cern visit hours

CERN Accelerating science

CERN is the European laboratory for particle physics and one of the world’s leading scientific research laboratories. CERN's business is pure research - physicists and engineers use the world's largest and most complex scientific instruments to study Nature's tiniest building blocks, the fundamental particles, to find out how our world and the Universe work. 

An early European joint venture, CERN was founded in 1954 by the Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire (hence the acronym). The Laboratory has become a prime example of international collaboration, with 23 Members States, seven Associate Member States, three Associate Member States in the pre-stage to Membership and a global community of more than 100 nationalities.  

CERN’s mission is to perform world-class research in fundamental physics and provide a unique range of particle accelerator facilities that enable that research to take place in an environmentally responsible and sustainable way. CERN also pushes the frontiers of science and technology for the benefit of society, trains new generations of physicists, engineers and technicians, and engages all citizens in research and in the values of science. 

Find out more about CERN here . 

CERN Accelerating science

Families and individual visitors

Admission to CERN Science Gateway is free for everyone. 

Families, individual visitors and small groups (fewer than 12 people) can freely access our three interactive exhibitions, as well as science shows and films (subject to availability). In addition, you can sign up for guided tours and lab workshops on a first-come, first-served basis. On Sundays, guided tours and lab workshops are exclusively reserved for families, individual visitors and small groups.

There is no online booking for families, individual visitors and small groups (less than 12 visitors). Groups (12 visitors and more) can and must book here .

Please note that visitors under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.

How do you get acess to CERN Science Gateway ?

When you arrive, open our exclusive web application (accessible only on CERN-Visitors Wi-Fi) and tell us a bit about yourself to get access to CERN Science Gateway's activities.

Which activities do you have access to?

Which activities require an additional booking.

The activities below can be booked throughout the day (1 hour in advance for labs and 2 hours in advance for guided tours) on our exclusive web application, available only on CERN-Visitors Wi-Fi) 

Bookings are available on a first-come, first-served basis and subject to capacity. More guided tours are available on Sundays, which are reserved for families, individual visitors and small groups (fewer than 12 people).

CERN Accelerating science

Your safety: our priority

As everywhere at CERN, your safety and well-being are our top priority. We want all our visitors to have a safe and enjoyable experience and to leave CERN with lasting good memories.

Below you will find some useful information for when you are on site.

Conditions of entry

• Only guide and assistance animals are allowed in Science Gateway and on the CERN sites.
• We remind you that luggage and large bags are not allowed in CERN Science Gateway or on guided tours. Lockers for the storage of small luggage are available near the Big Bang Café.
• Minors must be accompanied at all times by at least one adult.

Photography

• Taking photos for non-commercial purposes is permitted, provided that the privacy of other visitors is respected.
• Non-private or commercial photography/recording is only allowed by prior arrangement.

When you visit CERN’s Science Gateway and/or follow a guided tour

• Always respect signage, access restrictions and instructions given by our guides.
• Please use pavements and pedestrian crossings. 
• Dispose of your waste appropriately, using the recycling bins.
• Don’t throw objects down drains.
• Don’t pick or trample flowers.
• Please note that smoking is forbidden in all enclosed or covered spaces on CERN premises.

If you follow a guided tour inside the CERN domain

• During the guided tours, closed, flat shoes must be worn.
• Always wear your visitor badge visibly.
• Be aware that CERN is an industrial site with a variety of hazards, including electricity, magnetic fields and ionising radiation.
• Stay with your guide at all times. 
• Avoid touching any object or equipment that you are not familiar with
• Stay alert and be aware of your surroundings

CERN Accelerating science

What is the nature of our Universe? What is it made of?

Scientists from around the world come to CERN …

… to use unique machines to answer          fundamental questions …

… pushing the limits of technology          for the benefit of society.

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Visiting CERN – 11 Tips That Will Help You Make the Most of the Hadron Collider Tour

• By Traveling Anne
• February 28, 2024
• In Europe Travel Destinations

As promised in my French Alps trip report , here's a more detailed review of our excellent visit to CERN, near Geneva, Switzerland. There are several tips I want to share as well, about what we did right and what we could have done better.  Read through if you are thinking of visiting CERN so you can make the most of your time there.

What is CERN all about?

You may occasionally see the name Cern, not as an acronym. It's not the name of a town or a village though. Rather, it's an acronym for a long title in French:  Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire.  Which translates into: The European council for nuclear research. I will be using CERN and Cern interchangeably throughout this post because these days it's both a place and a concept.

