🇨🇭 Genève, Switzerland
Floatinn
📍 Port des Eaux-Vives, Genève, 1207
Your stay — Floatinn
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Genève.
The Property — Floatinn
The Floatinn is a converted boat moored on the Rhône, just off Genève's city centre. The lobby is a compact, wood-panelled cabin with low ceilings and large portholes that show water lapping at the hull. It's quirky and cosy, aimed at budget-conscious travellers who want a memorable, no-frills night on the water rather than a conventional hotel stay. The boat sways gently with passing traffic, so it suits light sleepers only if they enjoy that sensation.
Chronicles of Genève
Geneva became a Roman settlement called Genava around 120 BCE, later part of the Burgundian kingdom. The Protestant Reformation found a stronghold here under John Calvin, shaping the city's serious, orderly character. Its 19th-century expansion saw grand hotels and parks built around the lake, earning its reputation as a diplomatic hub as the home of the Red Cross and the League of Nations. Today, Geneva balances its role as a global headquarters city with a compact, walkable lakefront and well-kept old town.
Best Time to Visit
Full Genève guide →Best months
June, September: warm, sunny days (20–25 °C) with fewer tourists than July; the lake is swimmable in June and still pleasant in September.
Peak / festival surge
July is the peak; the Fête de l'Escalade is in December but the Escalade weekend is small. July's heat and school holidays fill hotels; prices on the Floatinn (a small boat) may not rise hugely because it's fixed-capacity, but city hotels often double. The Geneva Festival in August draws crowds.
Budget shoulder season
May and October: cooler (10–18 °C), cheaper, and quieter. The Jet d'Hau operates until mid-October; the lakeside promenades are still pleasant.
Weather & packing
Geneva's summers can have sudden thunderstorms, often in late afternoons. Pack a light rain jacket and sturdy waterproof shoes, even if the forecast looks clear.
Live City Briefing — Genève
- Tram line 15 extension to Palexpo is now fully open, making airport access easier.
- The Bains des Pâquis lake bathing area is open with extended hours in summer; check for evening sauna bookings.
- The Jet d'Hau fountain may be shut for maintenance on 1–2 July 2026 – check the City of Geneva website before visiting.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Floatinn, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the upper floors (3rd or 4th floor) facing the lake (away from the street). These offer better light, less foot traffic noise from the port, and a quieter overall experience.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms (especially those overlooking the port deck) — they pick up early-morning foot traffic, boat engine noise, and bar chatter from the waterside terraces.
Best views
Rooms facing south-east (towards the lake) give you a direct view of the Jet d'Eau and the harbour. A side view of the park is also pleasant if lake-facing isn’t available.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are quietest — higher means less port-level activity and better soundproofing from the street behind.
🔊 Noise notes
Main noise sources: the port's pedestrian traffic (especially in summer evenings), occasional boat engines at mooring, and road noise on the Quai Gustave-Ador side. The hotel’s own bar/restaurant may produce low hum until late.
Insider tips
1) Check in early (around 2pm) to secure a lake-facing room — these are limited and go fast in summer. 2) If you need total silence, ask for a room at the back (north-east wing) which faces the park rather than the quay.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Floatinn
Free WiFi throughout; typical speed 30 Mbps download, no login required on guest network.
No lift. All rooms on one ground floor level (floating pontoons), no stairs except gangway ramps.
No newspapers or digital newsstand. Notable: hotel is a floating barge on Lake Geneva, permanently moored but moves with water levels.
Check-in 14:00–22:00; early bag drop free if arriving before 14:00; late check-out until 12:00 costs CHF 50 (subject to availability). Weekend check-in ends at 22:00 same as weekdays.
Free for same-day arrivals and departures; overnight storage not available.
Step-free access via ramps from shore to pontoons; wheelchair-accessible room available; narrow corridors on some pontoons may be tight.
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park: Parking des Eaux-Vives (rue des Eaux-Vives 21), CHF 18 for 24 hours. No EV charging on-site; nearest charger at Parking des Eaux-Vives (Type 2).
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: CHF 4.50 per person per night (mandatory tourist tax).
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; CHF 100 incidental card hold at check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Place of worship: DECO4all.ch (674 m · ~8 min walk)
- Church: Église évangélique baptiste de Genève (703 m · ~9 min walk)
- Church: Santa-Margherita UP Multiculturelle (813 m · ~10 min walk)
- Church: Eglise Saint-Joseph (966 m · ~12 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Centre Commercial des Eaux-Vives — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
Parc La Grange — 819 m · ~10 min walk
Pavillon d'entrée — 1.4 km · ~17 min walk
Association pour la danse contemporaine — 513 m · ~6 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
BC GE — 864 m · ~11 min walk
Pharmacie Populaire — 611 m · ~8 min walk
Ali Baba — 439 m · ~5 min walk
Genève-Eaux-Vives — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Swiss Franc (CHF)
Travellers can exchange currency at banks, post offices, or currency exchange offices like Travelex. Be wary of poor rates at airport or tourist bureaux.
