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Europe Switzerland Zürich Do & See Swiss National Museum

Overview

Swiss National Museum

The guide was updated: 2024-09-16

In a castle, right by the water, you will find the Swiss National Museum. This museum hosts various collections from the Swiss history to the present as well as temporary exhibitions, in fact it houses the biggest collection of cultural-historical objects in the country. For the kids, there are interactive technology exhibits, making it suitable for the whole family.

Useful Information

Address: Landesmuseum Zürich, Museumstrasse 2, Zürich
Website: www.landesmuseum.ch/en
Phone: +41 58 466 65 11
Email: info@nationalmuseum.ch

Our travel guides are free to read and explore online. If you want to get your own copy, the full travel guide for this destination is available to you offline* to bring along anywhere or print for your trip.

*this will be downloaded as a PDF.

Price

€4,95

Purchase

The Grossmünster

The Grossmünster

The Grossmünster ("Great Minster") is a Romanesque-style church and one of the three major churches in the city. The tall twin towers of "Great Minster" dominate the Zürich skyline. It was from this spot that the humanist Ulrich Zwingli preached the Reformation.

Church of St. Peter

Church of St. Peter

The St. Peters Church (Kirche Sankt Peter) was originally built in the 8th century but was much altered in the 13th century and again in 1705. The largest clock in Europe is situated on the tower of St. Peters Church and has a diameter of 8.7 meters.

Kunsthaus Zürich

Kunsthaus Zürich

Switzerland’s greatest art museum, Kunsthaus, contains several important works of art, ranging from medieval religious paintings and Old Dutch masters to Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings. Here you can find masterpieces by Van Gogh, Picasso, Chagall and Monet.

Chinese Garden

Chinese Garden

Located right by the lake at the Zürichhorn, this Chinese garden was given to the city as a gift from the Chinese city, Kunming, which is twinned with Zürich. The garden contains several plants and ornaments, typical of the Chinese art of creating a garden.

Zürichsee

Zürichsee

The stunningly beautiful Zürich lake stretches 40 kilometres from Zürich to the foot of the Glarner Alps. Day trip boats give tourists the possibility to explore several villages and towns along the lakeshore and the main landing in Zürich is at Bürkliplatz.

Old Town

Old Town

The Old Town, also called Altstadt, is one of the most beautiful and charming areas in Zürich. Here you can stroll around narrow lanes and medieval houses. This area is highly appreciated by both tourists and locals, and it was once home to influential people such as Einstein, James Joyce and Richard Wagner.

Lindenhofplatz

Lindenhofplatz

For great views over the city you can visit Lindenhofplatz and enjoy the stunning view of Grossmünster and Rathaus. This place represented the meeting place for people during the Modern Era and today it is the perfect hot-spot where to find some peace and tranquillity. Play giant chess, have a nice walk with your family and friends and cool down next to a fountain.

Zürich Zoo

Zürich Zoo

This well maintained zoo is very popular and a great place for the whole family to enjoy a day of fun. Here you can find many animal species like penguins, lions, tigers, apes and elephants. Onsite there is also a tropical rainforest including huge marine reef tanks.

Rietberg Museum

Rietberg Museum

Set in a park on top of a hill, The Reitberg Museum with its green glass entrance houses a collection of historical artefacts and art from Africa, Asia and Ancient America, making it the only art museum for non-European cultures in Switzerland. Here you can also find various special exhibitions, as well as a cafe.

Church of Our Lady — Fraumünster

Church of Our Lady — Fraumünster

Church of Our Lady, also known as Fraumünster, is located right by the riverside and is one of Zürich's landmarks with its blue spire. The church dates back to 1250 and is especially known for the stained glass windows by Marc Chagall.

Bahnhofstrasse

Bahnhofstrasse

A visit to Zürich is not complete without a walk of the Bahnhofstrasse. This street is located right in the city centre and is great for shopping. Here you can find names like Prada, Chanel, Gucci and H&M and experience the most exciting high-quality shopping experience.

Opera House

Opera House

The Opera House hosts various performances and is well worth a visit when in Zürich. In 2014 it was awarded the title of the Best Opera Company of the Year at the International Opera Awards. The classic building has been the home of the Zürich Opera since 1891, and also houses the Bernhard-Theater Zürich and the Zürich Ballet. You are welcome to enjoy a performance or take a guided tour of the building.

Zürichhorn

Zürichhorn

The river delta in Zürich is called Zürichhorn and is on the list of Swiss heritage sites of national significance. It offers lake access and several trees to admire, a grill station and a huge playground where to relax. Moreover, in the lakeside park you can find the famous rock sculptures among other attractions.

Swiss National Museum

Swiss National Museum

In a castle, right by the water, you will find the Swiss National Museum. This museum hosts various collections from the Swiss history to the present as well as temporary exhibitions, in fact it houses the biggest collection of cultural-historical objects in the country. For the kids, there are interactive technology exhibits, making it suitable for the whole family.

Freitag Tower

Freitag Tower

Creatively constructed out of recycled freight-containers, you climb up floor by floor until you reach an observation deck on top of the tower. Enjoy the view of the former industrial district of Zürich. On your way up, you can shop unique and handmade bags.

Paradeplatz

Paradeplatz

Paradeplatz represents the heart of Bahnhofstrasse. In the 17th century Paradeplatz was a pig market, but today it is known as the largest financial transaction site in Switzerland. From Paradeplatz it takes just a few minutes to reach the old town and Lake Zürich.

Kaltbach Cheese Cave

Kaltbach Cheese Cave

A one-hour drive from Zürich, near Lucerne, lies the Kaltbach Cave. The cave itself was shaped an estimated 22 million years ago; its one-of-a kind environment is what enables Kaltbach cheese to mature in a very unique manner. Today, the company produces Gruyère, Emmental, Gouda and the eponymous Kaltbach cheese. Take a tour of the cave, learn about the production and storage of the cheese and let yourself be enticed to a tasting of different kinds of the celebrated Swiss delicacy.

FIFA World Football Museum

FIFA World Football Museum

The FIFA Museum is an association football museum operated by FIFA. The 3,000 square metres of the museum are packed with exhibits and activities. Join a guided or themed tour or take part in football quizzes, panel discussions or kids’ nights. The museum shop is full of fun trinkets and the Sportsbar 1904 has live games on big screens and refreshing drinks.

Zürich-West District

Zürich-West District

Zürich-West transformed from the industrial quarter into the trendy district with an unpolished charm. The area full of offices, apartments, arts venues, cafes and restaurants stretches between the track leading away from Zürich Hauptbahnhof and the Limmat. Factories and shipyards moved away, leaving their vast spaces that creative minds have turned into art, design, food, culture and shopping hotspots, with plenty of scope for architectural experiments. Check out the design boutiques and market halls nestled in the arches of the railway bridge, known as Im Viadukt. Frau Gerolds Garten is an urban garden, food court and meeting spot. The Freitag Flagship Store with its tower is located here, too.

Swiss Chocolate

Swiss Chocolate

Swiss chocolate is beyond comparison. In Zürich, you can try offerings from all the top brands and small artisanal confectionery manufacturers. Take a chocolate walking tour of the city and taste your way through the signature pralines and cakes, as well as the hot chocolate fondue. Real chocoholics attend workshops to learn about everything from cocoa cultivation to conching, tempering and the artistry of the confectionery craft. You can learn to decorate your own pralines, too. For a one-stop all-inclusive tour head to Lindt Home of Chocolate with its towering chocolate fountain, museum exhibits on production, as wells as hands-on workshops with chocolatiers.

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