The council was established back in 1954 in an effort to promote scientific collaboration between the nations of Europe, at the time still licking their proverbial and literal wounds of the second world war. They were allocated an area near Geneva where the CERN project was established on (and under) the ground. The name of the initiative has since changed into the  European Organization for Nuclear Research but it's still known as Cern (and not as EONR, thankfully).

There have been many amazing discoveries made in CERN over the years, some of which have lead to nobel prizes in physics and chemistry. It is best known for its huge particle collider, aka the Hadron Collider.

There are several underground looped tunnels where sub-atomic particles are accelerated in phases and then enter the largest loop of all: the Hadron collider. Beams of particles are made to smash into one another at specific stations within the collider and the results are recorded to be further analyzed by scientists across the globe. It really is an amazing feat of human ingenuity. That makes visiting CERN an uplifting experience for all, not just science buffs.

Visiting CERN: Can you actually visit the Hadron Collider?

Yes and no. You can visit Cern and be above the collider. The main road which runs through the main complex that surrounds the main research station - known as The Atlas Project - is open to the public. There is a visitors center there which includes two permanent exhibitions -

Microcosm - The story of collider and how it works, as well as a little bit about what life in Cern is for the 10,000+ scientists and engineers who work there.

In addition to the exhibitions, there is a guided tour that takes you "behind the scenes". I have seen photos of people wearing helmets and looking at what appears to be part of the collider. During our own visit, the guide explained that they do not take visitors down to the collider because the levels of radiation there are not safe.

So, no, we did not get to see the actual collider. We did get to see several models and hear a LOT about it. Considering its actual size (about 27 kilometers long!) I don't see how you can actually "see" more than a very small part of it going underground. Either way, you can't see it "working". According to our guide (who was also a physicist and a shift leader at Cern) there's not much to be seen. The particle beam is silent and invisible.

Who should be visiting CERN?

Cern is a must-visit for anyone who loves science and specifically physics. The exhibitions are thorough and our guide was a professional physicist who could answer all of the questions thrown at him by our group's science buffs.

Even if you're not into physics, I think the tour would be enjoyable. The exhibitions are interactive and exciting and there is something very moving about the entire project: European nations working together to promote science and peace.

And finally...

11 quick tips that will help you make the most of your visit

1. book the tour.

The tour is entirely free and it gets you that unique "behind the scenes" look into the project. Our guide was fascinating and it was really cool to walk past these gates:

The tour also takes you to a special exhibition with a 20 minutes long multimedia show projected on the walls and on the equipment around you. Really cool and great fun for kids.

2. Guided tours fill up really fast

They open up for registration 15 days ahead of the date, in the morning (Switzerland time) and as far as I could see, registration closes within a couple of hours. They re-open three days ahead of the date for latecomers and I guess if there are no-shows, you can try and wriggle your way into a group.

3. Be prepared to take pictures on the guided tour

With all the fences and guards, we thought they may ask us not to take pictures. Quite the opposite. Our guide said they want us to take as many pictures as possible! Keep your camera ready during the tour because photo-ops pop up literally as you walk around while visiting CERN. Like taking pictures of street signs -

4. Be prepared for a long visit

This isn't a place you can run through in 20 minutes. The exhibitions alone are well-worth 1-2 hours (possibly longer if you are interested in physics). The tour takes up another two hours of your time. All in all, three hours is the bare minimum. We spent five hours at Cern and could have stayed for longer if we had more time.

5. Check for opening hours

There are different opening hours for the exhibitions. The visitors center and the Microcosm exhibition open at 8:30. The Universe Of Particles opens at 10. There are several time slots for the guided tours. Check your times and make sure you allocate at least an hour for each exhibition and 2 hours for the tour (including showing up 15 minutes in advance to get your badges). The good news is that everything is close-by, so it only takes a couple of minutes to get from one exhibition to the other.

6. Bring your own food

Google maps knows of a couple of cafeterias at Cern which we had planned on checking out. Nothing quite like enjoying a croissant while rubbing shoulders with a local version of Sheldon Cooper, right? I thought this would add to our "Visiting CERN" experience.

