The Swiss Travel Pass includes access to over 500 museums. This means you have a huge range of museums that you can visit while you are in Switzerland.
No matter which city you are visiting, or if you are in a smaller mountain resort, you will almost always have a free museum to visit, or in the worst case scenario – a big discount!
So, which museums are worth putting on your must-see list with the Swiss Travel Pass?
Table of Contents
Landesmuseum (Zürich)
If you are passing through Zurich, the Landesmuseum as it is locally known is a must-see Zurich museum. Their goal is to display the history of Switzerland with a huge range of permanent exhibitions. They also have various temporary exhibitions throughout the year, as well as lots of fun things around the museum in summer and winter.
FIFA Museum (Zürich)
Celebrating all things football, the FIFA Museum located in Zurich is a great place to spend a few hours. From the history of football and highlights of epic players over the years to movies on how football influences the whole globe.
Olympic Museum (Lausanne)
Yes, Lausanne is home to the one and only Olympic Museum. This is the home of the Internation Olympic Committee as well. The museum sits proudly on the shores of Lake Geneva outside of Lausanne and is definitely worth a visit if you love sports. The permanent exhibition is huge, covering over 3000m2 and containing over 1500 unique objects. Of course, they also have various other exhibitions and events throughout the year too.
Matterhorn Museum – Zermatlantis (Zermatt)
If you have some downtime while visiting Zermatt, the Matterhorn Museum is a great way to discover the unique history of this old mountain town. The development of the town itself, but also the unique mountain climbing history of the Matterhorn are on display here. On top of that, it is right in the center of town, so you won’t have to walk far to get to it.
Château de Chillon (Montreux)
The Château de Chillon is one of the most iconic castles in Switzerland. First, it is situated right on the impressive Lake Geneva, just down the road from Montreux. It is a Savoyard-style castle has been lovingly restored from the late 19th century and is home today to a wide range of historic items and exhibitions. Not to mention the castle itself is worth visiting on its own.
Maison Cailler in Broc (near Gruyères)
If you love chocolate then the Maison Cailler is one of the best chocolate experiences you can have. It is located in Broc, a short trip from Gruyères in the French part of Switzerland. So, if you are in the area, be sure to block a few hours for this chocolate extravaganza.
Museum Tinguely (Basel)
Designed by the one and only Ticinese architect Mario Botta, the Tinguely Musuem displays the works of Jean Tinguely. This famous Swiss artist is renowned for his metal and water masterpieces that are in display in Basel, but also in various locations like Stockholm.
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Kunstmuseum Basel Gegenwart
Art lovers are going to enjoy the Kunstmuseum in Basel. It is actually one of the oldest publically accessible art museums in the world. The museum’s main focus is upper Rhine artists from 1400-1600 and a variety of art from the 19-21st centuries. So, something for absolutely everyone.
Musée d’art et d’histoire – Museum of Art & History (Geneva)
Geneva has a lot of museums to choose from, but their premiere museum is this one.
Castles in Bellinzona
Bellinzona is truly the Castle city in Switzerland. Located in the southern canton of Tessin, on the way to Italy, the three castles here make for a nice stop on a stunning drive from North to South.
Oberhofen Castle (Thun near Interlaken)
Love castles as much as me? Then the Oberhofen Castle on Lake Thun near Interlaken might be a great way to spend an afternoon on your trip.
Ballenberg Swiss Open-Air Museum (Brienz)
The Ballenberg Museum is a little unusual in that sits completely outside not far from Brienz, and a short trip from Interlaken. It is also quite unique in what is on display here, as it is really very Swiss. They have collected over 100 building styles from all over Switzerland. This includes both residential and agricultural buildings, farm animals, various gardens, and a whole lot more.
Museums in Lucerne
Many of you will be spending at least a day or two in Lucerne. So, here is a list of the museums you have access to:
- Gletschergarten – Glacier Garden
- Kunstmuseum – Art Museum
- Historisches Museum – Historic Museum
- Verkehrshaus der Schweiz – Museum of Transport
- Richard Wagner Museum
- Luzern: Alpineum
- Bourbaki Panorama
- Natur-Museum
- Militärmuseum (Closed)
Note: The Museum of Transport is perfect for kids
All The Museums on The Swiss Travel Pass
I don’t want to bombard you with a list of all the 500-plus museums you have access to with the Swiss Travel Pass. If you want to know whether the one you wish to visit is covered, check out this complete list of all the museums. It does a way better job than I ever could!
