Kunsthaus Zurich (Museum of Art), Zurich

Kunsthaus Zurich (Museum of Art), Zurich (must see)

The Art Museum of Z眉rich鈥攐ne of Europe鈥檚 finest museums鈥攊s a full-blown visual feast for anyone who enjoys a bit of brain-tickling beauty.

Inside, the collection stretches from medieval mysticism to present-day punch, with Swiss art taking center stage. You鈥檒l spot homegrown legends like Johann Heinrich F眉ssli鈥攁uthor of the nightmarish horses鈥攁longside Hodler鈥檚 bold forms, Pipilotti Rist鈥檚 audiovisual candy, and the cheeky duo Fischli & Weiss. But don鈥檛 worry, it鈥檚 not all Swiss: Edvard Munch broods on the walls too, while Vincent Van Gogh swirls away, Pablo Picasso throws shapes, and Alberto Giacometti鈥檚 spindly figures lurk around like stylish ghosts. Oh, and if you鈥檙e into soft lighting and lily pads, yes, Claude Monet and Marc Chagall are here too.

The museum leans into Swissness with flair: special collections highlight Swiss Realism, Zurich Concrete Art (yes, that's a thing), and the lush landscapes and symbolist dreams of B枚cklin, Segantini, Vallotton, and again, our friend Hodler. Indeed, it鈥檚 got brains and beauty rolled into one.

And let鈥檚 not forget the video art section, which started in 1979鈥攂ack when VHS was cutting-edge and artists decided TV wasn鈥檛 just for weather reports. You鈥檒l find works by the likes of Acconci, Baldessari, Marclay, Paik, and other titans of the medium who turned screens into canvases.

There's more: rotating exhibitions keep things fresh, and there鈥檚 a library if you're the type who likes your art with a side of theory. The audio guide covers over 200 pieces鈥攑erfect if you enjoy having a knowledgeable voice in your ear that isn鈥檛 just your own...

Overall, the place is clever, bold, and unapologetically artsy鈥攋ust like your most interesting friend. If modern art, surrealism, or impressionism make your heart race (or at least mildly speed up), you鈥檒l feel right at home.

Tip:
Wednesdays offer free entry to the main collection. The audio guide is also free.
The building looks modest from the outside, but don鈥檛 be fooled鈥攊t鈥檚 a cultural TARDIS (a fictional hybrid of a time machine and spacecraft from the 鈥淒octor Who鈥� science fiction TV series).
Allow at least two to three hours. Your brain will thank you later.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Zurich. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Kunsthaus Zurich (Museum of Art)
Sight Location: Zurich, Switzerland (See walking tours in Zurich)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Zurich Introduction Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Zurich, Switzerland

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Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip

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