Visit Geneva: cultural sites, museums, and points of interest

The CERN Science Gateway in Geneva introduces visitors to particle physics research through hands-on installations and themed exhibitions. Scientists guide guests through laboratory spaces and explain how accelerators and detectors work in studying fundamental particles. This visitor center showcases discoveries made at this international research center, including experiments on the Higgs boson and antimatter.

The museum in Geneva displays watches, automata, enamels, and timekeeping instruments spanning five centuries of Swiss watchmaking history. The collection includes over 2,500 objects distributed across multiple floors, with rare pieces that show the skill and artistry of master craftsmen. Located in a restored Art Deco building in the Plainpalais district, it traces how Geneva's watchmaking techniques developed from the 16th century onward, with sections dedicated to antique timepieces, intricate mechanisms, and creations from the Patek Philippe manufactory since 1839.

The Jet d'Eau in Geneva was built in 1891 and shoots water from Lake Geneva up to 140 meters high, creating a column that you can see from many parts of the city. This fountain operates daily from March to October and is one of Geneva's most recognizable symbols. It started as a hydraulic safety valve and later became a permanent feature on the lake's shores. Within this collection exploring Geneva's heritage, this fountain represents the city's history and defines the lake's landscape with its distinctive water column.

Saint Peter's Cathedral has stood since 1160 in the heart of Geneva's Old Town and is part of the diverse heritage that makes Geneva special. This Gothic church invites visitors to climb its north tower and take in views of the city and Lake Geneva. From 1536 to 1564, John Calvin delivered his sermons in this cathedral, making it a significant location in the history of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. The cathedral is a place where history and daily life come together.

The Palais des Nations in Geneva serves as the European headquarters of the United Nations and stands as a key site within the city's diverse cultural landscape. Built between 1929 and 1938, this complex combines history and international significance. Inside are artworks, multiple conference rooms, and a library holding extensive documentation. Visiting this building offers insight into Geneva's role as a center for international diplomacy and complements exploration of the city's other historic, scientific, and natural attractions.

The Bains des Pâquis are a public bathhouse on the shores of Lake Geneva that complement the city's diverse heritage of history, science, and nature. Here visitors can swim outdoors, use saunas during winter, and unwind. The on-site restaurant serves breakfast and lunch with direct views of Mont Blanc and the lake. This place combines relaxation with the natural setting of the lakeside and provides a refreshing pause while exploring Geneva's sites.

The Conservatory and Botanical Garden of Geneva contributes to the city's mix of history, science, and nature. This scientific institution maintains herbarium collections and research laboratories that welcome visitors. Alpine plant species and tropical vegetation grow in temperature-controlled greenhouses. The gardens support botanical studies and plant species conservation. Visitors walk through the collections to discover different plants and learn about their significance in nature.

The Natural History Museum in this destination houses mineral collections, dinosaur fossils, and regional animal species. It provides information on geology and the scientific classification of wildlife. The museum contributes to Geneva's diverse heritage that combines history, science, and nature.

This medieval mansion from the 12th century houses a museum dedicated to urban history. You will find furniture, household items, and architectural models that document how Geneva developed from the 16th to the 20th century. As part of Geneva's cultural collection of historic sites and museums, this house offers a window into the daily life and growth of the city on the shores of Lake Geneva.

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum traces the history of the humanitarian movement through archival materials, photographs, and multimedia installations exploring emergency relief and international operations in conflict zones. It adds to Geneva's diverse heritage combining history, science, and nature on the shores of Lake Geneva.

This square in Geneva traces its origins to Roman times and today serves as a lively gathering place with cafes, shops, and fountains. The surrounding buildings span different periods and display architectural styles ranging from the Middle Ages to modern times. The square connects the city's long history with everyday life and invites visitors to explore the different layers of Geneva's cultural heritage.

The Museum of Art and History in Geneva is an art museum that is part of the city's cultural offerings. This museum displays archaeological finds, historical weapons, decorative arts and paintings spanning from antiquity to the 20th century. The collection is spread across approximately 7000 square meters of exhibition space.

This wooden sculpture is located in Geneva and dates from 1997. It stands about 12 meters tall and was placed near the United Nations headquarters. The artist Daniel Berset created it to support the campaign against landmines. It fits into Geneva's diverse heritage of history, science, and culture, and shows the city's commitment to humanitarian causes alongside its institutions and museums.

The Chapel of the Maccabees stands in Geneva and was built in the 15th century in Gothic style, attached to Saint Pierre Cathedral. It displays restored medieval wall paintings and period stained glass windows. This structure contributes to Geneva's rich heritage that combines history, science, and nature on the shores of Lake Geneva.

The Ethnography Museum of Geneva houses about 80,000 cultural objects from five continents, fitting into the city's diverse heritage that combines history, science, and culture. The collection includes ceremonial masks, musical instruments, textiles, and ritual items that reveal the lives and traditions of peoples around the world. Visitors explore human diversity and the craftsmanship of different cultures through these objects.

