The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum sits adjacent to the ICRC headquarters on Avenue de la Paix, a short walk from the Palais des Nations. It opened in 1988 and was extensively renovated in 2013. The permanent collection takes visitors through three core themes: defending human dignity, restoring family links, and reducing natural risks — presented through a combination of objects, testimony, film, and interactive displays.
The museum is deliberately not a feel-good institution. It deals directly with torture, detention, famine, and the limits of humanitarian protection, with case studies drawn from real conflicts. The experience is challenging and thoughtfully designed, and it is consistently rated among the best museums in Switzerland. The café in the basement is quiet and good for a restorative coffee after the exhibition. Allow two hours.