Is Geneva Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

Geneva is Switzerland’s second-most populous city and one of the world’s major centers of international diplomacy.

The city is a real cultural center of Switzerland: if you are into symphonies, concerts, exhibitions, music and film festivals, all kinds of art, paintings, opera – Geneva is a place for you.

Although Geneva is small and doesn’t have a huge number of things to do, in fact, it has most of the things a big city does – just on a much smaller scale, and you have to look for it.

However, one thing typical for Geneva is the fact that mostly everything is extremely expensive here.

It’s only worth shopping for day to day essentials in Switzerland.

Warnings & Dangers in Geneva

OVERALL RISK: LOW

Geneva is very safe to travel to. It is a country where every law is respected and the police are doing their job meticulously. Still, don't let your guard down and be vigilant at all times.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

Transportation in Geneva is very safe, and there are no problems with taxis except that they are very expensive.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM

Pickpockets are not an issue in this country, though petty theft does happen from time to time. Never leave your valuables in plain sight or carry your belongings in your back pocket, easily accessible for someone to steal.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW

As for natural disasters, there are some you may encounter, like floods. The last one happened in 2018. when it received a major downpour with flooding in some areas.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

Do not worry about mugging or kidnapping: it doesn't happen in Switzerland. Recently, there has been only one area in the entire country that has had several reports of mugging - Seebach district of Zurich.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

There haven't been any terrorist attacks in Switzerland's recent history, but they shouldn't be ruled out so be vigilant at all times.

SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM

Scamming is also not common in Geneva, but you should still check everything twice (especially your change), negotiate everything beforehand, and be careful when shopping with your credit card because some establishments give out checks with the entire number of your credit card printed out.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Geneva is very safe for female solo travelers. Still, do not let your guard down, and follow the rules of common sense, such as not walking around alone at night or along with deserted areas.

So... How Safe Is Geneva Really?

Geneva is a very safe city to travel to and there is almost no crime on the streets of this city, neither petty nor violent.

The very worst you can expect is getting beat up.

There haven’t even been reports of knife fights and firearms are illegal.

There are no bad areas, and the dodgiest you’ll find is Cornavin, especially around the train station.

It gets noisy and looks quite dodgy – you may even run into drug addicts roaming this area at night.

However, since it attracts a certain type of tourists (namely, mostly rich people visit Switzerland) and it is crowded with a well-off population, it is expected that an occasional pickpocket might be roaming around the streets or popular landmarks at all times.

Be very careful with your valuables and never leave them in plain sight.

Another issue that you have to take into account when traveling to Geneva is that several Swiss establishments will print your entire credit card number onto the receipt.

Therefore, if you are using credit cards, carefully review the information printed on all receipts before discarding them.

The only uncomfortable circumstance is that sometimes the youth of Swiss tends to be fairly open with public displays of affection and women may find such unwanted attention tiresome.

How Does Geneva Compare?

Useful Information

Visas

Many countries need a visa to enter Switzerland. US residents intending to stay less than 90 days do not need a visa. Make sure your passport is valid for at least 3 months from your planned date of return. If you are not sure about your visa status, contact your local Switzerland embassy.

Currency

The official currency of Geneva is Swiss Franc. ATMs are widely available and credit cards are accepted and used throughout the city. Your best shot when exchanging money is to withdraw it from the ATM. This way, you are getting the best exchange rate possible and you avoid any chance of getting scammed.

Weather

The climate of Geneva is moderately continental, with cold winters and warm summers. Geneva has cold, cloudy winters with plenty of precipitation and summers with occasional showers.

Airports

Geneva Airport is the international airport serving the city of Geneva. The airport is located 4 km northwest of the city center.

Travel Insurance

Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Geneva, since it covers not only the costs of medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.

Geneva Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Average High/Low Temperature

Switzerland - Safety by City