Swiss Museum of Photography
How was a photo made before smartphones? At the Swiss Camera Museum in Vevey, your children travel back in time through images, from the first black boxes to digital. Free for those under 16, with a lab to develop their own photo. Tempted?
The Entire History of Photography, from Dark Rooms to Digital
In the heart of Vevey, on the Grande Place, the Swiss Museum of Photography traces the fascinating history of the image. From the very first dark rooms to film cameras, to the beginnings of digital, it brings together an impressive collection of devices, lenses, and objects related to photography. At a time when everyone takes photos with their phones, it's an opportunity to show children the journey that has been made. The museum can be visited over several floors, in an atmosphere that is both studious and accessible. And good news: entry is free until the age of 16.
What Your Children Will Discover
Children will discover how an image was created long before screens: the light that passes through a box, the plates, the films, the development baths. They will observe hundreds of devices, from the oldest to the most surprising, and understand the major milestones in the invention of photography. The museum offers, on weekends and during school holidays, a lab where you can develop your own photograph, just like before digital. A magical moment where the image gradually appears before their eyes. Check the dates and availability of the lab on the official website.
What to Expect and the Atmosphere On-Site
You can explore the floors at your own pace, observing the showcases and reconstructions. The atmosphere is calm and conducive to curiosity: it's a museum where you take the time to look and understand. The highlight for families remains the lab workshop, offered at certain times, which makes the experience tangible and fun. The visit is relatively short, making it easy to fit into a half-day in Vevey, for example, combined with a stroll along the lakeside.
Before You Go
- Recommended age: 6 to 14 years, ideal for children curious about techniques and images
- Duration: about 1 to 1.5 hours
- Price: free until 16 years, adult 9 CHF, reduced rate 7 CHF (to be confirmed on the official website)
- Reservation: not necessary for the free visit; the lab depends on the dates
- Stroller accessibility: to be checked on the official website, the museum is spread over several floors
- Transport: CFF train station in Vevey is a few minutes' walk away, by the lake
- Ideal season: year-round, the museum is indoors
Parents' Tips
- Aim for a weekend or school holidays to enjoy the development lab, the real favorite of the children
- With free entry until 16 years, it's a light cultural outing for the family budget
- The museum is closed on Mondays: plan your visit from Tuesday to Sunday
- Combine the visit with a walk along the lakeside in Vevey, very close by
- Check the official website for the exact dates of the lab and any potential free entries
Useful Information
- Address: Grande Place 99, 1800 Vevey
- Official website: https://www.cameramuseum.ch
- Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 11 AM - 5:30 PM; closed on Mondays except public holidays (to be confirmed on the official website)
- Access: CFF train station in Vevey is a few minutes' walk away; the museum is located on the Grande Place, in the heart of the city
Why We Recommend It
Because it is an accessible, short, and affordable cultural outing that opens children's eyes to the history of the image in the era of everything digital. The lab where you develop your own photo transforms the visit into an unforgettable experience. With free entry until 16 years, it's a clever idea for a half-day in Vevey, in any weather.
In Two Words
A living museum that tells the story of photography to children, with a lab to develop their own image. Free until 16 years, in the heart of Vevey.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the entrance to the museum cost?
At what age is the visit interesting?
Can we develop a real photo on-site?
How to get there by public transport?
Is the museum open on Monday?
Is the visit long?
Is the museum stroller-friendly?
Michael @ Kidora
Kid Adventure Planner
Nearby activities
Discover more activities near you
Looking for a family adventure where you have to observe, search and solve puzzles against the clock? In the heart of Vevey, Get Out offers several immersive rooms, including scenarios suitable from age 6. Sixty minutes to escape, together.
View details
Want a hike that climbs above Lake Geneva in just a few minutes? The Vevey funicular takes families through the terraced vineyards of Lavaux up to Mont-Pèlerin, at 1080 m, for a 360° panorama of the lake, the Alps, and the Jura.
View details
What if you took the train up to a summit at over 1,300 m? From Vevey station, the rack railway climbs through villages and pastures up to Les Pléiades, between daffodil fields in spring and sledging in winter. A family excursion to enjoy all year round.
View details
Do you know where what you eat comes from? At the Alimentarium in Vevey, the world's first museum dedicated to food, your children explore taste, cooking and nutrition in a playful way. A space dedicated to 6-12 year-olds and cooking workshops await you. Shall we sit down to eat?
View details