Geneva on a backpacker budget
Geneva costs a backpacker about €90 a day before a bed. Here is what that covers, where to sleep near the centre, and which overland corridors run through it.
Modelled estimates, not quotes. Last rebuilt 2026-09-23.
€90per day
€38dorm bed
€103twin room
€128day all-in
What to see
Jet d'Eau, Old Town, lake path.
Eating
Cross to France for lunch, honestly.
Beds near the centre
Distances are from the city centre point the planner uses.
| Foyer International pour Étudiants Saint-Jus | hostel | 1.6 km |
| City Hostel Geneva | hostel | 1.7 km |
| Carouge | guest house | 1.7 km |
| Tiffany Hotel | hotel | 0.2 km |
| Hôtel de l'Etoile | hotel | 0.3 km |
Markets and cheap eats
| Marché de Plainpalais | market | 0.3 km |
| Spoon Food Hall | market | 0.5 km |
| Marché Helvétique | market | 1.2 km |
Nearest hospital
Worth knowing before you need it.
| Hôpitaux universitaires de Genève | emergency | 1.1 km |
Next stops on the network
AnnecyFrance · 33 km
ChamonixFrance · 64 km
LyonFrance · 112 km
ZermattSwitzerland · 126 km
BernSwitzerland · 130 km
InterlakenSwitzerland · 143 km
DijonFrance · 150 km
TurinItaly · 174 km
Common questions
How much does Geneva cost per day?
Budget about €90 a day for food and local transport, plus a bed. A dorm bunk runs around €38, a twin room about €103, and a small guesthouse room about €140. Two people sharing a twin usually beat two dorm beds here.
What is worth seeing in Geneva?
Jet d'Eau, Old Town, lake path.
Where do you eat cheaply in Geneva?
Cross to France for lunch, honestly.
Build a route that runs through Geneva, costed end to end.
Open the planner