Sleeping in Geneva Airport

If you’re dealing with a long layover or an early morning flight departure at Geneva Airport, you might be wondering if it is possible to sleep in the airport. Our guide to sleeping in Geneva airport provides essential information for seasoned airport sleepers and newbies to help travellers arrive prepared for the experience.

We keep this guide up-to-date with the help of airport sleepers who have generously shared their experiences and airport reviews. If you have any tips or photos to contribute, please take a moment to write a review. Your feedback will help us stay informed about the latest advice for future sleepy travellers.

Sleeping in Geneva Airport Overnight

According to the official website, Geneva Airport is closed from midnight until 4:00 AM. Still, it seems that some travellers get lucky and can remain inside as long as they’re already in the terminal before closing time. If you are in Geneva and arrive at the airport on the landside (by car, bus, or train), you cannot enter the terminal until the same day as your flight departure. Be safe, and have a backup plan ready, just in case!

Where to Sleep in the Airport: Locations & Seating

There’s a decent amount of seating throughout the airport. By night, with few airport sleepers, you’ll likely have your pick. But most of the seating options are hard and equipped with armrests. For sleep, you may want to sprawl out on the floor. It isn’t carpeted, so having a few extra layers will provide cushion and warmth.

Here are good sleep spots that travellers have reported:

Terminal 1, Floor 2, has a waiting room that seems to be very quiet
Terminal 1, near the exit for the train station, you may find some leather chairs, which are comfortable for anyone who can sleep while sitting up.
A small nook with basic chairs is located just before the walkway leading to the car rental desks.

Rest Zones

At the time of this update, there are no designated rest zones within the airport.

Geneva Airport Hotels

You’ll have to leave the terminal altogether if you want a good, solid sleep. Fortunately, a few hotels within a 5-minute drive of the airport offer free airport shuttle service. See the hotel section in our Airport Guide for locations, or visit Tripadvisor to find hotel deals at Geneva Airport.

Airport Lounges

Geneva Airport has a few lounges, but none have designated sleep rooms or rest areas. If you only want to relax in a comfortable seat for a few hours before your flight, check out this list of lounges in our Geneva Airport Guide that you can pay to access.

More Airport Services & Facilities

For information about drinking water, 24-hour food & drink options, luggage storage, showers, mobile charging and WiFi, visit our Geneva Airport Guide.

Airport Conditions

If you plan to spend the night at the airport, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Temperature – At the time of this update, we have not received reports from travellers about terminal temperature. Still, you can expect the airport to cool down at night as the air conditioning continues to run and fewer people are inside. Arrive prepared with a blanket or even a sleeping bag. A hoodie provides extra warmth if the terminal gets even colder.
Lighting – Because the airport is technically closed overnight, most lights are dimmed until around 4:00 AM. Come prepared with eyeshades or something else to cover your eyes, such as a shirt or towel.
Noise – Daytime sleepers can expect to hear frequent announcements regarding boarding calls and general airport announcements (safety warnings, passenger pages, etc). At night, the airport is closed, so it quiets down considerably. Travellers who reported spending the night here said they mostly woke up when cleaning crews got started around 4:00 AM. As a precaution, come prepared with earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones.

Security & Safety

At the time of this update, we have no reports from travellers commenting on safety issues at Geneva Airport. However, sleeping in any airport can include a certain level of risk, especially when travelling alone. It’s important to take certain precautions to ensure your safety and the security of your valuables. Here are a few tips:

Safety First. It’s a good idea to know where the security office is located and look for video cameras where you plan to sleep. You can also ask the security personnel for advice on the safest places to spend the night.
Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you’re travelling alone, we recommend you stay near other travellers or close to security. This will help you feel more secure and deter potential thieves.
Hide Your Valuables. It’s also important to hide your valuables. Don’t leave them out in plain view, as this could make you a target for theft. Additionally, if you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something or sleep with your bag up against a wall to make it harder for someone to access zippers and pockets. We have received reports of sleepers who woke up without their phones and laptop bags. The travellers were left with just their headphones and laptop bag strap.
Stay Alert. It’s best to stay alert and awake if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages to help you stay awake, and remember that you can always catch up on sleep during your flight. These simple precautions can help you enjoy a safe night at the airport.

Pro-tip: If you sleep in the public zone, don’t be surprised if you receive an early morning wake-up call. Security is known to make the rounds, waking people up as travellers arrive for morning flights.