Why Zurich's creative side makes it a top city break destination
It wasn't until later, while touring the property and admiring works by Salvador Dalí and Joan Miró, that it clicked. I returned to the lobby, got face-to-face with the man in the corner and realised he was no man at all. He was an art installation.
I was at the Dolder Grand, a lavish resort built among Zurich's wooded hills, like a fairytale castle towering over the Zürichsee. Originally opened in 1899 as a Curhaus, or spa retreat, it still attracts the world's well-heeled with Alpine views and quiet luxury.
But inside, the Dolder Grand offers a glimpse of a lesser-known Zurich, where art, not just affluence, shapes the experience. With more than 100 pieces by major 20th- and 21st-century artists scattered across the property, the hotel doubles as a gallery, reflecting the city's deep ties to creativity and design.
And it's far from an outlier.
Public artwork brings unexpected beauty to everyday life
Zurich is often seen as the domain of financiers, FIFA officials and other members of the Maserati-driving classes. But it also gave the world Dadaism, the radical movement that emerged in 1916 at Cabaret Voltaire and laid the groundwork for surrealism and pop art.
Later, Zurich became the birthplace of Swiss Style, which championed grid-based design, sans-serif typefaces like Helvetica and a pared-back, rational aesthetic that still shapes everything from transport signage to websites.
Its creative spirit isn't limited to the annals of history, either.
'Zurich is understated but buzzing,' says Jacqueline Uhlmann, manager of the Löwenbräukunst art centre in the up-and-coming Zurich-West district. 'There's a quiet confidence and a collaborative spirit here, driven less by trend and more by substance. It's a city where design, art, architecture and technology constantly intersect.'
Some of that is credit to the city's Kunst im öffentlichen Raum (KiöR) programme. It has commissioned and maintained over 1,300 public artworks, ranging from underpass murals to sculptures in cemeteries and playgrounds.
At Zurich Main Station, you're welcomed by Niki de Saint Phalle's purple-and-gold 'Guardian Angel.' At Zürichhorn, Jean Tinguely's mechanical 'Heureka' greets you with spinning parts and surreal charm. Even Bahnhofstrasse, the city's high-end shopping boulevard, hosts Max Bill's minimalist 'Pavilion Sculpture.'
'There's a growing movement around reclaiming and creatively using urban space,' explains Milica Vujcic of Zurich Tourism.
Perhaps the most surprising example of Zurich's artistic undercurrent is found inside the last place you should be: the police station. Here, the entrance features a vivid fresco of blooming flowers painted by Augusto Giacometti. Known as 'Blüemlihalle,' it's a landmark you can visit freely – no arrest required.
A former industrial district now leads Zurich's creative renaissance
Follow the Limmat River west from Zurich's medieval centre and the cobblestones give way to train tracks, industrial towers and a different rhythm entirely. Zurich-West, once the city's manufacturing core, has been transformed into a creative hub humming with energy.
At its heart stands Löwenbräukunst, a red-brick brewery transformed into one of Europe's most unique cultural complexes. Under a single roof, you'll find the Kunsthalle Zürich, Migros Museum für Gegenwartskunst and major galleries like Hauser & Wirth and Francesca Pia, alongside Edition VFO, which specialises in limited-edition prints.
In one moment, you can be peering at kinetic sculptures and oil paintings, and in the next, you're eating vegan dishes at Bistro LOI or chatting with gallery owners.
'Zurich's strength lies in its diversity and density,' says Jacqueline Uhlmann, Löwenbräukunst's manager.
'While it may be quieter than Basel during art week, it offers a year-round, highly active contemporary art scene with a remarkable mix of galleries, off-spaces, major institutions, collectors and universities – all within walking distance.'
That proximity can fuel cross-pollination. Uhlmann explains that the Löwenbräukunst hosts regular meetups that allow anyone interested in art to plug into the district's creative pulse.
'Initiatives like our monthly Art Walk West – a collaboration across the Zurich-West district – are designed to activate and connect with the broader community,' she says. 'It fosters informal conversations that often lead to real collaborations.'
Back in the old town, the art spaces offer a different aesthetic.
Kunsthaus Zurich, the city's most renowned fine arts institution, is one of the largest museums in Switzerland, housing works by Marc Chagall, Alberto Giacometti and Swiss-born innovator Sophie Taeuber-Arp. But it's not all reverent silence and oil portraits. Recent exhibitions have tackled everything from NFTs to feminist interventions. And if you need a breather, the leafy Heimplatz square outside is perfect for people-watching with a pastry in hand.
