The best museums Switzerland

Eight centuries of art to understand and contemplate! Switzerland's oldest museum (founded in 1809) presents a collection of works spanning eight centuries, from the Gothic period to contemporary art. It currently holds over 4,000 paintings and sculptures, and around 45,000 drawings, prints, photographs, videos and films. Among ^{twentieth-century} artists, Paul Klee, Giacometti, Pablo Picasso, Ferdinand Hodler and Meret Oppenheim, give it an international reach.

An unusual idea for a visit. In an old building dating from 1406, an amusing and unique place in the world, close to the lake, brings together a collection of 108 naturalized frogs, taking on human postures and evoking scenes from everyday life in the 19th century (pub, election meeting, family scene...). See also the beautiful collection of lanterns of the Federal Railways running on oil or gas, from 1880 to the present day. And many objects and decorations of national folklore. A rare museum which is really worth a visit.

This living museum is located in the old arsenal next to the Roman amphitheatre. It has been open since 2005 and is dedicated to the St Bernards from the kennels of the eponymous pass, which were once run by the canons. The observation of the feeding and grooming of the animals is obviously very popular, but it is also possible to go for a walk with one of them. You can get emotional over the puppies and attend information sessions on the life of these animals. The centre also hosts temporary exhibitions. Restaurant and bar on site.

Within the Fondation Pierre Gianadda, a museum space houses a rich collection of some forty rare vehicles in working order: Stanley steam engines, Benz and Jeanperrin from 1897, Delauney-Belleville for Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, Hispano-Suiza, Mercedes SSK... More curious, Swiss-made cars, such as these Pic-Pic, Martini or Turicum. Enough to delight collectors and enthusiasts of unique models.

In an unusual location, a former pasta factory, lies a museum like no other. Model train enthusiasts will be in for a treat: miniature trains, fully digitally controlled models, electric trains and the latest from the manufacturers. Over a surface area of 2,320^m2 and three floors, the equivalent of 2,500 m of track is on display, featuring 3,000 models from the GB collection and numerous private collections. From Napoleonic trains to military armor, model railroading is the main focus of the museum. Well organized and warmly welcomed.

From the outside, the MAMCO building, housed in an old, disused factory, looks rather unappealing. But think again! It owes its creation to Amam (Association des amis du musée d'Art moderne), founded in 1973. Many patrons wish to share their works. You don't need to be an Andy Warhol aficionado or an expert in contemporary art to appreciate the works. The Musée d'Art Moderne et Contemporain de Genève (Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Geneva) is open to all visitors, from 0 to 150 years of age, whether or not they are art connoisseurs, and features 3,500 m² of exhibition space spread over several floors, in large, light-filled halls. As its name suggests, this museum is dedicated to contemporary art. Whether you like it or not, you won't remain indifferent to the works on display. A common thread that defines it? Its dynamism! The museum is constantly reinventing itself: in addition to the permanent exhibition, three temporary exhibitions are organized each year. The permanent works are regularly renewed, mingling with those in the temporary exhibition. You'll never get bored! The entity has built up a veritable collection of important works for Contemporary Art in Switzerland. Guided tours and public education are a constant feature, and the museum's ambition is to introduce newcomers to the richness of this heritage. And it succeeds! The MAMCO is full of surprises! The themes of the exhibitions are interesting, the ideas always very creative and the works very well presented.

