Swiss Museum of Transport, Lucerne (must see)

The Swiss Transport Museum, established in July 1959, showcases a diverse array of transportation modes, including trains, cars, ships, and airplanes, alongside exhibits related to communication technologies. Additionally, the museum boasts an extensive collection of artworks by local artist Hans Erni.

Beyond its impressive collections, the museum offers various attractions for visitors. These include an IMAX Theatre, a Planetarium, the Hans Erni Museum, and the Swiss Arena.

One notable space-related exhibit at the museum is EURECA, a 4.5-tonne satellite that was among the few objects sent into space and successfully retrieved. EURECA's journey to space and its safe return was a collaborative effort involving multiple Western European countries and the United States in the 1990s.

Furthermore, the museum received a Spacelab Pallet named "Elvis" on 5th March 2010. This pallet played a role in the STS-46 mission, which took place from 31st July to 8th August 1992. During this mission, ESA astronaut Claude Nicollier, aboard Shuttle Atlantis, deployed ESA's European Retrievable Carrier (Eureca) for scientific research and the joint NASA/Italian Space Agency Tethered Satellite System (TSS-1). The Pallet transported TSS-1 in the cargo bay of the shuttle.

Situated on the shores of Lake Lucerne in the northern part of Lucerne city, the museum is about a 30-minute walk from the city center. It is easily accessible via the Lucerne S-Bahn trains at the nearby Lucerne Verkehrshaus railway station, boat services provided by the Schifffahrtsgesellschaft des Vierwaldstättersees on the lake, and the Lucerne trolleybus system. All three transportation options offer convenient connections to central Lucerne.

Why You Should Visit:
Lots of fun simulations for adults and kids, a restaurant on the premises, place for picnics, as well as a kids play area outside.
Every area has 'hands-on' type of activities and every display is authentic.

Tip:
Make sure to get the headsets if you do not speak German when going to the chocolate exhibit and films.
At the end of your visit, take time to enjoy the lake and walk back to the train station along the lake.