4-stories interactive museum delving into various communication channels: between people, through games, per post, verbal, non-verbal, media, online, and more. Bern, Switzerland.
The "it" factor
What makes it special:
Packed with interactive games and activities, making it perfect for kids.
3 floors of permanent and 1 floor of temporary exhibitions
Our highlights: kids treasure hunt, communication through games, people, media, post, computer, colors & shapes, through history.
What needs to be considered:
The cafe offers limited food selection
Don't feel like reading? Watch a video instead!
The fun factor
At first, I wasn't sure what to expect from a communication museum, but it turned out to be quite simple. This museum explores various forms of communication—between people, through computers, across distances, via post, in written forms, through movies, across time, through movement, and more! Not only is it a fantastic opportunity for discussions, but almost everything can be touched, explored, and played with. It's definitely one of my favorite museums to visit with kids.
The museum is also quite large, spanning across four floors (three for permanent exhibitions and one for temporary exhibits), and is almost impossible to describe comprehensively.
So here are our top 9 highlights with a fun factor:
1. Communication with Ratatösk
Meet Ratatösk, the squirrel from Norse mythology and a communicator traversing the world tree with messages. He hides in 12 locations across the museum, in charming houses or drawers, where kids can uncover games, activities, and puzzles. Our toddler was thrilled every time she found a little door, eager to embark on the next exciting quest.
2. Communication through games
We are a family of gamers, so we love introducing gamification to activities to add excitement and fun. Exploring the museum, we discovered various games, each requiring different types of communication. Our favorites included a balancing ball, Tetris, Morse code, and a multitasking.
3. People communication
We thoroughly enjoyed everything related to how people communicate. The experience offers insights into verbal and non-verbal communication, provides a chance to peer into oneself, and, of course, features numerous interactive elements. Sit at the table and converse with digital guests, mimic movements of other people (a favorite of our 4-year-old), listen to stories, and much more.
4. Media communication
This attraction truly deserves a special mention. Initially unsure about the big screen and red curtains, curiosity made us step behind them to discover an invitation to create our own videos. We could voice-over scenes from famous movies or cartoons, or keep the soundtrack and act out the scenes ourselves. Choosing to "act" in Rapunzel, we had a blast! Our 4 year-old little director insisted on 6 attempts until she was satisfied with the final cut :)
5. Post communication
The Museum of Communication, initially opened as a Postal Museum in 1907. It has since undergone significant evolutions. Despite the changes, you can still experience some attractions about the Swiss Post, including Post vehicles. Our top three favorites were writing a letter with a quill pen and ink, sending it through the air tube to another location in the museum, and taking a picture of ourselves printed on a postage stamp. We then placed the stamp on a postcard and sent it to the grandparents—needless to say, they loved it!
6. Computer communication
Venturing onto the computer floor, we encountered Ermeth, one of Europe's first computers, which, in its time, would have filled an entire living room—reflecting on how technology has evolved is quite mind-boggling. This floor explores communication through networks and technology. The section on cyber bullying struck a chord, providing a meaningful opportunity for important conversations with kids.
7. Communication through colors and pictures
Another highlight was the part where we could have our picture printed in a specific color scheme. Placing our photo in a large frame at a designated location revealed another image created. Our somewhat confused-looking picture (which we had a lot of fun taking) turned out to be part of a chip of a manga character. There are three different images to choose from for creating this unique artwork.
8. Communication through history
Amidst the interactive activities, you also get to explore not only different means of communication throughout history but also fun and interesting gadgets. Our favorites include a potty with a tablet for impatient toddlers. These displays are behind glass or a barrier, so you won't stress about your kids breaking anything. They are strategically located next to interactive stations, ensuring that even if your kids tire of watching, you can still stroll down memory lane (as we did with all the old phones we used to have) while keeping them engaged.
9. Bonus: Temporary exhibition which is Nothing
There are also temporary exhibitions. During our visit, the theme was... NOTHING (10th November 2023 - 21st July 2024). Embracing the essence of nothingness, the exhibits were featuring items loosely connected to the theme, such as an origami boat crafted during a dull meeting that resulted in... nothing, an expired passport of no value, an empty wine glass, and useless vouchers. Among the highlights was a useless box with an on switch that triggered a robot hand to turn it back off (we spent a good 15 minutes trying it out!) and a dark room with a mechanism capturing a frozen image of your shadow for a few seconds.
The food factor
There is a charming café offering drinks and snacks. Since the trip to the museum was quite lengthy, our hungry 4 year-old was craving some pasta or sausages (the usual suspects). Unfortunately, the food selection was rather limited, so it's advisable to come prepared for hungry explorers. The atmosphere and drinks, however, were delightful!
The value factor
In 2023 the prices were as follows:
Adults: CHF 15.00
Children 6 - 15 years old: Free
Children up to 5 years: Free
We spent around 4 hrs at the Communication Museum.
Museum of Communication / Museum für Kommunikation Practical Info
Opening hours: Tue - Sun, 10 am - 5 pm
Address: Helvetiastrasse 16, 3000 Bern