One of the most interesting museums in Friedrichshafen
Address: Dornier Museum, Claude-Dornier-Platz 1, 88046 Friedrichshafen | Opening: 2009
The Dornier Museum in Friedrichshafen is a technology museum offering fascinating insights into the history of aviation and aerospace. It is the largest of its kind on Lake Constance. Visitors embark on an exciting journey through various eras of aviation, can tour a large aircraft hangar, and admire Claude Dornier’s impressive designs. Claude Dornier was one of the pioneers in aircraft design and worked for Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin.
Directions and location of the Friedrichshafen landmark
The Dornier Museum is located directly at Friedrichshafen Airport and is hard to miss when driving along the airport square. The exhibition center is located nearby, behind the airport grounds. A federal highway and a motorway are located in the immediate vicinity of the airport, making it easy to reach the Dornier Museum via the Lake Constance transport network. If you follow the signs toward the airport and exhibition center, you can’t miss the Dornier Museum.
Opening Hours and Tours
The Dornier Museum is closed on Mondays, and no tours of the exhibition are possible. Unless Monday is a public holiday or during school holidays in Baden-Württemberg, the museum is also open on Mondays. Otherwise, the museum can be visited on other weekdays during regular opening hours.
Dornier Museum Opening Hours
Tuesday to Sunday:
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
On public holidays and during school holidays in Baden-Württemberg, the museum is also open on Mondays.
The Dornier Museum will be closed on December 24th and 25th, as well as on December 31st.
Admission Prices at the Dornier Museum
Admission prices at the Dornier Museum vary, as children and young people, as well as seniors, severely disabled people, schoolchildren, and students pay less for a ticket than adults to immerse themselves in the impressive history of aviation and space travel. Admission prices at the Dornier Museum are as follows:
Admission Prices
Single Adult Ticket:
€12.50
Single Child Ticket (ages 6 to 16):
€7.00
Single Senior Ticket:
€11.50
Single Student Ticket:
€9.00
Severely Disabled People:
€9.00
Family Ticket (2 adults + children up to age 16):
€29.50
Guided Tours of the Dornier Museum
To ensure everyone has a memorable visit, a variety of guided tours are offered. The museum is a special experience for those interested in aviation technology, the history of aviation and space travel, and who want to spend an exciting day.
Individual tours are offered, led by expert guides. Background information is explored in more detail, special features are highlighted, and any questions that may arise are answered.
There are public tours or standard tours of the Dornier Museum that focus on the history of the Dornier company and provide insights into his time at Zeppelin, where Dornier worked as a test engineer, up until the sale of the Dornier company to Daimler Benz in 1985.
Special themed tours of the Dornier Museum are also available. These include a pilot tour, which focuses on the history of aviation and the topic of flying. The Dornier story is told from the perspective of a pilot, which is certainly particularly interesting for aviation enthusiasts.
Another tour of the Dornier Museum focuses on space travel in Europe. This takes you on a special journey into space exploration, and unique exhibits provide insights into the Hubbel Telescope, Ariane, and the Space Shuttle. Themed tours are also available, focusing on Dornier and socialism or women in aviation.
A special highlight is an evening tour of the Dornier Museum. On a Do-X Late Night tour, visitors experience the Dornier Museum in a very special way and in a unique light.
Those who don’t want to take a guided tour of the Dornier Museum can also explore the exhibition independently using an interactive media guide for their smartphone. Access to this guide is available at the museum ticket office, and it offers additional information, reports from contemporary witnesses, and a few anecdotes.
Note: Don’t forget to bring your headphones.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions about the Dornier Museum
When did the Dornier Museum open?
The Dornier Museum in Friedrichshafen opened in 2009. It was conceived as an aerospace museum and houses an impressive collection of aircraft, space technology, and other exhibits that showcase the history and innovations of the Dornier aviation company, as well as the development of the aerospace industry as a whole.
How long does a tour of the Dornier Museum last?
The length of a tour of the Dornier Museum largely depends on the visitor’s individual interests and pace. On average, however, a visit lasts approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. During this time, visitors have the opportunity to explore the various exhibitions and exhibits, view historic aircraft, use interactive displays, and learn more about aerospace history.
Dornier Museum – Special Features and Interesting Facts
The Dornier Museum conveys an interesting message. At its core, it’s ultimately about the idea that everyone can be a pioneer if they want to be. Anyone who visits the museum at the airport will be captivated by the 100-year history of aviation and aerospace.
The building housing the exhibition is architecturally modeled after an aircraft hangar. Covering an area of 6,000 m², there are 400 exhibits to discover. These include 12 original aircraft and seven exhibits on space travel, which can be seen at a scale of 1:1.
