Things to do in Zurich
The medieval Grossmünster soars dramatically above Zurich's Altstadt (Old Town). Explore arty fishing quarter Schipfe and tree-shaded Lindenhof square affording rooftop views. The world's largest Giacometti collection is housed at Kunsthaus Zurich. Riesbach district is home to the Botanical Gardens. Zuri-West showcases graphic art at the Museum of Design Zurich and contemporary masters at Kunsthalle Zurich. Escape the city with a walk to the top of local mountain Uetliberg. Most museums open Tuesday to Sunday 10am-6pm.
Rietberg Museum
African and Asian art
Overlooking manicured gardens, the Rietberg Museum in Wollishofen occupies a
neo-classical mansion inspired by Rome's Villa Albani. An emerald
glass pavilion leads to 6,000 pieces of non-European art: from Mayan reliefs
and African masks to Tibetan bronzes and Buddhist jade.
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Cost
SFr6; concessions SFr3
Opening Hours
Tue-Sun 10am-5pm (Wed & Thu until 8pm)
Address
15, Gablerstrasse, Zurich 8002
Telephone
+41 (0) 44 206 31 31
Kunsthaus Zurich
World-class art collection
Kunsthaus Zurich in the Altstadt shelters Switzerland's most
important art collection. The cavernous gallery presents a journey through
the ages: from Ruisdael's brooding landscapes to Monet's
Impressionist masterpieces and Munch's Expressionist works.
Don't miss the world's largest Alberto Giacometti
collection.
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Cost
SFr17; concessions SFr12; under-16s free
Opening Hours
Wed-Fri 10am-8pm, Sat & Sun & Tue 10am-6pm
Address
1, Heimplatz, Zurich 8001
Telephone
+41 (0) 44 253 84 84; +41 (0) 44 253 84 97 (recording)
Swiss National Museum
Historical treasure-trove
With its fairy-tale turrets, the Swiss National Museum has become a
recognised symbol of the Altstadt. The 1898 museum building houses
Switzerland's largest collection of cultural and historical
artefacts. Items date from early history right through to the 20th
century.
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Cost
SFr10; concessions SFr8
Opening Hours
Tue-Sun 10am-5pm
Address
2, Museumstrasse, Zurich 8023
Telephone
+41 (0) 1 218 65 11
Kunsthalle Zurich
Contemporary art
Housed in the former Löwenbräu brewery in the Zuri-West
district, Kunsthalle Zurich stages temporary exhibitions of contemporary
art. Challenging convention and cultivating new talent, the gallery focuses
predominantly on solo exhibitions, working in close cooperation with
featured artists.
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Cost
SFr8; concessions SFr4; under-7s free
Opening Hours
Tue, Wed & Fri 12pm-6pm, Thu 12pm-8pm, Sat & Sun 11am-5pm
Address
270, Limmatstrasse, Zurich 8005
Telephone
+41 (0) 1 272 15 15
Museum of Design Zurich
Cutting-edge design
In the trendy Zuri-West district, Museum of Design Zurich houses one of
Switzerland's finest collections. The cube-shaped 1930s edifice is
an attraction in itself. Exhibits cover the entire design spectrum from
graphics, posters and textiles to ceramics, glass and woodwork.
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Cost
SFr9; concessions SFr6
Opening Hours
Tue-Thu 10am-8pm, Fri-Sun 10am-5pm
Address
60, Ausstellungsstrasse, Zurich 8005
Telephone
+41 (0) 43 446 67 67
Cabaret Voltaire
Keeping Dadaism alive
In 1916, Hugo Ball and Emmy Hennings performed in protest against WWI at
Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich's Altstadt. The birthplace of Dadaism was
re-dedicated to the movement in 2004 and stages exhibitions, installations
and events inspired by the Dada aesthetic.
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Cost
Free
Opening Hours
Tue-Sun 1pm-7pm
Address
1, Spiegelgasse, Zurich 8001
Telephone
+41 (0) 43 268 57 20
Fraümunster
Celebrated stained glass
Rising above Zurich's Altstadt, the Fraumünster's
slender turquoise spire forces an upward gaze. The former church of
Zurich's noblewomen has 9th-11th-century foundation remains.