Far Eastern art enthusiasts, this visit is for you! Sumptuous is the word to describe the collections of exceptional works from China and Japan assembled by Swiss collector Alfred Baur (1865-1951). He made his fortune trading in organic fertilizers in Sri Lanka, the country formerly known as Ceylon. On his return to Switzerland in 1906, he developed a passion for collecting Asian art, and began a parallel career as a "collector", focusing mainly on Japanese works, and later on Chinese ceramics. The works, all of great refinement, are displayed in a ^19th-century mansion. The museum is small, but well worth a visit. A staircase leads to the department specializing in China, then to Japan. The museum rooms are brightly lit, and the works are well displayed. You'll admire ceramics of perfect beauty and harmony, the earliest dating back to the Tang dynasty (618-907). A saddled horse testifies to the intensity of trade between China and the West via the Silk Road. These ceramics cover all dynasties up to the Qing (1644-1911). Jade objects, miniature tobacco flasks, perfume burners, cups and bowls, some Indian-influenced or inspired by Tibetan Buddhist art, date from the ^18th to the ^20th century. Note the jade objects, a reflection of the long and hard work involved. Jade - considered a symbol of purity and integrity in China - is perceived as a very precious stone. Very hard, it was considered indestructible. In addition to its high value, it was therefore associated with immortality, and jade was often placed in the graves of emperors and aristocrats. Imagine the time it took to carve a perfume burner, a bowl or a brush holder. Take a look at some of these highly original vases, in which Westerners - and not to their advantage - are depicted. It's interesting to discover how Easterners look at Westerners. In the 17th and 18th centuries, China and the Far East in general aroused great interest and admiration among Westerners. These famous "chinoiseries" were, at first, imitations of Chinese objets d'art made in the West, but the term was later extended to include objects made in China. Cloisonné enamels and remarkable Chinese textiles are also on display.

Don't miss the department dedicated to Japan. These collections date back to the Edo period and the Meiji, Taisho and Showa eras, stretching from the ^18th to the early ^20th century. It brings together everyday objects and fashion accessories, reflecting the influence of the outside world on Japan. You'll be seduced by the beauty of the prints. They represent the leisure activities of city dwellers. The faces of Kabuki theater actors, courtesans and, later, landscapes and heroes appeared. Netsuke, small ivory figurines used to hang various objects from belts, often depicting characters from Japanese mythology, were essential fashion accessories for city dwellers in the Edo period. On display are true marvels, including tea caddies, paint pots, sword ornaments, Japanese ceramics and tea sets. Writing cases include an ink stone, brush and cruet. During the Edo period, publishing was booming. These writing cases belonged to literati and wealthy city dwellers. The lacquers are exceptional, of uncommon refinement. They are made using gold - and mother-of-pearl, originally from China. To make an object, layers of lacquer were accumulated, and the craftsman then engraved his design. To decorate some of them, gold and silver flakes were applied with a bamboo stick and sprinkled on the surface. These are makis. Observe the finesse of the design on the Inro, the medicine boxes. In Japan, people don't bother with heavy furniture. So we used a plethora of chests, storage boxes and cases. The objects you see belonged, no doubt, to very wealthy citizens.

The "tea room" you'll see in an adjacent room, was installed in a pavilion reserved for this practice. Here, tea was served in the famous ceremony known as the "Japanese tea service". This is the Chanoyu, or Chado "way of tea" in Japanese. The event is much more than a simple gathering of friends. It's a traditional art inspired by Zen Buddhism, with each step highly codified. Did you know that the study of the tea ceremony can take several years? Both host and guest must know the chado, the various types of tea, how to serve, and on the guest's side, what words to say, the technique of drinking tea, the style of dress... Sword decorations are true masterpieces. In the Edo period, they embodied the soul of the Samurai. China has exerted an important influence in many fields in Japan over the past 5,000 years. Round off your visit with a visit to the Zen garden, a true reflection of the gardens you'll find in Japan!

The museum is worth a visit just for the beauty of its setting. Located in the heart of the Parc de la Perle, it is housed in the superb Villa Bartholoni, built in 1830. In very bright rooms with a superb view of the lake, a wide range of scientific objects dating from the 17th to the ^19th century are presented. You will be able to observe astronomical glasses and objects from other disciplines such as physics, electricity or meteorology.

This 13th century building, which has been altered several times and was once a bishop's residence, now houses a rich museum. Valais painters are very well represented here with, in particular, the works of Raphaël Ritz and Raphy Dallèves, bequeathed by their authors. Contemporary paintings by the Valaisan Edouard Vallet. See also the print cabinet. This museum takes you on a journey of discovery through fifty thousand years of the evolution of migratory cultures.

