At a glance
- After the three Bührle Collection works, see Munch and Giacometti: the viewing experience flows naturally from vivid color to an uneasy crowd and a slender sculpture.
- Tap an artwork title to open the official photo and notes from Kunsthaus Zürich. Gallery locations may change when exhibitions rotate, so check the day’s guide before looking for a work.
- Allow 7–10 minutes per work, or about 45–60 minutes for all five. You’ll remember more if you look at each work once from a distance and once up close, rather than rushing through every permanent gallery.
Route at a glance
Check the day’s guide for locations, then move from color to sculpture
According to the official guide, the three Bührle works and Giacometti are on the second floor of the Chipperfield building. Use the day’s guide to find Munch’s gallery and fit it into the route.
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1
As soon as you arrive · Day’s guideFirst check Munch’s current gallery and whether it is closed.
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Chipperfield building, second floor · BührleSee van Gogh, Cézanne, and Renoir in sequence, comparing their colors.
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Munch · A street full of peopleIn Music on the Karl Johan Street, look at the crowd’s expressions and the rhythm of the street.
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Chipperfield building, second floor · GiacomettiFor Large Woman II, step back and view it once from the front and once from the side.
This diagram is a conceptual guide to the order for finding and viewing the works; it does not reproduce the actual floor plan or gallery layout.
Day by day
Order for viewing the five works
Each title links to the official artwork photo and notes from Kunsthaus Zürich. ArtVino links offer more background on the work or artist.
First find the large yellow sun, then notice how the purple field seems to surge beneath it. You might think of Millet’s paintings of peasants, but here the first impression is the force of color driving across the canvas, rather than the scene of labor.
- The clash of the yellow sun and purple field
- The small silhouette of the sower
- Short brushstrokes up close and blocks of color from a distance
- The Sower at SunsetOfficial information1888. On long-term loan from Sammlung Emil Bührle. ArtVino · Vincent van Gogh
Rather than starting with the expression, look in turn at the red waistcoat, chair, and tilted planes in the background. You’ll see why the whole composition feels firmly balanced even though the figure is seated.
- The red waistcoat at the center of the composition
- Color and angles that stand out before the face
- The structure formed by the body, chair, and curtain
- Boy in a Red WaistcoatOfficial informationThe official database dates it to 1888/1890. ArtVino · Artwork information
Along with the softness of the skin and blue ribbon, compare the girl’s direct gaze with the dark mass of the background. Even amid the loose brushwork, the figure comes firmly forward.
- The edge between the blue ribbon and dark hair
- The depth of the background around the light skin
- A face that comes into clearer focus when you step back
- Little IrèneOfficial information1880. The official title is Irène Cahen d’Anvers (La Petite Irène). ArtVino · Artwork information
Instead of counting people one by one, notice how their faces repeat, almost like masks. The rhythm of the dark clothes and pale faces helps explain why a scene that begins like a cheerful street view feels unsettling.
- The crowd pressing toward the street
- The repeated pale faces and dark clothes
- The distance between the band in the background and the crowd in front
- Music on the Karl Johan StreetOfficial information1889. The English title of the work means “Music on Karl Johan Street.” ArtVino · How to Look at The Scream
View the sculpture from the front, then move one step to the side. The feeling that the slender body might disappear yet still hold its place in the room is different in person than in a photograph. Step back first instead of approaching immediately, so you can take in the proportions as a whole.
- The vertical axis of the slender body
- Traces of the artist’s hands on the rough surface
- The changing open space when viewed from the front and side
- Large Woman IIOfficial information1960. Held by the Alberto Giacometti-Stiftung; listed on the second floor of the Chipperfield building. ArtVino · Kunsthaus Zürich collection
Places and meals
The starting point for visiting all the works.
Google Maps Official visit and ticket information Official visitor guide for the dayHow to fit it in
The route starts with the three Bührle works, followed by Munch and Giacometti. Check Munch’s location in the day’s guide as soon as you arrive. On the second floor of the Chipperfield building, see the three paintings and sculpture together, but take your time finding the galleries.
Reality check
Kunsthaus Zürich is at Heimplatz, 8001 Zürich. For tram and walking directions, open Google Maps directions using the museum’s name. On site, check with the ticket desk or in the visitor guide to find the actual entrance and galleries open that day.
Allow 45–60 minutes to focus on just the five works. Plan for 90 minutes or more if you’re checking the visitor guide on site and visiting other permanent galleries too.
Admission prices, special exhibition prices, and discount terms can change. Check Kunsthaus Zürich’s official visit and ticket information before you buy.
For safety, keep your bag in front of you. When stepping back from a work, watch for other visitors. Follow the on-site instructions about photography and lockers in the galleries.
If plans change
If you have a timed ticket for a special exhibition, keep that time slot first and see the five works during the remaining time in the permanent collection.
If the museum is open but only the gallery with Munch’s work is closed, see the three Bührle works and Giacometti first. Check Munch’s work in the official collection notes and leave it for another visit. If the entire museum is closed, you won’t be able to see other works inside, so change your visit date.
Small tip
When you arrive at the Heimplatz stop by public transport, use Google Maps directions along with the signs on site to find the entrance. In front of each work, read the title first, look from a distance, then step closer to see the colors and surface more clearly.
Final check before departure
- First check the official ticket page to see whether you need to book a timed-entry ticket in advance for your visit date.
- Check the day’s guide for Munch’s location and whether the gallery is closed, then head to the Bührle works on the second floor.
According to the official guide, the Bührle Collection and Giacometti holdings are on the second floor of the Chipperfield building. Munch’s gallery, opening hours, closing days, and last admission may change, so check the official visitor guide as soon as you arrive.
Information checked: 2026-10-01