Geneva has a model of the city before its walls came down, a humidity instrument that uses human hair and fragments of Homer found in mummy casing. Here are five places to spend a wet afternoon, plus October events worth checking before you go.
Checked 7 October 2026. October events below are date-specific; check the linked venue pages before setting out.
What are the most unusual indoor things to do in Geneva when it rains?
Visit Maison Tavel for old Geneva in miniature, the free Museum of the History of Science for historic instruments, or Fondation Martin Bodmer for its newly reopened book exhibition. For an evening with friends, try Rollers Mini-Golf Bar; for a sauna beside the lake, head to Bains des Pâquis.
Maison Tavel: see the Geneva that disappeared
The standout here is the Relief Magnin: a giant model of Geneva before the city walls were demolished in 1850. Maison Tavel itself is the oldest preserved private house in Geneva, with six floors tracing city life from the Middle Ages to the 19th century.
Look up at the outside of the building before going in. Its ten 14th-century Gothic heads are cement copies; the originals are protected inside. Look for them as you explore.
Admission is pay what you wish, with CHF 5–20 suggested. It’s open Tuesday–Sunday, 11:00–18:00, and closed Mondays. There’s a ramp and lift, although a few exhibition areas still have steps. Check current hours and access details.
Museum of the History of Science: the weather instrument made with hair
This free museum sits in Villa Bartholoni at Perle du Lac, beside the lake. Its collection includes historic astronomy, microscopy and meteorology instruments. There’s a good story behind the hair hygrometer, which measures humidity: Horace-Bénédict de Saussure developed it with mechanic Jaques Paul and, according to the museum, thought long blonde hair, like his wife’s, worked best.
It’s open Wednesday–Monday, 10:00–17:00, and closed Tuesdays. The villa is an old building without a lift; an external stair lift is available on request, toilets aren’t wheelchair-accessible, and prams aren’t allowed in the exhibition rooms. Check the museum’s access notes before visiting.
Fondation Martin Bodmer: a newly reopened museum of books
After three years of renovation, the Fondation Martin Bodmer reopened on 18 September 2026 with a new permanent exhibition. Nearly 250 books and objects are on display, and the foundation says almost 80% are being shown to the public for the first time. A touchscreen lets visitors explore a large replica of a medieval manuscript. Among the originals are 2nd-century BC fragments of Homer’s Odyssey, found in cartonnage—the layered material used to make mummy casing.
The museum is in Cologny, about ten minutes from Rive by bus. It’s open Tuesday–Sunday, 14:00–18:00; adult entry is CHF 15, and under-18s enter free. The rooms are kept at 18–19°C to protect the collection, so take a light layer. The renovation added a lift and accessible facilities. See the new exhibition and plan your visit.
Bains des Pâquis: a sauna beside the lake
The winter sauna, steam room and Turkish bath season reopened on 20 September 2026 and runs through 23 May 2027. There’s a new clothing rule to know before you go: swimsuits and synthetic fabrics aren’t allowed in the sauna itself. The Bains offers thin cotton wraps to rent for CHF 2 or buy for CHF 25. The hammam allows swimsuits but excludes swim shorts. Tuesdays are reserved for women.
You’ll still need an umbrella for the walk across the pier. The Buvette serves Crémant fondue and, in winter, advertises a cabin heated by a wood fire. Reservations are recommended for the Buvette. Check the current sauna rules, season and prices and Buvette details first.
Rollers Mini-Golf Bar: mini-golf in a former bunker
In Eaux-Vives, Rollers has about 400 m² of indoor mini-golf, drinks and snack ledges around the course, with themed rooms inspired by classic films. One section is set in a converted atomic bunker. A round takes roughly 60–90 minutes.
Book online if you want to guarantee a place: the official site lists CHF 20 per person with a reservation and CHF 22.50 without one. Players under 16 need an accompanying adult. See our listing and Rollers’ booking and practical information.
What’s especially worth catching in Geneva this October?
Catch the free science museum evening on 9 October, the café photography tour on 10 October, or the Red Cross Museum’s new design exhibition from 8 October. The Bains pier exhibition is another option between showers. These listings were checked on 7 October 2026.
- Friday 9 October — La Nuit est belle! The Museum of the History of Science is open 18:00–22:00 for a free programme exploring night through the theme of water: workshops, sensory yoga, moth-watching, stories, music and stargazing. Entry is subject to availability. Check the event details.
- Saturday 10 October — cafés through words and photographs. A free, one-hour guided visit at Bibliothèque de Genève looks at how writer Georges Haldas and photographer Danny Gignoux portrayed the city’s cafés. It’s in French, 11:00–12:00. The exhibition Cafés genevois: la vie même continues through 14 November. See the visit details.
- From 8 October — humanitarian design. The Red Cross Museum’s new exhibition Humanitarian, by design? explores the objects people rely on in crises: first-aid kits, tents, prostheses, maps and improvised shelters. It runs through 29 August 2027; adult admission is CHF 15. Read the exhibition details.
- Between showers — islands on the lake. An outdoor photo exhibition about the islands and almost-islands of Lake Geneva is displayed on the Bains des Pâquis pier through 8 November. It’s exposed to the weather, so save it for a break in the rain. Check the Bains calendar.
Which rainy-day plan fits the time you have?
- One central hour: Maison Tavel, then stay in the Old Town for coffee.
- A free, slower visit: the Museum of the History of Science; allow time to enjoy the lakeside setting if the rain eases.
- A full afternoon: Fondation Martin Bodmer in Cologny, especially if you like books, manuscripts or the history of ideas.
- An active evening: reserve a mini-golf slot at Rollers.
- A warm reset: the Bains sauna, if the current clothing rules suit you.
What should you check before you go?
- Opening days differ. Maison Tavel closes Monday; the Science Museum closes Tuesday; Bodmer closes Monday. Check the venue’s own page before leaving.
- Book the things that need a slot. Rollers recommends online reservations and only guarantees play with an advance booking. The October night event is free but subject to availability.
- Check access before travelling. Maison Tavel has a lift with a few steps in some areas; the Science Museum has an external stair lift on request but no accessible toilets; Bodmer’s recent renovation added a lift and accessible facilities.
- Use our map to keep the rest of the day close by. For food or a place to work, see coffee spots on our map.
FAQ
Which rainy-day ideas in this guide are free?
The permanent collection at the Museum of the History of Science is free. The 9 October evening event and 10 October café exhibition tour are also listed as free; the evening event is subject to availability. Maison Tavel uses pay-what-you-wish admission, with CHF 5–20 suggested. Bodmer, Rollers and the Bains sauna charge admission or booking fees.
Is the sauna at Bains des Pâquis mixed?
Yes, except on Tuesdays, which the 2026–27 schedule reserves for women. Swimsuits and synthetic fabrics are excluded from the sauna itself; the hammam allows swimsuits but excludes swim shorts.
Do I need to reserve indoor mini-golf in Geneva?
For Rollers, yes if you want to guarantee a place. The venue says online reservations are cheaper than walk-in play, and under-16s must be accompanied by an adult.
What if the rain clears?
Keep the lake-side exhibition at Bains in mind for a dry spell, or switch to the Geneva good-weather guide. If you’ve just arrived, the first 24 hours in Geneva guide covers the essentials.