Parc La Grange complements Geneva's diverse cultural heritage with green spaces along the lakeshore. The park holds an 18th-century villa, sports facilities, an open-air theater, and a rose garden with many plant varieties. Visitors come here to walk, exercise, relax by the water, and enjoy views across the lake toward Mont Blanc.

The Ariana Museum displays ceramics and glass in a neo-baroque building from 1884. With about 20,000 objects from different continents and historical periods, this museum offers insight into the craftsmanship and techniques of cultures around the world. As part of Geneva's varied cultural offerings, the museum contributes to understanding the city's rich heritage that combines history, science, and nature.

The Floral Clock in this collection stands in the English Garden of Geneva and was installed in 1955. The clockwork displays 6,500 flowers and plants that change with the seasons. It honors Geneva's watchmaking tradition and playfully brings together the city's history with its natural surroundings. Visitors can see how living plants tell the time while combining the beauty of nature with technical precision.

The underground archaeological site of Saint Peter's Cathedral reveals Geneva's layered past. Visitors walk through remains from Roman times to the medieval period, seeing foundations, ancient churches, and walls that show how the city developed across centuries. This site sits at the heart of Geneva's diverse heritage, connecting visitors directly to the history beneath the city's cultural and religious landmarks.

The Reformation Wall is an important monument within Geneva's collection of historical and cultural sites. This structure is integrated into the old city walls and features life-size statues of Calvin, Beza, Farel, and Knox. Additional reliefs of other notable figures from the Protestant Reformation are also displayed. The monument extends over a considerable length and tells the story of how the Reformation shaped the city.

The English Garden sits on the shores of Lake Geneva and fits into the diverse heritage that makes Geneva a destination for cultural discovery. Created in 1854 on the site of former fortifications, this public park offers visitors a place to stroll and relax by the water. The garden features a floral clock made from about 6500 plants, a fountain, a music pavilion, and the National Monument. Together, these elements create a setting where history and nature come together.

The Baur Foundation Museum of Far Eastern Art is part of Geneva's diverse cultural heritage. This museum occupies a mansion and houses Asian art objects including porcelain, jade carvings, netsuke figurines, and lacquerware from China and Japan. It complements other cultural institutions in the city such as the Patek Philippe Museum and the Natural History Museum, which together showcase the artistic and scientific legacy of the region. The museum contributes to the city's collection of historic, scientific, and cultural sites.

Manor Geneva is a department store on Rue Cornavin offering clothing, cosmetics, electronics, household items and food products across eight floors. The store fits into Geneva's varied range of cultural and shopping destinations, where visitors move between historical sites like Saint-Pierre Cathedral and modern retail spaces. The building houses several restaurants.

Bastions Park in Geneva is a public green space that holds historical monuments and century-old trees. Stone tables here invite visitors to play chess in the shade. The Reformation Wall stretches along the park and features sculptures of key figures from the Protestant movement. This park connects Geneva's religious and cultural history with everyday moments of rest and recreation under mature trees. It is part of the city's diverse heritage combining history, science, and nature on the shores of Lake Geneva.

The Brunswick Monument stands by the lakeside in Geneva and is a funerary chapel built in Italian Gothic style with pointed stone arches. This monument draws inspiration from the Scaliger family tombs in Verona and serves as the final resting place of Charles II, Duke of Brunswick. It shows the historical connections Geneva held with European noble families and adds to the city's rich heritage. As part of Geneva's collection of historic and scientific sites, this monument allows visitors to explore how the city was linked to European nobility and understand its significant past.

Victoria Hall in Geneva is a concert hall built in 1894 that contributes to the city's diverse cultural heritage combining history, science, and nature. The building features painted ceilings and interior decoration in red and gold. Classical music recitals and orchestral concerts take place regularly here, inviting visitors into a space shaped by Swiss Romand history and tradition.

Calvin College was established in the 16th century by John Calvin and trained generations of Protestant theologians and scholars. The Renaissance building with its inner courtyard and distinctive clock tower is part of Geneva's rich cultural and religious heritage, which also includes Saint Pierre Cathedral, where Calvin preached, and other historical sites. Within this collection of Geneva's cultural sites, Calvin College embodies the city's deep connection to learning, faith, and intellectual tradition.

The Grottes Area is a residential neighborhood in Geneva built in the 1980s with experimental architecture featuring curved facades and varied window shapes. The buildings display design elements influenced by Spanish construction methods. This district offers contrast to Geneva's historic sites like Saint Pierre Cathedral and the Jet d'Eau, demonstrating an innovative approach to residential building. It represents part of Geneva's diverse heritage that combines history, science, and nature along the shores of Lake Geneva.

Plainpalais Square is a public space with a diamond shape in Geneva that serves as a venue for weekly markets, flea markets, and cultural events. Visitors find food stalls, used items, and festivals or circus performances throughout the year. As part of the city's diverse cultural offerings, this square complements Geneva's historic and scientific institutions, offering a gathering place for everyday encounters and local activities.