8 things for art lovers to see and do in Zurich
Rich in history and culture, Zurich is a fantastic city break destination for art lovers
Switzerland’s largest city Zurich might have a reputation as a financial centre, but it is so much more than that. It’s also a picturesque city which offers a wonderful mix of old and new, with a beautiful old town and edgy and modernised industrial areas, set against a beautiful backdrop of Lake Zurich and the Swiss Alps. Zurich has also been known for its innovation for centuries, so what better place to enjoy art in all its forms?
Zurich's Cabaret Voltaire was the birthplace of the Dada art movement in Europe, but the art scene has seamlessly continued to evolve and has helped the city flourish into a modern hub that's full of creativity and culture. Here you can find everything from world-class galleries to cool street art. Here are eight things to see and do in the area if you're an art lover planning a visit.
1. Attend Zurich Art Weekend
Now in its sixth year, Zurich Art Weekend beautifully showcases the art scene in Zurich. This annual three-day event takes place just before the opening of Art Basel and offers an amazing programme in collaboration with Zurich's most renowned public and private art institutions. Accessible for all, it’s completely free and open to the public.
Organised and hosted by a range of museums, galleries and independent art spaces, as well as publishers, collections and foundations all over the city, here you can meet and directly engage with artists from all over the world as well as curators, collectors and art professionals.
The event took place from 9-11 June this year and included an exciting programme of walkthroughs and curated events. Highlights included a Majorie Strider showcase at Galerie Gmurzynska, which continues until 2 September, as well as After the Storm by British artists Idris Khan and Annie Morris, which you can still catch at Fabian Lang until 29 July. For a truly immersive experience, don't miss Chiharu Shiota's Eye to Eye room-filling thread installation, which was specially created for her exhibition at Haus Konstruktiv, and which will be on display until 10 September 2023.
To find out more about 2024’s event, keep an eye on zurichartweekend.com
2. See the greats at Kunsthaus Zurich
You can see many of the world's most celebrated artists, from Henri Matisse to Vincent van Gogh, at Kunsthaus Zurich. It is home to one of Switzerland’s most important art collections, with around 4,000 paintings and sculptures as well as 95,000 prints and drawings from the 13th century to the present day. Around 1,000 artworks are on permanent display.
Highlights include the largest collection of Munch paintings outside of Norway; impressionist and classical modernist paintings from Claude Monet to Pablo Picasso; as well as Andy Warhol’s pop art. Meanwhile, installations by artists including Swiss-born Pipilotti Rist celebrate the best of the 21st century. Be sure to check out the art museum's exhibitions – recent examples include Giacometti-Dali: Gardens of Dreams – and take advantage of free entry on Wednesdays (excluding exhibitions).
Collection Plus tickets, which include access to all collections and small exhibitions, are priced at CHF 23 (£20).
Kunsthaus Zürich, Inna Zabotnova/Alamy Stock Photo
3. Take an art tour
A number of fantastic guided art tours take place during Zurich Art Weekend, but there's also a range of tours available throughout the year, such as the E-Bike Tour Public Art group tour, available on one Saturday each month between April and October. On the tour you'll take in the city on an electric bike, discovering the best of Zurich’s art in public spaces along the way, from art on buildings to hidden works only the locals know about. It focuses on the cool, cultural quarter of Zurich West, where you can see famous pieces including the magnificent Melody artwork by REDL (pictured below).
If you have a bit more cash to spend and prefer a walking tour, take the Dada Art Movement Tour. Ideal for both Dada fans and art novices alike, this fascinating private city tour covers the art movement’s most important sites and explains how the artists inspired subsequent movements like surrealism and pop art. During the walk, your guide will also explain how exiled Dadaist artists, writers and performance artists found their way to Zurich and show you where they used to hang out in the city.
The E-Bike Tour Public Art is priced at CHF 25pp (£22). The Dada Art Movement Tour is priced at CHF 360 (£315) for a private tour (maximum 20 people).
Melody mural, Andre Meier, Switzerland Tourism
4. Enjoy fine dining surrounded by art
Want to enjoy traditional Swiss cuisine surrounded by art in a totally unique atmosphere? The Kronenhalle restaurant and its cosy adjoining bar are conveniently positioned near Zurich’s Opera House, Kunsthaus museum and Schauspielhaus theatre. The restaurant boasts its own art collection and has enjoyed international acclaim since being opened in 1924 by Hulda and Gottlieb Zumsteg.
