GENEVA AIRPORT - French side

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Note where the airport is in relation to the city and autoroutes (Swiss green, French blue). The airport can be accessed and cars can be hired from the "French side" or the "Swiss side".

Car hire is often cheaper on the French side but the cars are not taxed for use of Swiss autoroutes - unless you want to pay 40 francs for a vignette, or risk a fine, you must drive through Geneva, but that is surprisingly easy (Also see our "Geneva airport hints and tips").

From the airport

You will exit northwards through the airport, already in France, via a tunnel under the runways (currently delayed by traffic lights). As soon as you join the main road you need to double back sharp right through the customs and back through the tunnel into Switzerland. Go straight through the traffic lights, over the Swiss autoroute, and straight over the next roundabout.

Stay on this road (route de Ferney) through Grand-Saconnex area, until it eventually sweeps right along the side of lac Leman (traffic may be fairly heavy for the last quarter mile because it is the diplomatic hotel area with lots of taxis and traffic coming in from Lausanne). At the head of the lake, the road turns left over the bridge ...

Get into the middle lane over the bridge. Your exit sweeps round to the left. Then as soon as possible get into the right-hand lane where traffic lights are linked for a clear through run, climbing gently for almost two kilometers.

When the road starts to descend again, look out for a right turn sign-posted to Chamonix. This enters a short link road ending with a left turn to "France".

It is another kilometer up the dual carriageway to passport control and then straight ahead onto the Autoroute Blanc heading towards Chamonix, Combloux and many other French ski resorts.

From here Sallanches is 47 kms, and Combloux is a further 9 kms. There are two tolls to pass through costing 1.60 €, and 3.50 € - pay by cash or credit card.

Back to the Airport (via A40)

From Combloux it is 75 minutes to Geneva airport.
It is 9 kms to the A40 junction 20 at Sallanches, another 10 kms to the toll gate at Cluses (3.50 € by cash or credit card), and 37 kms more via a 2nd toll (1.60 €) to Geneva.

On Saturday mornings it better to avoid Sallanches - about 2 kms down the N212 from Combloux, turn right to Domancy, turn right again at the roundabout and again onto the N205 towards Chamonix. At the next roundabout (near Intermarché and Quechua), turn left onto D339, pass under the A40 autoroute and turn left up the slip road towards Genève.

From the A40 autoroute take the left fork to "Geneva Vallard", not the main route to Paris, Lyon and Geneva. It is about 1 km to the customs. Just through the customs there is a 24 hour petrol station. If you have to return a hire car with full tank this is close enough, and petrol is cheaper in Switzerland than in France.

About 1 km after the customs, take the right turn at traffic lights signposted "Chene Bougeries and Jussy". This street is 0.7 km long and ends in a T junction - turn left towards Genève Lac.

Keep straight on for 3 kms, avoiding left-turn lanes, until you reach the head of the lake and will bear right over the bridge, past the spectacular (if running!) fountain "jet d'eau"...

Get into the middle or right-hand lane as you cross the lake. Turn right at the end of the bridge and keep in right hand lane along the side of Lac Leman. The road turns to the left and shortly after you will reach a cross-roads and traffic lights. Keep straight ahead (most cars may be turning right towards Lausanne). Stay on this road (route de Ferney) generally following airport signs through the Grand-Saconnex area.

You will come to a roundabout with a choice of 1st exit to Lausanne autoroute and 2nd exit over the autoroute towards France. Make sure to take the 2nd!

When you reach traffic lights do not take the left turn signposted airport but go straight ahead towards France, via a tunnel under the runways. Exiting the tunnel you pass through French customs and immediately turn sharp left across the dual carriageway (remember you will still be driving on the right so take the second gap!) into the airport slip road...

This goes back through the tunnel under the runways and is currently delayed by traffic lights. You pass by the freight terminal, Palexpo, and long term car-parks. Eventually you double back left into the car-park for return of hire cars. (Walk back through the car park, up two flights of stairs and into the French arrivals/departures.