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City guide

Geneva

Switzerland

In Geneva you play at home: life happens in French, public school is free and nature starts at the end of the street. The real challenges lie elsewhere: cost of living, housing, and health insurance to sort out on arrival.

Currency
Swiss franc (CHF)
Language
French
Time vs Paris
None
Emergencies
144 (medical), 117 (police)

FIAFE network

The Accueil for French-speaking families

In each city, a volunteer-run association from the FIAFE network welcomes, informs and helps French-speaking families settling in.

Genève Accueil

Since 1998

Since 1998, Genève Accueil has connected francophones at the end of the lake: coffee meetups, hikes, cultural outings and events held up to the French Residence.

Where to meet them

Contact by email; activities run all year round.

Visit the association's website See the FIAFE page

What they offer

  • Coffee meetups for newcomers
  • Hikes, snowshoeing and nature outings
  • Social events, sometimes at the French Residence
  • Newsletter and mutual-support network for members

Other support networks

Two large national networks also support the French abroad, each with its local chapter.

  • UFE

    UFE Genève

    The Geneva chapter of the Union des Français de l'Étranger, based in Carouge: welcome, mutual aid and social events for the French at the end of the lake.

    Visit the website
  • Français du monde – ADFE

    Français du monde – ADFE Suisse

    The Swiss section of Français du monde - ADFE defends the rights of French residents in Switzerland and helps with cross-border paperwork.

    Visit the website

The French business network

The local French chamber of commerce (CCI France International network) is a real asset for work: networking, job offers and help to restart a career or start a business locally.

CCI France International

CCI France Suisse

The Franco-Swiss chamber, headquartered in Geneva, brings together over 1,000 companies: professional meetups, job offers and practical advice to settle and work in Switzerland.

Visit the website CCI country page

The online community

The Facebook groups to join

Before you even land in Geneva, Facebook groups are the best shortcut: ask your questions, find a flat, a nanny, a second-hand stroller, and often your first friends.

  • 🔥 Very active 🔒 Private In English

    Geneva EXPATS

    👥 101,200 members · ≈ 401 posts/week

    View the group
  • 🔥 Very active Public FR + EN

    Genève Appartement, Chambre, Sous-location, Colloque, Maison à louer

    👥 73,900 members · ≈ 74 posts/week

    View the group
  • 🔥 Very active Public In English

    Apartments in Geneva/Vaud

    👥 61,200 members · ≈ 287 posts/week

    View the group
  • Public In English

    EXPATS IN SWITZERLAND 🇨🇭✨ Lifestyle, Networking & Travel Tips 🌍

    👥 59,100 members

    View the group
  • 🔥 Very active 🔒 Private FR + EN

    ***Housing in Geneva - Logement à Genève***

    👥 57,000 members · ≈ 75 posts/week

    View the group
  • 🔥 Very active 🔒 Private In English

    Expats in Geneva

    👥 52,200 members · ≈ 269 posts/week

    View the group
  • 🔒 Private In French

    Les Français 🇨🇵 de Suisse 🇨🇭

    👥 43,300 members · ≈ 41 posts/week

    View the group
  • 🔥 Very active 🔒 Private FR + EN

    Geneva & Switzerland Expats Community

    👥 40,800 members · ≈ 496 posts/week

    View the group
  • 🔥 Very active Public In English

    GENEVA - Housing, Apartments, Rooms, Sublets

    👥 38,500 members · ≈ 92 posts/week

    View the group
  • 🔥 Very active Public In English

    Expats in Switzerland

    👥 36,700 members · ≈ 78 posts/week

    View the group
  • Public In English

    Genève/ Geneva Expats

    👥 34,700 members · ≈ 64 posts/week

    View the group
  • 🔥 Very active 🔒 Private In French

    GENÈVE Marketplace

    👥 34,000 members · ≈ 1,133 posts/week

    View the group
💬 Explore the full group directory

Compiled from Facebook's public search, links checked in July 2026. Group sizes change all the time.

AEFE network

Accredited French schools

Schools accredited by the French Ministry of Education follow the French curriculum: your child can continue their schooling seamlessly, abroad and back in France.

💰 Compare school fees

Source: official AEFE directory, verified June 2026. aefe.gouv.fr

Tutoring and private lessons

To support your children's schooling across two systems, two solutions designed for expat families.

  • Axiom Academic

    Private lessons and tutoring for expat families: French curriculum, IB and British curriculum, at home or online, with teachers who know the schools in your city.

    Discover Axiom Academic

  • IB Tutor

    Tutors specialised in the International Baccalaureate: online lessons in every IB subject, to aim for top grades from MYP to the diploma.

