FAQ

Visit only possible in the company of an adult person.

We’re happy to organize aperitif parties for groups on pre-reservation. Please contact us.

With the Papiliorama annual card you can visit the tropics in Kerzers for an entire year at a very interesting price. Annual tickets are also available online.

How many animals species live in the exhibits of the Papiliorama Foundation? A total of approximately 220 different animal species and 2’000 individuals live in the exhibits-

Papiliorama is open 363 day a year (except 25th and 1st of January). There is always a lot to see in all the exhibits. The butterflies are most active on sunny days. It’s a particularly nice experience to visit in Winter when it’s cold outside. On weekdays in May and June many school classes visit Papiliorama.

Papiliorama is located near the Seeland Vegetable Path and at the crossroads of the regional cycle routes 94 (L’Areuse–Emme–Sihl) and 44 (Le Jorat–Trois Lacs–Emme). There is no motorized traffic on these trails.

Papiliorama also offers a great experience to blind visitors. In the largest part of the exhibits there are no staircases, steps or other obstacles. On demand the Foundation offers guided tours for groups of blind visitors.

There are several unsupervised cloakrooms in the visitors building. The Papiliorama Foundation is not liable for loss of items from the cloakrooms. Small lockers are available for visitors in the cloakrooms. The keys can be obtained from the reception desk for a deposit.

We’re happy to serve you coffee and croissants/cake for your group event. Please contact us to make a reservation.

Our domes boast a tropical climate. It’s recommended to dress in layers.

We’re happy to determine any caterpillars and butterflies if you send us a picture. Please accord our biologist a few days time to take care of your demand, thanks for your patience.

All exhibits and visitor facilities are accessible by wheelchair and there is a wheelchair accessible toilet. Persons with a disabled person card and the accompanying persons pay the reduced entrance fee. Detailed accessibility information can be found here.

Dicounts are granted for groups of more than 10 persons (group rate) or students/ IV/ AHV. Further discounts cannot be granted by the Papiliorama charitable foundation. Discounts cannot be cumulated.

Dogs are not allowed in the exhibits and visitors facilities. This is also valid for guide dogs. On the one hand dogs can be a stress factor for the animals living within the exhibits and on the other hand these animals can also be dangerous for dogs.

For dogs there is a “Dog Hotel” under the entrance bridge. The large enclosures are equipped with a water dish. This service is free of charge. Single franc deposit locks are attached to the boxes.

The Papiliorama is a private, unsubsidised NGO. Shipstern Nature Reserve belongs to the sister foundation of Papiliorama, the ITCF and is also an NGO. If you want to support our institution, you have the following possibilities:

  • Adopt an animal or become a member of the friends’ association ProPapiliorama.
  • Adopt your own hectare or make a donation towards Shipstern Nature Reserve.
  • Become a sponsor of one of our new exhibits.

We’re happy to discuss the possibilities with you in detail. Please contact us.

The covered bicycle parking spaces are equipped with 230V sockets.

The Papiliorama Foundation offers different educational materials such as in-depth brochures and questionnaires. Please find detailed information here.

Found caterpillars and pupae should be left in their natural surroundings. Please put them in a place with natural vegetation, so that they can continue their development. Pupae of indigenous butterflies should never be taken indoors for hibernation.

You’ve found a butterfly in the middle of winter and do not know what to do? Pupae of indigenous butterflies should be kept outside during the wintertime. In wintertime butterflies can be fed artificially with sugar water in coloured PET- drinking bottle lids, but they will not live for long inside.

We exhibit indigenous butterflies, wild bees and other bugs in our outside Bug Bigtop. Observations are weather-dependant and usually possible from April to October.

Detailed information can be found here.

Learn more about out exclusive group offers (>30 persons) here.

Small lockers (CHF 1.– deposit) are available for visitors in the cloakrooms. 

Wintertime: daily from 10am. to 5pm.
Summertime: daily from 9am. to 6pm.
(according to the official European time changes)

Nocturama opens all year round from 10am.

Papiliorama closes only on the 25th of December and 1st of January.

The large outside premises of Papiliorama are a haven for local nature. Embedded in a landscape with dry and wet biotopes, there are various attractions such as the petting zoo «Zoë-Zoo», the nature playground, the water playground, the Bug Bigtop with native butterflies and other small animals, the wild bee calendar, as well as a bird hide and plenty of space for picnicking.

There is a large parking area which belongs to the municipality of Kerzers. The parking fee is CHF 4.- per car. Near the entrance there is a special parking area for disabled persons. Please follow the signs at the access to the main parking area.

Photography for private purposes is allowed in all the exhibitions except Nocturama. For commercial photography, however, the Foundation must be requested in advance. It is also possible to take special advertising photographs, e.g. of butterflies. Please contact us.

Visitors are allowed to picnic in the marked area in the restaurant and on the outside premises. Table reservations can only be made if food and drinks are bought in our restaurant.

The Papiliorama has a large natural playground called «Pongo Plaza», a climbing course and a water playground. The playground is mostly covered by a light forest and offers many shady places as well as picnic tables.

The Papiliorama Foundation has only a small advertising budget. Send requests to marketing@papiliorama.ch.

Where do Papilioramas pupae come from? The pupae come from sustainable breeding projects in different tropical countries ex. Kipepeo Project in Kenya or El Bosque Nuevo in Costa Rica.

Visits to the Jungle Café are only possible with entrance tickets.

The large self-service restaurant offers a large variety of hot and cold home-made meals, drinks, desserts and snacks. Upon reservation, we also offer coffee and croissants/cake, aperitifs and jungle lunches or dinners. Please contact us to make a reservation.

Smoking is not allowed in the indoor facilities of Papiliorama. It is only allowed on the terrace.

Within the tropical domes there is a mean temperature of 25°C and a humidity of 80%. We recommend visitors to deposit their jackets and coats in the cloakrooms.

How long does it take to visit the exhibits of Papiliorama? We recommend you to plan at the very minimum 2–3 hours for your visit.

Papiliorama sits along the train route between Kerzers and Lyss. There is a train stop called «Kerzers Papiliorama» right next to our institution. Railaway offers discounted packages.

All exhibits are accessible by wheelchair. There are three wheelchairs available to the visitors. Please make a reservation.

A deposit lock for single-franc coins is provided.