Attractions in Zurich

Botanical Garden

You can relax wonderfully in the botanical garden of Zurich. Over a million plants are found here, including the university’s botanical collection. Various ecosystems from the tropical rainforest to the alpine, flowery pastureland are also shown.

Address: Zollikerstrasse 107, Zurich
Telephone: (044) 634 84 61
Website: http://www.unizh.ch/bguz
Entrance fee: No.
Disabled access: No
UNESCO: No

Fraumünster

Although this beautiful cathedral dates back to the ninth century (at that time it was a Benedictine abbey), it is mainly the five stained glass windows in the choir made by Marc Chagall (1970) that attract the visitors. This artistic glass work can best be admired in the morning light.

Construction of the church started in the 12th century, although the vault below the church contains the original abbey crypt. The spire of the Fraumünster is an elegant and remarkable landmark and dates from 1732. The rest of the church is mainly Gothic, but the choir is Romanesque. The building was founded in 853 by Ludwig the German, the grandson of Charlemagne. Only later did the church become a nunnery for the noble women of Zurich. The stained glass windows in the north transept are the work of Alberto Giacometti’s cousin Augusto.

Address: Am Münsterhofplatz, Zurich
Telephone: (044) 211 41 00
Website: http://www.fraumuenster.ch
Entry fee: No.
Disabled access: No
UNESCO: No

Grand Munster

The double towers of the charming cathedral – the largest in Zurich and symbol of the city – point towards the Limmat and can best be seen from the Rathausbrücke. The cathedral was founded by Charlemagne. Parts of it date back to the 11th and 13th centuries, especially the crypt, which is the largest in Switzerland in its type.

Recently discovered archaeological finds indicate the existence of a Roman cemetery under the church. There are also remains of a Romanesque cloister, sculptures from the 12th century and stained glass windows by Augusto Giacometti (Alberto’s cousin) in the choir room. A staircase with 187 steps leads to the top of the Karlsturm; there is no elevator.

Address: Zwingliplatz, Zurich
Telephone: (044) 252 59 49
Website: http://www.grossmuenster.ch
Entry fee: No (tower with entrance fee).
Disabled access: No
UNESCO: No

Kunsthaus Zurich

The Kunsthaus is the most important art gallery in the city with a collection of paintings and sculptures by Swiss and international artists that cover most of the periods since the Middle Ages, but especially the 19th and 20th centuries. Two of Monet’s water lily paintings and the largest collection of Edvard Munch’s works outside of Norway are represented here. There is also a good collection of photos, the Dadaists and Alberto Giacometti, and an important library.

Address: Heimplatz 1, Zurich
Telephone: (044) 253 84 97
Website: http://www.kunsthaus.ch
Entry fee: Yes.
Disabled access: No
UNESCO: No

Migros Museum of Contemporary Art

The Migros Museum is dedicated to the collection and exhibition of contemporary art, especially that of the 1990s. The works of the cooperative Migros Society are exhibited in the open concept exhibition area. This creates an artistic dialogue between the works of the permanent exhibition and the changing exhibits as well as special installations. There are solo and group exhibitions.

Address: Limmatstrasse 27, Zurich
Telephone: (044) 277 20 50
Website: http://www.migrosmuseum.ch
Entry fee: No.Note: The Swiss Pass and Swiss Flexi Pass transport network cards (Internet: www.swiss-pass.ch ) allow free entry to more than 400 museums in Switzerland.

Disabled access: No
UNESCO: No

Rietberg Museum

The Rietberg Museum for Non-European Art is housed in three buildings. Two of these buildings date from the 1950s and are located in the Rieterpark. In addition to the collection of Indian, Chinese and African art (the foundation of which is the sculpture collection donated by Baron Eduard von der Heydt), special exhibitions are also shown in the Villa Wesendonck. Park-Villa Rieter, on the other hand, houses paintings from China, Japan and India, and concerts are also held here. In the third building, the Haus zum Kiel, Hirschengraben 20, constantly changing exhibitions are presented.

