Location – Palais des Nations is located in Ariana Park and is just 4.1 KM away from the Geneva airport.
Entry Fee – Well, nothing comes at free, right! It will pinch you 15 CHF if you are an adult, but for students and senior citizens, it is 10 CHF. For children under 6 years, entry is free, and for children above 6 years, it is 4 CHF. If you are touring with a group, then it will cost 13 CHF.
Distance from Zurich Airport – Palais des Nations and the Zurich Airport are 280 km apart. It will take 2-3 hours to reach Palais from Zurich by bus or car.
History of Palais des Nations
The building has a very interesting and intriguing history. Well, let’s enlighten you on this! The history of this building dates back to 1919 after the League of Nations was founded. Right after that, a competition took place to finalize the design of the Palais before its construction.
An astonishing number of 377 proposals came, and the jury could not decide on one. Finally, the panel shortlisted five architects from five different countries for the project. Carlo Broggi from Italy, Julien Flegenheimer from Switzerland, Camille Lefèvre, and Henri Paul Nénot from France and Joseph Vago from Hungary collaborated to complete the project.
After laying the foundation stone on 7th September 1929, the work continued and lasted till 1938. In the interim, the Secretariat of the League and the many other staff got settled in various parts of the building. The interior design of the Palais was possible due to the large amount of donations from the Member States.
But the League was politically inactive and ceased to exist in 1945. With the formation of the United Nations in 1945, the Palais became the second largest United Nations Office.
Tips for visiting Palais des Nations
Whenever you are planning for a trip, there are certain things that you must consider so that your trip goes smoothe. So, let’s share few points below which may help you while travelling to Geneva:
- First, you must have your pockets full while you are travelling. You may desire to shop or visit some extra spots, so keeping adequate cash is always helpful.
- Geneva is a well-connected city with buses, trains, and taxis, which will make your journey easy and comfortable. You can easily reach the Palais from any point of the city.
- As hotels are costly here, and if you are tight on budget, then you must go for hostels. Hostels are a bit cheaper compared to hotels. But if you have a budget, then you can stay and enjoy the luxurious suites.
- Bring lighter clothes during summer and warm clothes in winter. Lake Geneva is known for swimming during summer and spring, so if you like swimming, don't forget to carry a swimsuit.
- The place is generally safe to move around even at night. But you know prevention is always better than cure! So a little alertness is recommended.
- Take a tour guide if you want to explore the Palais both outside and inside.
