Swiss Transportation Museum (Lucerne)

Verkehrshaus Schweiz - Swiss Transportation Museum, Lucerne

ABOVE: A classic Swiss electric "Lok.".

Transportation has always been an important industry in Switzerland, which sits at the Alpine crossroads of Europe. So it shouldn't be surprising that the Schweizerisches Verkehrsmuseum Luzern is among the best of its kind anywhere--as well as being one of the most popular museums in this country of 6 million train, bus, and boat passengers.

The transportation museum is on Lucerne's lakefront, beyond the Kursaal (casino) and the grand hotels that dot the tree-lined promenade. The complex has grown over the years, and its major exhibition halls include:

Railways. Examples of steam and electric locomotives and railroad cars from different parts of Switzerland over the last 150 years, displayed on more than a kilometer of track. A model railroad shows trains working the Gotthard Pass.

Road transportation. Automobiles, engines, horse-drawn coaches, bicycles, and the development of automotive transport in Switzerland.

Postal services. A mail-sorting center, an old postal coach, and a large stamp collection.

Telecommunications. Telephones, radio, and television, including a TV studio and an amateur radio station.

Air and space travel. Antique and modern airplanes (the oldest being a Dufaux biplane from 1910), plus helicopters, Mercury and Gemini space capsules, and an Apollo space suit that was worn on the moon.

Shipping. Lake steamers dating back to 1813, model boats, harbor dioramas, and more.

Cable railways. Cabins from aerial cableways and working models.

Tourism. Displays show the development of the Swiss tourist industry.

Swissorama. A 20-minute movie tour of Switzerland on a 360° screen.

Planetarium. Lie back and see the stars while your headphones deliver the lecture in English, German, French, or Italian.

IMAX Theater. A recent addition, featuring big-budget educational films on a huge screen.

Hans Erni-Museum. A building devoted to the works of Lucerne artist Hans Erni. (It doesn't have much to do with transportation, but maybe Herr Erni liked to ride the bus.)

Reaching the Verkehrshaus

From the railway station or the center of town, walk east on the lakeside promenade. It's a fairly long walk, so you might prefer to take the bus and save your feet for the museum. (Get off at the Würzenbach stop; the museum's address is Lidostrasse 5.)

Related Web site

Verhkehrshaus der Schweiz (Swiss Transportation Museum)
English-language text describes everything you need to know about the museum, including what's playing at the IMAX theatre.

Do you find our site helpful?
Share it with a click:

Follow @durant_imboden

Short-term car leases:
cheaper than renting!

Do you live outside the EU? Save on car rental with a tax-free Peugeot 'Buy Back' or Renault Eurodrive tourist lease. Minimum driver age is 18, there's no upper age limit, and rates include full insurance.

For details, see our article on Short-Term Car Leasing.

| Europe for Visitors | Germany |