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CERN Science Gateway
🏛️ GENEVA MONUMENT GUIDE

CERN Science Gateway: Free Entry, Registration & Visiting Tips

⏱️ Visit Time

2 - 3 h

🏛️ Category

Science Museum / Visitor Centre

⏳ Era

Science Gateway building opened October 2023; CERN itself founded 1954

📍 Address

Esplanade des Particules 1, 1211 Meyrin, Switzerland

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Practical Visitor Info & Tips

💶 Box Office Price

CHF 0.00

🎟️ Reduced Price

N/A — the same free general admission applies to all ages; visitors under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

🕒 Opening Hours

Tuesday - Sunday, 09:00 - 17:00 (last entry 16:30); closed Mondays. Closed 24-25 Dec and 31 Dec - 1 Jan.

📋 Entry Rules

Free registration required for general admission; online registration recommended up to 1 month ahead guarantees entry. On-site registration is possible but subject to availability only. Guided tours (12+) and lab workshops (5+) need a separate free on-site reservation after check-in, opening 1-2 hours before each session; only ~10% of visitors get a slot.

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What The Ticket Includes

CERN's public exhibition and education centre near Geneva — interactive exhibitions on particle physics and the Large Hadron Collider, science shows, and films, all free with registration.

Ticket Options & Pricing
OptionPriceBooking
General admission (exhibitions, shows, films) Free Mandatory free online registration, up to 1 month ahead recommended
Guided tour (90 min, age 12+) Free Separate on-site reservation only, after check-in — very limited capacity
Lab workshop (45 min, age 5+) Free Separate on-site reservation only, after check-in — very limited capacity

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Ticket Options

Official Ticket

CHF 0.00

City Pass

Check whether a city pass already covers this attraction before buying separately.

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Overview & History

Science Gateway is CERN's public education and outreach centre, a short tram ride from central Geneva. Its exhibition halls, hands-on laboratories, a modular auditorium, and a science-show programme cover 8,000 m² and introduce visitors to particle physics and the Large Hadron Collider. General admission to the exhibitions, science shows, and films is completely free — but free entry still requires registering for a specific arrival slot, since walk-ins are only admitted if space remains. Guided tours of CERN facilities and hands-on lab workshops are a separate, much more limited add-on booked on-site the same day.

What to See: Top Highlights

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Free Interactive Exhibitions

Hands-on displays on particle physics and the Large Hadron Collider, included in the free general-admission registration (ages 8+).

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Science Shows & Films

Live science shows (ages 4+) and short films (ages 12+) run throughout the day at no extra cost.

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Guided Tours & Lab Workshops

Separately booked, on-site, same-day reservations for a 90-minute guided tour (12+) or a 45-minute hands-on lab workshop (5+) — capacity is limited to roughly 10% of visitors, first-come first-served.

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Location & Google Maps

📍 Esplanade des Particules 1, 1211 Meyrin, Switzerland Open in Google Maps

Do You Need a Pass Here?

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No — Science Gateway's general admission is already free for everyone with registration, with or without the Geneva City Pass. The pass adds no value here since there is no ticket price to discount, and it does not grant any priority access to the separately booked guided tours or lab workshops.

Geneva City Pass

Not included. Not applicable — Science Gateway general admission is already free for everyone via CERN's own free mandatory registration, regardless of any pass. Row kept for completeness rather than omitted, matching the "free regardless of any pass" pattern already used for Zurich's Lindenhof. Guided tours/lab workshops are separately, on-site reserved the same day and are not sold through any pass channel.

Data Provenance

Source CERN (official, visit.cern)
Last Verified 2026-09-29

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Provided by our commercial partner GetYourGuide — bookings made through this section may earn LocalExperiences a commission. See our Editorial Transparency page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CERN Science Gateway really free to visit?
Yes — general admission to the exhibitions, science shows, and films is confirmed free on CERN's own official visitor site. You do still need to register for an entry slot; it isn't free walk-in access.
Do I need to book in advance?
Booking isn't strictly mandatory, but it's strongly recommended: online registration up to a month ahead guarantees entry, while on-site registration is only offered subject to availability and can be turned away when full.
Can I book the guided tour or lab workshop ahead of time?
No — those need a separate, free reservation made on-site after you check in, released 1-2 hours before each session. Capacity is small (about 10% of visitors), so arriving early improves your odds.
Does the Geneva City Pass help here?
No — Science Gateway is already free to everyone with registration, with or without the Geneva City Pass, so the pass adds no discount or priority-access value at this attraction.

Nearby & Related Attractions

Palais des Nations (UN Geneva) → Patek Philippe Museum → St Pierre Cathedral →
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