Planning a trip to the Alimentarium in Vevey, Switzerland? Read this guide before you go so you know what to expect! Though it is a food museum, you don’t have to be a foodie to appreciate this place. You’ll learn how food is made, how it affects our bodies and the environment, the history of food, and more! It’s very kid friendly and a great place for them to learn while also having fun. It would be a mistake not to come hungry – the food at the cafe and restaurant is amazing! This guide also highlights some of the sights to be seen in the area around the Alimentarium, ensuring that you’ll have a full day of fun in Vevey, Switzerland.

Overview of Going to the Alimentarium

The Alimentarium sits on the shores of Lake Geneva, right in heart of the city of Vevey. Just offshore is the Fork of Vevey, an art installation installed in 1995 to commemorate the museum’s tenth anniversary. The museum appeals to everyone who likes food… so, everyone! They are open between 10-6pm during the Summer months (Apr.-Sept.), and 10-5pm the rest of the year. Entry costs 13CHF for adults, and is free for kids 5 and under. Click here for up-to-date pricing and hours information. Our visit lasted 1-1.5 hours, but we breezed through some of the less kid-friendly exhibits, so you could easily spend longer exploring all that the museum has to offer.

Parking & How to Get to the Alimentarium

We drove to the museum and were able to find paid street parking just around the corner. There is street parking basically surrounding the museum, except for the front side facing the lake. However, there are several easy-to-navigate public transportation options for getting to the Alimentarium. You can check out their website here for more information.

Food Options at the Alimentarium in Vevey

To many, museum cafes are not always the most appealing spots for a meal. That said, you’d really be missing out if you didn’t visit either the restaurant or the cafe at the Alimentarium. The food in Switzerland is already pretty great, but this restaurant, attached to a museum that specializes in food, is next level! They have innovative specialty items, next to a host of delicious Swiss staples. Check out their current menu here. You can either eat at the restaurant, cafe area, or the terrasse (weather permitting). The cafe has an extra perk for parents, a seating option next to the playroom.

What to Bring to the Alimentarium in Vevey

You shouldn’t find yourself needing any extras for your trip to the Alimentarium. They offer a coat check service so you can enjoy the museum without having to drag anything along. There are a lot of stairs, however, so if you have young children, it might be easier to put them in a carrier instead of a stroller. Some parents chose to use their strollers, but we left our City Mini by the locker area instead and had no problems. Really it’s up to you! (The museum exhibition and public areas are accessible to wheelchair users as well.)

Highlights of What to Do and See at the Alimentarium

There’s a lot to see and do at the Alimentarium, but here are some of our favorites. For a list of all the exhibits and activities, check out their website here.

Exhibits

Many of the exhibits are interactive, really bringing you closer to the effect food has on just about everything. You could spend hours playing around, reading, and listening, each exhibit making clear the importance of food in our lives. We also loved seeing the history of certain kinds of food – like the Kit Kats in Japan! I grew up in Japan, so it was nostalgic to see the progression. There was something like that for everyone – like hot dogs! 🙂 

Junior Academy

There is a gorgeous garden area outside by the lake. It’s part of an exhibit about how food is grown, covering different herbs, vegetables, and other plants grown in their garden.

The Garden

There is an outside gorgeous garden area where they grow food. It’s right outside by the lake, and it’s part of their “exhibit” where you can learn about food from the different herbs, vegetables and plants that they grow.

The Fork

As mentioned previously, the Fork of Vevey sits just offshore in the waters of Lake Geneva. It was originally erected in 1995, and was considered something of a nuisance at the time. But the Alimentarium fought hard for it, and now it holds the Guinness World Record for the World’s Tallest Fork! It’s a tribute to foodies everywhere, and a must-see for any trip to the museum.

Nearby the Alimentarium – Things to Do in Vevey

Walk Along the Lake and Do a Self-Guided Walking Tour of Vevey

This self-guided walking tour will take you on a stroll along Lake Geneva, passing by a cool, picturesque carousel, the Alimentarium, a statue of Charlie Chaplin, and the Nestle Museum and Cafe. There are also tons of cute restaurants and shops, gorgeous hotels, and the Vevey town hall. It’s an easy 2-mile hike; we did it with two small kids, so anyone can handle it!

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Nestle Museum and Cafe – The Nest

While we didn’t go into the museum itself, it was worth even a quick stop, as there were exhibits and other fun installations on the first floor. We did stop for lunch at the cafe, and weren’t disappointed.

The Charlie Chaplin Museum – Chaplin’s World

This statue of the famous comedian stands near the Alimentarium. There is also a Charlie Chaplin museum in Vevey, a little way off the path of this walking tour. If we’d had another day in the city, or older kids, this would’ve been on our “must-do” list! Have you been? Let us know what you thought in the comments!

Day Trips to Nearby Cities

Vevey is a great central hub for exploring Switzerland and France. We were able to make day trips to some of the surrounding cities, including Burne, Geneva, Lausanne, and Les Rousses (in France).

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Here’s a video on how to spend time in Vevey with kids!

There you have it!

Going to the Alimentarium for us was a highlight of our trip in Vevey. It was fun, educational, and a perfect to spend a cold brisk winter day in Vevey. Now that we know they have a garden and a terrace, we would love to go back on a nice summer day! Whether you are with kids or a foodie, there is something for everyone here.

Want to know more about traveling to Europe with kids? Read more here:

• Tips for jet lag when traveling with kids
• Things to do in Budapest with kids
• All you need to know when going to Iceland with kids

Have you been to the Alimentarium in Vevey? Tell us what you thought of it!

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