If you time your visit right, you might also catch Zurich Art Weekend, a three-day event in early summer that features more than 70 exhibitions across the city. Organised just before Art Basel, the annual art weekend involves everything from rooftop talks to guided tours, all free and open to the public.
Zurich's hotels offer discovery as well as design
Even Zurich's hospitality industry has a creative edge. The vibrant 25hours Hotel Zurich West was brought to life by Swiss designer Alfredo Häberli. The Boutique & Art Hotel Helvetia houses sculptures, paintings, prints and more in its clean riverside space.
And then there's the Dolder Grand, where art is everywhere. Reportedly worth over €800 million, its collection is interwoven with the guest experience.
One morning, I walked into Blooms, the hotel's garden restaurant, and found a towering Keith Haring sculpture rising from the flower beds.
'Unlike in a traditional museum setting, guests encounter art in a relaxed and inviting atmosphere,' says Markus Granelli, the general manager. 'It encourages lingering, observation and conversation.'
You experience that whether you're sipping a cocktail at the Canvas Bar & Lounge – where each drink is inspired by a different piece in the hotel's collection – or admiring a giant mushroom sculpture by Takashi Murakami in the modern wing. There are works by Francesco Clemente, Urs Fischer, Mel Ramos and even Sylvester Stallone.
But the piece that lingers is Duane Hanson's 'Traveller,' also known as the man in the lobby. Made with a mix of found materials – clothing, hair, paper tickets – he looks startlingly lifelike. Orlando International Airport has a version, too, and passersby regularly try to wake him. I nearly did the same.
While he may not move, let alone talk, the man in the lobby will tell you everything you need to know about Zurich. Art isn't kept behind glass here; it's part of the experience.
As Uhlmann puts it: 'It's a place where something is made, not just shown.'
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Euronews
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With more than 100 pieces by major 20th- and 21st-century artists scattered across the property, the hotel doubles as a gallery, reflecting the city's deep ties to creativity and design. And it's far from an outlier. Public artwork brings unexpected beauty to everyday life Zurich is often seen as the domain of financiers, FIFA officials and other members of the Maserati-driving classes. But it also gave the world Dadaism, the radical movement that emerged in 1916 at Cabaret Voltaire and laid the groundwork for surrealism and pop art. Later, Zurich became the birthplace of Swiss Style, which championed grid-based design, sans-serif typefaces like Helvetica and a pared-back, rational aesthetic that still shapes everything from transport signage to websites. Its creative spirit isn't limited to the annals of history, either. 'Zurich is understated but buzzing,' says Jacqueline Uhlmann, manager of the Löwenbräukunst art centre in the up-and-coming Zurich-West district. 'There's a quiet confidence and a collaborative spirit here, driven less by trend and more by substance. It's a city where design, art, architecture and technology constantly intersect.' Some of that is credit to the city's Kunst im öffentlichen Raum (KiöR) programme. It has commissioned and maintained over 1,300 public artworks, ranging from underpass murals to sculptures in cemeteries and playgrounds. At Zurich Main Station, you're welcomed by Niki de Saint Phalle's purple-and-gold 'Guardian Angel.' At Zürichhorn, Jean Tinguely's mechanical 'Heureka' greets you with spinning parts and surreal charm. Even Bahnhofstrasse, the city's high-end shopping boulevard, hosts Max Bill's minimalist 'Pavilion Sculpture.' 'There's a growing movement around reclaiming and creatively using urban space,' explains Milica Vujcic of Zurich Tourism. Perhaps the most surprising example of Zurich's artistic undercurrent is found inside the last place you should be: the police station. 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In one moment, you can be peering at kinetic sculptures and oil paintings, and in the next, you're eating vegan dishes at Bistro LOI or chatting with gallery owners. 'Zurich's strength lies in its diversity and density,' says Jacqueline Uhlmann, Löwenbräukunst's manager. 'While it may be quieter than Basel during art week, it offers a year-round, highly active contemporary art scene with a remarkable mix of galleries, off-spaces, major institutions, collectors and universities – all within walking distance.' That proximity can fuel cross-pollination. Uhlmann explains that the Löwenbräukunst hosts regular meetups that allow anyone interested in art to plug into the district's creative pulse. 'Initiatives like our monthly Art Walk West – a collaboration across the Zurich-West district – are designed to activate and connect with the broader community,' she says. 