City: Switzerland
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What to do and see in Switzerland, Switzerland: The Best Art Museums
in Europe (green & dark grey)
Restaurants in Switzerland
1. Museo del Trasparente
2. Musee du Vieux Pays-d'Enhaut
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 16 reviews
Reviewed By stephenbX7748RX - Lens, Switzerland
This brilliant Artisan and Folklore Museum is not really hidden, located as it is along the main street of the charming Vaudoise village of Chateau D'Oex. We went on a recommendation to see the fine collection of historic and contemporary Swiss Paper Cuttings. The Museum did not disappoint and offered a lot more besides. There is an audio tour in multiple languages but most signage is in the local German or French. There are four floors of incredibly well preserved and well presented examples of craftsmanship, ranging from woodwork, metalwork, blacksmithing, locksmithing, gunsmithing and carpentry. A magnificent array of Swiss Cow and Goat bells as well as Lacework, Beadwork and oil painting. There is an excellent Bookshop entirely devoid of the usual tourist tat. What a blessing. Much recommended! And it is all free! Amazing for a Museum of this quality in Switzerland.
3. Art'Collections Museum
4. Das Gelbe Haus Flims
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
5. Museum of Art (Kunsthaus Zurich)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,862 reviews
This fantastic art museum displays Western works since the 1600s and has an especially impressive selection of modern art.
Reviewed By SadieMT - Missoula, United States
We spent about 3 hours here and enjoyed both the museum itself and the artwork. We spent most of our time in the 19th century and forward collections and had the opportunity to see some fine Chagall paintings and a stunning Van Gogh work painted the last year of his life. Many sculptures by Giacometti and a current exhibit on Matisse sculptures.
6. Oskar-Reinhart Foundation Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 79 reviews
This museum features various works by Swiss, Austrian and German artists.
Reviewed By helenmR8575HR
We went here after first visiting the Kunstmuseum and wished we had skipped that in favour of this one. There was just too much to see and we wanted more time and energy! Tickets were on the steeper side but were definitely worth it, there were several floors and many rooms with so many paintings it was hard to take it all in. Despite the text all being in German we could make out a few words and could imagine that if you are a fluent speaker you would be able to spend even longer here. The paintings were beautiful, many scenic landscapes and some fabulous works by Dutch artists including some very good portraits. I would recommend this gallery for those serious about art as there is a lot to get through, however anyone with even a slight appreciation could walk through just having a look and it would still take up a good chunk of time. Well worth it.
7. Museo d'arte Mendrisio
8. Collection de l'Art Brut
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 626 reviews
Reviewed By JudeG139
The unexpected, the unusual, a home for outsider art before there was even such a category. Naive, regional and outsider artists convene in one outstanding collection of truly rarified art. Don't miss the tattoo collection (yes actual skin) dating from the 19th century. If you like strange exotic and esoteric art, this is the place for you!
9. Fondation Beyeler
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 974 reviews
The Fondation Beyeler is a museum of modern and contemporary art open 365 days a year. It is considered one of the world's most beautiful museums. Its exhibitions of renowned artists of the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries have brought the museum international recognition and established it as Switzerland's most popular art museum. The focus is the visitor's personal and sensory experiences in encountering art and nature. The art museum is located in an English park with a historical villa, old trees, and water lily ponds. The museum building, designed by award-winning Italian architect Renzo Piano, fits elegantly into the cultural landscape and offers beautiful views of the park.
Reviewed By J0anned568 - Canberra, Australia
This museum on the outskirts of Basel was a highlight of our trip to Europe. It can be reached by tram from the centre of Basel and is about 20 min ride. The stop is right outside the door. We were lucky to see the last day or so of the magnificent exhibition of Picasso's 'blue and pink' periods which finished in mid-June. This was a wonderfully rich collection of Picasso paintings from his early period, just before his cubist period. It was thoughtfully displayed and curated. The Rudolph Stingel exhibition is still on and also worth looking at. There are new exhibitions now on display. The museum is a beautiful building and it is worth allowing time to wander around the gardens Look at the triptych by Monet in the reception foyer opposite the bookshop.
10. Jean Tinguely Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 844 reviews
Reviewed By RCSColumbus - Columbus, United States
We had never heard of Jean Tinguely before visiting Basel but we were so smitten by his amazing Carnival Fountain downtown that we were curious to see more. The Museum Tinguely is a beautiful piece of architecture, perfectly designed to display the kinetic sculptures the artist is best known for. Some are as large as an entire gallery; some you can walk through; virtually all can be activated at the press of a button. Whether you come away appreciating him as an artist or not you will certainly fall for his incredible blend of engineering, mechanical whimsy and pure imagination. Who else would ever think to weld all of these found objects into such lively contraptions? Some even seem to have personalities. You can't help but smile and even laugh out loud at a few of them. My wife, daughter and I were mesmerized as were all the other visitors we saw at the museum that day.
