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CERN Science Gateway — Free. Opened 2023, designed by Renzo Piano. Interactive exhibits on particle physics, the Big Bang, antimatter, and the technologies CERN has spun off (including the World Wide Web). Guided tours (free, book at visit.cern) go deeper. Tram 18 from center, 20 minutes, free with Geneva Transport Card. This is genuinely one of the most important science museums in the world.
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UN Palais des Nations — 15 CHF guided tour (1 hour). Bring passport. The Assembly Hall where the Human Rights Council meets, nation-donated rooms, and the Ariana Park grounds. The Broken Chair sculpture outside (free) is a powerful statement against landmines.
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ICRC Museum (International Red Cross and Red Crescent) — 15 CHF. Covers the history of humanitarian action through immersive exhibits. The section on prisoners of war uses actual testimonies. Emotionally intense and brilliantly designed. Adjacent to the UN in Ariana Park.
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St. Pierre Cathedral Archaeological Site — 8 CHF beneath the cathedral. Roman and early Christian ruins from the 3rd century — mosaic floors, baptismal fonts, and structural remains that trace Geneva's history to its foundations. The cathedral itself is free; the tower (5 CHF) gives the best city view.
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Patek Philippe Museum — 10 CHF. Five hundred years of watchmaking precision. Even non-watch people are captivated by the enamel miniature paintings, the automata, and the sheer obsessiveness of Swiss horology. Tues-Sat 2PM-6PM.
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Carouge — Free to explore. Geneva's bohemian quarter, designed by the King of Sardinia in the 18th century. Italian-influenced architecture, artisan boutiques, independent galleries. The Wednesday and Saturday markets at Place du Marche are excellent. Tram 12 or 13, 10 minutes from center.
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Geneva Old Town Walking Tour — Self-guided (free) or organized walking tours (10-20 CHF). The oldest parts of the city, with medieval lanes, Reformation history (Calvin preached here), and Place du Bourg-de-Four — the oldest square in Geneva.
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Maison Tavel — Free. Geneva's oldest house, now a museum of the city's history. Small but well-curated. The attic model of 1850s Geneva is fascinating.
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Stettler Chocolate — Geneva's premier chocolatier. The "paves de Geneve" (chocolate cobblestones) are the signature product. Tastings and purchases — budget 15-30 CHF. For a full experience, the Favarger factory tour in Versoix (15 CHF, book online) shows the production process.
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Bains des Paquis — 2 CHF pier entry. A public bathing area, restaurant, and cultural space on a pier jutting into Lake Geneva. Fondue evenings (October-March, book ahead) are a Geneva institution. Summer swimming. Year-round character.
