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Dinosaur Museum Aathal

Tons of fossils, dinosaur bones, life-size dino models, dioramas and informational displays spread throughout this surprisingly large museum. Great for kids.

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This museum is a dream for anyone that loves dinosaurs, particularly children. They have tons of fossils, dinosaur bones, life-size dino models, dioramas and information displays spread throughout this surprisingly large museum.

While many exhibits are heavy on information that will fascinate ethusiasts, there are some activities geared to children. There is also an outdoor dinosaur themed playground with a picnic and grilling area. The gift shop is packed with dino paraphernalia (books, games, plush toys, accessories, etc), a great place to birthday shop for the dino-fan in your family.

Location:   Zurich Region
Address:
Car: 25 mins from Zurich, free parking at museum
Train: Train S14 to Aathal train station
35 mins from Zürich HB, then 10 min walk to museum
Open: Tu-Sa 10:00 to 17:00, Su 10:00 to 18:00, closed Mondays
Price 2023: CHF 21/adult, CHF 11/child (5-16), CHF 4/child age 4, under age 4 free.
Family price CHF 58 for 2 parents and children
Included in the Swiss Museum Pass
Services: café, picnic area, play area
More info: www.sauriermuseum.ch

Getting There

This museum is located in Aathal, east of Zürich city.

By car: This museum is located at about a 20-30 min drive east of Zurich.  There is a small free parking lot next to the museum. On busy days, you can park in the overflow lot across the street next to the Silber & Silber shop. They typically have someone directing parking traffic on busy days. 

By public transport: Take the S14 train to Aathal (about a 33 min ride from Zürich HB). Then about a 10 min walk (700m) along the main road to the museum as shown below.

Tickets

In 2023, tickets cost CHF 21/adult, CHF 11/child (5-16), CHF 4/child age 4, under age 4 free. They offer a family ticket for CHF 58 that includes 2 parents and all their own children.

You can pay with cash or card. Entrance is included with the Swiss Museum Pass.

Planning your visit

I would plan for about 1-2 hours for your visit. Information displays are in German only (we saw a few in English, but not many). 

There is a cafe in the museum and you are allowed to picnic in the cafe if you buy your drinks there. Otherwise, you can picnic outside at the playground, where you’ll find picnic tables and grill pits.

Strollers are not allowed in the museum. There is stroller parking inside at the entrance. Much of the museum is wheelchair accessible, but you have to call ahead to make arrangements.

In the museum

The museum has many rooms on three floors. There is a suggested loop tour marked with arrows on the floor, but it doesn’t matter which way you go. Most displays are “look don’t touch” so keep a close eye on small children that may not understand this.

Lots of life-sized dinosaur models all over the museum. 

Some younger children might find these scary. Others find them entertaining.

Some of the displays focus on the methods used by paleontologists and archeologists to find, excavate, reconstruct and preserve dinosaur bones and fossils. Fortunately there are videos as well that are more interesting for children.

I was particularly mesmerized by the beauty of these natural treasures.

In 2020, there is a special exhibition about trilobites and sea scorpions.

It’s beautiful but also creepy because they look like extra creepy bugs.

They also have a special exhibition about meteorites with a short film showing how meteorites affected the dinosaurs.

The film shows the world on fire with the dinosaurs running away and dying. It’s not graphic but it might disturb very small children. The exhibition includes many interesting and beautiful meteorite fragments. 

I loved the room dedicated to petrified wood. It’s so beautiful and they have so many enormous specimens to admire.

Especially for children

There are a few games and activities targets to small children throughout the museum, but not a lot of them. This is primarily an observation type museum, not full of interactive activities.

When my kids were small, they loved this station where they could stamp dino foot prints in sand, then rake it smooth. Unfortunately, this is closed in 2020 due to Covid measures.

At the back of the museum, there is an outdoor playground and picnic area.

At the picnic area, there is a grill and wood to use.

Our favorite interactive museums in Switzerland that are both entertaining and educational for all ages, from history to culture to science to food to industry. Good choice for cold rainy days.

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4 Responses

  1. Please add on this website that we are open all year round with some exceptional days that you find on www.sauriermuseum.ch. It’s just that we are closed on Mondays!

    Best regards from T-rex & Co. / Sauriermuseums Aathal / Esther Wolfensperger

    1. Thanks for the additional information! I will update the post. We haven’t visited in a few years and I’m sure you have some new things we haven’t highlighted in our post. Hope to come back soon.

  2. My little princess had a fit everytime her brother wanted to wear his dinosaur shirt. We had to hide it until her birthday when she got her own dinosaur shirt. She looks ‘lovely’ in it.

  3. Great post, makes me want to take the girls… wait, any princesses to be seen among the dinosaurs?!

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