Verkehrsmuseum Karlsruhe

About the museum

The forerunner of today's museum was a transport museum of the Technische Hochschule Karlsruhe, founded by Otto Ammann in 1924 in the old arsenal. It received items from the Baden State Railways, including 1:10 scale locomotive models built between 1910 and 1914 by apprentices at the Karlsruhe repair works. Most of the collection was destroyed in an air raid in September 1944; only the railroad models, which had been moved to safety beforehand, survived.

In the 1950s and 1960s the collection grew again, partly through road vehicles from the Reichert brothers; a friends' association was founded in 1965. In 1969 the local Verkehrswacht (road safety association) took over the museum and set it up in a former electrical appliance factory in the rear courtyard of Werderstraße 63 in the Südstadt, where it is still run by volunteers today. A large model railroad layout was added shortly afterward.

The museum recalls that Karlsruhe is the city of Karl Drais, inventor of the running machine, and of automotive pioneer Carl Benz. More than 200 exhibits are on view across four floors – from the draisine to bicycles and motorcycles to automobiles, including the former official Mercedes of Lord Mayor Günther Klotz and a rare Bergmann “Liliput” from 1905. The fourth floor belongs to the model railroad: an H0 (HO) layout from the 1960s covering about 80 square meters (860 sq ft), historic tinplate trains and a Faller Car System layout. Since March 2026 the museum has been temporarily closed for construction work.

Highlights

• H0 (HO) model railroad covering about 80 m² (860 sq ft) with more than 25 trains
• 1:10 scale models of Baden locomotives (1910–1914)
• Bergmann “Liliput” from 1905 and the official Mercedes 280 S of Lord Mayor Günther Klotz
• Draisines and historic bicycles
• Faller Car System layout where visitors can control buses and light rail trains
• KIT16e electric race car, Formula Student world champion car of 2016

Permanent exhibitions

• Motorräder und Automobile – From the basement to the third floor, motor vehicles from early motor carriages to models of the 1970s and 1980s, complemented by a modern electric race car.
• Draisine und Fahrräder – The evolution of the two-wheeler, from Baron von Drais's Karlsruhe invention to the modern bicycle.
• Modelleisenbahnen – Large H0 (HO) layout from the 1960s, Gauge 1 tinplate trains from before 1940 and historic 1:10 scale models of Baden locomotives.

Operated by

Deutsche Verkehrswacht im Stadt- und Landkreis Karlsruhe e. V.

Admission & discounts

Free admission with the Upper Rhine Museums-PASS-Musées, which is also available at the museum.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum is spread over four floors that can only be reached by stairs; the existing elevator is not approved for passengers.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Hands-on stations

The museum explicitly sees itself as a family destination. Children can control buses and light rail trains themselves on the Faller Car System layout; by arrangement, cars may be touched and tried out. Children under 6 free.

Getting there & parking

The museum is located in the rear courtyard of Werderstraße 63.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit