Hafenmuseum Basel
Museum in Basel's Rhine port of Kleinhüningen on Rhine shipping, port logistics and Switzerland as a transport hub, with ship models and a simulator.
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About the museum
In 1954 the Schweizerische Reederei und Neptun AG opened the exhibition "Unser Weg zum Meer" (Our Way to the Sea) in the Rhine port of Basel-Kleinhüningen, supported by a foundation of the same name. It was meant to show how Switzerland, as a landlocked country, is connected to the sea via the Rhine. A revision followed in 1981 on the occasion of the horticultural exhibition "Grün 80", at which the port played a special role as an attraction.
In 1992 the foundation became the association "Verkehrsdrehscheibe Schweiz", which two years later opened a completely redesigned exhibition and has run the museum ever since; more than 100 individual, corporate and patron members support it. After around 25 years, the board decided in 2019 on a complete renovation of the 1954 building. The exhibition was updated and reopened in July 2021.
Today the Port Museum shows the history and present of Rhine shipping, the importance of logistics in Basel and the operation of the port. Numerous ship models, a model of the entire port area, films, display cases and touch tables convey the subject; an audio guide tells 15 stories about the port and its people. There are exhibition drawers just for children, and a modern ship-handling simulator can be viewed in demonstration mode.
Highlights
- Ship models and a large model of the Basel port area
- Audio guide with 15 stories about the Rhine and the port
- Ship-handling simulator to watch and for guided tours
- Children's table and exhibition drawers for children
- Port cruises on the solar ferry on selected dates
Permanent exhibition
- Verkehrsdrehscheibe Schweiz – The exhibition leads through the history of Rhine shipping and port logistics with ship models, a large port model, films, touch tables and an audio guide.
- Founded
- 1954
- Operated by
- Verein Verkehrsdrehscheibe Schweiz
Admission & discounts
| Adults | CHF 14 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | CHF 9Children, students, apprentices, recipients of AHV (old-age pension) and IV (disability insurance) benefits |
| Children & teens | CHF 9Children not yet of school age free |
| Seniors | CHF 9AHV (old-age pension) |
| Visitors with disabilities | CHF 9IV (disability insurance) |
| Students & apprentices | CHF 9Students and apprentices |
| Groups | –Private museum tour (approx. 1 hour, up to 20 people) CHF 150 plus admission per person |
| Public museum tour | CHF 22Registration required, 6 to 20 participants |
| Port cruise on the solar ferry "Rheinsonne" (offered by IG Rheinbogen) | CHF 5From age 13, approx. 25 minutes, payment on board |
Free admission with the Swiss Museum Pass, MuseumsPassMusée and the Raiffeisen MemberPlus card, as well as for members of the association "Verkehrsdrehscheibe Schweiz".
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
Children's table for 4- to 10-year-olds with an accompanying adult on selected Saturdays (approx. 45 minutes, admission at no extra cost), exhibition drawers for children, "Knots & Splicing" workshop, touch tables and ship-handling simulator.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Kleinhüningen
Tram 8 from Basel SBB station to Kleinhüningen; bus 36 from Badischer Bahnhof to the terminus Kleinhüningen
By car
Paid parking
Paid car park for cars directly next to the exhibition; parking spaces for coaches. At the public car park a staircase leads to the quay (landing stage of the port cruise).
By car from Switzerland via the A2 (Wiese exit), from Germany the Basel-Kleinhüningen exit, in each case past the Stücki shopping centre to Westquaistrasse 2.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café: not available
- Restaurant: not available
- Museum shop
Kiosk with drinks and ice cream as well as a shop with items on shipping; coffee and tea on request.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Corporate events
Exhibition up to 4 hours CHF 520 including admission, then CHF 100 per hour; theatre or banquet seating CHF 60; aperitif and coffee service via the kiosk, external catering possible.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (DE, EN, FR) |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Audio guide with 15 stories. Public and private tours, port tour, tour at the ship-handling simulator, "Knots & Splicing" workshop and Stammtisch talks on fixed dates; school programmes on request. |
