International Museum of the Red Cross and Red Crescent
International Museum of the Red Cross and Red Crescent things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
Plan your stay
Posts
One of the most memorable museum I've ever visited. Although the museum can be a bit dark and heavy to visit. So be prepared to have a walk though some of the darkest history in human history. On the other hand, I don't suggest anyone that is not prepared to visit the museum. becos personally our mood dropped sharply after the visit. The location can be a bit hard to find, but it is walking distance from the HQ of the United Nation, only one bus stop away. It is also a nice walk when it is good whether. The museum is hidden on top of the stairs, but have visible flags outside. The museum per se is very well organised, the jacket room and gift shop are very easy to access. Although the selection of the gift shop is less than satisfied. Do get a audio guide, because it is so easy to use and so important. The audio guide plays automatically when you walk pass an item, and available in many different languages. So all you need to do is walk and listen. We didn't want to take the audio guide in the first place, because we only have short times in the museum. But the staff insisted and we are happy that we took them. The museum is very interactive, the visitors can have a truly vivid experience and learn a lot about how the red cross is operated and helping people in need. In general the museum is very educational and interactive. It walks the audience through the red cross history and everything associated with it. Even though I had little knowledge with human right to started with, I could easily get into the topic and learn about it. Human right is a heavy topic, so be sure you are ready for it. I dont recommend visit the museum and grateful for everything red cross did, but it is heavy for a family holiday visit.
Kylie Mandel
10
It wasn't crowded on that day. I was driving and had a tough time pinpointing the entrance to the premises. I spent more than 30 minutes circling the hill to find the door; I Had no luck. The location on Google Maps was incorrect. There was a big parking lot, but the entrance near that was nowhere to be found. Later I found a few step entrances to go up the hill, but they were unmarked and camouflaged with the landscaping. If you stand in front of the UN main gate, you can see the mountain and the Red Cross building right in front of it. I asked directions from locals, and they said to drive where the big Chair at. But the Chair is not around the Red Cross building. I ended up taking the turn into a tiny group parking lot, possibly for employees. Then I was still walking to find the entrance; an employee took me inside via a shortcut. Anyways, it was a good experience. I have a 4/5 because of the inconvenience caused by entering the building. I liked the Gift shop and the architecture of the building.
Ish Dee
00
In short, more a series of sombre context-free contemporary art installations than a museum as such. Go to the Botanical Park just down the road instead. It contains the original handwritten foundation document which would be interesting if there was more information about it, like the contents, the authors, etc. Instead the room it's in is mostly given over to a large concrete foot representing "dignity trampled underfoot" around which is projected a collage of war photography, with some random 'peace' quotes taken from historical documents on the walls. The WWII prisoner index cards room is initially impressive, but then... that's all it is, a few million index cards, no examples, no stories to add meaning. The Posters room would be good, if any of the posters had some explanation. The witness testimonies section could have been interesting, but here the technology doesn't really work, shifting half an inch in your seat frequently shifted to a different testimony on the headset which meant I didn't get to hear very much. The prisoner of war art is OK maybe because it's the one thing that comes with some context. There's more, but unless you are keen on somewhat blunt on-message contemporary installations, I wouldn't bother.
Simon Gates
20
This is only a review of the museum not the wonderful work of CICR. This is really not a museum. It is an educational center on the work the Red Cross. There are loads of educational, interactive material to point to the work CICR does around the world. The expositions where they provided actual objects were very effective, but really who wants to walk around looking at computer generated audio visual stuff. I do think that the museum curators could have exhibited various objects from different relief work to emphasis their work, such as nurses uniforms, helmets, etc...where there were such object, as few as they were, I found them effective. They provided an audio recorder to explain the expositions that was suppose to be fool proof and automatic. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't, so I stopped using it. Then there is the cost. I found the ticket for the limited exhibitions were very expensive at 15 F. Verdict: I would not go out of my way to see this museum, but if you have about 2 hours with nothing better to do in Geneva, and want to spend 15 F, then pay a visit here.
Mehran MxM
30
The International Museum of the Red Cross and Red Crescent was very interesting and well worth a trip. While not ideal for children, my 10-year old daughter did appreciate the interactive exhibits and real life stories of people affected by the Red Cross’s work. I do wish the museum had a little more on the creation of the Red Cross and the history that led to the Geneva Conventions and Hague Conventions and their protections for both combatants and noncombatants, and specifically the story of Henry Durant and the Battle of Solferino. A whole section could be dedicated to that story alone. The exhibit’s definitely focus on the more recent efforts of the Red Cross, but those exhibits are really cool as well. Especially the exhibit on World War I and the Red Cross’s efforts during wartime. Overall I definitely recommend a stop for a couple hours if you have time!
Mike Crenshaw
00
Excellent. You need to be in the right mood to appreciate the museum and the explanations, but it is worthwhile, and a reminder of the important work that the red cross does and the things that could happen to any of us when we would experience directly their work. We are a family of 4 with 2 boys (teenagers - 15 and 12 years old) from the UK. Lockers with refundable 1 euro piece. We spent 2 hours there (average apparently 1.5hrs). We paid 33 CHF for a family of 4 with a 15 and 12 year old (15 CHF per adult, 7 CHF per child upto and including 15years old, extra 25% off for a family, but apparently have to be related, so another adult that came with us had to pay full price). This included the temporary exhibition. Entrance up some stairs, across the road and directly opposite the visitors entrance to the United Nations.
Michael Heng
00
Nearby Attractions Of International Museum of the Red Cross and Red Crescent
Broken Chair
Conservatory and Botanical garden Geneva
Palais des Nations
Parc de l'Ariana
United Nations Office at Geneva
Musée Ariana
Parc de Vermont
Botanical Garden Greenhouse
Statue de Gandhi
Museum of Military History

Broken Chair
4.5
(3.5K)
Click for details

Conservatory and Botanical garden Geneva
4.7
(3K)
Click for details

Palais des Nations
4.6
(1.8K)
Click for details

Parc de l'Ariana
4.5
(558)
Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of International Museum of the Red Cross and Red Crescent
Café du Soleil
Luigia
Boulangerie pâtisserie Eric Emery
Chez ma cousine Petit-Saconnex
Jardin de Penthes
La Romana MMXXI - Restaurant italien, Pizzeria
Mama & Zita
Thai Phuket
Restaurant Vieux Bois
UN Port beach club

Café du Soleil
4.5
(1.4K)
$$
Click for details

Luigia
4.2
(1K)
$$
Click for details

Boulangerie pâtisserie Eric Emery
4.4
(415)
Click for details

Chez ma cousine Petit-Saconnex
4.3
(724)
Click for details
Basic Info
Address
Av. de la Paix 17, 1202 Genève, Switzerland
Map
Phone
+41 22 748 95 11
Call
Website
redcrossmuseum.ch
Visit
Reviews
Overview
4.5
(1.2K reviews)
Ratings & Description
cultural
accessibility
Description
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum is a museum located in Geneva, Switzerland.
attractions: Broken Chair, Conservatory and Botanical garden Geneva, Palais des Nations, Parc de l'Ariana, United Nations Office at Geneva, Musée Ariana, Parc de Vermont, Botanical Garden Greenhouse, Statue de Gandhi, Museum of Military History, restaurants: Café du Soleil, Luigia, Boulangerie pâtisserie Eric Emery, Chez ma cousine Petit-Saconnex, Jardin de Penthes, La Romana MMXXI - Restaurant italien, Pizzeria, Mama & Zita, Thai Phuket, Restaurant Vieux Bois, UN Port beach club

- Please manually select your location for better experience