As it happens, these cafeterias are out of bounds for us mere mortals. The only way to get a coffee or any food is at the local gas station. It's very close to the visitors center, so not a long walk, but the prices are quite Swiss (i.e. expensive!) and the food quality is nothing to write home about - basically what you'd expect to find in a gas station store. They do have a really cool espresso machine that generates so much steam while making your coffee, you might think they're running it through the Hadron collider itself!

7. Eat and drink before the tour

If you didn't bring anything to eat, grab something - anything - at that gas station. The tour isn't short and you can't eat or drink anywhere during the tour. You also can't leave the tour once you started because you have to be accompanied by the guide when inside Cern. So -especially if you're traveling with kids - make sure everyone is well fed before you start the tour.

8. Wear comfortable shoes and dress according to the weather

The guided tour has you walking about one mile on foot. Not too bad but enough to be more enjoyable with comfortable shoes. You will be walking outside for a short bit as well, so if it looks like it might rain, gear up accordingly.

9. Park near the big dome

There's plenty of parking, or at least there was on the day of our visit, but you can't just park anywhere. The best place for you to park would be next to the big brown dome. Just east of the dome, towards the Swiss side of Cern, there is a big parking lot that's free to park at.

10. Watch a movie about the project before visiting CERN

I wanted to get our kids acquainted with Cern before we came and to be honest, I didn't know a whole lot about it other than that's where they had recently discovered the Boson-Higgs and that people were afraid they might create a black hole in the process, swallowing up the entire earth (which turned up to be a slight exaggeration).

The movie we watched was available on Netflix. It's called "Particle Fever" and you can buy or rent it on Amazon too .

11. Don't worry about the language barrier

Cern is technically in both Switzerland and France (the border runs in the middle) but everyone there speaks English. More importantly, the exhibitions all have English labels or English narration options and the guided tour is available in English. That's not something you typically find in French science (or other) museums so it's worth mentioning here.

And one last tip...

12. Have fun!

Visiting CERN is fun! There's a lot of humor to be found in the exhibitions. Lots of red buttons to push and see whether you actually create a black hole that can swallow up the entire earth. It hasn't happened to us but who knows, you might just get lucky!

Have you ever visited Cern? Got any tips to add? Please share those in the comments section below. You can also leave me questions about visiting CERN and I'll try and give you the best answer I can.

Awesome tips i will give 5 out of 5 stars for these tips i totally loved it.❤

Thank you so much, Asher!

Is it possible to use photo in the chapter 3? I am writing a post for students and schoolchildren and I need photo like that.

Check your email 🙂 I sent you an email with a couple of questions so we can take it from there.

Thanks for the info. Our rental auto does not permit us to drive into Switzerland. Do you know if there is ample free car parking on the French side and we can just walk 5 minutes to Reception?

Hi Paul, I couldn’t find the answer on their website so I emailed Francois Briard, head of CERN’s Visits center who has visited and commented on this post before 🙂 He was very prompt and helpful but unfortunately the answer is that there is no available parking space on the French side that’s within walking distance from the visitors center. He added that you shouldn’t count on parking by the side of the road because French commuters have these filled up by 8AM. His suggestion was to get bus Y line from Saint-Genis-Pouilly and that can drop you at the CERN bus stop. I hope this helps! Enjoy your visit to CERN!

Thanks for the very accurate and useful tips! Our website has been rebranded a bit giving even more information.

François, head of CERN’s Visits Service 😉

Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment, François! I’m glad you liked my post!

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CERN Accelerating science

Collaboration Site | Physics Results

ATLAS Visits

How to visit in person.

To schedule an onsite visit to the ATLAS experiment, please contact the CERN Visits Service .

The ATLAS Visitor Center has a permanent exhibit with interactive screens outside the Control Room and a 3D movie which explains how the detector works and why the collaboration pursues its quest for fundamental knowledge. CERN also has two permanent exhibitions Universe of Particles and Microcosm that provide unique experiences in understanding the secrets of matter and exploring the mysteries in our universe.

ATLAS Virtual Visits

How to visit remotely.

An ATLAS Virtual Visit connects a classroom, exhibition or other public venues with scientists at the experiment using web-based video conferencing. It is a chance for you to have a conversation with the scientists working on ATLAS.

Group Visits

For groups of at least 10 visitors, you can schedule a Virtual Visit by completing this form.

Open Visits

We also schedule periodic visits for individuals or small groups to join. You can see a list of upcoming Open Virtual Visits here . Select the one you want and register.

ATLAS Virtual Tours

Explore atlas virtually.

