1 January New Year's day
2 April Good Friday
5 April Easter Monday
13 May Eid Al-Fitr
24 May Whit Monday
20 July Eid al-Adha
2 August Swiss National Day
9 September Jeûne Genevois
24 December Christmas Day

The Palais tour is approximately 2KM (1.24 Miles) of walking and can be difficult for youth or those with mobility issues.

As the Palais des Nations undergoes a complete renovation, areas of the tour will be difficult to access for those who need assistance.

Visitors should plan for approximately 40 minutes for security screening upon arrival.

Visitors should not be carrying luggage or large bags.

Due to certain events, Visitors’ Service may need to close at short notice, this will not concern pre-registered groups.

Our tour route and schedule may be affected by certain meetings, meaning some rooms may not be accessible, without prior notice.

Public transport: Transports Publics Genevois 

Palais des Nations transit stops are Appia and Nations

Bus lines 8, 28, F, V and Z stop at Appia; 5 and 11 stop at Nations; Tramway 15 terminus Nations.

Visitors must enter through the Pregny Gate.

Free tickets for public transport are available from a machine in the baggage collection area before passing through customs at Geneva International Airport. This unireso ticket allows you free use of public transport in Geneva including Transports Publics Genevois (buses and trams), CFF (Swiss Railways) or Mouettes Genevoises (municipal ferries) for a period of 80 minutes. Anyone holding this type of ticket may be asked to show their airline ticket.

In Geneva, unireso public-transport tickets must be purchased prior to boarding a tram, bus or ferry. Ticket machines are available at most stops. Travel cards or passes can be purchased at the main TPG centres (Rive, Cornavin and Bachet de Pesay) and at newsstands (including at the “Naville” kiosk in the Palais). Please note tickets are not available on the bus itself. Hotels, youth hostels or campsites typically offer a Geneva Transport Card, which allows use of public transport in Geneva free of charge during the period of stay.

The guided tour of the Palais des Nations lasts for one hour.

Daily tours are available in English and French.

Groups of more than 15 people can reserve a tour in numerous languages including, Bulgarian, Chinese, Czech, Dutch, English, French, German (and Swiss German), Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish and Slovak.

Reservations are compulsory as of 15 people.

The Visitors’ Service does not take reservations for less than 15 people. Online reservations made for less than 15 people will not be answered. Special programmes are available upon request.

The Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room, decorated by famous artist Miquel Barcelò.

The Salle des Pas Perdus, with views of the Celestial Sphere.

The Assembly Hall, the largest room in the Palais des Nations.

The Council Chamber, where many important historical negotiations have taken place, with murals by José Maria Sert.

Artworks gifted by various member states to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

Tour Guides share insights on the current activities of the United Nations, as well the history of the Palais des Nations, former headquarters of the League of Nations.

Tours last for approximately 1 hour. Information given during the tours covers the history, structure and current activities of the United Nations and the United Nations Office at Geneva, as well as related information on the Palais des Nations and its surroundings.

The historical and artistic diversity of Palais des Nations, together with the variety of United Nations activities in Geneva make this a unique place, one that we are very proud to speak about during our tours.

Tour Guides adapt information and presentation to best fit the age range of your pupils/students.

In order to make the most out of your tour, we highly recommend pupils/students prepare ahead of time.

Below are internet links to relevant sources of information which can help you:

• UN (students) https://www.un.org/en/sections/resources-different-audiences/students/index.html
• UN (academia) https://www.un.org/en/sections/resources-different-audiences/academia/index.html
• Sustainable Development Goals: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?menu=1300
• Children's Rights: http://www.voicesofyouth.org/
• Food & Agriculture: http://www.fao.org/schoolgarden/index_en.htm
• Holocaust Remembrance: http://www.un.org/en/holocaustremembrance/educational.shtml
• Human Rights: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/PublicationsResources/Pages/TrainingEducation.aspx
• IMF - money, finance and economics: http://www.imf.org/external/np/exr/st/eng/index.htm
• Intellectual Property: http://www.wipo.int/freepublications/en/youth.html
• Refugees: https://www.unhcr.org/model-un-refugee-challenge.html
• Rwanda Genocide: http://www.un.org/en/preventgenocide/rwanda/education/education.shtml
• UN Economic Commission for Europe: http://www.unece.org/highlights/youth_corner/youth_corner.html
• "Water for Life": http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/kids.shtml
• Weather and Climate: http://www.wmo.int/youth/
• World Trade Organization: http://www.wto.org/english/forums_e/students_e/students_e.htm

A few rules to follow…

The United Nations Office at Geneva is a workplace: delegates hold their meetings in the chambers that you are going to visit. For everyone’s comfort, please kindly follow the rules mentioned below during the tour:

• Please ensure that your pupils/students remain quiet upon arrival and during the tour. Pupils and students will be able to ask questions during the tour and interact with the Tour Guide.
• Please divide up your pupils/students into groups upon arrival if required.
• Please stay together during the tour.
• Please note that there is no access to toilets during the tour. Please inform your pupils/students of the possibility to use toilets before or after the tour.
• The tour begins and finishes at door 39 of the Palais des Nations where the United Nations bookshop is located. You will be able to visit the bookshop after your tour.