For its 30th anniversary in the harbor station, the museum examines comprehensively for the first time how zeppelins were used politically by the Nazi state – also taking a look at its own history.
Om museet
The museum's roots go back to the 19th century: the Verein für Geschichte des Bodensees und seiner Umgebung (Society for the History of Lake Constance and Its Surroundings), founded in 1868, put its collections on public display from 1869. The former museum building was completely destroyed in bombing raids during World War II; from 1948 onward, work began on rebuilding the collection.
Since 1996 the museum has been housed in the former harbor station, a striking white building in the New Objectivity style from the early 1930s, right on the lakeside promenade. Great importance was placed on accessibility during the conversion; the exhibition design was by HG Merz. The museum is operated by Zeppelin Museum Friedrichshafen GmbH, and its main sponsor is the city's Zeppelin-Stiftung (Zeppelin Foundation).
The concept combines technology and art: on more than 4,000 square meters, the museum shows what it describes as the world's largest collection on the history and technology of airship travel, including a 33-meter walk-through partial reconstruction of the LZ 129 Hindenburg. The art department ranges from Gothic sculpture through the Baroque to classical modernism with works by Otto Dix, and for some years it has been presented in light of provenance research.
In 2026 the museum celebrates 30 years in the harbor station and, to mark the occasion, is examining the entanglement of Zeppelin airship travel with the Nazi state in a major special exhibition. Silvia Rückert has directed the museum since December 2025; the institution also includes the Schauhaus in the Zeppelindorf as a branch site.
Højdepunkter
33-meter walk-through partial reconstruction of the LZ 129 Hindenburg with passenger quarters
World's largest collection on the history and technology of airship travel
Art collection with works by Otto Dix, with a focus on provenance research
Setting in the 1930s harbor station right on the shore of Lake Constance
Schauhaus in the Zeppelindorf, a historic workers' house (branch site)
Permanente udstillinger
Technikrundgang – Technik und Geschichte der Zeppeline – The permanent exhibition explains how airships were built, launched and landed, introduces professions and pioneers, and leads into the walk-through partial reconstruction of the Hindenburg.
Eigentum verpflichtet. Eine Kunstsammlung auf dem Prüfstand – The art exhibition traces the provenance of the museum's own works from the Gothic period to modernism and addresses looted art and art-trade networks around Lake Constance.
Grundlagt
1996
Ejer
Zeppelin Museum Friedrichshafen GmbH (Hauptträger: Zeppelin-Stiftung)
Ledelse
Silvia Rückert
Entrépriser & rabatter
Voksne
14,50 €
Nedsat pris
9,50 €People with severe disabilities, school students, university students and unemployed people with proof
Børn og unge
8 €gratis til og med 5 år · Children and teens aged 6 to 16; children under 6 free
Pensionister
13,50 €
Personer med handicap
9,50 €ledsager gratis · Reduced admission with ID; companion free if noted in the severe disability ID (Schwerbehindertenausweis)
Studerende og elever
9,50 €
Grupper (fra 10 pers.)
13,50 € pr. personSchool groups €4.50 (up to age 16) or €5.50 (age 17 and over) per person; accompanying teachers free. Guided tours extra, from €85 (weekdays, in German).
Familier
33 €Family ticket
Taster price from 16:00
9 €Reduced €6
Annual pass
40 €
Combination ticket Zeppelin Museum + Dornier Museum
25,50 €Seniors €23.50, families €58, groups €23 per person; valid for 7 days
Combination ticket Zeppelin Museum + Schulmuseum
17 €Children (6–16) €8.50, families €41, groups €16 per person; valid for 7 days
Combination ticket Zeppelin Museum + Schauhaus
15 €Adults aged 17 and over
Schauhaus in the Zeppelindorf
5 €Children up to 16 free; with the Echt Bodensee Card €4.50
€1 discount with, among others, the Deutschland-Ticket, a bwtarif ticket, the Echt Bodensee Card and the Friedrichshafen/Tettnang guest cards; €2 discount with the Artcard or a catamaran ticket (adults); 10% with the Vorarlberger Vorteilskarte. Free admission with, among others, the Bodensee Card Plus and ICOM or Museumsbund IDs. Discounts cannot be combined. Card payment accepted; no cash payment in Swiss francs (CHF).
Tilgængelighed
Kørestolsvenlig
Elevator
Handicaptoilet
Handicapparkering
Servicehunde tilladt
Taktile tilbud
Rundvisninger på tegnsprog
Letlæste tilbud
Synstolkning
Level entrance with automatic doors; all exhibition rooms reachable by elevator or ramp, and some display cases allow wheelchair users to roll underneath. Loan wheelchairs, a rollator, walking sticks and folding stools at the ticket desk. Accessible restroom on the first floor (Euroschlüssel key at the ticket desk). Three accessible parking spaces on the east side. Inclusive tours (Simple Language, German Sign Language/DGS, for blind and visually impaired people, for people with dementia); ZeppGuide with audio descriptions and a DGS tour. Assistance dogs allowed (identification vests available to borrow).
Børn og familie
Velegnet til børn og familier
Besøgets varighed
ca. 2 t.
Entré for børn
gratis til og med 5 år
Familiebillet
33 € · Family ticket
Familieomvisninger & workshops
Opgavehæfte, skattejagt eller audioguide for børn
Barnevognsvenlig
Puslerum
Børnefødselsdage
Museum suitcase for children from age 5 at the ticket desk, family tours (April–October on Fridays), and children's birthday parties for 6- to 10-year-olds. Strollers are allowed; handcarts and bike trailers are not; baby changing room next to the lockers.
Transport & parkering
Med offentlig transport
Friedrichshafen Hafen · 100 m
Friedrichshafen Hafen station (with elevator) directly at the museum; Friedrichshafen Hafenbahnhof bus stop (approx. 200 m); catamaran and BSB ships at the harbor
I bil
Betalingsparkering
No visitor parking of its own; paid parking garages and lots in the city center, nearest are the Altstadt parking garage and the Hinterer Hafen parking lot. Three accessible parking spaces on the east side of the building.
TressBrüder BIO museum restaurant on the second floor with a lake-view terrace, also accessible without museum admission. No coat check, but lockers in the entrance hall (bags, backpacks, and umbrellas must be locked away).
Arrangementer & udlejning
No information on venue rental on the museum website; the museum restaurant (TressBrüder) offers its own event and wedding packages.
Planlæg dit besøg
Rundvisninger
ja
Audioguide
ja (DE, EN, FR)
Tilbud til skoler
ja
Fotografering
Photography and filming for private purposes without flash or tripod are allowed; not for works marked with a VG Bild-Kunst notice, and different rules may apply in temporary exhibitions.
Godt at vide
Free ZeppGuide (app) with audio tours in German, English, French, Simple Language and German Sign Language (DGS). Public Sunday tours without registration; book group and private tours at least three weeks in advance via anmeldung@zeppelin-museum.de. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours for a complete visit. Eating and drinking are not allowed in the exhibition rooms.