Frequently asked questions
categories
No, the prices for guided tours do not include entrance fees for the museum.
The WOW Museum is located in a historic building. There is no elevator, and the corridors are not particularly wide.
To ensure that all visitors can enjoy their visit, strollers must be left in the cloakroom. It is best to bring an alternative solution for carrying your baby through the museum.
No, unfortunately not. However, if it rains cats and dogs, we are happy to give you a voucher so that the WOW experience can be rescheduled at a later date.
We recommend the City Rally for those aged 7. Younger children can still take part in the rally and will be able to take one or two things with them.
Unfortunately, we do not offer group visits on weekends, as we are always fully booked then.
If you are a smaller group (up to a maximum of 12 people), you can book the tickets yourself via our ticket shop – even for a weekend, if available.
Of course, we welcome group visits of any kind. You can find all the information about our offers as well as the link to the inquiry form here.
Of course! Tours for groups of 13 people or more can be booked up to at least 5 days in advance. Further information and the link to your tour request can be found here.
There is also the possibility to book a tour for smaller groups (up to 12 people). Please send us an email to events@wow-museum.ch regarding this.
An apéro is only possible with the exclusive rental of the museum. You can find the general information about this offer here.
Yes, cameras (and of course smartphones!) are allowed in the museum – as long as no additional equipment such as tripods, lights, etc. is brought along.
If you are interested in a professional photo shoot at the WOW Museum, you can find all the information about our offer here.
No, unfortunately, pets are not allowed at our museum – except for service dogs. If you have a service dog, please send us an email to info@wow-museum.ch, so we can find you a suitable time for your visit without too much stress.
Yes! If you want to start the City Rally right away, you can buy your ticket at the museum's ticket desk. If you want to book a ticket for another day, please book it online.
We have a small ticket contingent available at the box office. Therefore, spontaneous guests are welcome, but they should be prepared for waiting times or the possibility that they may not be able to enter.
We are a very small team and therefore unfortunately unable to provide a telephone service that is available at all times.
If your inquiry is about a group or school booking, you can reach us from Monday to Friday between 09:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. under the following number: +41 43 244 15 78
Generally, cancellations are not possible. However, if it does happen to rain cats and dogs, we will gladly provide you with a promo code that you can use to reschedule your WOW outdoor experience at a later date and/or time.
Please contact us directly by email at rally@wow-museum.ch to do so.
Important: A promo code can only be issued if we are informed about your non-attendance before your visit.
Tickets that have already been booked can be refunded in the event of illness or other unforeseen circumstances, provided that the ticket insurance was booked as am add-on in our ticket shop and a corresponding medical certificate is available. In this case, please contact the insurance company directly:
EUROPÄISCHE REISEVERSICHERUNGS AG
Claims Department
M
CH-4002 Basel
Telephone +41 58 275 27 27
E-mail: schaden@erv.ch
If you are unable to attend due to illness or accident and have not bought the ticket insurance add-on, your ticket(s) unfortunately cannot be refunded. However, we can issue you a promotional code for a later visit as a gesture of goodwill. Please contact us on info@wow-museum.ch. Important: A promotional code can only be issued if we are informed of your inability to attend before your visit.
The City Rally takes place outdoors in the old town of Zurich. It is only partially accessible by stroller, as in some places a staircase must be used. However, it is possible to bypass this staircase and reach the destination from another side. This will result in a longer City Rally duration.
We have a cloakroom with lockers. No liability is assumed.
Due to limited space at the museum, we recommend that large pieces of luggage be left in the lockers provided by the SBB at the main station. Groups can also rent a room for their luggage at the main station.
Vouchers for the WOW Museum, or the WOW City Rally, can be purchased online via our ticket shop or at the museum cash desk.
They are also available as our unique circle vouchers!
Yes, however, the exclusive rental of the location is required for an event. Feel free to inform yourself about our offer here.
Of course, the City Rally can be paused between the challenges without any problems. So take your time and take breaks whenever you want.
With the access link from your purchase confirmation, you can continue the rally at any time.
Yes, shootings can be held at our premises on Tuesdays (except during school holidays or on public holidays) or before or after our opening hours. Unfortunately, it is not possible to hold shootings during the operation hours of the museum.
You can find more information about our offer in the Shooting section – or please feel free to contact us via e-mail at events@wow-museum.ch.
Of course! For curious students and their teachers, we offer group visits to the museum as well as exciting guided tours.
