Attraction
Grossmünster
Zurich's twin-towered Romanesque church, where Zwingli launched the Swiss Reformation, with Giacometti and Polke windows, a crypt and a 187-step tower climb.
Kunsthaus Zürich
Switzerland's largest art museum by area, with Swiss and European art from the Middle Ages to today in Karl Moser's building and David Chipperfield's extension.
At a glance
- Type
- Art museum
- Area
- Hochschulen / Heimplatz, Zurich, Switzerland
- Opening
- Open 6 days a week (closed Monday)
- Official site
- kunsthaus.ch
Good to know
- Step-free access
- Free wheelchair loan
- Café
- Bar
- Restaurant
- Shops
- Audio guide
Why we recommend it
The Kunsthaus is Zurich's main art museum and, by floor area, the largest in Switzerland. It occupies two buildings facing each other across Heimplatz: the original by Karl Moser and Robert Curjel, opened in 1910 and extended several times since, and David Chipperfield's sandstone-clad extension, which began operating in October 2021 and added around 13,000 square metres of space. A tunnel under the square links the two.
The collection runs from medieval panels to contemporary installations, with a strong emphasis on Swiss art. Ferdinand Hodler, Johann Heinrich Füssli and Alberto Giacometti are well represented, and Zürich Tourism notes that the museum holds the largest collection of Edvard Munch's work outside Norway. French painting is another strength, with Monet, Manet and Van Gogh, and there are works by Picasso, Chagall, Rothko, Warhol and Beuys. Pipilotti Rist's immersive installation and the work of Fischli/Weiss reflect the Zurich art scene. The display of the Emil Bührle collection in the Chipperfield building has prompted a long national debate about the provenance of some works.
The museum is closed on Mondays and open late on Thursdays. The collection is free for everyone on Wednesdays, and children and young people under 14 get in free every day. Buying online includes the collection audio guide at no extra cost. Large exhibitions cost more than the collection alone, and an all-in ticket covers everything. Plan on two to three hours to see the highlights of both buildings without rushing.
Accessibility is good: the whole museum is step-free, every level is served by a lift, there are accessible toilets in both buildings and wheelchairs and folding stools can be borrowed free of charge (reserve a wheelchair in advance). Assistance dogs are allowed in the galleries. The café keeps museum hours, while the bar and the restaurant in the Chipperfield building stay open into the evening, which makes it easy to pair a late visit with dinner.
Trams 3, 8 and 9 and bus 31 stop at Kunsthaus, right outside; tram 3 and bus 31 run directly from the main station. The Schauspielhaus theatre is on the same square, and the university district and the Old Town are both a short walk downhill.
Kunsthaus Zürich FAQs
When is the Kunsthaus Zürich open?
Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday to Sunday 10:00-18:00, Thursday 10:00-20:00. It is closed on Mondays, 25 December and 1 January.
Is there a free day?
Yes. The collection is free for all visitors on Wednesdays. Major exhibitions still need a ticket.
Do children pay?
Children and young people under 14 enter free.
Should I buy tickets online?
It is a good idea. Online tickets include the collection audio guide, which otherwise costs extra at the desk.
Is the museum wheelchair accessible?
Yes. It is fully step-free, all floors have lifts, and wheelchairs can be borrowed free of charge.
Which artists can I see?
Highlights include Munch, Monet, Van Gogh, Picasso, Chagall, Giacometti, Hodler, Rothko and Pipilotti Rist.
How do I get there?
Take tram 3, 8 or 9 or bus 31 to the Kunsthaus stop on Heimplatz.
Is there somewhere to eat?
There is a café with museum hours, plus a bar and a restaurant that open into the evening.