11 best museums in Switzerland
By Jan de Boer
Despite its small size, Switzerland is home to many interesting and engaging museums. From exhibits describing Swiss history and galleries showcasing some of the best artworks in the world, to interactive museums designed to entertain and enlighten the entire family, there will always be something for you.
The best museums in Switzerland
Museums in Switzerland have a strong tradition of quality, and today are highly regarded on the worldwide stage for their collections. If you are looking for a grand day out, our pick of the best museums in Switzerland should point you in the right direction.
Swiss National Museum (Landesmuseum)
No visit to Zurich would be complete without going to the Swiss National Museum (Landesmuseum). Situated in a castle-like building next to Zurich's main station, this museum takes you on a grand tour through Swiss history - from the first signs of human habitation to the present day.
Along with informative exhibits, the collection includes a number of gothic art paintings and artefacts. The museum is also well known for hosting events like special exhibits, as well as dance and music performances.
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Kunstmuseum Bern
The oldest art museum in Switzerland, with a permanent collection of more than 50.000 different artworks covering 800 years of history, everything from the Gothic period to the present day, the Kunstmuseum Bern (Museum of Fine Arts Bern) is a must-see for any art aficionado.
The museum houses works by everyone from Paul Klee and Pablo Picasso to Vincent van Gogh and Salvador Dalì. It also presents regular special exhibitions and events that have helped it gain a world-class reputation.
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Rietberg Museum
If you’re more interested in Asian, African, American and Oceanian art, you should head over to the Rietberg Museum in Zurich, which is the only Swiss museum dedicated entirely to non-European art.
Originating in the art collection of Baron von der Heydt, which was donated to the city of Zurich in 1945, the Rietberg Museum opened in 1952 and nowadays houses some 32.600 objects and 49.000 photographs in its collections, some of them thousands of years old, everything from Chinese porcelain and Himalayan Buddhist art, to Indian miniature paintings.
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Red Cross Museum
Arguably one of the most important organisations in the world, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has its base in Geneva. To celebrate and commemorate the efforts of the organisation in helping wounded service members and civilians in war zones, the Red Cross Museum was created in 1988.
The exhibits highlight the history of the Red Cross and how it impacts people to this day. It may be an emotional visit, given the gravity of some of the things that are displayed, but it is well worth the trip.
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Kunstmuseum Basel
The Kunstmuseum in Basel is the oldest public art collection in the world and is considered to be one of the top art museums in Europe. Visitors can expect to see works by some of the world’s greatest artists like Rembrandt, Manet, Monet, Gauguin, Cézanne, Picasso and van Gogh.
With 10.000 square metres of galleries, there are plenty of things to see during your visit. If you can't get over to Basel, those in Zurich can visit the Kunsthaus, which also contains a large collection of masterpieces.
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The Olympic Museum of Lausanne
Along with the Red Cross and parts of the United Nations, the International Olympic Committee is also based in Switzerland. Near the headquarters in a district of Lausanne, people can visit the Olympic Museum - a site telling the history of the Olympic, Paralympic and Ancient Olympic games.
The museum contains a large archive of videos and pictures from previous Olympic games and visitors can feel like athletes in the "Olympic Village", testing their balance, agility and mental skills in interactive exhibits suitable for the whole family.
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WOW Museum Zurich
Get ready for a world of optical and sensory illusions at the WOW Museum in Zurich! Set over three floors just a few metres from Zurich HB, this interactive museum confuses your senses, plays tricks on your eyes, and offers fun for the whole family.
Watch the ground disappear from under your feet, feel the world turn upside-down, and let your perspective be changed by some ingenious optical trickery! You’ll leave with a totally new perspective.
Technorama Winterthur
Many people who grew up in Switzerland fondly recall the first time they visited Technorama. The museum aims to teach scientific knowledge through play, activities and interactive exhibits that can all be controlled by visitors.
Technorama offers a hands-on experience that is perfect for children and the inner child within us all. With the museum located just 30 minutes away from central Zurich, no bucket list would be complete without this unique experience.
Video credit: YouTube / Michael Rippas
Swiss Transport Museum (Verkhershaus)
On the banks of Lake Lucerne sits the most visited museum in Switzerland, the Museum of Transport (Verkhershaus). Opened in 1959, the museum features 3.000 cars, planes and trains from Switzerland and around the world.
Along with the massive exhibits, the museum boasts its own planetarium, giving you an unbridled look at our universe. Also not to be missed is the giant floor map of Switzerland, where visitors can don slippers and explore the alpine nation from above. It is also home to the largest cinema screen in Switzerland, the IMAX.
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Ballenberg Swiss Open-Air Museum
Nestled in the heart of the Swiss mountains, the Ballenberg Open-Air Museum gives an insight into how people lived in days gone by. A large number of historic Swiss houses, chalets and farmsteads were disassembled and reassembled at the museum, creating a large collection of immaculately preserved housing. Visitors get the unique experience of being able to walk around these ancient villages.
If you are on the way to a ski resort in the mountains or on a Grand Tour of the Alps, be sure to stop off at this hidden gem.
FIFA Museum
Finally, for football fans the world over, the FIFA museum is well worth a visit. The exhibits tell you the story of how football came to dominate the globe, and visitors can see some of the most well-known artefacts from the beautiful game, including a genuine World Cup.
The gallery and cinema document the many highs and lows of international football in stunning highlights. Another unique feature of the museum is The Pinball, a football version of mini golf used to test your footballing skills.
Image credit: EQRoy / Shutterstock.com
What’s your favourite Swiss museum?
The museums listed here are only a snapshot of the many great exhibitions you can visit while in Switzerland. With exhibits covering everything from ancient civilisations to modern-day footballing tournament, there’s something for everyone at a museum in Switzerland.
Jan studied History at the University of York and Broadcast Journalism at the University of Sheffield. Though born in York, Jan has lived most of his life in Zurich and has worked as a journalist, writer and editor since 2016.
While he has plunged head-first back into life in Switzerland since returning to the country in 2020, he still enjoys a taste of home at pub quizzes and karaoke nights.Read more