Top Rated Attractions in Geneva

Located close to La Cathédrale St Pierre, on the ground floor of the Maison Mallet, Musée international de la Réforme is a must visit in Geneva. It houses paintings, manuscripts, unique objects, rare books and engravings regarding Geneva's reformation. You can also avail of the guided tours conducted by the museum. Temporary exhibitions take place occasionally as well. Call or visit their website for more details.

International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum recounts the history of the Red Cross movement through various exhibition spaces that cover the inception of the first idea and the organization's role throughout history (especially during the two World Wars) to the current issues the Red Cross is dealing with today. Along with temporary exhibits, the permanent collection focuses on three major contemporary issues: dignity, family ties and environmental risks. A plethora of activities is organized here, making your trip to this museum an entertaining and educative one.

Situated on the Boulevard du Théâtre, this grand opera house ardently celebrates the glory of opera, dance, recitals, and occasional theater. Built in 1879, it replaced the Théâtre de Neuve, which had become unable to accommodate the city's growing patronage. Although the original structure suffered damage in a fire the following century, the tenacious opera house was refurbished and reopened to an eager public in 1962. Home to state-of-the-art acoustics, the Grand Théâtre de Genève, with its repertoire of ballet, classical symphonies and choral performances, harks back to the legacy of maestros like Beethoven, Mozart, Rossini, and Meyerbeer. Perhaps the most striking feature of this opera house is its grand foyer, a canvas of elegance, set alight by luminescent chandeliers, gilded panels, and vibrant ceiling frescoes. Just minutes from downtown, and opposite the Parc des Bastions, this central attraction boasts both a historic facade and tempting events schedule.

The Musée Ariana (Ariana Museum), also known as Musée Suisse de la Céramique et du Verre, is housed in an exquisite palace built between 1877 and 1884 and is well worth visiting in its own right. The museum has one of the richest and finest collections of ceramic and glassware in Europe and is the only museum of its kind in Switzerland. The collection's approximate 20,000 pottery, stoneware, earthenware and porcelain objects, as well as some glass objects span seven centuries, from the Middle Ages to the present day in Europe, the Near East and Asia. The museum also holds temporary exhibitions in its basement throughout the year.

Throughout its history, Nyon Castle has been used for many purposes. Originally an administrative building in the House of Savoy, it has since been a courthouse, prison, and now a beautiful museum that offers visitors a little bit of everything from history to portraiture to a permanent exhibition of fine Swiss porcelain that was created in the municipality of Nyon between 1781 and 1813. Completely restored as of 2006, visitors can view the entire building floor-by-floor, beginning in the basement then working their way up, passing old prison cells, as well as wonderful art and architecture along the way.

The Maison Tavel is the oldest standing private house in Geneva. The house, which was burnt down in 1334 and rebuilt shortly afterwards, is listed as a historical monument. Visit the cellar and its archaeological ruins, then go up to the ground floor to discover Geneva from the Middle Ages to the Restoration. On the first floor paintings, engravings and photographs depict the evolution of the city, and in the main hall woodwork, locksmithing and ironwork by Genevan craftsmen of the 17th and 18th Centuries are exhibited.