Take a virtual tour around the ATLAS detector in the cavern, located around 80 meters below ground at interaction point 1 of the LHC. Alternatively, walk around the detector and control room using Google's street view .

CERN Accelerating science

Language switcher, guided tours for individuals (less than 12 people), come and discover an emblematic site at cern in a visit led by our official guides. mandatory registration onsite..

Every year, CERN welcomes almost 100 000 visitors from all over the world, who come to learn about its installations from our official guides. Guided tours of CERN are free of charge.

The meeting point for tours is the CERN Reception How to get to CERN

Mandatory registration at the main desk, upon availability and maximum 2 hours in advance. No online registration.

https://visit.cern/guided-tours-individuals

Offres similaires

Virtual tours and talks, lab workshops, public events at science gateway campus.

Toutes les offres

Visit CERN: the European Organization for Nuclear Research

Seeing is believing! There is nothing like seeing physics in action to excite and inspire. At CERN, you will hear, first hand, about what’s going on at the forefront of physics, and you will see the scale of the engineering and technology required to help us answer some of the big questions:

• what are the basic building blocks of matter?
• how did the Universe begin?

More than 90,000 people visit CERN every year (including more than 400 UK schools) and the overwhelming response is enthusiastic. To quote one teacher: “My students talked about it for weeks!”

The majority of UK visitors are schools and teachers, but visits for individuals and other groups are also very welcome.

CERN has two public exhibitions that are open Monday to Saturday 8:30am to 5:30pm. No pre-booking is required and you can just turn up.

Neither STFC nor CERN provide funding for visits, but some funding may be available to schools through the following schemes:

• Ogden Trust
• Institute of Physics .

Book a visit

Before making any other arrangements, you must book your visit through the Visit CERN website .

Visits to CERN are free but demand is high, so you will need to book well in advance.

Specific tours are available for:

• groups (not schools) of 12 to 48 people
• individuals and small groups of up to 11 people.

Individuals and small groups will join a group of up to 24 people for a visit that will include the chance to see one of the experiment control rooms. These visits are extremely popular and can only be booked 15 days in advance.

Groups should arrive and leave from the official reception desk at Building 33 . It is in the building to the left of the flag poles, opposite the tram stop.

CERN straddles the border between Switzerland and France and some itineraries will take you across the French border, so please remember to take your passport with you.

School visits

CERN is a working lab so what you see will depend on what is available at the time of your visit. Your visit will be restricted to one ‘itinerary’, that is, a half-day guided tour that might include one of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) experiment control rooms, the magnet assembly hall, the antimatter factory (where antiatoms are produced and studied) or the computer centre which handles data from the LHC. Underground visits to the LHC experiments are rare, and visits to the LHC itself are not available.

When booking your visit, you can request a particular itinerary. The CERN Visits Service will try to accommodate your request, but there are no guarantees. If your group comprises more than 24 people, you will have a greater range of itineraries if you have your own transport.

If you want to extend your visit, then you can visit Microcosm and the Universe of Particles , or you may be able to arrange a talk from a CERN physicist through the UK’s particle and nuclear physics outreach officer (current contact email is [email protected] ).

Alternatively, there are lots of other science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) activities in and around Geneva. See ‘Other activities and attractions’ below.

As part of your school visit, you may be able to carry out real experiments in CERN’s purpose-built S’Cool Lab . Sessions are free, but you must book in advance.

To get the most out of your visit, we have teaching resources to help you prepare your students.

Travel to CERN

Travel by air.

EasyJet flies to Geneva from Bristol, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Liverpool, Luton, Manchester, Newcastle and Nottingham East Midlands. Other budget airlines also serve Geneva from a range of UK airports, sometimes during the ski season only. BA and Swiss also serve Geneva from several UK airports and, at certain times, they can be as cheap as the budget carriers.

Travel by coach

Most coach companies will give you a quote for travel to and from Geneva. The distance from Calais is about 500 miles. A coach will give you the greatest freedom when you are in Geneva (and means that a wider choice of CERN itineraries will be open to you as well as allowing you to take in other attractions on the way).

Travel by train

Eurostar offers a service between London and Geneva.

During the visit

On arrival at CERN, you should report to the main reception building opposite the tram stop.

If you arrive outside office hours, you can gain access to the hostel via the security guards at the main entrance.

Health and safety

For all visits, please make sure that you are wearing closed, flat or block-heeled shoes. CERN will provide helmets where required.

