Musée d'ethnographie de Genève (MEG)

The Musée d'ethnographie de Genève, known as the MEG, stands at Boulevard Carl-Vogt 65 in the Plainpalais district of Geneva, Switzerland. Its contemporary building, opened in 2014 and designed as a set of angular, overlapping volumes, is architecturally striking and is part of the visit's appeal. Inside, the museum holds tens of thousands of objects from five continents, assembled over more than a century, including masks, textiles, musical instruments, tools, ritual items and everyday objects. The permanent exhibition, The Archive of Human Diversity, is free and presents a selection of the collections arranged to provoke questions about how cultures are classified, collected and displayed rather than simply presenting objects as curiosities. The museum also has a notable collection of musical instruments and recorded music, with a listening area, and regularly stages temporary exhibitions that cost around CHF 10. A visit generally lasts between 1.5 and 2 hours. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00AM to 6:00PM and closed on Mondays. Entry for under 18s is free throughout. Weekday afternoons are generally calm, whereas weekends and school holidays draw more local families. The museum has a café and a shop, and its surroundings in Plainpalais, with the weekly flea market and the Rhône nearby, make it easy to combine with other stops. Photography is usually allowed in the permanent galleries for personal use, but visitors should check signs in special exhibitions. Tram 12 or 18 to Hôpital or Plainpalais brings visitors within a short walk. Because the permanent displays are free, the museum is a good low-cost choice for a rainy afternoon in Geneva, and the thought-provoking presentation appeals to adults and teenagers alike.