Visiting the New Gotthard Tunnel Open Day

Visiting the Gotthard Tunnel Open Day at the construction site of the second Gotthard road tunnel in Göschenen is a fantastic experience. What could have been just an informative visit turned into a full day of discovery, excitement, and hands-on learning – for both adults and kids. We were allowed to walk inside the tunnel, walk on the boring machine that’s digging the tunnel and learn more throughout their stands.

It’s an open day event that everyone should visit and enjoy, and it’s even free – so see below our experience from the event in 2025 and we hope to see you at the future events!

Gotthard Tunnel Open Day

This post is based on our visit to the Gotthard tunnel open day in Göschenen in 2025 but while writing this post, there is since a new event advertised that will take place on September 12th in the south side in Airolo. So if you have the time and living nearby, we would highly recommend going.

What’s great to know before visiting is that:

Safety first: Make sure to wear suitable clothing and closed shoes
This event is free – and well worth your time
Charge your camera: You’re allowed to take photos
The staff are super knowledgable, ask them anything!
You get to go behind the scenes of the construction

For all information, you can discover the official Gotthard website.

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at a Mega Project

From the moment we arrived at the Gotthard Tunnel Open Day 2025, it was clear how much effort had gone into organizing the event. Everything was thoughtfully set up to make the experience engaging and accessible. There was a welcoming atmosphere, with clear signage, friendly staff, and plenty of activities spread across the site.

There was free parking organized nearby, and a free little mini bus going back and forth to the entrance of the site. Once you arrived, you were first welcomed into the site, and could learn more right away on what’s happening here on a daily basis with their information centre.

Before going into the tunnel, there were also refreshments and areas to rest. These were also close to the cool kids construction play area.

Into The Tunnel & Boring Machine!

The highlight of the day was, without a doubt, was the opportunity to step inside the tunnel itself and walking on the boring machine that was ultimately digging the tunnel.

You basically ended up walking deep into the mountain for about 1km, surrounded by raw rock which had been already prepared for the tunnel. Since you had to walk for a good 10mins, it gave us a real sense of the scale and ambition of this project. It’s not every day you get to see such a massive piece of infrastructure from the inside while it’s still being built.

One of the most memorable moments was standing on the tunnel boring machine at the very end of it, the part that breaks down the rock! They gave you a hard hat for this section and you had to follow the route provided on the machine, so you could not walk in different areas etc. This was already cool enough though!

When the Gotthard Pass is open in the summer, discover the scenery and what you can do there!
CLICK HERE

Learning Through Exploration

The information center was another highlight. It offered a clear and engaging explanation of the project: why the second tunnel is being built, how it will improve safety, the overall planning and the engineering challenges involved. Interactive displays made it easy for everyone, including kids, to understand what’s happening beneath the mountain.

Speaking of kids, the event did a fantastic job of keeping younger visitors entertained. There were construction-themed activities where children could play, build, and get a feel for what it’s like to work on a site like this. It struck a perfect balance—fun for them, informative for us.

Before leaving, make sure to enjoy some of the local activations – you can win some little gifts, prizes and souvenirs!

Final Thoughts

Overall everything smoothly everything ran. Despite the complexity of the site, the event felt safe, structured, and welcoming. Staff were always nearby to guide visitors, answer questions, and ensure everyone could enjoy the experience comfortably.

It’s rare to get such direct access to a project of this scale, and the open day made it feel personal and engaging rather than overwhelming.

Looking back, this was far more than just a visit to a construction site and we really enjoyed seeing what the future tunnel will be like. It was a chance to connect with a piece of infrastructure that plays a vital role in the future of everyday life between the north and south of the Alps. Seeing the progress of the second Gotthard tunnel firsthand gave us a new appreciation for the work happening behind the scenes.

We visited the event in Göschenen in 2025 but while writing this post, there is since a new event advertised that will take place on September 12th in the south side in Airolo. So if you have the time and living nearby, we would highly recommend going. It’s an inspiring experience that combines education, adventure, and a unique glimpse into the future of travel through the Alps – open for adults and kids!