Trains, planes and ships, by the lake

About this experience

This is the site's one stop without a cruise. The Swiss Museum of Transport (Verkehrshaus der Schweiz) sits on the lakeshore at Lidostrasse 5, east of the centre, and the listing calls it Switzerland's most visited museum. The ticket covers the permanent and temporary exhibitions and the Media World: the Rail Transport Hall with steam locomotives and train simulators, the Aviation Hall with historic aircraft and flight simulators, the Road Transport Hall, the Navigation Hall, the i-factory and the Swissarena, a room-sized aerial photo of Switzerland you walk across.

Why it sits on a boat site: it has its own boat stop, and the lake is where it comes into a day. On a wet afternoon you swap the deck for the halls; on a dry one you ride a scheduled boat to the museum's pier. The scheduled SGV boats are covered by the Swiss Travel Pass (the Flex on a travel day) and the Lucerne Travel Pass; the Half Fare card gives 50% off. The museum lists the boat from the centre at about 10 minutes, buses 6, 8 or 24 at about 10 minutes, the S3 or Voralpen-Express at about 8 minutes to Luzern Verkehrshaus, and about 30 minutes on foot along the lakeside.

Most people need two to three hours, per the listing, and keen visitors stay to closing. The museum opens daily, 10:00 to 18:00 in summer and 10:00 to 17:00 in winter. The Film Theatre, the Planetarium and the Swiss Chocolate Adventure cost extra and are booked at the ticket office. Food is not included; one reviewer found the food court fair for Switzerland and used the picnic areas.

• More than 3,000 exhibits on rail, road, air, space and water travel
• Flight simulators for an airplane, helicopter or hang glider
• Steam locomotives, model railways and train simulators
• The Swissarena: a room-sized aerial photo of Switzerland underfoot
• Its own boat stop on the lakeshore, a short hop from the centre

How the day runs

1. Getting thereBoat, bus, train or on foot

   Boat to the Verkehrshaus stop, bus 6, 8 or 24, the S3, or a 30-minute walk along the lake.

2. At the doorExchange your ticket

   Reviewers say you swap the digital ticket for a paper one at the entrance. The queue moves.

3. 2 to 3 hoursThe halls

   Rail, aviation, road and navigation halls, the i-factory and the Swissarena, at your own pace.

4. OptionalMedia World and extras

   Make your own news in the TV studio. Planetarium, Film Theatre and Chocolate Adventure are paid extras.

5. AfterBack by the lake

   Walk the lakeside promenade into town, or catch a boat from the museum's stop.

What's included

Who it suits

What guests say

Tips before you book

• Go in the morning. One reviewer arrived at 13:30, stayed to closing and still rushed parts.
• One reviewer found weekends very busy; a weekday suits you better if you go without children.
• Want the Planetarium or Chocolate Adventure? Buy those at the ticket office; they are not on this ticket.
• Arrive by boat if you hold a Swiss Travel Pass: the scheduled SGV boats are covered.
• Bring a picnic if you like. There are picnic areas, and a food court inside.

Read next:

• Lucerne in a day
• Best time to visit

Frequently asked questions

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