Geneva

Situated between the Alps and the Jura Mountains at the very southwest corner of Switzerland, Geneva is the most French of the Swiss cities. With hundreds of international governmental agencies and other organizations based here, it's also a very multicultural scene of many languages and cuisines.

Geneva has a much smaller gay scene than Zurich or even Lausanne. Look  for men strolling hand in hand in the International Quarter near the main train station. Pride takes place in early July.

Getting here

Geneva International Airport, commonly known as Cointrin, is about 3 miles northwest of downtown Geneva. Pop downstairs to the terminal and hop aboard whatever train about to leave. All of them take you to Geneva’s main train station.

Many people visit from other European cities via the excellent train service. Swiss Federal Railways has trains from Zurich, Bern, Basel, Lausanne and other cities. A rail pass is a shockingly affordable way to get around, even in first class.

Getting around

Geneval has a compact downtown, so you’ll want to walk or rent a bicycle to get around. Trains whisk you to nearby towns in no time flat. Excellent tram and trolleybus services are operated by TPG

Neighborhoods

The gay bars here are mostly small and intimate, most of them sprinkled among streets around the main train station.

The shopping center beneath the station exits onto rue du Mont Blanc, a pedestrian street lined with shops and sidewalk cafes, which then leads to Pont du Mont Blanc. Along quai Mont Blanc are more outdoor cafes, bike rentals, ferries, and excursion boats moorings.

A short walk to the left along the waterfront, a small fee admits you onto a narrow spit of land thrusting into the water. Here in summer beyond the pebbly family beach is a small but cruisy narrow park at the point; it's been a gay meeting place for generations. Also here is Buvette des Bains des Paquis, a long-time gay-friendly restaurant with waterside seatings.

Currency and Money

The franc is the local currency for Switzerland (and neighboring Liechtenstein). Many businesses also accept euros, but don’t count on it.

Local media and resources

360 Magazine is a French-language guide to gay Geneva, Lausanne, and beyond. GayMap.ch and SwissGay.ch have listings for several Swiss cities including Geneva.

The Dialogai Center (11-13 rue de la Navigation) local community and information center has a cafe, film nights and special parties.

MySwitzerland.com has gay pages included among lots of general information, on this official Swiss Tourism website.

Bars

Algion Bar (16 rue Sismondi), transforms from typical Pâquis bar and cafe by day into a most unusual nightclub by night, with DJs and a marvelous mix of people.

Boudoir de la Baronne (3 rue Rossi), open until 5am, small dance floor,  DJs, and theme nights.

La Bretelle (17 rue des Etuves), hip mix of people, small nook of a bar.

Concorde (3 rue de Berne), bar and cafe, busy locals' hangout, off rue Mont Blanc.

Cruising Canyon (15, rue Dr. Alfred-Vincent), sex club, men for men, glory holes, maze, dark room, sling, cabins, videos, SM/fetish and naked nights.

Le Déclic (28 boulevard du Pont d'Arve), popular, relaxed, and comfortable gem of a bar near the Arve River, ten minutes by tram 13 from the station.

La Garçonnière (4 rue de la Rotisserie), intimate drag cabaret show and dance club, 11:30pm and 2:30am performances.

La Fabrik 46" Disco (8-10, Rue des Vieux-Grenadiers) gay-friendly Thursday through Saturday dance club.

Nathan (6 rue Baudit), chic gay bar, popular hang-out on obscure back street behind the train station, two bright modern rooms, usually full, young casual international crowd, lots of events, free WiFi.

Le Phare (3 rue Lissignol), young gay, East Village sort of crowd, touch of counter-culture ambience, casual living-room style, indoor and outdoor benches, open from 3pm daily.

Reunion at MOA Club (22 chemin des Bataillles, Vernier), four gay "Underground" parties, one Saturday night each season, pull a mostly male dance crowd here, five kilometers outside Geneva (free buses from the station). An after-after-party takes place Sunday at Bains de l'Est sauna.

For nights out dancing, many from Geneva take the 45 minute train trip to Lausanne for ongoing 43&10, MAD, and Trixx club nights and the Jungle special parties.

Shopping

Near main station, Manor (6 rue Cornavin)  super store sells about everything a traveler might need, cheap -- from groceries and clothes to cell phones and batteries.

Substation (14 rue de Neuchâtel), gay porn shop, videos, dark rooms, cabins, all the magazines and accessories you'd expect.

Saunas

Avanchets (avenue de Batista) near the airport, mixed (gay and straight) action.

Bains de l'Est (3 rue de l'Est), across Rhone River, constantly renovated facility, steamroom, Finnish sauna, private cabins, video lounge, sling-room, orgy area, dark room, solarium, workout facilities, and bar. Naked parties, Sunday cake parties, bears' nights.

Pradier Sauna (8 rue Pradier), downtown men's sauna close to main station, steam, Jacuzzi, solarium, videos, bar.

Sauna des Sources (17 rue des Sources), the former Gemeaux, new management, new themes, broader all-gender client base.

Restaurants

Au Platane (91 boulevard de la Cluse), terrace under the trees, French and Swiss specialties.

La Certitude (7 rue Rossi), late dining hours until 11 (midnight if reserved ahead).

Le Comptoir (9 rue de Richemont), with South Asian cuisine and sushi à la New York.

Le Nid'poule (26 rue Adrien-Lachenal), "fresh French" cuisine, amiable hosts Phillipe and Lionel attend to every detail. Near sauna Bains de l'Est -make a night of it without venturing far.

Accommodations

Hotel Astoria (6 place Cornavin), three-star choice at the station.

Hotel Lido (8 rue Chantepoulet; Hotel-lido.ch), not too fancy, good price, one of most convenient central lodging options; free transit passes to get around town.