The Swiss National Museum (Landesmuseum Zürich) on Museumstrasse 2 is Switzerland’s most visited museum of cultural history, covering the country’s past from prehistoric times to the present day.
This guide was updated in June 2026. Two things to note before you go: the adult admission is now CHF 13 — several major guides and aggregators still show CHF 10, and one still lists CHF 8. Separately, the tram stop ‘Bahnhofquai/HB’ directly in front of the museum is closed for renovation until the end of 2026; use Central, Bahnhofstrasse/HB, or Sihlquai/HB instead. You can book through GetYourGuide in advance.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Museumstrasse 2, 8001 Zurich |
| Hours (Tue–Wed, Fri–Sun) | 10:00–17:00 |
| Hours (Thursday) | 10:00–19:00 |
| Closed | Mondays; most public holidays |
| Adult admission | CHF 13 |
| Concessions (AHV, IV, pupils, students) | CHF 10 |
| Under 16 | Free |
| Annual pass | CHF 35 (all Swiss National Museum locations) |
| Parking | Paid — Hauptbahnhof (Sihlquai 41) or Urania (Uraniastrasse 3) |
| Nearest tram/bus | Central, Bahnhofstrasse/HB, or Sihlquai/HB (Bahnhofquai/HB closed until end of 2026) |
| Nearest train | Zurich Hauptbahnhof — museum is directly adjacent |
| Typical visit | 1.5–3 hours |
Swiss National Museum opening hours
The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 17:00, with extended hours until 19:00 on Thursdays. It is closed on Mondays and on most public holidays, including Christmas Day (though note the museum opens on Christmas Day 2026 — check for any year-specific exceptions). On Christmas Eve (24 December 2026) the museum closes early at 14:00.
The Long Night of the Museums in September 2026 sees the museum open from 18:00 to midnight on the Saturday, and from midnight to 02:00 on the Sunday. An additional Family Day is scheduled for 18 October 2026.
Swiss National Museum admission prices
Prices are taken directly from the official tickets page. Many aggregators still show CHF 10; the current adult price is CHF 13. All prices are in Swiss francs.
| Category | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults | CHF 13 |
| Concessions (AHV, IV, RAV, pupils, students) | CHF 10 |
| Under 16 | Free |
| ‘Simply Zurich’ permanent exhibition | Free for all visitors |
| Annual pass (all Swiss National Museum locations) | CHF 35 |
Free admission applies to children under 16, Swiss Museum Pass holders, Raiffeisen MemberPlus holders, ZürichCARD holders, ICOM/ICOMOS members, persons with permit N/S/F, military personnel in uniform, press, and Friends of the Landesmuseum Zürich. Swiss school classes from Switzerland are admitted free by prior arrangement. The SBB RailAway combination offers a 10% discount when travelling by public transport. You can book tickets through GetYourGuide.
Why visit the Swiss National Museum?
- 🏛️ Two buildings in one visit: The museum occupies a turreted castle-like building from 1898 and a bold concrete extension from 2016 by Christ & Gantenbein — the architecture is as much an attraction as the collection.
- 🎟️ Under-16s and the Simply Zurich exhibition are free: Children pay nothing, and one permanent exhibition is open to all visitors without a ticket.
- 🌿 Archaeology in Switzerland (2025): A newly opened permanent exhibition covers 250,000 years of human history in Switzerland, from Neanderthals through the early Middle Ages — one of the most comprehensive archaeological displays in the country.
- 📜 Seven thousand craft objects in The Collection: Over 1,000 years of Swiss craftsmanship from furniture and weapons to jewellery and everyday objects — one of Europe’s largest such holdings.
- 💰 Thursday evening opening until 19:00: The extended Thursday hours are poorly advertised and mean a quieter, less crowded visit than peak weekend times.
How to get to the Swiss National Museum
By train, Zurich Hauptbahnhof is immediately adjacent — the museum building is visible from the main station exits. This is the simplest approach from anywhere in Switzerland.
