Verkehrshaus der Schweiz (Swiss Museum of Transport)

The Verkehrshaus der Schweiz, or Swiss Museum of Transport, stands on the lakefront at Lidostrasse 5 in the east of Luzern, in the canton of Lucerne, Switzerland. It is the country's most visited museum and brings together trains, aircraft, ships, cars and spacecraft in one large site, open every day of the year. Locomotives and carriages show the history of Swiss rail, while the aviation halls hold aircraft and cockpits, and the shipping section covers lake and river navigation. Space exhibits cover the Swiss contribution to spaceflight. The complex also includes a planetarium, the Swiss Chocolate Adventure, the Media World and the Hans Erni Museum, which are on the same grounds. Many displays are hands-on, with simulators and interactive stations that make the museum popular with families. A full visit typically takes three to five hours, and visitors who add the planetarium and other attractions can fill a whole day. Hours are 10:00AM to 6:00PM in summer and 10:00AM to 5:00PM from November to March. Admission to the museum with the Media World and Hans Erni Museum is CHF 37 for adults, with an all-inclusive day pass at CHF 62; under 16s pay CHF 16 or CHF 29 for the day pass, and children under 6 enter free. Crowds are heaviest on weekends and rainy days, so weekday mornings are the calmest. The grounds are close to the lake, giving visitors a chance to walk along the water between halls. Bus 6, 8 or 24 from Bahnhof Luzern reaches Verkehrshaus/Lido in about ten minutes, and a 25-minute lakeside walk or a boat to Verkehrshaus-Lido are alternatives. The museum can be reached by phone on +41 41 375 75 75.