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In-person meetings & travel
Geneva
Switzerland · Europe/Zurich · UTC+2
Geneva is the global headquarters of many UN agencies and international organizations.
Current time in Geneva
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Next public holiday
Swiss National Day
Saturday, August 1, 2026— in 48 days
Business hours & meeting culture
- Working hours
- 08:00–17:30
- Workweek
- Monday to Friday
- Culture
- Swiss business is precise, punctual, and discreet. Decisions are well-prepared. Meetings end on time.
- Meeting tips
- Each canton has its own public holidays in addition to the federal ones — confirm with the specific office. Christmas and New Year are quiet.
Travel & logistics context
Quick reference for business travelers — climate, currency, and language.Currency and language are country-level. Climate may vary across the country.
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Climate
Temperate continental
Best: May–Sep
Avoid: Nov–Mar (cold; great for skiing)
🟢 Currently a good month
Highland regions snow-covered; Zurich/Geneva milder lakeside.
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Currency
CHF
CHF
Swiss Franc
Switzerland is expensive — budget accordingly.
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Language
Official
German, French, Italian, Romansh
In business
German, French, English in finance
English: Widely spoken in business
🤝Business etiquette
- Greeting
- Firm handshake; punctuality is paramount.
- Cards
- Standard exchange.
- Gifts
- Not expected; quality chocolate or wine appropriate for hosts.
- Tipping
- Usually included; round up small bills.
- Dress
- Conservative, well-tailored.
- Dining
- Punctual; cheese/fondue rituals common in informal settings.
Time difference vs. major business cities
Computed for 2026. Daylight saving will shift these by an hour during transitions.
| City | Time zone | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| 🇯🇵Tokyo | Asia/Tokyo | +7h |
| 🇮🇳Mumbai | Asia/Kolkata | +3h 30m |
| 🇦🇪Dubai | Asia/Dubai | +2h |
| 🇬🇧London | Europe/London | -1h |
| 🇺🇸New York | America/New_York | -6h |
| 🇦🇺Sydney | Australia/Sydney | +8h |
| 🇺🇸San Francisco | America/Los_Angeles | -9h |
| 🇨🇳Shanghai | Asia/Shanghai | +6h |
Public holidays in Switzerland, 2026
Commonly observed national holidays. Regional holidays and bridge days are not included. See also the global holiday calendar.
- 2026-01-01
- 2026-01-02
- 2026-01-06
- 2026-03-01
- 2026-03-19
- 2026-04-03
- 2026-04-04
- 2026-04-06
- 2026-05-01
- 2026-05-14
- 2026-05-25
- 2026-06-04
- 2026-06-29
- 2026-08-01
- 2026-08-15
- 2026-09-10
- 2026-09-20
- 2026-09-21
- 2026-11-01
- 2026-12-08
- 2026-12-25
- 2026-12-26
- 2026-12-31
Plan a meeting with Geneva
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