Things to Do in CERN

The Large Hadron Collider lives here. CERN sprawls across the Swiss-French border outside Geneva, where the World Wide Web was invented and particle accelerators smash atoms at near light-speed. Most shocking fact? This temple of quantum physics welcomes curious tourists with open arms. The facility covers both countries, though visitor activities center on the Swiss side near Meyrin. Nobel Prize discoveries happen daily alongside school field trips—an oddly approachable mix. The contrast works well.

The staff cafeterias serve functional food that tastes like international institutional cooking. Skip them. Geneva offers everything from traditional Swiss dishes to cosmopolitan options reflecting the city's global character—head there for memorable meals. Meyrin has decent local spots. French side visitors can try Ferney-Voltaire's bistros, which cost less than Swiss restaurants.

Late spring and early fall deliver the best experience with regular tour schedules and manageable crowds. Summer brings pleasant weather but requires advance booking—demand peaks then. Winter works fine for indoor exhibitions and tours. CERN sometimes closes sections for maintenance or special events. Check their schedule before traveling.