The Swiss Ornithological Institute in Sempach (Vogelwarte) is s a non-profit foundation dedicated to studying and conserving birds. With the help of volunteers, they monitor wild bird populations. They also collaborate with a variety of institutions to let nature benefit from their knowledge about birds. Furthermore, Vogelwarte disseminates information about birds and their conservation through media exhibitions, books, and booklets as well as public access to the museum. More than a thousand birds are treated at the Care Center here.
There are lots to see at the Vogelwarte in Sempach for kids, but it’s also fun for adults. While it’s not huge, it’s well done and interesting. In contrast to other natural history museums, Vogelwarte’s focus is on birds, not every animal in the world.
Overview: Vogelwarte, Sempach
| Age Group | All ages |
| Category | Indoor, Outdoor |
| Expected Duration | 1-3 Hours |
| Cost | * Adults (16 and older) - CHF 15 * Students, children, apprentices, IV - CHF 10 * Children with parents/grandparents - Free |
| Address | Luzernerstrasse 6 6204 Sempach |
| Website | https://www.vogelwarte.ch/ |
| Opening Hours | Tuesdays to Sundays 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Public Transport | Sempach Stadt, Vogelwarte (Bus) |
What to Expect: Vogelwarte, Sempach
Museum and Exhibits
Upon paying your entrance fee, you get a ring that you can wear inside the museum. This ring is used to interact with the exhibits inside. You can put your ring on a computer screen before you leave to see what bird you are. Then you can bring home a print-out of the result.
You can enter an interactive museum by first staying inside a giant egg. After watching a short film, the egg hatches. A fascinating interactive exhibit follows. You will learn about reproduction, feeding, survival, feathers, flying, and the migration of birds.
Exhibits are presented in several languages. The materials are available in German as well as French and English translations. With clean, creative, and modern designs and informative exhibits, the interiors of the museum are superb.
Films, Bird Sounds, Garden
You’ll find media presentations about birds in two separate rooms. In the first one, Marc Tschudin shot a 30-minute film of birds in Switzerland. In the second one, you can hear birds chirping. A small pond and the surrounding area of Sempach can also be explored outside.
Before leaving, there is also a souvenir shop that sells books and items about birds.
Practical Information: Vogelwarte, Sempach
- Payment – There is an entrance fee to get inside Vogelwarte. Children with their parents or grandparents can come in for free. Coop Hello Family members can have a 20% discount until the end of 2022.
- Lockers – On the left side after the entrance, you will also find a few lockers to leave your belongings.
- Age Group – Vogelwarte is kid-friendly, but it might be better for preschoolers and older kids.
- Food and Drinks – Vogelwarte has a small section where you can get small snacks and drinks. It is not really a place suitable for lunch. The nearby TCS Camping Sempach might be a better alternative for bigger meals.
- Location and Parking – Vogelwarte is easy to get to by car (Seevogtey Parking, 6-minute walk) and by bus. The museum is also wheelchair accessible.
- Pets – Pets such as dogs are not allowed inside.
Final Thoughts: Vogelwarte, Sempach
You can learn a lot about birds at Vogelwarte Sempach. In addition, you can bring injured birds here for them to take care of before releasing them back into nature. We just saw the police take an injured bird into the Vogelwarte while we were there.
Plan at least 2 hours so you can see everything. Plan at least 3 hours if you plan to watch all the films and have a coffee or snack. At Vogelwarte, there are a lot of fun things to do for a couple of hours and the staff is great. It’s also not crowded; you’re likely to have a relaxing time.
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