Our friends at Zürich Tourism recently emailed us with 8 good reasons to visit Zürich in 2016. We would love to help put together a holiday for you to this brilliant destination.
This year, Zurich offers a host of unforgettable experiences for culture lovers and sports enthusiasts. In addition, a newly launched Festival in September promises to delight gourmets’ taste buds, while exclusively this summer a very special open-air swimming pool provides a welcome opportunity to cool down.
Here's the list:
1. Dada!
In 2016, the legendary movement on the interface between art and madness celebrates its centenary, and the whole city will be in Dada fever. Publications and exhibitions at the Cabaret Voltaire – the birthplace of Dada –, the Kunsthaus Zürich, the National Museum Zurich and many other cultural institutions devote themselves entirely to the Dadaists and their legacy.
2. Manifesta 11
This important roving European biennial of contemporary art is guesting in Zurich in 2016. From June 11 until September 18, international artists will address the theme of “What Do People Do for Their Money?”. The results can be viewed at the Pavilion of Reflections and at other exhibition venues. Incidentally, during Manifesta 11, ZürichCARD holders can benefit from reduced admission in many places.
3. A Very Special “Badi” Bathing Facility
The festival center of Manifesta 11 is the Pavilion of Reflections, a floating construction that has been specially made for the event. During the day it serves as an outdoor bathing facility, while in the evening it is transformed into an exhibition space and floating stage. Thus, for the duration of Manifesta 11, Zurich has another “Badi” – as Zurich’s highly popular lakeside and riverside bathing areas are known – for visitors to enjoy.
4. Opening of the FIFA World Football Museum
A highlight for all soccer fans is the opening of the new FIFA World Football Museum on February 28, 2016. The museum houses an interactive experience world featuring numerous highlights, including the original FIFA World Cup Trophy, the original shirts of all the national teams and a giant pinball machine.
5. Züri Fäscht
A highlight that only takes place every three years: during the first weekend in July, the Züri Fäscht guarantees three days of party feeling in the heart of Zurich’s Old Town. Carnival attractions, music, bars and culinary specialties put the approximately one million visitors in a lighthearted summertime mood.
6. MuDa – Museum of Digital Art
The first museum in Europe dedicated to digital art opens in Zurich at the beginning of 2016. On display are works of art that have been created digitally – that is, using a computer. What makes it all the more special is that the building costs were partly financed by means of an online crowdfunding campaign.
7. FOOD ZURICH
Fine food, slow food, street food: for 11 days in September, everything in Zurich revolves around food. During the FOOD ZURICH festival, gourmets, foodies, picnic enthusiasts, hearty eaters, meat lovers, vegetarians, vegans, gluten intolerant people, and “sweet” and “savory” fans can sample countless culinary delicacies from all over the world.
8. Opening of the newly extended National Museum
2016 sees the inauguration of the long-awaited extension of the National Museum Zurich. The new building will open to the general public in August. Its first exhibition entitled “Europe in the Renaissance: Metamorphoses 1400 – 1600” devotes itself in an impressive way to the most important advances in human history – such as the invention of the printing press and the discovery of an unknown continent.