Visiting Miniatur Wunderland
Miniatur Wunderland, often called MiWuLa, is a museum of electric model trains founded in 2000 by twin brothers Gerrit and Frederik Braun in Hamburg. Today, nearly 16,000 meters of track are laid out at 1/87 HO scale, the industry standard for model enthusiasts. The exhibits cover various continents and landscapes, ranging from Scandinavia and the United States to the Alps and the fictional city of Knuffingen, the original piece that sparked the creation of the museum.
An immersive journey through a miniature world
A visit to MiWuLa is a trip through elaborate dioramas built by professional model makers. Nearly 1,600 square meters of miniature worlds unfold before visitors, featuring recreations of Las Vegas, the Norwegian Fjords, and the most recent addition, Venice, which opened in 2018. New exhibits are currently in development, including Monaco, Provence, South America, and even depictions of the underwater world and the future.
At regular intervals, night falls over MiWuLa. The entire display lights up with LEDs that mimic the street lighting systems of the real-world locations. In total, 200,000 figurines inhabit the various sections of the museum. If you look closely, you might spot hidden surprises like Yoda or a Milka cow tucked away in the scenery.
A closer look at Knuffingen, a miniature city inspired by Hamburg
The fictional city of Knuffingen is the oldest and largest model at MiWuLa. Beyond the rail network, it features extensive road systems and, since 2011, a miniature airport equipped with a mechanism that allows planes to take off and land. It is a precise replica of the Hamburg Airport.
A ton of little details, animations, the day and night cycle every fifteen minutes, and little trains following some pretty wild routes.
We all loved it.