Located in the picturesque city of Lucerne, Switzerland is the Swiss Transport Museum, a must-visit for anyone interested in transportation and technology, or also for those looking for a fun day out to escape the rain. This museum is a very interactive location, with different sections for all the types of transport.
The museum is perfect for all ages, as well as to spend extra time here for the Planetarium and the Film Theatre. There is also a Switzerland Chocolate Adventure with Lindt and lots of other activities for those with children. You can easily spend the whole day here!
Read on to hear our own experience of visiting during a rainy day, see our photos of each transportation area for inspiration and listen to our recommended visiting tips!
*This post is based on our visit in December 2024. So keep in mind some exhibits may change over time.
About
Founded in 1959, this museum is one of the largest and most extensive transport museums in all of Europe, showcasing the evolution and innovation of transportation in Switzerland and beyond. So we can see why it’s also one of the most popular things to do in Lucerne.
The Swiss Transport Museum offers a diverse range of exhibits, covering all modes of transport, from railways to aviation, automobiles to shipping. You can expect to see an impressive collection of over 3,000 objects, including locomotives, aircraft, cars, and even a submarine.
TIP: We visited with our car, and easily found parking before lunch time at the paid parking area next to the museum. For spending around 6 hours here, it costed us 10 CHF.
Facilities
- Brasserie cafe
- Mercato Restaurant (buffet style)
- Toilets
- Lockers and bag storage
- Toy and Swiss Transport Museum Shop
- Picnic area (for your own snacks and drinks)
Prices
There are lots of different costs involved based on what you want to see and do, with also the additional sections explained next. So it is best that you review the latest costs on the official website.
We suggest to buy your tickets in advance, so you don’t have to queue up inside for your entrance tickets on busy weekend days.
Our tip is to look out for discounts, such as if you are local and have a TCS membership card, you can get discount. Often you can get also discount also with SBB with a train and entrance ticket if not yet in Lucerne.
Areas To Explore
The museum is divided into many different sections, each with its unique theme, making it easy to navigate and explore.
The 5 main sections include:
- Energy
- Rail Transport
- Road Transport
- Navigation and Tourism
- Aviation and Space Travel
Furthermore, they have the following additional sections:
- Film Theatre
- Planetarium
- Swiss Chocolate Adventure
- The Edge climbing attraction
- Media world
- Hans Erni Museum
1. Energy
The museum starts off with the Energy Hall, where you can learn more about alternative energy sources that are being used in the world and future planning. Such as with solar, wind and in depth knowledge on climate change. Follow the route to learn also more about how important recycling is and how you can save with your every day use of energy.
There are a few games here to challenge yourself and learn more about the energy supply, as well as to see the future prediction of 2050 with sustainable energy supply.
2. Rail Transport
The second highlight of the museum is the Hall of Rail Transport, where visitors can experience the ride of a lifetime on Switzerland’s first electrically powered locomotive, dating back to 1897.
They have a few other trains and funiculars too, such as the old Stoos funicular, which has since been replaced with the World’s Steepest Funicular Stoosbahn which rotates while you’re in it!
This section also features interactive displays and simulators, providing a hands-on learning experience for visitors of all ages. Thoughout the hall there are old photos from the SBB train company and old poster advertisements for each destination in Switzerland.
You can also learn about the country’s famous railway network, which connects the mountains, lakes, and cities, making it one of the world’s most scenic train rides.
3. Road Transport
The next section is the Road Transport Hall, where you can marvel at the extensive collection of vintage cars, motorcycles, and bicycles. This section is a treat for automobile lovers, with iconic brands such as Rolls Royce, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche on display.
The museum also features a car workshop, giving visitors a behind-the-scenes look at how these classic vehicles are restored and maintained.
On the top floor, you can find yourself at the F1 racing area, where you can challenge your friends to the pit stop competition to see who can change the tyre the fastest. They also have a simulation to drive a F1 car, which you can challenge others in the museum to make the leaderboard.
4. Navigation and Tourism
If you’re interested in maritime transport, head to the Shipping Hall, where you can explore old steamships, cargo ships, and even a replica of the world’s first motorized passenger ship. You can head inside a few examples here to see what they were like.
Don’t miss the Outdoor exhibits while here, where you can take a walk through time and see how transportation has evolved in Switzerland, from traditional horse-drawn carriages to modern-day buses and trams.
We didn’t have much time to see this hall, as we had tickets to the Planetarium Live show. So we had to skip this and we’ll head back another day!
5. Aviation and Space Travel
For aviation enthusiasts, the final hall for Aviation is a must. Here, you can learn about the history of flight and get a close-up look at some iconic airplanes, including a replica of the first aircraft to fly over Mount Everest and the legendary “JU-AIR” Junkers 52. The museum also has a vast collection of model aircraft, covering everything from pre-war planes to modern jets.
When you’re inside the hall, simply look up and discover how many planes they have squeezed in to the area, it’s very impressive!
On the upper floor they have an area just for space, impressive to see more into what has been discovered in the atmosphere.
On the ground floor they have simulations such as for a truck, helicopter and fighter jet. We tried the fighter jet simulation, which was pretty cool to take off, fly around and we didn’t crash!
Planetarium
From the additional things to see and do here, we want to highlight the Planetarium which has daily shows available. During our visit, we joined the live show to learn more and experience this in person.
The Planetarium at the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne is one of the most advanced planetariums in Switzerland. It offers visitors an immersive experience of space exploration with high-resolution 360-degree projections of the night sky, planets, and galaxies.
Equipped with cutting-edge digital projection technology, the planetarium creates realistic depictions of celestial bodies and space phenomena. They provide live shows with a speaker, educational shows and family friendly shows experiences here.
This was an additional cost to the 5 ares of the museum itself, and had it’s own entrance via the main hallway of the museum entrance too. This was located above the main restaurant.
Visiting Tips
We can definitely recommend to spend the whole day at the Swiss Transport Museum. There is so much to see and do, read and discover. There are special simulations you can join in each area, which have set times open, so for some you may have to wait, such as the F1 pit stop challenge which we waited for the 14:00 to 14:45 opening session.
Next is to make use of the lockers for your bags and coats. You can easily come back from exploring the museum to collect anything you need, such as your money for the restaurant. You simply need to use a coin to pay for the locker, which you get back afterwards. They have different sizes, including huge lockers that would easily fit 2 large suitcases inside.
Visit and watch one of the shows in the Planetarium. This was so special for us, and we bought the additional tickets for the Planetarium LIVE show. This let you sit in the dedicated space and lay comfortably looking up into the sky, which was the curved screen above. The presentator then shared clips and an explanation on some discoveries we could see in the night sky. It was very well done.
Lastly, make the day easier by booking online your entrance tickets. Click here!
Get inspired with our other local Lucerne posts:
Unique Things To Do In Lucerne: A Guide to Switzerland’s Enchanting Lakeside City
Dancing Lights At Lilu Light Festival Luzern
Summary
When planning your trip to Lucerne, make sure to include a visit to the Swiss Transport Museum in your itinerary. We loved our visit on a rainy day during December 2024, and definitely recommend it to everyone!
The museum is easily accessible by public transport or car, and the picturesque setting by Lake Lucerne adds to its charm. With its diverse collection and interactive displays, the Swiss Transport Museum promises a memorable and informative experience for all visitors.
Local Walking Tours
Lucerne Guided Walking Tour for 1.5 hours
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