By tram or bus, note that ‘Bahnhofquai/HB’ — the tram stop closest to the museum entrance — is closed for renovation until the end of 2026. Use Central, Bahnhofstrasse/HB, or Sihlquai/HB instead. All are within a 2–5 minute walk of the museum. Trams 4, 11, 13, 14, 17 and bus 46 all serve these stops.
By car, approach via Zurich City towards the Hauptbahnhof. The nearest paid car parks are the Parkhaus Hauptbahnhof (Sihlquai 41) and Urania (Uraniastrasse 3). Driving in central Zurich is slow and expensive; public transport is strongly preferable.
Parking at the Swiss National Museum
There is no museum-specific parking. The nearest option is the Parkhaus Hauptbahnhof on Sihlquai 41. Central Zurich parking rates are high. The museum’s own guidance directs visitors to public transport, and the ZürichCARD (which also grants free museum entry) includes unlimited use of city public transport — a compelling reason to leave the car elsewhere.
How long to spend at the Swiss National Museum
Allow 1.5 to 3 hours depending on how many exhibitions you visit. The six permanent exhibitions together represent a half-day commitment. Visitors focusing only on the History of Switzerland gallery and one temporary exhibition should allow 1.5–2 hours. The free Landesmuseum app offers a 60-minute highlights tour using your own smartphone.
Accessibility at the Swiss National Museum
All museum floors are reachable by lift. The museum offers a range of services for visitors with disabilities; detailed information is on the official accessibility page. The Landesmuseum app’s digital highlight tour includes sign language support. In-house buggies and baby carriers are available at the welcome desk; access with your own pushchair is limited depending on the exhibition and visitor numbers. Some exhibition areas may have limited accessibility. The cloakroom accepts bags up to A3 size (29.7 × 42 cm) inside the galleries; larger items must be left in lockers.
What to see at the Swiss National Museum
The History of Switzerland gallery traces the country’s development across 550 years, from the late Middle Ages to the present day. It is the centrepiece of the permanent collection and covers political history, national identity, and the social forces that shaped modern Switzerland.
Archaeology in Switzerland, opened in 2025, covers 250,000 years of human settlement. The display runs from Neanderthals through Bronze and Iron Age finds to the early Middle Ages. It is one of the most comprehensive prehistoric displays in Switzerland and represents a major addition to the museum’s permanent offer.
The Collection gathers over 7,000 objects spanning roughly 1,000 years of Swiss craftsmanship — arms and armour, furniture, silver, glass, textiles, and everyday utensils. The breadth and density of this gallery reward unhurried browsing.
A Magic Carpet Ride Through History is the museum’s dedicated family exhibition. Interactive in format, it is designed for children but engages adults too, and is included in the standard admission.
The Simply Zurich exhibition is permanently free for all visitors, with no ticket required. It focuses on the city’s history and identity and is accessible from the museum entrance without purchasing admission.
Wars and Us is the current major temporary exhibition, running from 17 April 2026 to 17 January 2027. It examines the relationship between Swiss society and armed conflict across history, using contemporary photography and archival material.
The building itself is worth attention. The 1898 historicist castle — turreted, with Romanesque arches — stands beside the 2016 concrete extension by Swiss architects Christ & Gantenbein. A 50-metre bridge connects the inner courtyard to the adjacent Platzspitzpark. The courtyard hosts concerts and light installations throughout the year.