The chocolate museum of the Alprose chocolate company, whose origins date back to 1957, presents the wonderful world of chocolate from its origins to the present day. You're immersed in the heart of chocolate! In addition to its valuable didactic role, the museum helps to affirm the tradition of Swiss chocolate. At the very heart of the Alprose factory, from the top of a footbridge, you can observe the different phases of chocolate production: from the liquefaction of cocoa to the packaging of the finished product.

The Altes Zeughaus, or former arsenal, is one of the most impressive buildings in Solothurn, and that's saying something! The museum has remained true to its military vocation, housing a collection of weapons and uniforms, from halberds to automatic pistols. Inside the building, you can admire numerous firearms, as well as nearly 400 suits of armour from the 15th to the 17th century. The exhibitions are fun and suitable for the whole family.

The Museum of Fine Arts in Solothurn is housed in a beautiful neoclassical building and has existed since 1902. An exceptional setting for a remarkable institution: indeed, it has many works dating from the Middle Ages, Swiss masters of the 19th and 20th centuries, French painters (from Degas to Léger), primitive art and graphic cabinet, and above all a good knowledge of Swiss and foreign art: Cézanne, Matisse, Van Gogh, Klimt. To be discovered!

It is a park, a museum and an oasis of calm all in one. Here we learn that large glacial potholes prove that 20,000 years ago, during the last ice age, Lucerne was covered by glaciers. Fossils of shells and palm leaves show that 20 million years ago the Lucerne region was a beach with a subtropical climate. The Glacier Garden also has the oldest Alpine relief by F. L. Pfyffer von Wyher and a mirror labyrinth in the style of the Alhambra in Granada.

For all football fans! With over 3,000^m2 of exhibition space, the Fédération Internationale de Football Museum traces the great moments in the history of football and pays tribute to a sport whose popularity around the globe is unrivalled. In addition to the original FIFA World Cup trophy, the museum exhibits over 1,000 objects, 4,000 books and archive documents, and 1,400 photographs depicting the world's footballing heritage.

Immerse yourself in the world of comics, caricatures and cartoons, unique in Switzerland. The Cartoonmuseum Basel offers 3,400 original works of art on three floors of a modern building. This collection is the fruit of a passion and commitment to narrative drawing. With over 10,000 works, the museum celebrates the legacy of this art form. Thematic exhibitions, inspiring workshops, guided tours (in French) and artist talks enrich each exhibition.

Built in two stages (the plan has changed in the meantime!), between 1777 and 1826, this church in the Sardinian city was at the centre of the religious struggles between Catholics and radicals. It was in 1921 that the Roman Catholics recovered it. Musical treasures to discover: the church's carillon is one of the most important in Switzerland, in terms of number of bells and the historical organ dating from 1832 and rebuilt in 2010. Be discreet during the services. The Feast of the Holy Cross is on September 14.

The Tibet Museum is located a few meters from the castle. It was created in 2009 by the Alain Bordier Foundation. More than 400 works and various objects (sculptures, paintings, ritual objects...) from Tibet and neighbouring regions are presented in the former Saint-Joseph chapel (19th century). The works on display come from the art collector's personal collection and have been assembled over the course of thirty years. A mobile application is available.

Learn about Eastern Swiss traditions through the secrets of making the world-famous Appenzeller cheese. The demonstration cheese dairy will introduce you to traditional Appenzeller cheese-making skills and traditions. During the tour, you'll be able to taste and make your own appenzeller, and have the chance to compose your own herb blend. Listen to the sound of typical bells, admire the imposing cheese cellar housing over 15,500 wheels of cheese and the gigantic cheese cauldron.

Discover the Swiss Architecture Museum (S AM), nestled a stone's throw from the Tinguely fountain. It showcases the city's contemporary architecture, bridging the gap between those in the know and those eager to discover. Basel shines on the European scene with works inherited from modernism and recent creations. The S AM offers three major exhibitions a year, revealing the "History and Present of Switzerland". Debates, guided tours and enriching publications.

