After being cancelled as Covid hit back in 2020, the Geneva Motor Show is back for 2024. Here’s everything you need to know to be there and enjoy it.
Post-Covid, the automotive industry has changed significantly, and the Geneva show doesn’t have the kudos it once had — although much of that is down to how the show was cancelled
— but the organisers are promising several initiatives to keep the public entertained.
While you won’t find many mainstream manufacturers like Audi, Citroen, BMW, Ford, Kia, Nissan or Toyota, the show will still have a few big names and the odd world premiere or two.
Chief among those will be Renault, presenting the all-new Renault 5. After being absent from the nation’s showrooms since 1996, the new 5 will be an affordable electric city car with, Renault promises, all the style and panache of the original. There’s also talk of a hot-hatch version by Alpine…
Alongside the manufacturers on show, there’ll be several different zones, including the Adrenaline Zone — a space dedicated to high-performance vehicles, limited editions, and bespoke creations — and a Mobility Lab for mobility providers and partners to inform, inspire and demonstrate their latest breakthroughs.
Visitors to the Design District can also take part in twice-daily “Learn to Sketch with Frank” masterclasses with automotive design legend Frank Stephenson, while the creators of the Gran Turismo franchise, Polyphony Digital, are providing a sim-racing experience in the Next World space.
Visitors will also discover the European Car of the Year, although the winner will be declared the day before the show is open to the public. The BMW 5 Series, BYD Seal, Kia EV9, Peugeot E-3008/3008, Renault Scenic, Toyota C-HR, and Volvo EX30 are in the running.
Geneva Motor Show 2024: Getting There
The Geneva Motor Show has always been the most compact European show, making it possible to see the whole exhibition in a single day, even from the UK.
An early morning flight from most UK airports will take you directly to Geneva. Flight time is a little over an hour, depending on your departing airport. You simply turn left outside the arrivals exit and follow the signs to the ‘Palexpo’ and, after a brisk 15-minute stroll, you will be at the show’s entrance – it couldn’t be more convenient.
Direct flights are available to Geneva with British Airways, Swiss Air, easyJet, Flybe and Jet2 from London (City, Gatwick, Heathrow and Luton) and most regional UK airports.
The cheapest flight we found was a £43 return ticket from Manchester, flying with easyJet. Rates from Heathrow with British Airways start from £125 return.
One tip for a short break or longer stay, including the show along with some sightseeing or a holiday, is to find accommodation just over the Swiss border in France. Geneva is not a cheap place to stay at the best of times, but combine the impact of people working at or attending the show with the influx of skiers and budget accordingly.
Geneva Motor Show 2024: Getting In
Entrance to the show is just 25 Swiss Francs (CHF), which is currently about £23, while adding a child increases the cost by 18 CHF or £16.50. Children under six get in free. The show opens to the public on Wednesday, 28 February, with the doors opening at 10:00 am and remaining open until at least closing again at 8:00 pm every weekday and 7pm at the weekend.
A special VIP ticket is available for Tuesday, 27 February, at 90 CHF (£82), which will be the quietest day, allowing you to move around freely without feeling swamped by crowds.
Tickets can be purchased in advance at the official show website, but you won’t have any difficulties buying them at the door.
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