A beautiful highlight are the replicas of the Merkur and Wal, two Dornier aircraft, which can be admired at scale. The Dornier Museum offers visitors a unique pioneering spirit that is not only tangible but also tangible.
Visitors can immerse themselves in the individual eras of aviation and aerospace and marvel at the designs created by Dornier. A trip back to the time when Dornier worked for Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin is also explored.
The Dornier Museum also covers the topic of space travel, and offers a first-hand experience. The walk-through aircraft and especially the flight simulator are a great extra, providing exciting insights into flying.
Historical Information and History of the Dornier Museum
Claude Dornier’s third son, Silvius Dornier, is the initiator of this unique exhibition at the Dornier Museum, which is open to the public. He is also the patron of the “Dornier Foundation for Aeronautics and Space Travel.” Architects Allmann, Sattler, and Wappner designed a building that embodies the exhibits. The Technology Museum opened on July 24, 2009.
The building at Claude-Dornier-Platz 1, at Friedrichshafen Airport, is modern and airy, and immediately gives the impression that the museum has a floor plan similar to a hangar connected to a runway.
The large exhibition area is integrated into a landscaped park measuring approximately 25,000 m². Since the Dornier company was born in Friedrichshafen, no other location for the Dornier Museum could be considered than directly at Friedrichshafen Airport.
The Dornier Museum has three areas for visitors to explore. The most important area is the Museum Box. During a tour, visitors learn a great deal about the history of the Dornier Group and how aerospace has evolved over 100 years. All of this can be explored in a contemporary historical context.
The exhibition explores Claude Dornier’s patents, world records, and exceptional technical achievements, showing what drove him and others to continually develop and make history.
On a stroll through the Dornier Museum, visitors are not lost on the fascination of flight. There are original aircraft that can still fly and unique classics that have made aviation history. On display is a replica of a commercial aircraft dating back to the 1920s and the Dornier Merkur.
The processing of materials is also an important topic in the Dornier Museum, and at the same time, visitors are introduced to the technology behind Dornier products. Claude Dornier’s vision is reflected in the unique exhibition, and his multifaceted thinking and discipline are responsible for technical achievements that have been used not only in the field of aerospace but also in medical technology.
Sights and attractions in the immediate vicinity of the Dornier Museum
Visitors to the Dornier Museum can take a detour to the airport, stroll through the departure hall, and visit the visitors’ terrace to watch aircraft landing and taking off, as well as the hustle and bustle on the airfield. The location is also ideal for long walks and bike rides. The other attractions are located closer to the city center.
Cafes and Restaurants Near the Dornier Museum
If you feel hungry and thirsty after a sightseeing tour and a guided tour of the Dornier Museum, you can easily find restaurants at Friedrichshafen Airport and in the surrounding area. There’s sure to be the perfect restaurant for every taste, where you can linger and enjoy delicious food.
The DO-X Restaurant is located on Claude-Dornier-Platz. In an elegant ambiance, it caters to your culinary needs after a visit to the Dornier Museum. The menu includes salads, Swabian specialties, classics like Wiener Schnitzel, and delicious breakfast creations, as well as refreshing drinks and coffee specialties.
Address: DO-X Restaurant, Claude-Dornier-Platz 1
The LSC Restaurant, located at the airport, offers guests delicacies from Italian cuisine. In addition to pizza, the menu also includes delicious salads and pasta. In nice weather, you can enjoy your food and drinks on the outdoor terrace while taking in the airport atmosphere.
Address: LSC Restaurant, Am Flugplatz 70
Asia World is located on Adelheidstraße, near the Dornier Museum. In addition to a large Asian buffet, guests can also enjoy freshly prepared sushi and a cold beer, rice wine, soft drinks, and other beverages in a pleasant atmosphere.
Address: Asia World, Adelheidstraße 36
Zum Klosterwirt
In a quaint, rustic setting, the Zum Klosterwirt restaurant and inn on Flugplatzstraße serves Swabian delicacies such as Maultaschen (ravioli) and Spätzle (spaetzle), as well as delicious schnitzel. The drinks menu includes cold beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages. When the weather’s nice, guests can enjoy a cozy, sun-protected outdoor terrace.
Address: Zum Klosterwirt, Flugplatzstraße 23
Pizzeria Voltare on Flugplatzstraße offers guests an extensive selection of Italian dishes. The menu includes salad creations, antipasti, carpaccio, pasta, pizza, fish and meat dishes, and a fine selection of drinks. Delicious ice cream and Italian coffee specialties are also available.
Address: Pizzeria Voltare, Flugplatzstraße 64