It will take you a while to get through the permanent exhibitions in the Swiss National Museum, but hey, they took centuries to accumulate. Complete with sights, sounds, animated projections and research stations, this is not some bone-dry collection of old things, but rather a modern museum with sections that are also suitable for kids from the age of five. 'History of Switzerland' is one of six permanent exhibitions and it illustrates Switzerland's 550-year journey from a confederation of states to a federal state and includes the challenges which the democratic institutions now face. The exhibition 'Archeology in Switzerland' lets you peer at an earlier stage of history and is situated in the new wing of the museum (opened in 2016). It displays early figurative representations, masterpieces by the first goldsmiths, hunting tools and everyday objects dating back to prehistoric times and also features interactive research stations and projections. Other exhibitions include one about the city and canton of Zurich ('Simply Zurich', free admission), while the 'Collection in the West Wing' showcases more than 7,000 exhibits of Swiss craftmanship and artsitry created over the last 1,000 years. The family exhibition 'A Magic Carpet Ride Through History' allows you and your kids to travel back in time and explore the topics of the Orient, Railways and Seafaring in an Arabian-style palace, on the deck of a sailing ship and in a vintage railway carriage. Lots of hands-on fun is included. The museum also features temporary exhibitions, a study centre and a large restaurant. The 'Landesmuseum' smartphone app guides you through the museum in English and other languages.