Topics such as optical illusions, color theory, perspective, and sensory perception can be easily explained and demonstrated at the WOW Museum.
Further information about our offer for school classes as well as the link to the reservation form can be found here.
Yes, groups of up to 100 people can participate in the City Rally at the same time and compete against each other in smaller teams. For more information about this offer and the link to the reservation request, please click here.
For larger groups, we offer a short introduction on-site where the rally is explained in detail again. If you have any further questions or are unsure about anything, please contact us via email at rally@wow-museum.ch.
Children under the age of 12 require an accompanying adult for their visit the WOW Museum.
Yes! We keep a small ticket contingent available at the museum cash desk every day.
Spontaneous guests are welcome, but they should be prepared for waiting times or the possibility that they may not be able to enter.
We therefore recommend that you purchase your tickets online in advance.
No, foods and drinks are not allowed in the museum. Also, there is no separate room for taking a break or having a snack.
Directly opposite the WOW Museum, you will find the Lotti and the Black Tap, which are both happy to welcome you for a lunch or dinner or for a drink or snack.
In the summer, the Werdmühle square right next to the museum also offers plenty of space for a picnic. There are numerous food shops within a 5-minute walking distance of the museum.
Don't worry, you can stay as long as you like!
The 20-minute slots in our ticket shop refer to the entry time. This means that you can start your museum experience within the time span indicated there.
The average duration of a museum visit with us is about 60 - 90 minutes.
Yes! You can find all our open positions here.
To guarantee entry, tickets must be booked online in advance. The museum is particularly busy during school holidays, on public holidays and on weekends. We therefore strongly recommend that you book your ticket online in advance during these periods.
Choose your preferred date and time for your visit in our ticket shop and secure your entry, provided that there are still tickets available.
Generally, however, you are also welcome to drop by spontaneously. We always keep a small number of tickets available at the museum's ticket desk (even if the online contingent has already been sold out). Spontaneous visitors are therefore very welcome, but have to expect waiting times or they may even not be able to gain entry at all.
You can print the ticket if you like, but it's also fine to just bring it on your phone. Our staff at the entrance just needs to be able to scan the QR code.
Unfortunately, no.
However, there is a family ticket for 2 parents and their own children (up to 4!) under the age of 16. The entrance fee for each own additional child under the age of 16 is only CHF 5.
Also, for example, on Thursdays (except during or on holidays), we offer a 15% discount on all tickets.
For the last time slot of the day, we offer a 25% discount on all tickets.
Yes, we have a cloakroom with free lockers. No liability is assumed for any items left in the cloakroom or lockers.
The City Rally covers a total distance of about 1.5 to 3 kilometers. Therefore, good footwear is highly recommended!
Yes! The City Rally only works with a smartphone that has access to the Internet. A maximum of 30 MB of data is required.
The City Rally is suitable for children aged 7 and above. Younger children can still go on the rally and will be able to take home one or two things from it.
Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. For families with children, we recommend the Family Tour.
The return or cancellation of tickets is generally excluded. Tickets that have already been booked can be refunded in the event of illness or higher circumstances, provided that ticket insurance is available with a corresponding certificate. Please contact the following insurance company directly:
EUROPEAN TRAVEL INSURANCE AG
Claims service
mailbox
CH-4002 Basel,
telephone +41 58 275 27 27
Email: schaden@erv.ch
Tip from Willow: Best to refresh the page briefly!
If you run into more severe technical issues, please call our helpline at 043 244 15 79. Available from Monday to Sunday between 10:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m..
You can easily purchase your entrance tickets from home in our ticket shop.
If you choose the time slot from 1:00 p.m. to 1:20 p.m., you can enter the museum at any time within this time span. So, entrance is also guaranteed at 1:15 p.m. for example. If you miss your booked time slot, we will let you in depending on availability. There may be waiting times. We therefore recommend that you choose a time slot that you can manage.
You can also purchase tickets at the museum's ticket desk. We have a small number of tickets available there. Depending on the current number of visitors in the museum, we can let you in immediately or not. If the museum is already crowded, you can reserve your tickets for the next possible time slot at the ticket desk. This way, you can enjoy a coffee somewhere in peace and then return later without having to wait in line to enter.
In our online ticket shop, you can pay by credit card, PayPal*, PostFinance*, or TWINT.