Practical tips for visiting the Swiss National Museum
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Use the Thursday evening opening | The museum is open until 19:00 on Thursdays. It is quieter than weekend daytimes and the restaurant bar opens from 17:00. |
| Bahnhofquai/HB tram stop is closed | Until end of 2026, do not follow older directions pointing to Bahnhofquai/HB. Use Central, Bahnhofstrasse/HB, or Sihlquai/HB instead. |
| Download the Landesmuseum app first | The free app provides audio guides in six languages and a 60-minute highlights tour with sign language support. Download before visiting for best results. |
| Check the locker rule | Bags larger than A3 (29.7 × 42 cm) must go in lockers at the welcome desk. Items larger than cabin luggage size (55 × 40 × 23 cm) cannot be stored on site — leave very large luggage at Hauptbahnhof. |
| Book in advance | The museum accepts walk-ins but booking online is useful during peak summer weekends and around temporary exhibition openings. |
Swiss National Museum FAQ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How much is admission? | CHF 13 for adults; CHF 10 concessions; free for under-16s. Several guides still show CHF 10 for adults — that figure is out of date. |
| Is the museum closed on Mondays? | Yes, every Monday. It is also closed on most public holidays — check the official calendar for exceptions during December. |
| Which tram stop should I use? | Bahnhofquai/HB is closed until end of 2026. Use Central, Bahnhofstrasse/HB, or Sihlquai/HB, all within 5 minutes on foot. |
| Is the ZürichCARD worth it? | Yes, if you plan to use public transport and visit other museums. It covers unlimited transport plus free admission to the Swiss National Museum and many other Zurich venues. |
| Is my ticket valid at other Swiss National Museum sites? | A standard admission ticket is also valid for Château de Prangins and the Forum of Swiss History in Schwyz on the same day. |
Things to do near the Swiss National Museum
Platzspitzpark is directly adjacent to the museum, connected by the 50-metre bridge from the inner courtyard. The park occupies the former confluence of the Limmat and Sihl rivers and offers a green escape minutes from the main station.
Kunsthaus Zürich is Switzerland’s largest art museum and holds one of the most significant collections of modern and contemporary art in Europe, including major works by Giacometti, Monet, and Munch. It is a 10-minute tram ride from Hauptbahnhof (tram 3 or 9 to ‘Kunsthaus’).
Zurich Old Town (Altstadt) is a 10-minute walk from the museum. The Lindenhügel hill, the covered markets of Niederdorf, and the lakeside Enge quarter are all walkable from the museum.
Zurich Hauptbahnhof itself is worth a look — the main station hall houses Niki de Saint Phalle’s colossal Schutzengel (Guardian Angel) sculpture suspended from the ceiling, and the underground Shopville hosts Pipilotti Rist’s permanent installation Pixel Forest.
The Swiss Finance Museum (Museum Haus zum Rüden) is a 12-minute walk along the Limmat and focuses on the history of money, banking, and Swiss financial culture. It appeals particularly to visitors interested in the economic dimensions of Swiss history the National Museum touches on.
Similar history museums to visit near Zurich
Forum of Swiss History, Schwyz is part of the same Swiss National Museum network and the same-day ticket is valid here. It covers the origins of the Swiss Confederation in the region where it was founded. Schwyz is around 45 minutes by train from Zurich.
Château de Prangins, Vaud is the third Swiss National Museum location, also covered by the same admission ticket. A 18th-century château near Nyon on Lake Geneva, it holds collections focused on Swiss history from 1750 to 1920. About 2 hours from Zurich by train.
Swiss History Museum, Bern (Bernisches Historisches Museum) is one of the most important cultural history museums in Switzerland. It also houses the Einstein Museum. Bern is 55 minutes by train from Zurich.
Zurich Museum of Design (Museum für Gestaltung) covers applied art, visual communication, and design from the 19th century to the present. Combined tickets for all three Museum für Gestaltung locations cost CHF 20 for adults. A 15-minute tram ride from Hauptbahnhof.
Swiss Open-Air Museum Ballenberg, near Brienz presents historic rural Swiss buildings and crafts across a 66-hectare site in the Bernese Oberland. It complements the National Museum’s crafts and cultural history collections with a hands-on, outdoor dimension. Around 75 minutes from Zurich by train.
More Switzerland travel
Other Switzerland travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- What to know before visiting the Olympic Museum in Lausanne.
- Practical guide to visiting the FIFA Museum in Zurich.
- Planning a visit to Lindt Home of Chocolate near Zurich.
- A first time visitor’s guide to the Gornergrat Railway in Zermatt.
- How to make the best of your visit to Chillon Castle on Lake Geneva, Switzerland.
- How to get the most from a visit to Chateau de Gruyeres in Switzerland.