Caution: you are entering the temple of chocolate! The Lindt House is the size of four soccer stadiums and takes you on an interactive journey to the origins of chocolate. You'll discover how cocoa conquered Europe, and learn how Swiss pioneers revolutionized the world of chocolate in the ^19th century with their inventions. Did you know, for example, that cocoa beans were once used as currency? At the end of the tour, you'll be able to taste as much white, dark and milk chocolate as you like. Exciting and addictive!

Nearly 2,000 years ago, a splendid Roman villa stood on the Prieuré hill. Thanks to the work of archaeologists, this palace has now been reconstructed at the heart of Pully's Roman Villa Museum. You can admire its living room and superb wall paintings. These remains are home to the ArchéoLab, an archaeology discovery area with excellent ideas for tours and workshops for children, enabling them to discover archaeology and go back in time from a specific angle, such as a particular theme in Roman times. Great stuff!

Adjoining La Muette, C. F. Ramuz's family home, the museum is located in the heart of the village. This late ^18th-century bourgeois building, surrounded by a garden of rare trees, was bequeathed to the town in 1941 by the Luhrs-Patterson family, who expressed the wish that it become a public space. Collections relating to the region alternate with those devoted to contemporary art, as well as exhibitions highlighting a given artist or theme, intended for the general public. A permanent theme room is dedicated to Charles-Ferdinand Ramuz.

Close to Lake Geneva, set in a delightful garden with southern charm, this museum houses the remains of an opulent ancient residence. The permanent exhibition features archaeological finds from the nearby Lousonna site. In addition, the various temporary exhibitions and outreach activities focus on themes linked to antiquity and the concerns of society at the time. Throughout the year, children are invited to take part in bread-making, cooking and building workshops.

We've almost forgotten about them, such is the speed of progress, when these days we can type Chinese characters or almost any language in the world on our smartphones. Typewriters set the pace for all correspondence and the press throughout the last century. An original museum idea, the story of a family passion, presenting a rich collection of antique machines to typewriters equipped with Japanese kanji.

This unusual museum traces five thousand years of shoe history. Gentle Craft has been researching since 1993, and the current collection includes faithful reproductions of shoes from ancient Rome, the Middle Ages and pre-industrial times, sourced from archaeological digs or historical collections. Each piece is an exact replica to scale of the original. Particularly interesting for children, as you can look with your hands!

Housed in a building with cylindrical architecture, we turn around a large pylon to discover experiments staged by the team of scientists and graphic designers. Aimed at young and old alike, the Espace des Inventions is a place for learning about science and technology, discovery and experimentation. Around a chosen scientific theme, a set of games and experiments to be manipulated is proposed to the curious hands, critical eyes and agile brains of visitors. Ideal for little budding sunflower teachers!

This cantonal museum, housed in the Palais de Rumine, comprises three departments: zoology, geology and botany. Aimed more at children, the Zoology Museum features 2,500 animals from the region's fauna and, to a lesser extent, from around the world, as well as an exceptional comparative anatomy section. If you can't see it diving, the museum also boasts the world's largest taxidermized white shark: 5.89 m! Numerous temporary exhibitions.

Located in the Palais de Rumine, the Geology Museum offers a permanent exhibition on three themes: fossils, crystals and the Alps. Two virtual exhibitions, on the origins of the world and Lausanne in the time of palm trees, are also on display. The mammoth on display is still very young: only 16,000 years old. However, it has undergone a two-year rejuvenation treatment to strengthen its bones, as the organic matter inside is still evolving!

Excellent! Within Plateforme 10, the MUDAC (Musée cantonal de design et d'arts appliqués contemporains), with its remarkable architecture, is dedicated to design in French-speaking Switzerland. On display are works in contemporary glassmaking, graphic arts, jewelry, ceramics, etc. The program consists of monographic exhibitions featuring young artists and established designers. In a didactic way, we display some very interesting works by the latter, brimming with creativity. A must-see!

