Just got the keys to an empty apartment in Geneva, with a new job starting in a few days? Here's the battle plan, day by day, to be fully settled within a week.
Day 1–2: utilities and connections
- Electricity: register your move-in with SIG (Services Industriels de Genève) — online, active within 24–48 hours.
- Internet: order as soon as the lease is signed; activation takes anywhere from a few days to two weeks depending on the provider. A mobile plan with hotspot bridges the gap.
- Household and liability insurance (RC): effectively mandatory (most agencies require it) and genuinely useful — it also covers rented furniture.
Day 2–3: light and curtains
A Swiss quirk: your apartment probably has no light fixtures and no curtain rails. Temporary bulb holders cost a few francs and save you from living by headtorch the first week. Measure the windows on day one so you can order curtains.
Day 3–5: furniture
Three options depending on your horizon:
- Buying new: expect several weeks of delivery lead time for sofas and beds — the classic newcomer trap.
- Second-hand: good deals exist, but without a car or a local network, the logistics are heavy.
- Furniture rental: a complete pack (living room, bedroom, kitchen) delivered and assembled within days, and collected when you leave. The fastest route to a liveable home.
Day 5–7: the remaining paperwork
- Register your arrival with the Office cantonal de la population (within 14 days).
- Health insurance: you have 3 months to choose an insurer, and cover is retroactive — compare without pressure.
- Find the shared laundry room and its schedule — a Swiss institution in its own right.
FAQ
Can you really be settled in one week?
Yes — if the furniture arrives fast. It's usually the limiting factor: with rental furniture including delivery and assembly, a few days are enough.
What should I buy on day one?
Bulbs and temporary holders, an extension lead, bed linen and basic kitchen kit. The rest can follow.
Is liability insurance mandatory in Geneva?
Not by law, but most leases require it and it's strongly recommended — it covers damage to the apartment and to rented furniture.
Swaap delivers and assembles your furniture in Geneva: full packs or piece by piece, from a 1-month rental.
Furniture rental in Geneva