Kunsthaus Zürich
Switzerland's largest art museum on Heimplatz, with a collection from the Middle Ages to today, known for Giacometti, Munch, Dada and Impressionism.
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About the museum
Behind the Kunsthaus stands the Zürcher Kunstgesellschaft, which emerged from the Zürcher Künstlergesellschaft founded in 1787 and took its present form in 1896. The first museum building of its own on Heimplatz, the Moser Building by Karl Moser, opened in 1910. The old building grew in several stages: Moser extended it in 1925, in 1958 the Pfister Building with the lecture hall was added, and in 1976 the Müller Building followed.
The biggest step came with the extension by David Chipperfield, which opened in 2021, roughly doubled the exhibition space and made the house the largest art museum in Switzerland. It stands on the other side of the street and is connected to the old building by an underground passage.
The collection spans more than eight centuries, from the Middle Ages to the present. It holds the most extensive museum group of works by Alberto Giacometti and the largest collection of paintings by Edvard Munch outside Norway. In addition there is a Dada collection of worldwide importance on the movement founded in Zürich in 1916, as well as Impressionism and Classical Modernism, also as loans from private collections such as the Bührle Foundation and the Merzbacher Collection.
Highlights
- Largest Munch collection outside Norway
- Most extensive museum group of works by Alberto Giacometti
- Largest Dada collection in the world
- Impressionism and Classical Modernism with Monet, van Gogh, Picasso and Chagall
- Chipperfield extension of 2021
- Private collections on loan (Bührle, Merzbacher, Looser)
Permanent exhibitions
- Die Sammlung – More than eight centuries of art from the Middle Ages to the present in changing presentations: paintings, sculptures, photography, video and works on paper.
- Alberto Giacometti – The most extensive museum group of works by the sculptor and painter from the Giacometti Foundation, with his slender figures and heads.
- Impressionismus – Works by French Impressionists and Post-Impressionists, including Monet and van Gogh, partly as loans from private collections.
- Founded
- 1910
- Operated by
- Zürcher Kunstgesellschaft
- Director
- Ann Demeester
- Visitors per year
- approx. 539,953 (2025)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | CHF 24 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | CHF 17Young people aged 14 and over, students, apprentices and pupils (with Legi), recipients of disability insurance (IV), AHV pensioners (Wednesdays only); rate for the collection and small exhibitions |
| Children & teens | CHF 17free up to age 13 · Children and young people under 14 years have free admission; from age 14 the reduced rate applies. |
| Seniors | CHF 17AHV pensioners receive the reduced rate on Wednesdays only. |
| Visitors with disabilities | CHF 17companion free · Recipients of disability insurance (IV) pay the reduced rate. Wheelchair users, including one accompanying person, have free admission. |
| Students & apprentices | CHF 17Students, apprentices and pupils with Legi. Free: art students in Switzerland (art and art history) and full-time students of the ZHdK. |
| Groups (20+ people) | CHF 17 per personReduced rate for groups of 20 or more people (CHF 17 per person for the collection according to the private tour offer). Registration 14 days in advance at info@kunsthaus.ch. School classes from Switzerland (up to age 20) and groups of students or apprentices in Switzerland have free admission. |
| Families | –No family ticket; children under 14 are free. |
| Major exhibition ticket (incl. small exhibitions and collection) | CHF 31Reduced CHF 22 |
| All in One (all exhibitions and collection) | CHF 36Reduced CHF 25 |
| Collection audio guide (at the ticket desk) | CHF 4Free when buying tickets online; children's audio guide always free |
Free admission: Every Wednesday: admission to the collection free for everyone
Free admission to the collection and all exhibitions with membership and with ICOM, VMS, CIMAM and KulturLegi cards (Canton of Zürich). Zürich Card: collection free, exhibitions with a surcharge of CHF 7. The Swiss Travel Pass/Museum Pass and the Raiffeisen card are not accepted.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Step-free access, all levels reachable by wheelchair-accessible lift (control panels tactile, without Braille; floors are not announced). Accessible toilets in the Moser Building (basement) and in the Chipperfield Building (basement and 1st floor). Wheelchairs and folding stools can be borrowed free of charge (reserve a wheelchair in advance on +41 44 253 84 84). Two disabled parking spaces at Kantonsschulstrasse 4 near the Chipperfield Building. Assistance dogs permitted. Detailed access information on Ginto and in the Procap access monitor.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 13 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Stroller-friendly
- Baby changing facilities
- Kids’ birthday parties
Children's audio guide for ages 5 to 12 (free, penguin marker next to the works), coloured pencils and worksheets at the info desk, family workshops on themes from the collection and exhibitions, children's birthday party at the museum (from age 5, ideally 6–10, 2 hours, up to 10 children, CHF 360). Changing tables in both buildings in the basement; prams are allowed (storage compartment empty), museum strollers can be borrowed free of charge.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Kunsthaus
Tram 3, 8, 9 and bus 31 to the "Kunsthaus" stop; from the main station directly by tram 3 or bus 31.
By car
Parking available
Parkhaus Hohe Promenade (Rämistrasse 22A); public parking on Hirschengraben (near the Obergericht, maximum stay 2 hours, free on Saturdays from 4 pm and on Sundays). Two disabled parking spaces at Kantonsschulstrasse 4.
- Accessible parking
The Kunsthaus is located in Zürich's old town on Heimplatz. Coach parking at Stadthausquai 3 (about 10 minutes on foot). Bicycle parking at Rämistrasse 42 and Kantonsschulstrasse 4. With the Zürich Card, travel on public transport is free.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant
- Museum shop
- Coat check
- Lockers
- Wi-Fi
Café in the Moser Building with garden (museum opening hours), restaurant "Bei Moudi" at the Moser Building (mezze, terrace), Kunsthaus Bar in the Chipperfield Building; Design Shop (Chipperfield) and Art Shop (Moser). Lockers in the Moser Building (basement) and in the Chipperfield Building (entrance hall, basement). Free Wi-Fi "KHZ-Kunsthaus Welcome". Payment by cash (CHF), card and Twint.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Corporate events
- Weddings / ceremonies
Up to 500 guests.
Festsaal in the Chipperfield Building (up to 500 people), lecture hall (up to 500), Villa Tobler with three rooms (up to 100) and Foyer Moser (up to 60). Enquiries to events@kunsthaus.ch.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (DE, EN, FR) |
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Photography and filming without flash, tripod or selfie stick is permitted for private purposes; works marked accordingly are excluded. |
| Good to know | Private group tours of the collection and exhibitions (1 or 1.5 hours, up to 20 people, several languages) as well as architecture tours via kunstvermittlung@kunsthaus.ch, enquiries at least one week in advance. Small handbags up to A4 size are allowed in the rooms, food and drink are not. Interactive Kunsthaus guide online without download. School classes and independent groups must register (14 days in advance). |
