4 Must-See Museums in Zurich and How to Visit

2 min readJul 27, 2019By Leah Still Joll

Hi, I'm Leah!

Leah Still Joll is a freelance writer based in San Francisco with a specialty in travel writing. Her favorite destinations include Maui, Sayulita, the Northern California coast, Paris, Morocco, Indonesia, and Western Australia.

Switzerland’s largest city, Zurich is home to a variety of museums covering a striking range of interests, from sports and historical artifacts to Swiss textiles and African art. Here are our tips for museums that should definitely have a place on your Zurich itinerary.

Why you are seeing these recommendations

1. Swiss National Museum (Landesmuseum)

The pretty exterior of the Swiss National Museum (Landesmuseum).

Outside the Swiss National Museum (Landesmuseum).Photo Credit: Agnieszka Skalska / Shutterstock

For Zurich history and culture.

In the heart of the city on the west bank of the Limmat, the National Museum depicts the country’s history and culture through its collection of more than 860,000 objects. From art and archaeology to textiles, furniture, wagons, timepieces, and more, the museum tells the stories of Switzerland.

2. Museum of Art (Kunsthaus Zurich)

The golden-stoned exterior of Museum of Art (Kunsthaus Zurich).

Art fans will want to head to the Kunsthaus.Photo Credit: Zabotnova Inna / Shutterstock

For thousands of paintings.

Centrally located in the city, the Kunsthaus is home to roughly 4,000 paintings and sculptures and 95,000 drawings and prints, mostly by European artists such as Monet and Picasso. The collection ranges from the 13th century to the present day.

3. Museum Rietberg

The museum and its grand lawns.Photo Credit: lulu and isabelle / Shutterstock

For non-European artwork.

Located just south of central Zurich in the lakeside suburb of Enge, Museum Rietberg is dedicated to non-European artwork. With a combination of historical and contemporary buildings, the museum houses thousands of traditional and modern art and cultural objects from Asia, the Americas, Africa, Australia, and more.

Visit Museum Rietberg

4. FIFA World Football Museum

Interior of the FIFA World Football Museum in Zurich.

FIFA World Football Museum is the place for soccer fans.Photo Credit: EQRoy / Shutterstock

For World Cup memorabilia.

Also in the suburb of Enge, the FIFA World Football Museum is a must for soccer (football) fans. Dedicated to preserving the heritage of the world’s most popular sport, the museum features a collection of photographs, memorabilia, notes from matches and other historical documents, and World Cup stories.