The city of Zurich offers plenty of museums and art venues for culture enthusiasts: that’s why, today, we’re going to offer you a whole culture guide to this wonderful city!
Zurich’s Design & Culture Line 4
First of all, you should know that Zurich’s tram line number 4 is the city’s unofficial cultural line, which links up some of its most important museums and culture venues.
So, let’s discover all the must-sees you will find along its route!
1. Museum of Design
The Museum für Gestaltung is one of the most prestigious stops across Line 4 and has two different locations:
- The Ausstellungsstrasse: just a few minutes’ walk from the Zurich Main Station, which houses temporary exhibitions of design, visual communication, and architecture;
- The Toni-Areal: the campus of the Zurich University of the Arts, which houses several temporary exhibitions, workshops, and daily guided tours.
2. National Museum Zurich
Another great stop is the National Museum, located behind the Main Station.
Its app offers several audio guides and houses the largest collection documenting the Swiss cultural history from prehistory to the present day, including:
- Handicrafts;
- Paintings and sculptures;
- The ‘Simply Zurich’ permanent exhibition.
3. Literaturhaus
Moreover, an unmissable step is the enchanting Literaturhaus – or ‘House of Literature’ – in Zurich’s Old Town.
Born in 1834 as a reading society, today it’s a meeting place that houses several authors’ readings, lectures, performances, and literary events, also by:
- Promoting literary writing and exchange;
- Offering a lending library and a reading room.
4. Cabaret Voltaire
In addition, the Cabaret Voltaire – birthplace of the Dada movement – is a platform for contemporary art debates and exhibitions, which turns into a lively bar at night.
5. Kunsthaus Zurich
What’s more, the Kunsthaus – Zurich’s most important collection of Classical Modernism – offers stunning temporary exhibitions, and houses:
- Alberto Giacometti’s masterpieces;
- The largest Munch’s collection outside of Norway;
- Picasso, Monet, and Chagall’s artworks.
6. Zurich Opera House
Tram line number 4 stops also at the worldwide known Zurich Opera House, whose extremely varied program includes:
- Popular plays;
- Renowned singers;
- Premieres;
- Ballets.
7. Pavillon Le Corbusier
Finally, you can’t absolutely miss the ‘Gesamtkunstwerk’ – by the great Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier!
This colorful building, located on the shores of Lake Zurich, was designed according to the fascinating ‘Modulor System’, an anthropometric scale of proportions.
Main Cultural Events
Zurich Theater Spektakel
When it comes to cultural venues, you should give a try to the international theater festival at the Zürcher Theater Spektakel, one of the most important performing arts’ European festivals.
The numerous street artists, music groups, restaurants, and bars are just some of the further attractions on the shores of Lake Zurich!
Zurich Film Festival
Last but not least, you should visit the Zurich Film Festival, located at Zurich’s Sechseläutenplatz, whose main aim is to offer larger audiences an insight into emerging, young filmmakers’ work – who compete for the ‘Golden Eye’ prize
