Tourist Attractions & Monuments Geneva

Timetable

Most of the city's museums close on Mondays. So you can plan a weekend getaway to Geneva without the risk of finding the doors closed!

Each museum has its own opening hours to the public, but most open from 10am to 5pm.

Some offer night-time museum discoveries, and in May take part in the Nuit des musées (www.nuitdesmusees-geneve.ch). Further information: museesdegeneve.ch

To be booked

The best thing to do is to book your Geneva City Pass online on the tourist office website in advance, so that you can take advantage of the attractions as soon as you arrive. Access to museums does not require advance booking.

For visits to CERN, guided tours are free and last around 1h30. Reservations are compulsory - no online booking - so please go to the CERN reception desk 1 hour in advance (before the tour time) to register. Given the success of the site, places are very limited. Recommended for ages 14 and over. Please bring proof of identity for registration. Special underground tours are possible, but are also extremely limited, and must be booked several months in advance. You can't visit the LHC tunnel. Consult the CERN website for program and timetable information, and be aware that visiting conditions at each site may be subject to change.

As far as the UN is concerned, it's imperative to book your ticket and access badge for the visit online well in advance. You will then join a group of up to 15 people. Please bring your valid passport and present yourself at the visitors' reception desk 45 minutes before your visit for security formalities. As visiting conditions change regularly (Covid, renovations, etc.), please consult the official UN site before coming.

Budget & Tips

Geneva is often considered an expensive city to discover. But many of its sights are accessible and even free. All you have to do is plan your stay accordingly.

Good ideas for free discoveries. Every first Sunday of the month, paying museums are free. The city's twelve museums open their doors free of charge to temporary exhibitions normally subject to a fee, as well as private museums such as the Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum.

Many concerts are also free on Sundays.

In summer, the parks become open-air cinemas: Ciné Transat (www.cinetransat.com). Access is free, with the only charge being for deckchair hire.

The new public beach is open to all, and the Bains des Pâquis (a mythical spot) is available at the derisory price of CHF 2 admission.

The parks are all freely accessible, as are the Botanical Garden and its animal park. Free visits are often organized.

For more great deals, check out the Geneva Tourism website (www.geneve.com), the Genève pas cher website (genevepascher.com) and the city's website (www.geneve.ch).

Culture Passes and interesting attractions. For museum visits, the Pass Musées (https://museesdegeneve.ch/pass-musees) brings together sixteen Geneva museums at a price of CHF 40, with no time limit.

The Geneva City Pass (www.geneve.com) gives you free access to all museums, around 30 free attractions and free public transport. It's the best way to save money on your visits. It quickly pays for itself, as some museums are only CHF 13. It costs CHF 30 for 24 hours, CHF 40 for 48 hours and CHF 50 for 72 hours.

For people with disabilities, the Cédille association has developed the Culture accessible Genève website (https://culture-accessible.ch) to promote cultural events accessible to people with sensory, physical or mental disabilities.

Main events

The city is on the move all year round! Geneva is a city of congresses hosting numerous thematic events that attract visitors from all over the world. The range is wide and extends throughout the year.

The GIMS Motor Show (www.gims.swiss) is one of the flagship events in March at Palexpo. The year is punctuated by festivals such as Antigel in February, AMR Jazz Festival in March, Archipel in April, free festivals in summer such as Aubes musicales, Musiques en été, etc. You can find the entire program on the Geneva Tourism calendar and on the website www.programme.ch.

In winter, the Geneva Lux festival and the Christmas markets are worth the detour to visit the city in a different atmosphere.

Guided tours

City of culture, international city, cradle of watchmaking... an in-depth visit is well worth the effort.

You have the choice of signing up for Geneva Tourism's themed tours (professional guides). These are organized all year round on Saturday mornings, and on other weekdays during peak tourist periods.

Non-certified volunteers offer free tours on specific dates at www.freewalk.ch, in English, French, Brazilian Portuguese, Schwizerdütsch, etc., organized by a Geneva resident and lasting from 2 to 2.5 hours. Other guide associations take you on a tour of the city, such as Genève Escapade (www.geneve-escapade.ch), Les Guides conférenciers (www.guides-geneve.ch) and Illico Travel (illico-travel.ch).

For a more fun and panoramic visit, Geneva also has these red buses offered by the Keytours company: www.keytours.ch

There are many other original ideas for discovering the city, such as bike tours with Cyclolittérature (www.baladesvelo.ch), or theatrical walks (www.balades-touristiques-theatralisees.ch/le-parcours.html) featuring the city and its illustrious characters. These take place from March to December, Sundays at 11 a.m. Reservations recommended.

Smokers

The law banning smoking in public places has been applicable in the canton since 2012. Many places have smoking rooms, such as Geneva's Cointrin international airport. For full details, visit www.ge.ch/législation. Fines can range from CHF 100 to CHF 1,000 for non-compliance.

In Switzerland and Geneva, you won't be surprised to find stores selling legal cannabis. The Confederation authorizes such sales on the grounds that cannabis is derived from hemp. To be legal for consumption and sale, it must contain less than 1% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, a toxic substance).

Tourist traps

You won't find any scalpers and if you do, it is indeed a tourist trap! All tickets for the attractions can be purchased online or at the tourist locations.