The Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne (aka Verkehrshaus) is a favorite for anyone interested in trains, planes, cars and anything else that goes. The enormous complex has several indoor halls, each centering on a different mode of travel: trains, planes and space, cars, boats, etc. There are lots of kid-friendly hands-on interactive displays interspersed with the educational material.
Outside, there is a supervised driving course, lots of free scooters for anyone to use around the huge outside area, a construction zone play area, etc. (Please note that these outdoor activities may be closed during the off-season and inclement weather.) They also have a Planetarium and an IMAX theater.
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| Location: | near Lucerne |
| Address: | Lidostrasse 5, 6006 Luzern |
| Car: | Metered parking at museum. From Lucerne 5 mins, Zürich 45 mins |
| Train: | Bus Stop: Luzern, Verkehrshaus/Lido stop From: Lucerne train station 13 mins, Zürich 1hr05 |
| Open: | Every day 10:00 to 18:00 (in winter until 17:00) |
| Price 2023: | Museum: Adult CHF 35, Child CHF 15, under 6 free. Extra fees for planetarium, movies, chocolate experience and some activities. |
| Services: | café, picnic area outdoors, lockers, stroller accessible |
| Website: | www.verkehrshaus.ch |
Location
The museum is very near Lucerne, about a 15 bus ride from the main train station.
Getting There
By public transport: From the Luzern Bahnhof (main train station), catch bus 6, 8 or 24 to the Luzern, Verkehrshaus/Lido stop, about a 5 min ride. The museum is a 2 min walk from the stop.
By car: Drive to Lidostrasse 5, 6006 Luzern and park in the metered lot next to the museum. Note that traffic can be very heavy between the freeway and Lucerne to get to the museum. So best to avoid commute hours.
Opening times
The museum is open every day from 10:00 – 18:00 (in winter until 17:00). See current opening times.
Ticket prices
In 2023. entrance to the museum costs CHF 35/adult, CHF 25/student 16-25 (ID required), CHF 15/child 6-15, free under 6. A more expensive day pass includes the museum, Swiss Chocolate Adventure and shows at the Filmtheatre and Planetarium. See current prices.
Discounts on museum entrance with Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Museum Pass, Coop Hello Family Club, SBB RailAway combi deal, Raiffeisen, TCS.
We suggest purchasing tickets online to avoid long queues at the ticket counter. But also don’t worry if there are long lines. The place can absorb an amazing amount of people. We went during one of the school holidays and despite the mad crush at the entrance, it felt quite empty in many parts of the museum.
Overview
This museum is enormous, with multiple separate buildings housing different types of transportation. There is no ideal path for exploring the museum. Just pick the type of transportation you like best and go to that building first.
Accessibility
The whole museum is suitable for strollers, with elevators and ramps where necessary.
What to bring
On cold days, make sure to dress warmly because some buildings are cold since they are not completely closed to the outdoors and there is a big outdoor play area.
There are lockers near the ticket desk, so you can store jackets and picnic for later.
Where to eat
Picnics are allowed in the outdoor courtyard, no food inside the museum buildings. There is a self-service cafeteria with the usual fare. High-chairs available. Last time I went tap water available in pitchers near the cash register.
Impressions
Kids can sit in all sorts of vehicles and push buttons.
Kids can pretend to drive a Zurich tram
Play areas with toys appear in every hall
A play area in the cars section
Lots of stuff to climb on and touch throughout the museum
Lots life-sized vehicles are displayed in each exhibit, with some to sit in
There are tons of model and toy vehicles behind glass.
Part of a space station
Computer displays with buttons to push
Kids peer down to a movie about driving
More stuff behind glass – my boys poured over the details, comparing them to their toy pirate ships at home
Outdoor play area
There is a huge outdoor courtyards with activities for the kids, including a construction play area, lots of free scooters to use, a couple coin operated remote control games, sometimes trampolines that cost extra, and rotating exhibits that change every year.
My 2.5 yr old loves tractors and was so happy to sit in these and push buttons
Play construction zone – probably the most popular area of the museum
Supervised driving course – free, first-come first-served, run on a frequent schedule throughout the day
An enormous smooth riding surface for free scooters and bikes set out to use
One Response
Hello
I have read through some of your reports and i am happy that you like it here so much.
Since you are requently visiting Museums/Zoos and your Boys love to be active and ski, you might want to check opening an account with ‘Raiffeisen’. Members of this bank have free or reduced Access to many Museums and get free ski tickets in the winter. Something that comes in handy as a family.
My Boys are 5 and 9 and we also do lot of mountain hiking and mild mountaineering. A trip that my guets from the US have found to be very interesting (at sometimes hilarious) is the visit of Sasso San Gottardo (a huge old Military cavern atop Gotthard-Pass). It also houses an Exhibition of one of the biggest crystals ever found in the Region. The old Underground barracks, bunkers, 14cm guns and ammo Depots have been transformed into a Museum that is perfect in case of bad weather (ist always 5C in there, so bring a warm jacket). There are several guided tours but you can also roam around freely.
Admission is 25 for adults, Kids up to 14 are free (also you get free Admission as Raiffeisen Client). More Details are here (not entirely in english):
https://www.discover-the-heart-of-switzerland.ch/