ALPS Alpines Museum der Schweiz

About the museum

The Swiss Alpine Museum was founded in 1905. Since 1934 it has been organised as a foundation whose purpose is to run a museum of the Swiss Alps, and at the same time it moved into the listed building at Helvetiaplatz 4, built in the Bauhaus style. Core funding is provided jointly by the Confederation, the Canton of Bern, the City of Bern and the Swiss Alpine Club.

In 2011, under director Beat Hächler, the museum reoriented its work: instead of traditional mountain culture, the focus since then has been on contemporary social issues that concern people and mountains. In 2024 the abbreviation became the official name “ALPS”.

The museum sees itself as a platform for exchange between science, culture, tourism, politics and mountain sports. It presents exhibitions with interactive elements, such as the “Fundbüro für Erinnerungen” (Lost Property Office for Memories), maintains a collection of alpine cultural objects with a photographic archive and its own projects on the mountaineers Erhard Loretan and Ueli Steck, and is part of the Museumsquartier Bern. The building also houses the restaurant “las alps”, which also serves as a neighbourhood pub.

Highlights

• Exhibitions on social issues surrounding people and mountains
• “Fundbüro für Erinnerungen” with a search for traces and a video booth
• Collection with a photographic archive and projects on Erhard Loretan and Ueli Steck
• Listed Bauhaus-style building on Helvetiaplatz
• Restaurant “las alps” in the building, also open to non-visitors

Founded

1905

Operated by

Stiftung Schweizerisches Alpines Museum

Director

Beat Hächler

Admission & discounts

Free admission with the Swiss Museum Pass, Raiffeisen card and Swiss Travel Pass, and for refugees with permit F, N or S.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

According to the museum and the accessibility portal Ginto, wheelchair access is limited: ramp to the entrance, lift with a key, some grating floors. Loan wheelchair at reception. A disabled parking space is about 15 m from the entrance. Guide dogs for the blind are permitted; other dogs are not allowed in the exhibitions, but are welcome in the restaurant.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area

Interactive stations in the exhibitions such as a craft table for postcard collages, the search for traces and the video booth in the “Fundbüro für Erinnerungen”. A playground and picnic areas are in the garden of the Museumsquartier directly behind the Bernisches Historisches Museum. In the restaurant, children get a free syrup drink. Changing table in the toilet.

Getting there & parking

The museum is located on Helvetiaplatz in Bern’s Museum Quarter.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Restaurant and neighbourhood pub “las alps” with two to three lunch menus daily (at least one vegetarian), cake and coffee; in the winter months a brunch buffet on the first two Sundays. Museum shop in the building.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

The Hodler event hall, a meeting room and the restaurant “las alps” can be rented, for example for meetings, workshops, birthdays and aperitifs; information on +41 31 350 04 42.

Plan your visit