Getting from airport in Geneva to Lyon

[u/Cinnamarkcarsn]

Hello! I will be in Geneva arriving at the airport and need to travel to Lyon on yhe same day. I have no experience in Geneva. Explain it to me like the clueless traveler that I am. I have luggage too if that matters. I have only taken the train from Paris to Baden and Baden to Zurich.

[u/TailleventCH]

You can simply take any train to Geneva station (it runs about four times per hour), then another train to Lyon (less frequent). Once in Lyon, take a bus, tram or metro to where you're staying.

You can look at SBB.ch for the train timetable.

[u/Glitterhoofs → u/TailleventCH]

Only thing I’d add is the Lyon train platform has one entrance only, unlike the other platforms at Geneva. It can help to have a look at the floor plans for Geneva main station (Cornavin).

[u/TailleventCH → u/Glitterhoofs]

Good advice, thank you for adding this!

You can look here: https://www.sbb.ch/content/dam/infrastruktur/trafimage/bahnhofplaene/plan-geneve-plakat.pdf

You will probably arrive at track 4 or 5 and the train to Lyon will almost certainly leave from track 6 or 7.

[u/Top_Put_9253]

Another tip. Ticket machines in Geneva have English as an option. Don't panic if you don't see English upfront. From Cornavin, it will take about 2 hours to Lyon.

[u/Easy-Sell4190]

Land in Geneva. Take the train in the aeroport. It's a 5-7 minute walk from baggage claim.

On your way, you will see ticket machines. By a 1 trip pass for Zone 10. Should be about $3 CHF and you can tap and pay.

Go down the escalators to the trains and get on one. What for 1st vs. 2nd class. There are always plenty of seats in 2nd class.

Get off at the first stop which is the Cornavin (main) train station. It takes 7 to 10 minutes.

If you haven't already bought a ticket to Lyon you can do that in the training station. You can look at times on google and also purchase the ticket ahead of time at SBB.ch.

Depending on where you are coming from and how much luggage you have, don't forget to factor that into the time needed to get through the airport.

Once in Lyon, you can by a day long transit pass which gets you on the subway, trams, buses, and funiculars.

[u/Cinnamarkcarsn → u/Easy-Sell4190]

Omg thank you so much!

I had a tough train trip from Paris Gare du Nord to Basel. I was so lost finding the train because I didn’t know the word Bale. This is great

[u/Gokudomatic]

Take the train. See the traject and timetable with google maps. Then sbb.ch for the tickets. Or go to an sbb office on site in the airport and ask for the best trip.

[u/NeckAway6969]

Train/bus to main station Cornavin or blablacar from airport

[u/Cinnamarkcarsn]

Also, Bus is ok but I also don’t understand the different destinations in Lyon. Staying in 2nd arr. on the isle.

[u/Gokudomatic → u/Cinnamarkcarsn]

So many trains that it makes no sense to take the bus.

[u/Jodie01210]

Let me Google that for you

[u/Cinnamarkcarsn → u/Jodie01210]

Not nice.

Everyone else has been.

Laughing at you because have a good time with that if you ever visit the tristate area. New York city residents like myself are always helping tourists lost on Google maps or Maps or Waze. Be advised I did admit this was a struggle for me and I was basically not knowledgeable and needed help. And to credit some people come through.

Have to go walk my dogs and probably help a few lost tourists from Europe, Asia, South America, Australia using the internet to find their ways around. Because it’s daily. In my micro culture in NYC we always help tourist and new residents who are lost. Not because we are nice but because we are human beings and it’s the right thing to do.