Access to underground areas is forbidden to pregnant women and to anyone with a pacemaker, defibrillator, electronic medicine dispenser (for instance insulin pump), hearing aid, or metal implant. If this applies to you or anyone in your group, please tell the visits service.

CERN has no facilities for left luggage, and you will not be able to take overnight bags or suitcases with you on your tour (cameras, handbags or small rucksacks are no problem). Please leave your luggage at your hotel, in your coach or in the lockers at the airport.

The CERN self-service restaurant is good value for money by Geneva standards (around 10 to 15 CHF for a main course) and serves a wide variety of food. As well as being a convenient place to eat, the world’s leading physicists all pass this way! You will certainly appreciate the international nature of collaboration if you spend time here. You must book in advance for a large group (specify this when booking your visit).

The restaurant takes cash only. Swiss Francs are preferred but you can also pay in Euro notes (your change will be in CHF).

There is a wide range of restaurants in Geneva, from McDonald’s and Burger King upwards. Good areas to eat include the old town, near the cathedral, where there are some relatively cheap and cheerful restaurants, and the streets around Gare Cornavin. Fondue is a local speciality.

Bank and cash machines

There are cash machines and a bank just outside the CERN restaurant.

CERN has a souvenir shop. You can not buy CERN merchandise online so it’s the only place to buy a Standard Model T-shirt, or a CERN hard hat! The gift shop accepts cash and cards.

Accommodation

Cern hostel (school groups only).

There is hostel accommodation on site for visiting scientists and engineers. If the hostels are not being used for this purpose, then they may be used by visiting school or college groups for one night only. A double-room with en suite shower and toilet costs around 64 CHF per person per night. The rooms provide a good standard of accommodation and are situated close to the main visitor centre and restaurant. This is the most convenient place to stay.

You will not be able to book until the Visit Service has confirmed your visit, and you may not be able to book the hostel until closer to your visit. The age limit for school parties staying in the hostels is 16 years, and good behaviour is required!

Geneva Youth Hostel

The youth hostel in central Geneva is a good alternative to a CERN hostel.

Other accommodation

There are other hostels in the city centre, such as City Hostel , Centre Masaryk, and a range of hotels, both in Geneva and just across the border in France.

In general, accommodation is cheaper across the border in France. Some hotels offer a shuttle service to or from the airport. If you are part of a group and you choose to stay in France, you will need to have your own transport.

Travel in Geneva

The public transport network is comprehensive and reliable. Each stop is named and announced as you approach it, making buses, trains, trams and water taxis very easy to use. Full details of routes, times and fares are available, the main site is in French but the section labelled ‘Itineraries’ offers an English option.

You must have a valid ticket for every journey, or face a 200 CHF fine. Hotels in Geneva are required to give all guests a complimentary day ticket for the public transport system.

If you need to buy a ticket, these are available from machines at each bus, train tram and water taxi stop. A one-hour ticket costs 3 CHF.

From CERN to Central Geneva

The number 18 tram leaves the gates of CERN at roughly 12 minute intervals during the day and will take you to the main train station (Gare Cornavin). Journey time to central Geneva is approximately 25 minutes.

From the airport to CERN

Take the 23 bus (ZIPLO) or the 57 bus (Gare de Meyrin) from the airport and change onto the number 18 ‘CERN’ tram at Blandonnet (take the lift up to the tram stop). Journey time is approximately 30 minutes.

Taxis are expensive. From Geneva Airport to CERN is about a 10 minute journey and will cost around 40 CHF.

Other activities and attractions

Museum of the History of Science : CERN’s experiments are just the latest in a long history of scientific discoveries in Geneva. Free entry.

Museum of Natural History : everything from dinosaurs to the challenges of protecting our environment. Free entry.

Patek Philippe Museum : astronomical clocks (including one made by Huygens), astounding precision engineering and an amazing collection of early automatons. Entry fee, greatly reduced for groups of 10 or more.

SIG : guided visits in English to hydroelectric and solar power generation sites in Geneva and the surrounding area offer a chance to see industrial engineering and learn more about power generation. Free, but you must book in advance.

Geneva is home to the United Nations and many other international NGOs as well as being a world banking centre. Contact the Geneva Tourist Office to find out about what’s on during the time of your visit or download maps or leaflets.

European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Grenoble : find out why X-rays are essential tools for physicists, chemists, materials scientists, biologists, medical doctors, meteorologists, geophysicists and archaeologists. Visits are free but must be booked in advance .

