This museum is full of fun interactive exhibits and activities related to the senses. We particularly liked the auditory exhibits and optical illusions. In 2023, they have a temporary “Experience Color” exhibition with lots of activities related to color and light. You should try to go soon so you can see that.
The Sensorium is a great place to entertain children on a rainy day, where they can learn something and adults will also enjoy the experience.
| Location: | Bern Switzerland |
| Address: | Rüttihubel 29, 3512 Walkringen |
| Car: | Multiple parking lots adjacent to the museum From Bern 30, Zurich 1hr45 |
| Train: | Bus stop: Walkringen, Rüttihubelbad From Bern 50 mins, Zurich 2hr |
| Open: | generally Tues – Sun 10:00 to 17:00, closed Mon (also Tues in winter) |
| Price 2023: | Adult CHF 19, Child aged 6 to 16 CHF 10, children under 6 free family discount, free with Swiss Museum Pass |
| Services: | café, picnic area, lockers, strollers ok, wheelchair access |
| More info: | www.ruettihubelbad.ch |
Note: Thanks to Sensorium for hosting our visit.
Getting There
This museum is located about a 30 min drive east of Bern in a small village in the countryside.
By car: Drive to Rüttihubel 29, 3512 Walkringen. There are parking spots along the street above and below the museum and a small parking garage.
By public transport: The nearest bus stop is Walkringen, Rüttihubelbad, which is directly in front of the museum. When we went, the quickest connection was to get off the bus in the nearby town and walk about 1 km to the museum, which didn’t bother us. But if minimizing walking is important to you, check your connections carefully.
Opening Times
From 1 April to 31. Oct, the museum is open Tues – Fri 9.00 – 17.00 and Sat-Sun 10.00 – 17.00.
From 1. Nov to 31. March, the museum is open Wed – Sun 10:00 – 17:00. See current opening times.
Ticket prices
Prices 2023: Adult CHF 19, Child aged 6 to 16 CHF 10, children under 6 free, Family CHF 48, free with Swiss Museum Pass
Services
The museum has a coat room and for a CHF 10 deposit, you get a key to a locker for your valuable items. There is an indoor picnic area with tables inside the museum and an outdoor picnic area with a grill. There is also a café above the museum.
The information signs at the various exhibits are in German and French, but not English. However, most exhibits are self-explanatory, so you can enjoy them without the explanation if necessary. They normally offer workshops but unfortunately, not during Covid.
The museum is accessible for wheelchairs, with ramps and elevator access between floors. But I think they prefer that you leave your strollers in the coat room.
Exhibits
The museum is located in a larger complex that includes a community center, gardens and long-term care facility. Here is the outside of the museum, where my kids enjoyed racing through the labyrinth.
The café is on your right. The entrance to the museum is through the door in the gray building ahead of you and down two flights of stairs (there is also an elevator).
In 2023, they have a fun “Experience Color” exhibit, which has lots of activities related to color and light. In this room, you can see how the colors in painting seem to change as the light color changes.
We liked the exhibits with prisms and light separation.
We liked that some activities required the kids to work together. On the left, they had to balance the marble to navigate it through the labyrinth. On the right, they had to shift their weight bring the disk into balance.
We loved this room where you can try three gongs and both hear and feel the vibrations. Careful! Don’t hit them too hard or the loud sound can damage your ears.
By rubbing the violin bow along the metal, it makes vibrations and eventually patterns in the sand.
Kids swing around in a giant nest. My son uses the centrifugal force of the bicycle wheel to make him spin around.
These oversized wooden xylophones make an incredible amount of noise, but it doesn’t matter because they are in their own room.
A barefoot path. We liked walking on the sheep’s wool the best.
Outside there is some play equipment including this double swing that takes some coordination.
There’s lots more to explore at the Sensorium. We hope you enjoy it!