Called Lousonna in Celtic, it was built on the heights, on three hills, to better defend itself. It became the seat of an important bishopric in the Middle Ages, and remained mainly agricultural until the ^19th century, when it embraced the ideas of the Enlightenment philosophers and became a tourist attraction from 1830 onwards. Today, the ^15th-century bishop's residence houses this interesting museum, recounting the city's history and exhibiting typical Lausanne artifacts.

The Montreux Museum, whose origins date back to 1874, presents many facets of the Montreux region in a group of reconstructed 17th century winegrowers' houses. The exhibition retraces the town and its region through 4 themes: history, terroir, tourism and hotels. Collections of coins, firebrands, planes and woodworking tools contribute to the understanding of the subject. A lady having donated her thimble collection to the museum, an additional room has been opened to accommodate 2,100 small pieces of jewellery!

Beautiful steam locomotives take you back in time. They're back in service again to pull an old train in which you'll be on board, on your way to explore the Chamby Railway Museum, the invention that enabled the development of the entire Swiss Riviera. When the Blonay-Chamby rail link closed in 1966, a team of volunteers created a tourist steam railway, museum depot and restaurant.

In order to better pay tribute to the human hand and to raise awareness of its importance, Professor Claude Verdan, an eminent specialist in reconstructive hand surgery, has created this place which is entirely dedicated to it. The museum regularly organizes exhibitions and debates and lectures, not only on the hand but also related to science and medicine. Finally, Le Café de la Main for a coffee or a chocolate, a fruit juice or an organic pastry.

Housed in the former premises of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, the Forum d'architectures Lausanne is run by an association whose aim is to introduce professionals and the general public to authors, projects and achievements in the fields of visual expression and urban culture. To this end, it organizes exhibitions, conferences and debates related to the field of architecture in the broadest sense, open to all

Cantonal museums, cramped for space in the Palais de Rumine, use this space for temporary exhibitions. The neoclassical building, inaugurated in 1841, was built thanks to Vaud painter Louis Arlaud to house a drawing school and art museum. The site was given a new lease of life in 1997 under the name Espace Arlaud. It presents the work of Swiss and international artists through temporary exhibitions on the themes of photography, art, history, geography... The museum is only open during these exhibitions, consult the website.

A real living museum at the foot of Montriond hill and a stone's throw from the Milan park and its playgrounds, the Botanical Garden cultivates more than 6,000 species of plants from all over the world in its rock gardens, water features and flowerbeds. This little corner of paradise is overflowing with colour and offers a serene and pleasant visit. The museum and the garden offer temporary botanical and artistic exhibitions to make the visit more enjoyable.

Housed in a building dating from 1618 with facades painted in Mannerist style, the museum allows visitors to grasp the full extent of these constructions that have shaped the mountain landscape. The bisses are small irrigation canals on gentle slopes (0.5 to 1%). They are the legacy of Roman ingenuity, but it was not until the Middle Ages that farmers began to tame the run-off water. The effigy of the CHF 100 banknote since 2019 is the great bisse of Ayent.

Welcome to Basel's Music Museum, housed in the former prison since 2000. With 3,300 exhibits, it houses the world's largest collection of musical instruments. On three floors, discover 650 instruments spanning five centuries of history, including the oldest drum (1571), a viola da gamba by Joachim Tielke (circa 1704) and the "Weber-Unika" orchestrion from 1925. Explore eighty-four refurbished cells with interactive displays and exhibits for complete immersion.

A German poet, poet and painter, Hermann Hesse adopted Swiss citizenship in 1924 and lived in Montagnola until his death in 1962. The light of the Collina d'Oro fascinated the artist. Many celebrities (including Theodore Heuss, Thomas Mann and Bertolt Brecht) came to Montagnola to Visit him. The museum retains valuable testimonies of the last 43 years of Hermann Hesse, including books in the garden. The Balisé d'Oro can be admired along the marked route «On the steps of Hermann Hesse».