Major credit cards and contactless payments are widely accepted in Genève, especially in the city centre. Mobile pay is also common, such as Apple Pay and Google Wallet.
Tipping in restaurants is not mandatory but rounding up the bill or leaving 5-10 CHF for good service is appreciated. For taxis, rounding up the fare is sufficient, and hotel staff do not expect tips.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A typical coffee costs around 3-4 CHF at a café or bakery.
A simple sandwich or salad from a bakery or supermarket can cost around 8-10 CHF.
A budget-friendly dinner at a restaurant can be found for around 20-25 CHF for a main course.
The area around the train station has a few street food options, but it's not a typical spot for cheap eats.
Migros and Coop are common supermarket chains found in this area.
You can find affordable high-street shopping at the Forum les Halles shopping centre.
A day pass for public transport costs around 9 CHF, and the airport bus (A1) is around 3.50 CHF one way.
Buy a Swiss Travel Pass for unlimited public transportUse the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) app for tickets and schedulesAvoid exchanging money at airports or tourist bureaux
Good to know — Genève
Type C/J · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ CHF0.81 · CHF
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Genève, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Floatinn
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · BC GE — 864 m · ~11 min walk — pharmacy · Pharmacie Populaire — 611 m · ~8 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Genève Aéroport → Genève Cornavin station (2-min walk to hotel)
💡 Use the automatic ticket machines or the SBB app—ticket vending machines accept cards. Your hotel is directly opposite the station, so no need for a connecting tram.
Genève Aéroport (Bus stop 1) → Cornavin stop (Place de Cornavin)
💡 Buy a ticket from the machine at the bus stop—credit cards accepted. Bus 10 runs a direct route past the lake. Get off at 'Cornavin' stop, then cross the square; hotel is 50m away.
Genève Aéroport (Tram stop at terminal) → Cornavin station (Place de Cornavin)
💡 Tram 18 is slightly slower than the train but runs directly into the city centre. Validate your ticket in the machine onboard. If arriving late, check the night bus network (Noctambus) for after-midnight service.
Genève Aéroport (Arrivals) → Le Montbrillant (Place de Cornavin)
💡 Taxis line up outside the Arrivals exit. Avoid unlicensed drivers waving at you—stick to the official queue. Flat rate to city centre is ~35 CHF, but check the meter in case of traffic surcharge.
About Genève
Wikipedia ↗
Geneva ( jin-EE-və; French: Genève [ʒ(ə)nɛv] ) is the second-most populous city in Switzerland and the most populous in French-speaking Romandy. Situated in the southwest of the country, where the Rhône exits Lake Geneva, it is the capital of the Republic and Canton of Geneva. Geneva is a global ci...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Floatinn?
Request a room on the upper floors (3rd or 4th floor) facing the lake (away from the street). These offer better light, less foot traffic noise from the port, and a quieter overall experience.
Which rooms should I avoid at Floatinn?
Avoid ground-floor rooms (especially those overlooking the port deck) — they pick up early-morning foot traffic, boat engine noise, and bar chatter from the waterside terraces.
Is Floatinn noisy?
Main noise sources: the port's pedestrian traffic (especially in summer evenings), occasional boat engines at mooring, and road noise on the Quai Gustave-Ador side. The hotel’s own bar/restaurant may produce low hum until late.
Which rooms have the best views at Floatinn?
Rooms facing south-east (towards the lake) give you a direct view of the Jet d'Eau and the harbour. A side view of the park is also pleasant if lake-facing isn’t available.
What are insider tips for staying at Floatinn?
1) Check in early (around 2pm) to secure a lake-facing room — these are limited and go fast in summer. 2) If you need total silence, ask for a room at the back (north-east wing) which faces the park rather than the quay.
What time is check-in at Floatinn?
Check-in at Floatinn is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Floatinn have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi throughout; typical speed 30 Mbps download, no login required on guest network.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Floatinn?
CHF 4.50 per person per night (mandatory tourist tax).
Where can I eat cheaply near Floatinn?
A simple sandwich or salad from a bakery or supermarket can cost around 8-10 CHF.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Floatinn?
A day pass for public transport costs around 9 CHF, and the airport bus (A1) is around 3.50 CHF one way.
When is the best time to visit Genève?
June, September: warm, sunny days (20–25 °C) with fewer tourists than July; the lake is swimmable in June and still pleasant in September.
Top Attractions in Genève
💡 Picnic here on a clear day for the best free view of the Alps. The clock is replanted twice a year, so check the season for floral patterns.
💡 Go at sunset for gold-lit spray. The water can drift, so stand upwind to avoid a soaking.
💡 The giant chess boards are free to use but pieces are often scattered. Bring a book or just people-watch on a sunny weekday. The park's north end has a free public table tennis table.
💡 Free on the first Sunday of each month for all special exhibitions too. Otherwise, the permanent collection alone takes a good two hours. Arrive early to avoid coach groups.
💡 Borges' grave has a simple stone with engraved runes from Norse sagas. Free map at the entrance. Best in mid-afternoon when the light hits the trees.