Museo delle Culture

The Museo delle Culture (MUSEC) in Lugano, Switzerland, is a museum of ethnography and cultural anthropology housed in Villa Malpensata. Its collections focus on ethnic and oriental art, including the founding Brignoni collection of Oceanic art, as well as photography and contemporary art. The museum presents changing temporary exhibitions and a permanent display, the Spazio Tesoro, which showcases highlights of its collections. It also houses a specialist library and archive open to the public by appointment.

Families and Kids

The MUSEC offers FAMILY-LAB activities for families, combining a short guided tour with an educational and engaging museum experience for children. The museum is accessible with a stroller, and children aged 0 to 5 enter free of charge.

Information

  • Visit duration: 120 min
  • Barrier free: Yes
  • For rainy days: Yes
  • Pushchair accessible: Yes
  • Topic: Culture and ethnography
    • Guided tours: Yes
    • Children experience: Child friendly
    • Children age group: 3-6, 6-12, 12-18
    • Children activities: Workshops, Tours and demonstrations
    • Entrance fee: 15 CHF
    • Free entrance: No
    • Price range: $$

Opening hours

Open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 11:00 to 18:00, and Saturday, Sunday and public holidays from 10:00 to 18:00. Closed on Tuesdays and on 24, 25 and 31 December.
Monday
11:00-18:00
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
11:00-18:00
Thursday
11:00-18:00
Friday
11:00-18:00
Saturday
10:00-18:00
Sunday
10:00-18:00

Admission fees

15 CHF
Adult admission
10 CHF
Reduced ticket for university students, AVS-AI, FAI Swiss and ISIC Card holders.
5 CHF
Children and teenagers aged 6 to 15.
0 CHF
Free admission for children aged 0 to 5, ICOM, VSM-AMS, Swiss Museumpass, Raiffeisen Member Plus, Swiss Travel Pass and Visarte members.
150 CHF
Guided tour for groups; entry ticket with 10% discount from 10 people.

Contact

Webpage
musec.ch
Email
info@musec.ch
Address
Riva Caccia 5 / via G. Mazzini 5, 6900 Lugano

Access

Nearby stops

  • Lugano, Malpensata100 meters walking distance
  • Lugano, Bressanella150 meters walking distance

Travel duration

From
Travel time
Lugano
10m
Bellinzona
28m
Locarno
50m
Zug
1h 43m
Luzern
1h 53m

FAQ

  • Is the Spazio Tesoro permanent display free to visit?
    Yes, the Spazio Tesoro, located at the entrance of the museum, is freely accessible and displays highlights of the MUSEC collections.
  • Are guided tours available in languages other than Italian?
    Yes, the MUSEC offers guided tours for groups by reservation in Italian, German, French and English.
  • Is the museum accessible for visitors in wheelchairs or with strollers?
    The museum is accessible with a stroller or in a wheelchair with assistance, via a ramp in the park from Via Giuseppe Mazzini. The exhibition rooms, services and library are wheelchair accessible.
  • Does the museum have a library and archive open to the public?
    Yes, the MUSEC has a specialist library and an iconographic archive open to the public by appointment, supporting research in ethnic art and cultural anthropology.
  • Are there activities for children and families at the museum?
    Yes, the MUSEC organises FAMILY-LAB activities designed for families, combining a short guided tour with an educational and engaging museum experience for children.

Included in