Fifth meeting of the UN Forum of Mayors (2025)

Registration

To participate in the Fifth meeting of the UN Forum of Mayors, all participants should register online as early as possible and no later than 8 September 2025 via the following link: https://indico.un.org/event/1011941/ . Registration is mandatory to access the UN premises and to be recorded in the list of participants. In case you do not yet have an Indico account, you will need to first create one before registering. If you encounter difficulties in registering, please email forum-of-mayors@un.org.

MAP

To attend UNECE meetings at the Palais des Nations, you need to register in advance online through the following link: https://indico.un.org/event/1011941/ 

Accommodation

Hotel reservations and other arrangements should be made well in advance.

The secretariat is unable to recommend hotels in Geneva. To identify hotels with available rooms, you may search these websites: https://www.geneve.com/en/ and https://www.geneve.com/en/plan-stay/where-to-stay/find-your-hotel.

Arriving in Geneva

Delegates travelling by air will arrive at Geneva International Airport (Cointrin), and those travelling by train at Geneva main station (Cornavin).   

Many hotels provide a free public transport pass valid for the duration of your stay. A route planner for public transport is available at https://www.tpg.ch/. (Taxis are also available directly outside the airport and station).  

Reaching the Palais des Nations

In Geneva, Unireso public transport tickets must be purchased prior to boarding a tram, bus, or ferry. Ticket machines are available at most stops. Travel cards or passes can be purchased at the main TPG centres (Rive, Cornavin, Lancy-Pont-Rouge and Bachet de Pesay). Please note that tickets are not available on the bus itself. Hotels, youth hostels, or campsites typically offer a Geneva Transport Card, which allows the use of public transport in Geneva free of charge during the period of stay.

Palais des Nations transit stops are “Appia” (Pregny Gate) and “Nations” (Peace Gate).

Access from Cornavin railway station:

Bus lines 8, 20, 60 (“Appia” stop)

Bus line 5 or tram line 15 (“Nations” stop)

Access from Cointrin airport:  Bus line 5 (“Nations” stop)

Other bus lines with a stop at “Nations”:  Bus lines 11 and 22

Access the meeting venue

The Fifth meeting of the UN Forum of Mayors will be held in the Conference room Tempus.

Access to the meeting venue will only be granted to registered participants upon presentation of a valid ID or passport and a digital badge. Please note that Palais des Nations issues digital badges to participants at Pregny Gate (14 Avenue de la Paix); the information note on digital badging should be observed in advance. Your digital badge and registration confirmation will be sent via email. If you do not receive the email, please check your spam folder. If your registration has been confirmed, you may also log in to the INDICO registration page for the meeting: https://indico.un.org/event/1011941/ and click on "Get UN Event Pass" to obtain your digital badge. Please download the digital badge to your mobile phone or other mobile device. Arrive early at the gate to allow sufficient time for the security clearance.   

Delegates are only allowed to enter the Palais with what is considered carry-on luggage (e.g. computer bags, rucksacks, and handbags). No luggage storage is available. Delegates remain responsible for their belongings at the Palais throughout their stay.

The map of the United Nations Office in Geneva (UNOG) with directions to the meeting room Tempus (Temporary infrastructure for conferences) is available on the webpage https://www.ungeneva.org/en/about/practical-information/map.

Smoking is only permitted in authorized smoking shelters, clearly marked and signposted for that purpose. Their locations may be found on the campus map, here: https://iseek.un.org/article/reminder-about-unogs-smoking-policy.

Pregny and Peace Gates will be open for pedestrians on working days between 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. The Nations Gate is closed due to the construction of the future Visitors Centre. Access to the Palais will not be possible outside of these hours.

Working languages

Simultaneous interpretation will be provided in English, French, and Russian during all plenary sessions.

Timing

UN meetings (plenary sessions) run from 10:00-13:00 hours and from 15:00-18:00 hours. 

Meals

Participants are responsible for their own meals during the meeting. All options available at the Palais des Nations can be found at the following site: Palais Food Options | The United Nations Office at Geneva (ungeneva.org).

Please note that tap water at the Palais des Nations is safe to drink. As there will be no drinking water served in the meeting room, we encourage delegates to bring reusable bottles or containers for tap water.

Receptions

6 October, as of 18:15:  A cocktail reception for all the participants will be hosted by the city of Glasgow, United Kingdom.

About Switzerland/Geneva

Geneva is the second-most populous city in Switzerland and the most populous of the French-speaking Romandy. It is the capital of the Canton of Geneva and a centre for international diplomacy. Geneva hosts the highest number of international organizations in the world.

Time zone: UTC + 2 hours

Currency: Swiss Franc (CHF)

Electrical power plugs and sockets are unique to Switzerland (type J, three-pin, 230 V, 50 Hz; i.e. different from the EU two-pin plug): though slim two-pin plugs (type C) will fit.

Kindly note that chargers/adapters will not be provided at the venue, please bring your personal charger and, as needed an adapter for the Swiss sockets, for your respective devices. Adapters can also be purchased at the S.A.F.I. Shop at Building S, level -1.

Internet access

Wifi access will be provided in the meeting room (no password required). During the breaks, delegates may use computers with internet access in the UN Library. 

Contact the secretariat

For any questions or inquiries, kindly contact Mr. Matyas Kalan,  Secretary of Forum of Mayors at matyas.kalan@un.org with a copy to forum-of-mayors@un.org. For any difficulties concerning registration via Indico, please contact; monica.macdougall@un.org; and forum-of-mayors@un.org.

For meeting documentation and information, please visit: https://unece.org/info/events/event/399672.

More practical information is available at: https://www.ungeneva.org/en/about/practical-information.