It's highlight are Marc Chagall's stained-glass windows,
best seen when illuminated by the first rays of sunlight.
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Cost
Free
Opening Hours
Mon-Sat 9am-12pm & 2pm-6pm, Sun 2pm-6pm
Address
Münsterhof, Zurich 8001
Telephone
+41 (0) 1 211 4100
Grossmünster
Medieval minster
With its two famous towers exalted above Zurich's Altstadt, the
medieval Grossmünster (Great Minster) is Zurich's most
visible landmark. It was the epicentre of the Swiss-German Reformation in
the 16th century. Glimpse the Romanesque crypt and Augusto
Giacometti's choir window.
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Cost
Free
Opening Hours
Daily mid-Mar-Oct 9am-6pm; daily Nov-Mid-Mar 10am-5pm
Address
Grossmünsterplatz, Zurich 8001
Transport
Helmhaus tram
Lindenhof
Balcony over Zurich
Raised above Zurich's Altstadt, lime tree-fringed Lindenhof square is
where avid chess players meet and locals kick back in the sunshine. Former
site of the Roman castle, it offers sweeping views over the city's
spires, red rooftops and Limmat River.
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Cost
Free
Opening Hours
Daily all day
Address
Lindenhofstrasse, Zurich 8001
Transport
Rudolf-Brun-Brücke tram
Zunfthaus zur Meisen
Baroque porcelain
Close to Limmat River in Zurich's Altstadt stands the Zunfthaus zur
Meisen, a sublime baroque guildhall opening onto cobbled
Münsterhof. Its stuccoed rooms on the first floor showcase the
Swiss National Museum's rich collection of 18th-century porcelain,
tableware and faience.
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Cost
SFr3, under-16s free
Opening Hours
Tue-Sun 10.30am-5pm
Address
20, Münsterhof, Zurich 8001
Telephone
+41 (0) 44 211 21 44
Zurich Zoo
Endangered species
Located in the Tobelhof district, conservation-conscious Zurich Zoo is home
to 250 different species including endangered snow leopards and red pandas.
Spacious enclosures recreate ecosystems from exotic Madagascar, playground
of red-ruffed lemurs, to Ethiopian Highlands where Gelada baboons roam.
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Cost
SFr22; concessions SFr11; under-6s free
Opening Hours
Daily 9am-5pm (until 6pm Mar-Oct)
Address
221, Zürichbergstrasse, Zurich 8044
Telephone
+41 (0) 1 254 25 05
Schipfe
Medieval fishing quarter
The Altstadt's medieval heart is Schipfe, a former fishing quarter on
the banks of the Limmat River which takes its name from the nautical term
schupfen (push). Roam its picturesque cobbled lanes to find art
workshops, boutiques and bohemian-style cafes.
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Botanical Gardens
Green retreat
The serenely beautiful Botanical Gardens in Zurich's Riesbach district
nurture over one thousand plant species - many rare and endangered. Explore
peaceful gardens and tropical glasshouses to glimpse unusual blooms
including Madagascan Angraecum orchids, Chinese snowball flowers and
Christmas cacti.
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Cost
Free
Opening Hours
Mar-Sep Mon-Fri 7am-7pm, Sat & Sun 8am-6pm; Oct-Feb Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat & Sun 8am-5pm
Address
107, Zollikerstrasse, Zurich 8008
Telephone
+41 (0) 44 634 84 61
Bürkliterrasse
Lakeside views
When the sun's out, there's no place like
Bürkliterrasse in the Altstadt for unbeatable views of Lake Zurich
and the Alps. Rest under the terrace's maple trees to spy the
Ganymede and Zeus sculpture in the form of an eagle.
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Cost
Free
Opening Hours
Daily all day
Address
Bürkliplatz, Zurich 8001
Transport
Bürkliplatz tram
Uetliberg
Panoramic Alpine views
The 871m-high Uetliberg mountain, just outside Zurich, offers impressive
views over the city, lake and surrounding Alps. Trains from the city centre
drop you just 10 minutes' walk from the summit. The Uetliberg is also a
popular startpoint for hikers.
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Opening Hours
Daily all day
Transport
S10 train to Uetliberg Station
