Swiss Museum of Transport

Background

The Swiss Museum of Transport opened in Lucerne on 1 July 1959. Its permanent exhibitions are organised by mode of transport, including rail, road, water and air, with interactive installations explaining how technology changed the movement of people and goods and links with the mountains. It is not just a railway museum: its exhibits also cover energy and other experiences, and the cinema, planetarium and Swiss Chocolate Adventure should be kept distinct from the main museum; do not assume one admission covers everything. Through specific vehicles, machines and maps, you can place Lucerne, a hub of rail and lake transport, within the history of Swiss transport.

Local customs

• Once inside, first check which halls and demonstrations are open that day, then choose two or three themes to explore in depth. Queue for interactive installations as directed on site
• exhibits, simulators and educational activities each have their own age guidelines and instructions. If you are with children, leave plenty of time for hands-on activities and rest
• there is no need to aim to see every hall.

Religion & beliefs

• The Museum of Transport is a science and technology institution with no particular religious etiquette
• simply follow the museum's rules on protecting the collection, photography and interactive installations.

Travel tips

• Allow 2.5–4 hours for the main museum
• if you add the cinema, planetarium or other extra experiences, half a day to a full day is safer. It is on the shore of Lake Lucerne at Haldenstrasse 44, reachable from the city centre by bus, boat or on foot
• check the day's transport information for timetables and journey times. Although the website lists year-round opening, check specific halls, events, ticket types, booking requirements and maintenance closures before your trip. Visit it in a separate half-day from the Lion Monument and the Chapel Bridge, rather than squeezing the whole museum into a quick photo stop.