Museums are anything but boring and have long since gotten rid of their dusty image. They teach us something and help us forget time on rainy or snowy days. We lose ourselves in their corridors, learn new things and do something for general education. Whether in the field of art, nature or sports: Switzerland has many exciting museums. An assessment by Google reveals which institutions the Swiss searched the most on the internet last year.
1st place: WOW Museum – Room for Illusions, Zurich
Puzzle masters get their money’s worth at the WOW Museum in Zurich. There are rooms full of startling hallucinations, illusions and new perspectives opening up! Optical mysteries and glimpses into infinity are awe-inspiring and also provide exciting photo backgrounds.
Admission is CHF 23 for adults, CHF 16 for children and teenagers aged 6-16, and CHF 5 for children aged 2-5. More information can be found here.
2nd place: Lindt Home of Chocolate, Kilchberg ZH
Sweet temptation: you can never go wrong when you visit a chocolate museum. Lindt Chocolate House makes Swiss chocolate tangible for people from all over the world. An unforgettable experience for young and old. The competence center in Kilchberg ZH is trying to secure Switzerland as a chocolate location in the long run.
Admission is CHF 15 for adults, CHF 10 for children and teenagers aged 8-15, and free for children up to age 7. More information can be found here.
3rd place: Natural History Museum Bern
Natural History Museum Bern has undertaken the task of impressing visitors with its exhibits of native and exotic animals. It is the oldest museum in Bern and its dioramas are unique in all of Central Europe, contributing to its international reputation. A visit brings interesting insights into nature from then and now.
Admission is CHF 12 for adults and free for children and teenagers up to 16 years old. More information can be found here.
4th place: Fondation Beyeler, Riehen near Basel
Only the buildings of this art museum in Riehen, near Basel, are worth seeing: in the English Park is a historic villa surrounded by old trees and lotus ponds. The museum building blends elegantly into the cultural landscape and is blessed with rooms that are flooded with light thanks to large windows. Fondation Beyeler showcases modern and contemporary works by important artists from around the world.
Admission is CHF 30 for adults and admission is free for children and teenagers up to 25 years old. More information can be found here.
5th place: FIFA Museum, Zurich
Especially football fans lose themselves at the FIFA Museum in Zurich. This is where the cultural heritage of popular sport is honored and preserved. The exhibition is filled with many important works from the world of football. The tour begins with football scenes from around the world shown on giant screens. If you want to lose yourself in the history and legacy of world famous sport, this is the place to be.
Admission is CHF 24 for adults, CHF 14 for children and teenagers aged 7-15, and free for children up to 6 years old. More information can be found here.
6th place: Chaplin’s World, Corsier-sur-Vevey VD
You can follow in the footsteps of the great Charlie Chaplin (1889–1977) at Chaplin’s World, a museum in Corsier-sur-Vevey VD. The museum is housed in the listed Villa Manoir de Ban, which was the home of the British comedian and actor from 1953 until his death. Take a tour to learn more about Chaplin’s life and how the legendary artist lived. Furnishings and personal items give an incredible feel.
Admission is CHF 27 for adults, CHF 18 for children and teenagers aged 6-15, and free for children up to 6 years old. More information can be found here.
7th place: Kunstmuseum Basel
The art museum in Basel has a historic landmark to report: it’s the world’s oldest public art museum, with the cabinet of Amerbach purchased by the city in 1661. Over the years the collection has moved within Basel. In 1936, today’s main building finally became St. opened in Alban-Graben. There were also two extensions: Kunstmuseum Basel opened in 1980 | The present followed a third home in 2016. Today it is home to around 4,000 paintings, sculptures and installations, all of them.
Admission is CHF 26 for adults, CHF 8 for teenagers aged 13-19, and free for children up to 12 years old. More information can be found here.
8th place: Zentrum Paul Klee, Bern
Zentrum Paul Klee is an extraordinary building that places itself like a statue in the surrounding landscape. The architectural masterpiece was designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano (84). Inside is the world’s most important collection of paintings, watercolors and drawings by artist Paul Klee (1879-1940), who spent nearly half of his life in Bern. In the center, which has about 4000 works, events such as temporary exhibitions, guided tours, concerts, theater and readings and workshops in the Creaviva children’s museum also attract the attention of visitors.
Admission is CHF 20 for adults and CHF 7 for children and teenagers aged 6 to 16. More information can be found here.
9th place: Ballenberg – Swiss Open Air Museum, Hofstetten near Brienz BE
The Ballenberg open-air museum in the Bernese Oberland offers a slightly different museum experience. Visitors will find outdoors more than 100 rural buildings used for the study, preservation and communication of Swiss tradition. Typical facilities for living and working from all over the country can be admired here.
Admission is CHF 28 for adults and CHF 14 for children and teenagers aged 6 to 16. More information can be found here.
10th place: Rietberg Museum, Zurich
Visiting the Rietberg Museum in Zurich’s Quartier Enge takes you on a journey around the world: The collection features artworks from traditional and contemporary cultures from Asia, Africa, America and Oceania. In the 67,000 square meter Rieter Park, one of the most beautiful parks in Zurich, non-European works are exhibited in three villas. In addition to Villa Wesendonck, Villa Rieter and Villa Schönberg, the “Smaragd” extension was opened in 2007.
Admission is 14 francs (collection) or 18 francs (special exhibitions) for adults, free for children and teenagers up to 15 years old. More information can be found here.