Museums Walking Tour (Self Guided), Zurich

The Kunsthaus is one of the most important museums in Europe. The museum's collection is impressive and diverse, from pieces dating to the middle ages to contemporary with an emphasis on Swiss art through various periods. Some of the Swiss artists represented include Fussli, Hodler, Rist and Fischli. Works by Munch, Lipchitz, Van Gough, Picasso, and Giacometti are a draw as well. The museum also boasts a collection by Monet and another by Chagall.

Special collections include Swiss Paintings, Swiss Realism, Zurich Concrete Art, and collections featuring paintings and sculptures by Bocklin, Segantini, Hodler, and Vallotton. The museum also has a good collection of video art that started in 1979, with the thought that video art is an independent and creative medium. Video artists represented include Acconci, Baldessari, Calle, Graham, Hill, Marclay, Paik and others. In addition to the permanent collection, the museum features temporary exhibits and a library with books focusing on modern art. An audio guide which highlights over 200 of the pieces in the collection is available.

Why You Should Visit:
Super modern with lots of unique perspectives! If you're a fan of modern art and appreciate surrealism and impressionism, this museum is a must.

Tip:
Free entry to the main collection on Wednesdays, and you can also get an audio guide for no cost. Their library is open-access anytime.
The building might not look massive on the outside, but the collection is extensive, so make sure you leave at least 2-3 hours to visit.

Opening Hours:
Tue, Fri-Sun: 10am-6pm; Wed-Thu: 10am-8pm

This collection of drawings and prints was established in 1867 by Gottfried Kinkel, a professor of art history and archaeology. The collection got its start with the acquisition of the Buhlmann collection in 1870, which contained over 11,000 single-leaf prints and another 150 volumes of bound prints. The second significant contribution to the collection was the 12,000 prints donated by Heinrich Schulthess-vonMeiss, a Zurich banker.

The collection was opened to the public in 1924, and has continued to grow since. Today there are over 150,000 prints covering a span of 600 years. Prints and drawings of the old masters such as Durer, Rembrandt and Goya are part of the collection. Its main focus continued to be Swiss graphic art. Due to the fine nature of the materials on which the prints and drawings are made, they are only shown for short periods of time. They may be viewed on an individual basis in the study room.

The museum is located on the first floor of the south wing of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. Admission is free and free guided tours are available, in German, on Mondays at lunch time.

Operation hours: Monday - Friday: 10:00 - 17:00; Saturday, Sunday: 10:00 - 16:30.

The Zoologisches Museum is affiliated with the University of Zurich and features a wonderful collection of species from the Middle Triassic period (230 million years ago). The museum is known for their well-preserved fossils from Monte San Giorgio, a UNESCO world heritage site in Ticino. It has a variety of animals on display, some as a skeletal reconstruction and some that are in taxidermy form.

You will see kangaroo, platypus, jaguar, giant clams and more. There is also much to be seen in the microscope area, where you can observe tiny creatures normally invisible to the naked eye. An audio recording section allows you to listen to vocalizations of over 280 avian species.

Kids will love the special section dedicated to Swiss marine dinosaurs as well as land dinosaurs, such as Triceratops and skeletons of wooly mammoths. There is a sand pit area where kids can do their own excavations. This museum will keep the kids and adults entertained for at least a few hours. It should be noted that display cases are in German only. Admission is free.

Why You Should Visit:
Free admission is good, especially when you are in Zurich.
Definitely a place that can hold the interest of adults and children alike.

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 10:00 - 17:00

The Swiss National Museum is one of the key art museums of cultural history in the world. The museum was born out of the desire to create a national museum which would be the treasure of the young federal state of Switzerland. Nation Councilmember Salomon Vogelin proposed the construction of a national museum, and, after much debate, a site in Zurich was selected. The building that houses the museum was constructed in 1989. Gustav Gull, a Swiss architect and teacher, designed the building to look like a French Renaissance city chateau.

The museum features a wide range of art and the visitor will see a sample from ancient times and the Middle Ages up to 20th-century. Some of the more unique collections in the museum include a gothic art section, liturgical wooden sculpture, carved alters and chivalry-related art. There is also a section on the history of Switzerland that displays traditional costumes and clothing. The section on Swiss furniture design is a nice juxtaposition to the older items in the space. The museum features regularly rotating exhibits.

Why You Should Visit:
To learn about all aspects of Swiss history – from religion, demographics, archeology, industry to even topographical evolution and more.
The archaeology exhibition is particularly impressive thanks to the animated/interactive displays.

Opening Hours:
Tue-Wed, Fri-Sun: 10:00 - 17:00; Thu: 10:00 – 19:00

The Zurich Toy Museum is a popular tourist spot in the city that attracts kids of all ages. The museum displays a mix of old and modern toys, with over 1,200 antique toys from all over Europe. The bulk of the collection covers toys from the 18th to 20th century.

Visitors will enjoy miniature railroads and steam engine, dolls and doll houses, books, wooden toys, tin figures, old-style games and even small furniture pieces for play, such as stoves and chairs. The delightful craftsmanship of the toys will certainly be appreciated, especially since most toys today are plastic and require batteries.

It wouldn’t be any fun to be in a toy museum and not be able to touch anything. Don’t worry, not the case here. There are toys and books that children can read and play with. Additionally, admission is free. The museum is on the 5th floor of the building, and there is an elevator.

Operation hours: Monday - Friday: 14:00 - 17:00; Saturday: 13:00 - 16:00.

The Beyer Clock and Watch Museum in Zurich represents one of the best private collections of time pieces. This is not surprising, since the Swiss are known for their fine craftsmanship when it comes to watches. The museum represents the private collection of Theodor Beyer, a prominent Swiss family that has owned the Beyer shop since the mid-1700s.

The Beyer shop is the oldest watch and clock store in Switzerland. The museum is located in three rooms in the basement of a retail store and has quite an impressive collection of time-keeping devices. The displays are arranged chronologically (how appropriate for a watch museum), starting with rustic, non-mechanical clocks, such as sundials, then going on up to contemporary pocket watches with intricate detail. There are also grandfather clocks, other wall and floor clocks, shepherds clocks and hour glasses.

Some particularly unique items in the museum include watches made 100% from hardwood or ivory and an original rolling ball clock. There are other items in the museum that are not directly related to watches, including astronomic and geographical tools. Nominal entry fee for adults and children under 12 are free.

Operation hours: Monday - Friday: 14:00 - 18:00