Our weekend at the museum

A family trip to the museum is not only a great day out in rainy weather. After all, Swiss museums have so much fun, interesting facts and surprises to offer. The parents' magazine Fritz+Fränzi has put together the best tips for you.
Text: Leo Truniger and Florina Schwander

Pictures: zVg

1 / 6 In the dinosaur museum: Wow! Such big teeth! The fascination with dinosaurs is unbroken, especially among children and young people.
1 / 6 In the dinosaur museum: Wow! Such big teeth! The fascination with dinosaurs is unbroken, especially among children and young people.
2 / 6 Spherical beings: Great amazement at the Technorama in Winterthur.
2 / 6 Spherical beings: Great amazement at the Technorama in Winterthur.
3 / 6 Does Messi live here? The FIFA Museum in Zurich
3 / 6 Does Messi live here? The FIFA Museum in Zurich
4 / 6 At the "fragrance bar" in the Tropenhaus Wolhusen LU.
4 / 6 At the "fragrance bar" in the Tropenhaus Wolhusen LU.

Art you can touch and make yourself

... The family morning at the Creaviva Children's Museum in Bern is an experience for everyone. Every Sunday morning from 10.30 to 11.45 a.m., families with children aged 4 and over can get artistic in the studio, themed to match the respective exhibitions.
Paul Klee Centre, Creaviva Children's Museum, Monument im Fruchtland 3, Bern. www.creaviva-zpk.org > Family morning

... The Kulturama in Zurich lets visitors young and old discover knowledge for themselves. Groups and school classes are welcome. The human organism can be observed on the adventure trail and various journeys through time take visitors back to the origins of the earth.
Kulturama, Englischviertelstrasse 9, Zurich. Closed on Mondays. www.kulturama.ch

... Work like in the Middle Ages: the Museum of Paper, Writing and Printing is also a workshop. It gives visitors a lasting insight into the art of papermaking and the secrets of the printing trade. The museum is housed in a historic paper mill. What's particularly great is that you can make your own paper here.
Paper Museum, St.-Alban-Tal 37, Basel. Closed on Mondays. www.papiermuseum.ch

... The Museum of Communication in Bern also offers many experiences: Communicators - «hosts» employed by the museum in an exhibition - can be quizzed on site. There are also fun film karaokes and an old postbus in which you can sit behind the wheel and climb around.
Museum of Communication, Helvetiastrasse 16, Bern. Closed on Mondays . www.mfk.ch

5 / 6 The Natural History Museum in Bern exhibits big cats and ungulates from Africa, Asian mammals, deer and bears.
5 / 6 The Natural History Museum in Bern exhibits big cats and ungulates from Africa, Asian mammals, deer and bears.
Informative: The Nonam in Zurich
Informative: The Nonam in Zurich
6 / 6 At the Hoosesagg Museum in Basel, even music giants shrink to miniature size.
6 / 6 At the Hoosesagg Museum in Basel, even music giants shrink to miniature size.

With lots of history and fur

... The fascination for dinosaurs is unbroken: Much is still unknown about these animals. Find out what is known about them at the Dinosaur Museum in Aathal ZH. In addition to skeletons, bones and footprints, there are films and fun activities.
Dinosaur Museum, Zürichstrasse 69, Aathal. Closed on Mondays. www.sauriermuseum.ch

... On a rainy day, the Zoological Museum of the University of Zurich is a highlight for Zurich families. After a first visit, the children will be clamouring to see the «quiet animals» again.
Zoological Museum, Karl-Schmid-Strasse 4, Zurich. Closed on Mondays. www.zm.uzh.ch

For fans of bows and arrows, Legos, diggers or trains

... Hugh! What child doesn't think Indians are cool? You can find out more about the exciting Native Americans at the North American Native Museum Nonam in Seefeld. Special highlight: During the school holidays, the Nonam offers open workshops for children from the age of three plus an accompanying person.
Nonam, Seefeldstrasse 317, Zurich. Closed on Mondays. www.nonam.ch

... The Albula line of the Rhaetian Railway between Chur and St. Moritz is one of the most spectacular railway lines in the Alps. At the interactive Albula Railway Museum in Bergün, you can find out all about the UNESCO World Heritage railway line. The highlight: a driving simulation in the crocodile locomotive.
Albula Railway Museum, Bahnhofstrasse 2a, Bergün. Closed on Mondays. www.bahnmuseum-albula.ch

... Have you ever walked past a construction site in the evening and your child wanted to climb onto the stationary excavator? At the Ebianum Excavator Museum in Fisibach AG you can do just that: various excavator models can be climbed on and marvelled at to your heart's content.
Ebianum Excavator Museum, Museumstrasse 1, Fisibach. Open: Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. www.ebianum.ch

... In French-speaking Switzerland, the story is told of the German-speaking Swiss who throw their return ticket out of the train window as soon as they discover Lake Geneva after the tunnel, surrounded by marvellous vineyards. So if you are staying a little longer than planned in Lavaux, be sure to plan a visit to the Swiss Museum of Games in La Tour-de-Peilz. The Musée du Jeu has games for young and old from all over the world. And it's not far from Chillon Castle if you want to buy your return ticket later.
Musée Suisse du Jeu, Rue du Château 11, La Tour-de-Peilz. Closed on Mondays. www.museedujeu.ch

Creative: the family mornings at the Creaviva/Paul Klee Centre in Bern
Creative: the family mornings at the Creaviva/Paul Klee Centre in Bern

Our insider tip

... It's just a window in the door, and you can visit it in less than five minutes: the Hoosesagg Museum in Basel. The name says it all: all the objects that the museum operator displays in the showcase must fit into a trouser bag. If any questions remain unanswered: A sign on the door invites you to simply ring the bell.
Hoosesagg Museum, Imbergässlein 31, Basel. Open daily. www.hoosesaggmuseum.ch

Curious: The small Hoosesagg Museum in Basel
Curious: The small Hoosesagg Museum in Basel

Good to know

Many museums organise special children's tours or workshops, lend out adventure kits or have special family brochures about the exhibitions. It's worth checking the website or calling in advance of your visit.