    Discover IB Tutor

Schools and education

The great Geneva luxury: public school is free, solid and in French. The AEFE network is limited to one primary school in town, but neighbouring France widens the options a lot.

Good to know

  • Geneva public school starts at age 4; registration goes through the canton, by neighbourhood.
  • The École primaire française de Genève (AEFE) follows the French curriculum from ages 5 to 11.
  • International private schools (Ecolint, Florimont...) are renowned but pricey: plan lists and budget.
  • Many families settle in neighbouring France (Ferney, Saint-Genis) with classic French schools.

Children's healthcare

The Swiss system is excellent but fully insurance-based: every family member needs their own health insurance (LAMal) within three months of arrival.

Good to know

  • Take out LAMal for each child on arrival: the legal deadline is three months, retroactive.
  • Child premiums are reduced; compare insurers, the differences are real.
  • City paediatricians and the HUG university hospital provide top-level care.
  • 144 is the medical number; paediatric on-call services cover evenings and weekends.

French-speaking community

This is the largest French community in Switzerland, swelled daily by cross-border workers. France never feels far, but Geneva has its own, more reserved codes.

Good to know

  • Genève Accueil (FIAFE network) has run coffees, hikes and outings since 1998.
  • UFE Genève, in Carouge, completes the French associative network.
  • International organisations make the city a global village: your neighbour comes from everywhere.
  • Facebook groups of francophone mums in Greater Geneva overflow with cross-border tips.

Family outings and events

With the lake and mountains less than an hour away, weekends fill themselves: swimming at Les Pâquis in summer, sledging and skiing in winter, with the Jet d'eau as a backdrop.

Good to know

  • The Bains des Pâquis and lake beaches are the family meeting point in the warm season.
  • Skiing and sledging are under an hour away (Jura, Salève, the Alps).
  • The Escalade festival in December is Geneva's great children's ritual.
  • Many museums are free on the first Sunday of the month.

These landmarks change fast: the MumExpat community will keep them up to date.

The arrival reflex

The apps to download when you land

Drop your bags, download these and you're set: the apps everyone in Geneva uses to get around, get things delivered and organise daily life.

Getting around

  • SBB Mobile

    The Swiss railways app, essential for trains and the Léman Express: real-time timetables, tickets and your half-fare travelcard in your pocket.

    App Store Google Play

  • tpg+

    Geneva's official public transport app: real-time trams and buses, journey planning and tickets across Greater Geneva, French side included.

    App Store Google Play

  • FAIRTIQ

    Swipe when you board, swipe when you get off: the app automatically charges the best fare on public transport across Switzerland.

    App Store Google Play

  • Uber

    Uber does operate in Geneva: handy for the airport or late evenings without a tram, when local taxis can be pricey.

    App Store Google Play

  • Donkey Republic

    VéloPartage is Geneva's self-service bike scheme run by Donkey Republic: spot an orange bike in the app, unlock it and ride along the lake.

    App Store Google Play

Food delivery

  • Uber Eats

    A wide choice of Geneva restaurants delivered, from burgers to Thai; delivery is reliable but rarely cheap, this is Switzerland after all.

    App Store Google Play

  • Just Eat

    Formerly eat.ch, the country's other big delivery app: plenty of Geneva restaurants are on it, worth comparing with Uber Eats before ordering.

    App Store Google Play

Groceries

  • Migros

    The app for Migros, a national institution: Cumulus loyalty card, weekly offers and online shopping, you will be using it within your first week.

    App Store Google Play

  • Coop Supermarkt

    The online grocery app of Coop, the other big Swiss supermarket: order and get home delivery, a lifesaver in car-free weeks.

    App Store Google Play

  • Supercard

    Coop's loyalty card as an app: Supercard points and coupons scanned at checkout, everyone in Switzerland has it on their phone.

    App Store Google Play

Everyday life

  • TWINT Prepaid

    Switzerland's mobile payment standard, essential for paying a friend back or at the market; every bank has its own version, this prepaid one works before you have a Swiss account.

    App Store Google Play

  • Too Good To Go

    The anti-waste app is huge in Geneva: surprise bags from neighbourhood bakeries and restaurants at a small price, welcome given the cost of living.

    App Store Google Play

  • TheFork

    TheFork (LaFourchette) works well in Geneva: book restaurants around town and the lake in a couple of taps, often with decent discounts.

    App Store Google Play

  • MeteoSwiss

    The official Swiss weather app, impressively accurate: wind, storm and snow alerts; Genevans check it before any outing to the lake.

    App Store Google Play

Coming soon: the full Geneva guide.

Verified addresses, paediatricians recommended by mums, a family agenda updated every week. Join the waitlist to discover the Geneva page first.

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