9 of the Best Museums in Zurich and How To Visit

A key stop on many art and cultural tours, the National Museum Zurich (Landesmuseum Zürich) is one of the top museums in Zurich, telling the story of the confederation through interactive exhibits and diverse artifacts, including pre-historic furnishings, medieval artwork, and modern exhibitions. The museum is easy to access, as it’s next to the main train station. It’s also close to the Limmat River landing stage, making it simple to combine a museum visit with a day cruise along Lake Zurich.

Don’t miss: Stroll around the 19th-century building and through the courtyard to see the impressive extension that was completed in 2016. Just behind that, you’ll find Platzspitz Park, a green oasis ideal for resting weary legs between visits to all of Zurich's must-see museums.

Kunsthaus Zurich, Zurich’s Museum of Art, is a must-visit for art lovers, featuring collections that span nearly a millennium of global art history, such as works by Monet, Picasso, Giacometti, and van Gogh. It’s one of the country’s largest art museums and features both permanent and temporary exhibitions, as well as workshops for both adults and children.

Don’t miss: The museum houses a major collection of works by Swiss sculptor Alberto Giacometti, whose artwork shaped modern movements of existentialism, minimalism, and abstract expressionism.

Related: An Art Lover's Guide to Zurich

Lindt Home of Chocolate is one of Zurich’s cultural attractions, offering immersive insight into the nation’s tastiest export through its multimedia museum and chocolate-tasting workshops. Located on the western shore of Lake Zurich (just under a half-hour drive from the city center) you can combine a visit here with a boat experience on the lake. These Zurich museum tickets sell out extremely fast, so book yours well in advance.

Don’t miss: Making your own treats with a chocolate course, such as mastering truffles or creating chocolate figurines.

Museum Rietberg showcases artwork from Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Oceania, highlighting global art history and cultural diversity. Its blend of 19th-century European villas and modern architecture offers art within a unique setting, while the surrounding landscape park features lush greenery, playgrounds, and a wintertime toboggan run—perfect for a family-friendly outing on Lake Zurich's western shores.

Don’t miss: The collection of masks hailing from Switzerland, Congo, Peru, and beyond. It offers insight into the cultural role of face coverings in identity, religion, and performance around the world.

The city’s university-run Natural History Museum is one of Zurich’s history museums, featuring enough to keep curious minds occupied without taking up the whole day, complete with dinosaur fossils and preserved animals. Plus, it’s located right next to the ETH’s Polyterrasse, a platform that boasts some of the best views of the city, as well as its very own funicular railway, the Polybahn. You can catch some of these attractions on a post-museum walking tour.

Don’t miss: Every Sunday, the museum offers free family workshops on a particular scientific theme—an easy and educational way to keep kids entertained during a rainy weekend.

Switzerland’s watch-making heritage is world-famous, but the Beyer Clock and Watch Museum remains unknown to most visitors. However, it’s a must-see Zurich museum for chronometry enthusiasts. Tucked away on the bottom floor of the Beyer Watches and Jewellery store on Bahnhofstrasse, this museum offers a fascinating journey through 600 years of timekeeping history.

Don’t miss: Use the museum’s iPads, which offer context and translations for some of the exhibits.

A visit to the FIFA Museum is a must for any aspiring soccer player, with plenty to entertain both parents and kids. Interactive exhibits at this popular museum in Zurich include a virtual pitch for eFootball, a 180-degree cinema, and a life-size pinball game. Unsurprisingly, it gets busy—particularly in school holidays, so book in advance when possible.

Don’t miss: The actual, original World Cup trophy has a permanent home in the museum. You can view it whenever it’s not being competed for during a tournament.

The Swiss Finance Museum is a compact exhibition, dedicated to another well-known Swiss institution: the bank. A visit won’t take all day, but the museum’s location in the trendy Industriequartier makes it an easy addition to a tour of nearby attractions like the Freitag Tower or the Museum of Design.

Don’t miss: The Crime and Wine Experience, a game-style museum tour where you solve a criminal case and learn more about global finance, all with wine in hand.

Another small but mighty museum is the Tram Museum Zurich. It’s the perfect choice for transport enthusiasts, especially the little ones, thanks to its collection of historic trams and tram-related activities. A 20-minute tram ride from downtown, the museum is nestled on a green hillside southeast of the city center, near the Botanical Gardens and Elefantenbach hiking area—perfect for extending a relaxing day away from the city's hustle and bustle with the family.

Don’t miss: The museum has a busy schedule of annual events, including choir performances, plays, and flea markets, so check the calendar in advance to see what’s on during your visit.