At the museum's ticket desk, we accept credit and debit cards (including PostFinance), TWINT, and cash payments. Unfortunately, we do not accept American Express cards.
*additional fees apply.
Important: vouchers can only be redeemed online - not on-site.
Step 1
Go to our ticket shop and select the preferred date and time slot for your visit.
Step 2
Choose your ticket category and the number of tickets you want to purchase. Before you finalize your booking, enter your voucher code in the field "ENTER PROMO CODE’ and then click on 'Redeem’.
Multiple voucher codes can be redeemed one after the other.
Step 3
Complete your booking by proceeding through the checkout process as normal. The redeemed voucher codes are automatically deducted from the total order amount.
For changes to your booking, please contact our ticketing partner Ticketino directly via email at info@ticketino.com.
Unfortunately, already expired tickets cannot be changed. Also, bookings must be changed at least 3 days before your visit to the museum so that we can release the reserved seats in time.
Tickets for the rally can be booked in our webshop. Choose your starting day and time and you will receive your ticket with everything you need to start the rally directly to your e-mail after completing your booking.
The ticket is valid for the entire team (depending on the tour, 2-5 people).
If you want to start your WOW outdoor adventure straight away, you can also buy your City Rally ticket right at the museum's ticket office. Please note the opening hours of the WOW Museum in this regard.
The WOW City Rally is a kind of scavenger hunt through the heart of Zurich.
As a team, you start outside the WOW Museum. From there, you embark on a journey to museum gnome Willow's secret hideout, guided by your own smartphone.
Using GPS, you will navigate from one post to the next – and discover hidden corners in Zurich! Along the way, you will learn a lot about the city's history and the topic of optical illusions.
At each challenge location, you will be faced with tricky tasks that you must solve as a team as quickly as possible (there is a leaderboard for the best, or rather fastest, teams!). Only if you master the challenge will you reach the next station.
With many of the challenges, you are tasked to create your own illusions – with you as the main character and the city of Zurich as the backdrop. This does not only guarantee a lot of fun, but also unique snapshots!
Discover the WOW City Rally and embark on an exciting journey with lots of WOW moments that will change your perception and give you a new perspective on Zurich.
This depends heavily on how long you explore the rooms and exhibits and how closely you engage with the topics. Please contact our staff if you have any questions or if you feel like you can't possibly have seen everything yet.
The average duration of a visit is about 60 - 90 minutes.
The distance varies depending on the chosen tour, ranging from 1.5 to 3 km. Here is an overview.
Generally, at least 3 people are needed to participate in the City Rally. However, we also offer a City Rally Duo Tour, which is designed for teams of two.
If your group has more than 5 people, we recommend that you split into two teams, start the City Rally at the same time, and compete against each other. In this case, you will follow different routes.
Each team needs at least 1 smartphone. This should also have the access link from the online ticket purchase.
For navigating between the City Rally stations, we recommend a second smartphone.
To complete the City Rally without any problems, you will need a smartphone with at least 60% battery. However, we recommend that you come with a fully charged smartphone.
If your battery runs out during the rally, you can continue the rally on another smartphone by sharing the access link from the ticket purchase.
Also, power banks can be obtained at the WOW Museum.
You can find all our ticket prices, including any possible discounts, here.
Under the Events section, you can find all the information including the prices for your event with a WOW factor!
This depends on the tour you choose. Here is an overview of all tours including the approximate duration and walking distance of each tour.
Also, each team can decide for themselves just how hurried they want to be. In between the challenge locations, breaks can be taken and the rally can be continued later.
Smaller groups can book their ticket at any time directly in our ticket shop or at the museum ticket desk (provided there are available slots).
Larger groups of up to 100 people are kindly requested to submit their booking request via this page at least 10 days in advance.
The WOW Museum is easily accessible by car as well as public transport.
The main train station in Zurich is only a 5-minute walk away, and the tram stop at Bahnhofstrasse is only a 3-minute walk from the WOW Museum.
The Urania car park is only a 3-minute walk from the museum.
There is also a public bike rental station at Werdmühle square just around the corner for all those who prefer to travel by bicycle.
Please contact our ticketing partner Ticketino directly by e-mail to adjust your booking. They can send you a rebooking code if the notification of the wrong booking is received by them at least 3 days before your booked visit to the museum.
Bookings for a visit in the past cannot be adjusted.
Yes. With family tickets, you always get four tickets by default: two adult tickets and two children's tickets. However, you can bring up to four children with these tickets.