In the 1940s, the couple's son Gustav Zumsteg began donating artwork to the Kronenhalle, when his growing collection of art located in his apartment above the restaurant was no longer able to hold all of his works.
Over the years, the walls of the Kronenhalle began to fill up with art and today you can dine surrounded by wonderful pieces from Joan Miró and Marc Chagall to Georges Braque. The collection largely features French modernist and Swiss artists, although later pieces also include pop art.
On the menu, you can find seasonal specialities and traditional dishes such as veal steak with morel sauce, served alongside a great range of vegetarian offerings, plus desserts such as lemon sorbet with Champagne. The space is a visual treat for art lovers looking for delicious and traditional food in a unique setting.
The Kronenhalle, Odyssey-Images/Alamy Stock Photo
5. Hop around the gallery mile
Whether you’re exploring by foot or tram, Zurich has a wonderful range of galleries to explore. While Zurich West with its industrial past is considered a cultural hotspot of the art scene, more galleries are popping up close to the old town and Kunsthaus.
During Zurich Art Weekend many of these galleries really come alive with new and exciting exhibits. Recent openings include the Presenhuber Gallery, which has been operating an additional branch near the Kunsthaus museum since the beginning of 2020.
When it comes to getting around, a Zürich Card, which is available for a duration of 24 or 72 hours, offers unlimited 2nd class travel on all forms of public transportation (tram, bus, train, boat and cableway) in the city of Zurich and the surrounding region. It also includes free or reduced admission to the most popular museums, as well as discounts on many public city tours and more than 100 other experiences.
Prices start from CHF 27 (£24) for a 24-hour pass. For more information, visit zuerich.com
Zürich city centre, rapisan sawangphon/Alamy Stock Photo
6. Visit the National Museum
The National Museum Zurich, which can be found conveniently by the main train station, is a great place to visit in the city. The building itself is reminiscent of a beautiful castle and inside it boasts fascinating collections documenting the cultural history of Switzerland, with everything from traditional crafts to paintings and sculptures on display dating from prehistory to the present day.
Make sure you check out the free permanent exhibition, Simply Zurich. Showcasing the diversity of the city, at the centre of the exhibition is a display case containing 60 objects, from everyday utensils such as a muesli grater to maps and a model of a traditional pile dwelling hut, all of which reveal Zurich’s rich past.
Admission is CHF 10 (£8.80) or free with a Zürich Card.
National Museum Zürich, Bjanka Kadic/Alamy Stock Photo
7. Admire Pavillon Le Corbusier
The last work by the great French-Swiss architect Le Corbusier stands in a beautiful location near Lake Zurich. Reminiscent of a Rubik’s cube, Pavillon Le Corbusier is an essential visit for lovers of modern architecture.
It was completed in 1967 and is a real architectural masterpiece, which the architect declared the most audacious of his career. Interestingly, this design is the only one of his buildings to be made entirely from glass and steel, in an unusual departure from the architect's love of concrete.
Now a public museum, the pavilion is open from April to November, with a range of temporary exhibitions, events and workshops taking place that look at various areas of Le Corbusier's life and work.
Entry is CHF 12 (£10.50) or free with a Zürich Card.
Pavillon Le Corbusier, Bjanka Kadic/Alamy Stock Photo
8. Take part in an arty escape room
Fancy something a bit different that the whole family can enjoy? Try this immersive art-themed escape room for a fun evening out after a day of exploring the sights and art exhibitions. AdventureRooms' GAGA – The Great Amuze Gallery of Art is an exciting new experience at the revamped Lowenbraukunst art centre in Zurich West.
The premise is that a special gallery has been created with unique exhibits, but a valuable art painting is missing and you have been tasked to find and return it – or there will be terrible consequences! With a medium difficulty rating, no previous knowledge is required, and you have 60 minutes to find the valuable art object.
GAGA – The Great Amuze Gallery of Art is priced from CHF 32 per person (£28).
Getting there
SWISS offers more than 160 weekly flights from London Heathrow, London City, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and London Gatwick (seasonal) to Zurich or Geneva. One-way fares between London Heathrow or London City and Zurich start at £76. For more information, visit swiss.com
For further information and to plan your visit to Zurich, head to zurich.com and MySwitzerland.com
Main image: Zurich Old Town, Boris Stroujko/Alamy Stock Photo
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