Sightseeing Geneva

Timetable

Most of the city's museums are closed on Mondays. So you can plan weekend trips without the risk of finding the doors closed!

Each museum has its own opening hours, but most of them are open from 10 am to 5 pm.

Some offer nighttime museum discoveries and participate in May in the Nuit des musées: www.nuitdesmusees-geneve.ch. For more 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 and enjoy the attractions as soon as you arrive.

Access to the museums does not require prior reservation. Only access to CERN for the complete visit should be done well in advance directly on its website. For the visit to the Palais des Nations, all you have to do is go directly to the visitor's entrance during the guided tour hours and wait in line for the security formalities

For tickets to concerts, events or plays, it is advisable to book online before your departure.

Budget & Tips

Geneva is often stigmatized as an expensive city to discover. But many discoveries are accessible and even free. You just have to organize your stay accordingly

The good plans for free discoveries. Every first Sunday of the month, the paying museums are free. The twelve museums of the city open their doors free of charge to temporary exhibitions that normally have to be paid for, as well as private museums such as the Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum

On Sundays, many concerts are also free.

During the summer, the parks become open-air cinemas: Ciné Transat (www.cinetransat.com). Access is free, only the rental of deckchairs is charged.

The new public beach is accessible to all, and the Bains des Pâquis (mythical place) are at the derisory price of 2 CHF the entry.

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

For more good deals, think of consulting the Geneva Tourism website (www.geneve.com), the Geneva cheap website (genevepascher.com) and the city's website (www.geneve.ch).

Culture Passes and interesting attractions. For museum visits, the Museum Pass brings together sixteen Geneva museums at the price of 40 CHF with no time limit.

The Geneva City Pass (www.geneve.com) gives you free access to all the museums, about thirty free attractions, and free public transportation as well. It is the best way to save money on your visits. It pays for itself very quickly, knowing that some museums are 13 CHF. Its price: for 24h 26 CHF, 48h 37 CHF, 72h 45 CHF

For people with disabilities, the association Cédille has developed the website Culture accessible Genève in order 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 necessary and worthwhile

You have the choice of signing up for Geneva Tourism's thematic tours (professional guides). They are organized all year round on Saturday mornings and on other days during the week when there are many tourists.

Non-certified volunteers offer free tours on specific dates on www.freewalk.ch. Other associations of guides take you on a discovery of the city, such as Genève Escapade (www.geneve-escapade.ch), the Guides conférenciers (www.guides-geneve.ch) or the company Illico Travel (illico-Gravel.ch).

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

For a very private tour including a historical visit and an experience such as chocolate tasting, a Swiss knife workshop or a picnic in the park, Id.Genève will satisfy you (www.idgeneve.com).

Many other original ideas for discovery such as bike tours with Cyclolittérature (www.baladesvelo.ch), Segway rides with Citywheels (www.citywheels.ch), or theatrical tours that showcase the city and its famous people

Smokers

The law on the ban on smoking in public places has been applicable since 2012 in the canton. Many places have smoking rooms, such as Geneva's Cointrin International Airport. You can find the details of the text at www.ge.ch/législation.

Fines can range from 100 to 1,000 CHF for non-compliance with this law.

In Switzerland and in Geneva, you will not be surprised to find stores selling legal cannabis. The Confederation authorizes this sale considering that cannabis comes 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