Villa Wesendonck
Gablerstraße 15
Tel: (044) 206 31 31.
Internet: www.rietberg.ch
With admission fee.

Park-Villa Rieter
Gablerstraße 15
Tel: (044) 202 45 28.
Internet: www.rietberg.ch
With admission fee.

Haus zum Kiel
Hirschengraben 20
Tel: (044) 261 96 52
Internet: www.rietberg.ch
With admission fee.

Address: Zurich
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No

Swiss National Museum

The Swiss National Museum is located in a triangular landscape garden, the Platzspitz, between the main train station and the rivers Limmat and Sihl and has been fulfilling the role of the “national memory” for over 100 years. Special exhibitions in this castle-like museum complement the permanent exhibition of pieces that relate to Switzerland and Swiss culture. This includes not only paintings and sculptures, but also weapons, flags, (wristwatches), tools, toys and prehistoric objects. Key objects from the collection lead through 5000 years of Swiss cultural history, starting with the most important material artefacts from prehistoric and early history to contemporary exhibits from the 20th century.

Address: Museumstrasse 2, Zurich
Telephone: (044) 218 ​​65 11
Website: http://www.musee-suisse.ch
Entry fee: Yes.
Disabled access: No
UNESCO: No

Uetliberg (Ütliberg)

With a height of 871 m, the Uetliberg is the highest point in the city and offers a view over Zurich, the lake and (with good visibility) to the Alps. It takes an hour and a half to two hours to get to Felsenegg, from where you can take a cable car to the Adliswil train station. There is a connection to S-Bahn line 4, which runs into the city. The SZUSihltal-Zürich-Uetliberg-Bahn S10 (Internet: www.szu.ch ) runs to the top of the mountain (departure from many train stations, including the main train station). Groups can also rent a restored 1920s electric train. The hotel-restaurant Uto Kulm has an excellent view of the city, and the nearby restaurant Gmüetliberg specializes in fondue.

Uto Kulm
Ütliberg
Tel: (044) 457 66 66.
Internet: www.uetliberg.ch
Opening times: Daily 8 a.m. to midnight.

Restaurant Gmüetliberg
Ütliberg
Tel: (044) 463 92 60.
Opening times: Mon-Sat 8 a.m. to 12 a.m., Sun 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Address: Zurich,
disabled access: No
UNESCO: No

Zooh! Zurich

Around 1,500 animals from all over the world are housed on the open, park-like grounds of the Zurich Zoo in areas where the natural environment of the animals has been recreated. During the feeding period (details on the zoo’s website), the animals in the zoo always attract large crowds of spectators. The zoo has several good restaurants, including the Old Monastery, Masoala, Siesta and Outpost.

Address: Zürichbergstrasse 221, Zurich
Phone: (044) 254 25 00
Website: http://www.zoo.ch
Entry fee: Yes.
Disabled access: No
UNESCO: No

Zunfthaus zur Meisen

The Zunfthaus zur Meisen, opposite the Fraumünster, exhibits Swiss pottery and porcelain from the 18th century. The elegant Rococo galleries are the perfect setting for the beautifully painted porcelain figurines that were made in the Kilchberg-Schooren, Zurich and other porcelain and pottery factories. The rococo-style building, built in 1757, is considered the most beautiful guild house in Zurich.

Address: Münsterhof 20, Zurich
Phone: (044) 221 28 07
Website: http://www.musee-suisse.ch
Entry fee: Yes.
Disabled access: No
UNESCO: No

Zurich Tourism

Address: Hauptbahnhof, 8021 Zürich
Phone: (044) 215 40 00
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 8 am-8.30pm, Sun 8.30am-6.30pm (May-October); Mon-Sat 8.30am-7pm, Sun 9am-6pm (Nov.-April).
Website: http://www.zuerich.com