Last updated: 16 October 2023

This is the website for UKRI: our seven research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Let us know if you have feedback or would like to help improve our online products and services .

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How to Visit the Large Hadron Collider

Last Updated: April 7, 2024 Approved

This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff . Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 81% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 85,457 times. Learn more...

The Large Hadron Collider is located in CERN on the Switzerland-French border. Most of the time, you can only visit the above ground facilities, and the Large Hadron Collider is located underground. However, once in a while, they do shut the collider down and open the area to the public, so you'll be able to visit that area. If you can't visit during that time, you'll still find plenty to see at other times of the year.

Booking a Tour

• The best thing you can do is call the reception desk at +41 (0)22 767 76 76 or email them at [email protected] to find out when the EYETS are.

• You can call +41 (0)22 767 76 76 or email them at [email protected] to find out about closures.
• Tours last for about 3 hours apiece.

• If you are reserving spots for more than 11 people, you'll need to reserve a group tour. You can make a reservation for up to 48 people, using the form on the website.

• Only 12 to 48 people can visit at once, including teachers and students. The tours are free. In general, students must be 13 and older. H
• Any teacher can fill out the reservation form online. You'll need information like the number of people attending, contact information, your preferred language, and the preferred date.

Taking Your Tour

• Pets should also be left behind.

• Also contact them if you have anyone under 16 in your group.

Taking Full Advantage of Your Tour

• You'll begin by visiting reception at 385 route de Meyrin, CH-1217 Meyrin - Geneva, Switzerland.

• Smoking is not allowed anywhere at CERN. [4] X Research source

• The permanent exhibits are both near reception.

• In the souvenir shop, you'll find things like pins, pencils, stickers, hoodies, hard hats, notebooks, umbrellas, and a wide variety of other paraphernalia.
• You can use credit cards at the souvenir shop.

Community Q&A

• Visit virtually. If you can't make it to Switzerland, you can take a virtual tour of CERN on the BBC's site at http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-35780444/ . Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://home.cern/cern-people/updates/2017/03/eyets-report-cool-preparation-lhc
• ↑ http://www.stfc.ac.uk/research/particle-physics-and-particle-astrophysics/cern/visit-cern/
• ↑ https://indico.cern.ch/event/717796/attachments/1623596/2703313/Code_of_conduct_for_visitors_to_CERN_EN.pdf
• ↑ https://visit.cern/safety

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CERN Accelerating science

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The conditions of access to the fenced parts of the CERN site are defined in Operational Circular No. 2 and the accompanying  Implementation Measures .

Visitors may come to CERN:

• for individual (guests) or group visits;
• to attend conferences on the CERN site;
• to participate in guided tours organised by the Visits Service.

These visitors must be in possession of a CERN visitor card, which must be worn where it can be easily seen. The visitor card bears the holder, who is the only person permitted to use it, and its maximum period of validity is the duration of the visit or conference.

Since holders of visitor cards do not have a contractual relationship with CERN, they are prohibited from coming to work on the site. A person who comes to work on the CERN site under a contract with the Organization must register as a contractor in Building 55.

This card allows the holder access to the CERN site when presented to the security guards on duty. Nevertheless, it does not allow access to controlled-access areas unless the holder has a special authorization or is accompanied by an authorized person (guide, guarantor, etc...).

It will no longer be possible for holders of a CERN access card to be accompanied by persons who do not hold a visitor card.

N.B. Visitors who remain outside the fenced parts of the site, for example in the permanent exhibition areas (Microcosm and the Globe) or in the CERN shop, do not need a visitor card.

In certain cases, and if the guarantor requested it in the application, holders of a visitor card will be able to bring their vehicle onto the CERN sites. In this case, the registration number of the authorized vehicle will be printed directly on the visitor card.. 

1. Obtaining a visitor card

1.1 for individual visitors or groups of visitors.

If individual visitors or groups of visitors wish to visit a person present on the CERN site, whether in a professional or a private capacity, a member of the personnel must vouch for the compatibility of the visit with CERN's activities and must apply for the visitor card(s). This guarantor must be:

• a  member of the CERN personnel , or
• a member of the Council, a committee or another subsidiary body of CERN (usually registered as  External, COMT ), or
• an  Industrial Liaison Officer .

He is responsible for the visit and, for security reasons, must be on site for the duration of his visit. It is also his responsability to ensure that all visitors abide by the CERN Code of Conduct in all respects.