Discover the Historical Museum and immerse yourself in Basel's history through three captivating exhibits: Barfüsserkirche, from prehistoric times to the present day, cathedral treasures, tapestries and dances of death. Musikmuseum, a breathtaking collection of over 650 instruments spanning five centuries of musical evolution. Haus zum Kirshgarten, transformed into a housing museum, offers a journey back in time to the heart of ^18th-century bourgeois opulence. Each room is carefully furnished to immerse you in the atmosphere of this sumptuous era.

Switzerland was first and foremost an agricultural country with crops produced by family farms. This grain museum pays tribute to the rural world, to farmers and their grain harvests. The history of wheat harvesting and flour production is presented, as well as special exhibitions on nutrition and the culture of eating and drinking. The 100-year-old Tiefenbrunnen industrial mill is still grinding. You can also get your hands dirty and make your own bread.

What's not to love about "poking around" in the nooks and crannies of the old town to find Ali Baba's barracks of toys from yesteryear? This small museum is an exquisite discovery: a collection of toys from the ^18th to the ^20th century forms a miniature world that takes us into the everyday life of these eras. Beautifully preserved dolls, cars, figurines and children's books take visitors back to the lost world of childhood. A collection that never gets old!

This Haus Konstruktiv museum is the perfect way to keep up with the latest artistic trends! Its collections are housed in the former Selnau power station. It was founded by the Zurich artists behind the concrete and constructive art movement. Constructive art, it should be remembered, expresses the desire to link technical advances in construction with abstraction. The museum offers exhibitions of concrete and conceptual contemporary art. Of particular interest is "The Rockefeller Dining Room" by Swiss artist Fritz Glarner.

The small tram museum tells the history of Zurich through its urban transport and specifically its tramway, which has a long tradition in the city. Visitors are offered an interesting journey into the world of trams: old vehicles (from 1897 to 1960), drivers' uniforms, ticket machines, miniatures and even a giant model of the traffic network. Some of the vintage vehicles run on the VBZ line 21 between January and November every last weekend of the month between Burgwies and the old town.

In 2012, this new museum was created by the merger of the Schwab and Neuhaus museums of history, art and archaeology. The permanent archaeology exhibition of the Schwab Museum was transferred to Neuhaus, while the temporary exhibitions are now housed in the former building. The permanent exhibitions focus on the city's watchmaking past, the painter and writer brothers Karl and Robert Walser, and 19th-century bourgeois life.

William Tell is a national hero. Who doesn't know of his famous daring and dexterity in handling the crossbow with such precision that it has become a Swiss quality par excellence? His life is still shrouded in mystery by historians. In the small village of Bürglen, the museum covers six centuries of documentation, representations and objects that take us back to the world of primitive Switzerland. It houses the collection of Basel-born Ernst Stückelberg, famous for painting the frescoes in the chapel of William Tell on Lake Uri.

Set in the very beautiful villa of the artist, the museum presents paintings, sketches, studies of this painter with naive style, which was also writer (1891-1978).

Opened in 1908 and designed by the architect Nicolaus Hartmann, the museum is dedicated to the Alpine landscape painter Giovanni Segantini. The Italian painter, who came from the Symbolist movement of the late 19th century, spent the last five years of his life in St. Moritz. This building, which was erected only nine years after his death, is a kind of memorial. His most famous work, the triptych Werden, Sein, Vergehen (Becoming, Being, Disappearing), a masterpiece of dazzlingly realistic light and colour, is on display here.

How did people live in Colonia Lulia Equestris? Housed in the foundations of the basilica dating from the 1st century AD, this museum reminds us that Nyon was the capital of an imperial territory. It presents evidence of life in the ancient city: archaeological objects from the Roman period unearthed on the territory of the colony of Nyon (amphorae, jewellery, coins, cult objects), a model of the centre of the ancient city and an exhibition of the results of the latest excavations. An interesting visit for history buffs and neophytes alike.