzerland has seven main airports that serve domestic and international flights and many private Swiss airports. These airports offer pre-flight meals and many fun ways to spend your time while waiting for your departure.
EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL)
The airport of BSL is located in the municipality of Saint-Louise in France, and it serves the cities of Basel, Mulhouse, and Freiburg. Therefore, it is administered by France and Switzerland. Location EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, 68300 Saint-Louis, France. Logistics A bus service (BVB number 50) is there to take you from the airport to Basel station, in only 20 minutes. Flixbus, another bus service, offers you rides from the airport to Zurich, Freiburg, Colmar, and Strasbourg. You can use free Wi-Fi throughout the airport. You can find more information about arrivals and departures on their website. Parking at both the French and Swiss sides is free, for either long or short stay. However, there is no bus service from the car park to the terminal, so you have to walk for about 10 minutes. There are rental car services available at the airport, such as Avis, Budget, Enterprise, and many others.
Facilities
- Thirteen bars, restaurants, and snack stops are available at the airport.
- There are not many options for you to shop at the airport. There are just a few duty-free stores and a few newsstands, so it would be best to buy your souvenirs before coming to the airport.
- The children could get comfortable at a couple of play areas that the airport offers within the terminal.