The guarantor must apply for the visitor card in advance, 48 hours before the beginning of the visit, by completing the Request for a CERN visitor card (individual visitors or groups) , providing the first information about the description of the visit:

• the guarantor of the visit,
• the name of the visit which will used as a reference for the visit,
• the reason for the visit, providing the necessary details to enable the Security Service  to determine the legitimacy of the visit,
• the date of arrival and departure.

and then the registration of the visitor(s):

1. either by filling the details of the visitor(s):

• surname, first name (to be completed as mentioned on the identity document to ease their identification by the Security Service  upon their arrival),
• nationality,
• e-mail address (only if the visitor must be informed of the reservation code),
• phone number (facultative information),
• date and place of birth,
• vehicle registration number if the visitor is coming by car and cannot park in the Globe car park.  

2. or by mentioning the surname, first name and e-mail address of each visitor and then submitting the form. In this case, the visitor(s) will receive an e-mail containing the instructions allowing them to complete the information concerning them in the visitor card request.

N.B.  It is strongly recommended to create your visitor card request at least two working days (48 hours) before the beginning of the visit.

Each application may include up to 10 persons. In the case of a larger visit, it is recommended to create an event in Indico and follow the procedure.

If the requestor completes the request in place of the guarantor, he must agree that the guarantor has read the terms and conditions.

The guarantor follows the evolution of his request as well as the status of each request for each person: completed, pending, refused and cancelled (cf. KB0006227: Request for a visitor access card: Checking visitors status ). He can't however see the personal information submitted by the visitor(s) in accordance with the processing of personal data.

In the case of a visit cancellation, the guarantor is responsible for informing the  Security Service . If a visitor has himself submitted his private data in the visitor card request, he will also be able to cancel the visit.

Applications for visitor cards valid for a period of more than two days will be examined individually by the  head of security .

When the application has been approved by the Reception and Access Control Service and all the data collected, the confirmation code of the visit is sent to the requestor and the guarantor, who are then responsible for forwarding the information to the visitor(s) concerned. If the requestor provided the e-mail addresses of the visitor(s) in the application, they will also receive this confirmation. It is important to note that the requestor and the guarantor are responsible for informing the visitor(s) of the procedure to be followed and for sending them the visitor card(s).

If the visit takes place from Monday to Saturday between 8:00am and 6:00pm (opening hours of the Main Reception), the guarantor or visitor must go to the printing terminal in Building 33 ( Main Reception ), enter the unique code that they have received, select the name(s) of the person or persons concerned and collect the visitor card(s) from the security guard on duty, presenting a valid identity document.

Outside these opening hours and 24 hours a day , it is also possible for the guarantor or visitor to follow the same procedure on the printing terminal located in front of the building 55 (inside the phone booth). Then the visitor card(s) can be collected from the security guard on duty at Entrance B.

In addition to Building 33 and Gate B in Meyrin, it is now possible to print the approved visitor cards at the entrance of the Prévessin site in Building 880 . A desk to enter the access code and a printer are available from the security officer in charge of access control.

N. B.  If an unannounced visitor arrives at the Reception in Building 33 , the security guard on duty there contacts the guarantor to check that the visit is legitimate. The guarantor then follows the procedure above to produce the visitor card.

If a person comes to work on the CERN site under a contract with the Organization, he/she does not have to request for a visitor card but register as a contractor in Building 55 .

1.2 For participants in a conference (or workshop or seminar) on the CERN site

If the conference organiser is a member of the personnel, he or she is considered to be the CERN guarantor for all participants. If the organiser is not a member of the personnel, another person involved in the organisation of the event who is a member of the personnel must act as the guarantor. No visitor cards can be issued to accompanying persons who are not on the list of conference participants.

The CERN conference organiser creates the event in Indico . The organiser then activates visitor card management using the “CERN visitor badges” option in the “Logistics” menu. At the time of activation, the organiser indicates which registration forms will be used to give access. The participants must register online using one of the forms indicated. The organiser then individually confirms each participant’s right to access the site in Indico and the participants receive an e-mail asking them to fill in their nationality and date and place of birth online (in an Indico form). When this information has been submitted, each participant receives an e-mail containing a reservation code and a visitor card, which should be printed in A4 format and then folded into four to obtain an A6 format.

The conference organiser may customise the back of the card, adding specific information pertaining to the conference, such as its logo.