Starting from five children, you need to buy an additional ticket (ticket category: additional child for CHF 5.-).
Yes, lost items are kept at the museum for up to three weeks.
Well-preserved clothing and other items are donated to charity organizations after this period.
We also keep EC and credit cards, ID/passports, driver's licenses, and keys at the museum for up to three weeks before handing them over to Zurich City Police.
If you think you may have left something at the museum, please send us an e-mail to info@wow-museum.ch.
Unfortunately not, as we are a private museum.
The WOW Museum has 12 interactive rooms that make use of many colors, patterns, and lights. Three of these rooms contain moving visual effects that may potentially trigger seizures or other unwanted reactions in people with epilepsy or similar conditions.
We are happy to provide you with more detailed information about these sensitive rooms at the museum's cash desk or in advance by e-mail.
All visitors enter the WOW Museum at their own risk. Each person may react individually and differently to the exhibition. The museum can be exited at any time.
The museum is located in a historic building with a limited space offer. Unfortunately, there is no elevator.
We are happy to provide a ramp at the entrance/exit upon request, so that the ground floor with the main rooms and an accessible toilet can be reached by wheelchair users.
Unfortunately, the basement and the first floor are not accessible by wheelchair. Since wheelchair users cannot access the entire museum, they benefit from significantly reduced prices. The entrance for an accompanying person is also free.
The City Rally takes place outdoors in the old town of Zurich. It is only partially wheelchair-accessible, as staircases must be used at certain locations.
However, it is possible to bypass these and reach the target from a different side. This will result in a longer City Rally duration.
No, public transportation is not needed. The entire route is covered on foot so that you can see more of the city.
No, as a privately funded museum, we are not a member of the association of Swiss museums and therefore cannot offer any discount here.
Yes, 33% discount on the children's ticket for the WOW Museum
With the ZVV Ferienpass, children can get their museum tickets 33% cheaper.
Tickets can be bought directly online via our ticket shop at the reduced price using the promo code from the holiday pass booklet. The Ferienpass must be shown at the museum so that we can check that the pass is valid for the child entering the museum.
At the museum's ticket desk, children can also get a ticket discount by showing their personal Ferienpass. However, we recommend booking the ticket online in advance, as the museum is always very busy during the holidays and we cannot guarantee entry for walk-ins.
The ZVV Ferienpass discount is only valid for children's tickets. Children under the age of 12 are only allowed to enter the museum with an adult.
Yes, 33% discount on the WOW City Rally
With the ZVV Ferienpass, children can also get the WOW City Rally team ticket for up to 5 people with a 33% discount.
The interactive city walk, which takes the museum experience outdoor to the city center and invites you on a scavenger hunt full of cool illusions, team challenges and trick photos, promises fun for all ages.
Tickets can be bought directly online via our ticket shop at the reduced price using the promotional code from the holiday pass booklet or at the museum's ticket desk by showing the personal holiday pass.
The ZVV holiday pass discount is valid for the entire team ticket (including adults and other children with or without a holiday pass). Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by at least one adult.
Here's your contact for further questions regarding the ZVV holiday pass:
Tel.: 0848 988 988, Mail: contact@zvv.ch
There is no restaurant or café at the museum. Eating and drinking is not allowed at WOW Museum.
However, directly opposite the museum, you will find the Lotti or the Black Tap, if you want something a bit more urban, which both serve delicious drinks and food. Both restaurants are located on the Werdmühleplatz, just a zebra crossing away from the WOW Museum.
Hier gehts zum Video!
Prices for our guided tours can be found here. For children's birthday parties, we offer special tours. These prices can be found here. For schools, we have a special offer. The prices for this can be found here.
The tour prices don't include the museum tickets. So the price for these must also be added.
The WOW Museum offers a variety of installations that challenge your senses and perception.
On your visit, you can follow our 4 WOW Rallies:
- QR-Code Rally: Scan the QR codes on site with your own smartphone to get information about the illusions and rooms.
- Wonder Rally: Take part in our analog illusion quiz, and with a bit of luck, you might even win some great prizes.
- Photo Rally: Take creative photos at our 4 photo stations with self-timer (in addition, there are countless other photo spots to capture pictures with your own smartphone throughout the museum).
- Willow Rally: Willow, the museum gnome, has several hiding places things in the museum. Once you find them, an augmented reality experience awaits you!
