Museum Rietberg
Switzerland's largest collection of non-European art — spread across 19th-century villas in a city park, then drops underground into a largely subterranean extension.
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Asian, African, American, and Oceanian art fills a complex of historic villas originally purchased by Zürich in the 1940s. The 2007 Smaragd extension — largely subterranean, designed by Adolf Krischanitz — more than doubled the exhibition space without consuming the surrounding Rieterpark. It is the largest art museum in Switzerland focused exclusively on non-European art, and the largest of any kind run directly by the city.
What to look for
- The Wesendonck Villa, converted into a museum in 1951–52 to house Baron von der Heydt's donated collection
- The Smaragd: a mostly underground 2007 extension that more than doubled the gallery space
- The Schönberg Villa, rescued from demolition in 1976 and now home to the museum's non-lending library
Take tram #7 or bus #33 directly to the park; Zürich Enge railway station is also nearby.
Museum Rietberg is one of 17 sights worth the detour in Zurich, all bundled offline in Voyage GO — download the Zurich pack and it sits on your map with no signal, filling your travel passport the moment you walk past.
More to see in Zurich
- LetzigrundOn this track, on 21 June 1960, Armin Hary became the first person in history to run 100 metres in 10.0 seconds.
- Zürich HauptbahnhofSwitzerland's largest station runs 2,915 trains a day — and a river flows through it in a tunnel, with tracks both above and below.
- GrossmünsterThe church where Zwingli launched the Swiss-German Reformation in 1520 — and then his followers stripped out the organ and every statue to prove the point.
- Zürich Opera HouseThe first electrically lit opera house in Europe — built in 16 months, nearly razed by street riots, and winner of Opera Company of the Year at the 2014 International Opera Awards.
- Cabaret VoltaireHugo Ball borrowed a back room on Spiegelgasse in February 1916 and accidentally invented Dada — Lenin was renting a flat fourteen doors up the same street.
- Kunsthaus ZürichTwo buildings on opposite sides of Heimplatz, linked underground, housing one of Switzerland's most important art collections — the 2021 David Chipperfield sandstone block alone added over 80% more floor space.