The organiser may also at any time withdraw access from or grant access to a participant whose name appears on the Indico list.

On the day of the event, participants must be able to show their visitor cards, along with a valid identity document, to the security guard on duty at Reception in Building 33. A badge holder is distributed on arrival, so that the visitor card can be worn where it can be easily seen. Any participant who forgets to bring a visitor card, or if the Main Reception is closed, may request that a replacement be printed by entering the reservation code at the terminal provided for this purpose at Reception or inside the phone booth located in front of the Building 55 presenting it to the security guard at Entrance B.

1.3 For participants in guided tours organised by the Visits Service

The Visits Service website outlines the procedure and conditions applicable to the organisation of various types of tour : tours for pupils and students, tours for groups, tours for individuals and private visits.

The organiser submits a tour organisation request on the site visit.cern  (Guided tours). Organisers who have no connection to CERN can request that a CERN Lightweight Account be created for them. When the visit has been approved by the Visits Service , the organiser receives an e-mail requesting additional information for each visitor (surname, first name, date of birth, city and country of birth).

The Visits Service then prints the visitor cards, which are distributed to the visitors by the staff on the reception desk at the Main Reception in Building 33. These cards are in the same format as the individual visitor cards.

1.4 Overview of the different procedures for obtaining a visitor card

Special case for participants in a guided visit and a visit of another type during the same period:

When the same group of visitors would like to add to a guided visit a visit of another type (conference, private visit or professional visit), it is recommended to make sure that the request for a guided visit can be accepted then to prepare the visitor card request:

• either by completing the  Request for a CERN visitor card (individual visitors or groups) for a small group of visitors and include the entire visit period in the application;
• either by creating an event in Indico for a group event always mentioning the full period.

As an example: a person wants to organise a visit via the Visits service on a day and then the following day after the guided visit, she takes the responsibility as guarantor to propose and additional conference on the Prévessin site. The requestor must first book a guided visit during the dates of the event with the Visits service while informing them that the visitor cards will be requested in parallel. Then, once the guided visit has been accepted by the Visits service, the requestor will apply for visitor cards either via ServiceNow (see paragraph 1.1) or Indico (see paragraph 1.2) according to the number of visitors concerned.

2. Parking and access to the CERN site for private vehicles and coaches

2.1 private vehicles.

Where bringing a car onto the CERN site is justified and if the guarantor has clearly specified it in the application, for example if the venue is some distance away, holders of visitor cards can obtain authorization to bring their vehicle onto the CERN sites.

In this case, the registration number of the vehicle is printed directly on the visitor card.

2.2 Coaches

Coaches are permitted to enter the CERN site to drop off or pick up participants in visits or conferences at the event venue.

If a coach is to be used:

• conference organisers must notify the Reception and Access Control Service and provide the details of the driver(s) (surname, first name) and the coach itself (model, registration number);
• tour organisers must provide the details of the driver(s) (surname, first name, date of birth, town and country of birth and registration number) when booking the guided tour.

Special parking spaces for coaches are provided in the Globe car park, outside the Meyrin site. By default, coaches are permitted to enter and leave the car park only once. For an event lasting two days or more, the coach driver must report to Reception in Building 33 in order to be granted an additional entry. Coaches may not be parked on the CERN site.

Reference documents

Other procedures, useful documents, external links, reception and access control service.

The Reception and Access Control Service via the CERN Service Portal.

• Read more about Reception and Access Control Service

Site Security Service

Information available via the Service Portal .

• Read more about Site Security Service

Visits Service

Building 33/R-004

Phone numbers: +41 22 767 2310, +41 22 767 2757, +41 22 767 4052

Website:  http://visit.cern/

• Read more about Visits Service

CERN Accelerating science

Book your On-Site Visit

https://cms.cern/interact-with-cms/book-your-on-site-visit

Visits are possible Monday to Saturday from 9h00 until 18h00. For all enquiries or to reserve a guided tour of the CMS site please send an e-mail to CMS Visits  at least a week in advance (1 month for larger groups) of the tour date, indicating your preferred date, time and the number of people in the group (maximum group size 48 people).

All groups are requested to make their own transport arrangements to the CMS site.

Please note, for safety purposes or in the event of a major intervention CMS reserves the right to postpone or cancel visits at short notice.

We look forward to welcoming you to CMS.

To visit the CERN Laboratory please contact the CERN visit service directly.