Free things to do in Geneva

12 places in Geneva with free entry or no charge, based on guide listings and map data.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

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CERN Science Gateway
The CERN particle physics research centre has a purpose built museum presenting the history of CERN, our universe and quantum science at a level accessible to all. Almost all exhibits are interactive and are presented in five languages (French, English, German, Italian and Spanish). There are also workshops for children (free, 45 mins) and guided tours (90 mins) of the premises which can only be booked on site. The reception has a souvenir shop; this is your opportunity to get yourself a CERN helmet!
9AM-5PM Tue-SunFree
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Jardin botanique
At the botanical garden you can see flowers, plants and trees both from the Alps and from other parts of the world. The palm house also hosts tropical vegetation. In the northern part of the park there is a zoo spread over a quite large area with birds and some Alpine mammals such as goats and deer.
free
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Jet d'Eau
One of the crowning symbols of Geneva is the monumental Jet d'Eau, a fountain of water pumped 140m into the air. The spectacular plume was once an occasional pressure release for hydro-power generation on the Rhône River, but people liked it so much that in 1891 the city created a permanent pumped fountain. It's beautifully lit at night. Best viewed from a distance — the surrounding half kilometer is soaked with water. However, the more adventurous might want to try the pathway leading right up to the Jet d'eau -- prepare to get enjoyably wet!
daily 10:00-23:00 (shut off in November for maintenance and during strong winds.)Free
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L'Ile
Worth visiting for the old Tour de L'Ile, the remains of a fortified castle erected in the 13th century.
Free
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Maison Tavel
Three floors presenting the history of Geneva from the Middle Ages until the 19th century. There's an entrance fee to the temporary exhibitions in the basement.
Tue-Sun 11:00-18:00free
See
Monument Brunswick
An impressive monument, constructed in 1873 as a Mausoleum for the Duke of Brunswick, as a replica of the tomb of the Scaligeri family in Verona (14th century). Also worth visiting for the 5-star hotels and the cars in front of them.
Free
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Musée d'Art et d'Histoire
Extensive art and archaeological-historical collections. Painting gallery extends back to the early Renaissance, but is most extensive in Swiss-French and Impressionist works.
Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00Free, except special exhibits
See
Musée d'Histoire Naturelle
Geneva has a nice museum which is worth a visit, especially if you have youth and children.
Tue-Sun 09:30-17:00Free
See
Musée d'histoire des sciences
Museum dedicated to scientists who've lived and worked in Geneva. You can see old equipment from telescopes to galvanometers and glass eyes.
free
See
Quartier des Grottes
An area with interesting shops and most importantly, a series of residential buildings called "les Schtroumpfs" (1982-1984), where the architects tried to avoid all straight lines, leading to an unconventional Gaudi-like appearance.
Free
See
Île Rousseau
Small island where the lake ends and river Rhône begins named after the famous philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau - of course there's a statue of him there too.
Free
Do Not mapped
Fête de la Musique
For three days in June, the whole City of Geneva is a stage. Actually, there are on the order of 40 of them. The musical offerings include children's choirs, punk rock, chamber orchestras, jam bands, avant-guard jazz, klezmer, and drum and bass DJs. The venues are as diverse as the music, with stages inside and out of l'Usine, Parc des Bastions, and even Cathédral St. Pierre. There is also a wide assortment of international food and drink for sale, which can be a bit pricey, but highly worth it. The easiest way to get information is to just head to one of the parks listed above and find one of the free newspaper-style festival guides. It includes time-tables and maps. Additionally, be sure to wander around, as the festival is full of many excellent unofficial performances, including drums, juggling, and dance.
Free

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Geneva (CC BY-SA 4.0).