Hotel Cornavin is the easiest base in Geneva, and one of the most likeable. It stands on the Boulevard James-Fazy just beside Cornavin station, so you can step off a train from the airport, Lausanne or Paris and be in your room within minutes, and it is a short walk downhill to the lake. The hotel has a place in popular culture too: Hergé sent Tintin and Captain Haddock to stay here in The Calculus Affair, and fans still come to see it. The lobby holds what the hotel describes as the world’s largest mechanical clock, listed by Guinness World Records, whose giant mechanism is a talking point for every guest. With 164 rooms, it is a sizeable four-star, and rooms are modern and comfortable, with soundproof windows, air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, a minibar and a safe, which matters in a busy station district. The highlight of the day is breakfast, served in a panoramic room on the top floor with a sweeping view over the roofs to the lake, the Jet d’Eau and the mountains. Guests can use the fitness area and sauna free of charge, and, as everywhere in Geneva, receive a free transport card for the city’s trams, buses and lake shuttles. It belongs to the Geneva-based Fassbind hotel group.
Location and getting around: the hotel is at Boulevard James-Fazy 23, about 100 metres from Cornavin station. Trains to the airport take a few minutes, and Lausanne, Vevey and Montreux are on direct lines along the lake, which makes this the ideal base for Riviera day trips to the Olympic Museum, Chaplin’s World and Chillon. Tram 18 to CERN and trams to the Palais des Nations leave from the station, and the lakefront and the Mont-Blanc pier are about ten minutes on foot.
Rooms: rooms are contemporary and functional, with soundproof windows that keep out the noise of the boulevard. Ask for a higher floor for views.
Who it suits: first-timers, rail travellers, business visitors and anyone planning several day trips by train. Tintin fans will enjoy the connection.
Good to know: the station area is lively and practical rather than pretty, but the hotel itself is calm. Secure bicycle parking is available; drivers should use a nearby public car park. Check whether breakfast is in your rate, because the panoramic breakfast room is one of the best reasons to stay.
Why stay here
- ✓Panoramic breakfast room with lake views
- ✓Record-breaking mechanical clock in the lobby
- ✓Free fitness area with sauna
- ✓Soundproof windows
- ✓Air conditioning
- ✓Free Wi-Fi
- ✓Secure bicycle parking
- ✓Free Geneva Transport Card
Good questions
How far is Hotel Cornavin from Geneva station?+
It is about 100 metres from Cornavin station, a walk of a minute or two. Trains to the airport and along the lake leave from the station.
Is Hotel Cornavin in a Tintin book?+
Yes, Hergé sent Tintin and Captain Haddock to the Hotel Cornavin in The Calculus Affair. Fans still visit for the connection.
Does Hotel Cornavin have a gym?+
Yes, guests can use the fitness area with sauna free of charge. Free Wi-Fi and a free Geneva Transport Card are also included.
