Recently we visited the Sauier Museum in Aathal, which is the dinosaur museum! The museum is quite close to Zurich, about a 30 minute drive, or you can take the train. There is a mix of (mostly) indoor and outdoor things to see and a just a touch of “scary” to be perfect for little kids, too.
We started off in the ocean room, Carter explained how the ocean dinosaurs lived and that they are “big big big big!” It’s nice to have your own tour guide!
Most of the information is given in German, but you can ask for an info book in English at the ticket desk. (French and Italian, too, I believe)
The museum also has a nice collection of real fossils, as well as a room filled with petrified amber, some with bugs in it! (Jurassic park!!)
There is a nice mix of real fossils, artificial fossils and model dinosaurs for the kids to see. They also show which dinos were found in Switzerland specifically as well as explaining which have been found in other parts of the world.
Despite the models of the dinosaurs, the museum gives very real information, including a room discussing the ending of the dinosaurs in detail, which is something to consider if you have very young kids or kids who get scared easily. (in that room specifically)
The outside part of the museum has a small playground, walking path with more model dinos (closed in the winter, though), picnic area and a merry-go-round ride (CHF 1-). There’s also a restaurant inside and outside it looked like they had a set up for take away, but that part was closed for the winter when we were there.
(This room had movie posters of various dinosaur movies.) |
They also do a show (in German) which is a multimedia show with a video and lights on certain fossils in the room as they explain each one. We stopped into the show, but Carter wasn’t interested in sitting through it, although I’m sure it was great!
There are a couple of interactive things throughout the museum, such as the footprint stamps, where you can see how the dinosaurs walked by making your own footprints!
Outside in the garden area they also have a fossil dig for kids, which I thought was pretty cool. There are a bunch of “bones” to uncover in the sand and the kids can all grab brushes to discover their own!
The museum was cool, especially for kids. Carter had a lot of fun, although I think some of the big bones were a little scaryIf we go back I would definitely go when it’s warmer so we can enjoy the walking trail and grill restaurant outside!
Cost: Adults CHF 21-, Kids (5-16) CHF 11-
How to get there: You can drive there from Zurich in about 30 minutes, and there is free parking across the street. You can also take the train from Zurich HB and then walk from the station (about 10 minutes).
More information on their website: Saurier Museum Aathal
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