The museum covers around 400m2. On 3 floors and in 12 interactive illusion rooms, you become the highlight of the optical illusions yourself, and in our Wonderlab, you can create your very own illusions.
Before starting your museum visit, our staff will give you a brief introduction.
For the City Rally, the following is required:
- Your team ticket including the link to start the rally
- 2 (at least to 60%) charged smartphones with access to the internet. Please note that the devices must not be older than the year 2017 and that the internet browsers must have the latest updates.
- Comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing
If you are unable to attend due to illness or accident and have not purchased a ticket insurance, the ticket cannot be refunded.
However, we can issue you a promo code for a later visit out of goodwill. Please contact us at info@wow-museum.ch regarding this.
Important: A promo code can only be issued if we are informed about your inability to attend before your visit.
If you have not received a ticket after completing your order in our online shop, please follow these steps:
1. Check your spam folder
2. If you have a personal account with our ticketing partner Ticketino, log in and download your ticket again under "My Orders".
3. Have your ticket resent to you by our ticketing partner Ticketino. Please enter the email address you provided when making your purchase on this page.
You didn't buy enough tickets? Individual tickets can be bought directly at the museum's ticket office.
However, please note that entry is not guaranteed for tickets bought on site on the day of the visit, especially during high visitor frequency times (e.g. school holidays, weekends and holidays)!
If your battery is running low, you can simply share the access link from the purchase confirmation with a teammate. This way, another person can continue the City Rally on their smartphone.
Also, power banks can be obtained at the WOW Museum.
No problem! If you booked your ticket online in advance, you can still enter the museum. However, there may be waiting times.
If you just can't figure out the solution to a challenge, you can look up the answer directly on the City Rally Guide on your smartphone under "Tip".
If you have any technical issues, we are happy to help you by phone from Monday to Sunday between 10:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. under the following helpline: 043 244 15 79
Events at our museum can be held starting from 25 people. Find all information and our complete offer here.
Events are possible on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays starting at 5 p.m.
The exclusive rental of the museum is possible all day on Tuesdays.
We do not offer the exclusive use of the museum on weekends, holidays, or during school holidays.
The last entry slot during the week starts between 7:00 PM and 7:15 p.m.
The museum closes at 8:00 p.m.
The last time slot on Fridays and Saturdays starts between 9:00 PM and 9:15 p.m.
The museum closes at 10:00 p.m.
To have enough time for your visit, you should plan at least 45 to 60 minutes for your WOW experience. We therefore recommend arriving at the museum no later than 45 minutes before closing time.
The last time slot has reduced prices. More information
Here you can Tickets are purchased.
Simply scan the QR code sticker you received from our staff at the beginning of your museum visit with your smartphone.
You can then download them to your phone with just a few clicks, so you can keep them forever, use them for a collection or similar, and share them with others.
Your photos are available for 2 weeks via the QR code sticker before they are deleted for privacy reasons.
The destination of the City Rally is WOW Museum gnome Willow's secret location. Only he knows the exact location, and at the end of the rally, you will too!
The destination is approximately a 15-minute walk away from Zurich's main train station.
The starting point for the WOW City Rally is located outside the WOW Museum in the heart of Zurich, just 5 minutes from the main train station. The address: Werdmühlestrasse 10, 8001 Zurich.
We have 5 different rallies on offer:
- REGULAR TOUR
Recommended for the all-in-one experience | Team of 3-5 people | approx. 3 km | Duration approx. 90-120 min. - SHORTCUT TOUR
Recommended for those who love to run and those who are in a hurry | Team of 3-5 people | approx. 1-1.5 km | Duration approx. 30-45 min. - FAMILY TOUR
Recommended for families with children aged 7 and above | Team of 3-5 people | approx. 1.6-2 km | Duration approx. 45-60 min. - DUO TOUR
Recommended for couples & besties | Team of 2 people | approx. 2.5-3 km | Duration approx. 60-90 min. - POSING TOUR
Recommended for photo & selfie freaks | Team of 3-5 people | approx. 2.5 km | Duration approx. 60-90 min.
If your promotional code is not working, please send us an email to info@wow-museum.ch – including the code, the desired ticket category, your intended visit date and time.
We will get back to you as soon as possible.
The space offer at the museum is limited. We need to limit the number of visitors to ensure a pleasant museum experience for everyone at all times.
We recommend booking your tickets online in advance to guarantee entry.