'It fosters informal conversations that often lead to real collaborations.' Back in the old town, the art spaces offer a different aesthetic. Kunsthaus Zurich, the city's most renowned fine arts institution, is one of the largest museums in Switzerland, housing works by Marc Chagall, Alberto Giacometti and Swiss-born innovator Sophie Taeuber-Arp. But it's not all reverent silence and oil portraits. Recent exhibitions have tackled everything from NFTs to feminist interventions. And if you need a breather, the leafy Heimplatz square outside is perfect for people-watching with a pastry in hand. If you time your visit right, you might also catch Zurich Art Weekend, a three-day event in early summer that features more than 70 exhibitions across the city. Organised just before Art Basel, the annual art weekend involves everything from rooftop talks to guided tours, all free and open to the public. Zurich's hotels offer discovery as well as design Even Zurich's hospitality industry has a creative edge. The vibrant 25hours Hotel Zurich West was brought to life by Swiss designer Alfredo Häberli. The Boutique & Art Hotel Helvetia houses sculptures, paintings, prints and more in its clean riverside space. And then there's the Dolder Grand, where art is everywhere. Reportedly worth over €800 million, its collection is interwoven with the guest experience. One morning, I walked into Blooms, the hotel's garden restaurant, and found a towering Keith Haring sculpture rising from the flower beds. 'Unlike in a traditional museum setting, guests encounter art in a relaxed and inviting atmosphere,' says Markus Granelli, the general manager. 'It encourages lingering, observation and conversation.' You experience that whether you're sipping a cocktail at the Canvas Bar & Lounge – where each drink is inspired by a different piece in the hotel's collection – or admiring a giant mushroom sculpture by Takashi Murakami in the modern wing. There are works by Francesco Clemente, Urs Fischer, Mel Ramos and even Sylvester Stallone. But the piece that lingers is Duane Hanson's 'Traveller,' also known as the man in the lobby. Made with a mix of found materials – clothing, hair, paper tickets – he looks startlingly lifelike. Orlando International Airport has a version, too, and passersby regularly try to wake him. I nearly did the same. While he may not move, let alone talk, the man in the lobby will tell you everything you need to know about Zurich. Art isn't kept behind glass here; it's part of the experience. As Uhlmann puts it: 'It's a place where something is made, not just shown.'
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The birth of footwear came because we had several winters without snow across the globe, where Salomon and all the ski makers were about to go bankrupt — back in '89 to '91. And Salomon had this cross-country boot, with a very specific outsole, and working with the pattern maker, we began making shoes. It was a hiking boot to begin with. Before that, we had diversified into apparel, particularly in snowboarding. Then, in the early 2000s, we decided that trail running would be our sport, which is when we really started to engage in product innovation and small communities. I have a picture of the first Marathon du Mont Blanc, back in the early 2000s, which had just 50 people — and Salomon was sponsoring it from the beginning. And now it's very well structured and had its latest Marathon du Mont Blanc this weekend. The second recent pivot was due to Covid, which didn't start trends but accelerated them. People living in the city began not using cars, but walking and cycling everywhere much more. And people discovered that outdoor gear is much better for this sort of activity — more comfortable and, in the rain, far drier. So, we mix very practical products with this emotional dream of the mountain — the idea of going outside amid beauty. We combine the two, which is about when we began doing some collaboration — first with Boris Bidjan (critically acclaimed for their tough tech aesthetic), and then the Paris boutique Broken Arm (with a rugged rebel look). And we are still working together. FN: Another key change, then? GM: It was a pivotal moment for Salomon when we had just opened in this city. We realized that the way we designed products and the way we told the story of authenticity was appealing to consumers. So today, we have a clear positioning, which is the modern mountain sports lifestyle. Salomon is very modern — inventing new practices in the mountains and looking at consumers — which is why we launched our Gravel this spring with a major campaign. FN: In terms of design, to my eye, you blend practicality with a certain biomorphic look? GM: All our design and creation is based on functionality. That's the quick‑lace system, and the centipede, which is the kinda' zig‑zag pattern. We produced everything ourselves, except for GORE‑TEX. FN: And the result is that you are far more shoe‑driven than ski‑driven? GM: In terms of product categories, today two‑thirds of our business is footwear, 22% is winter sport, and 10% is apparel. This percentage in winter sports seems small, but we are still the world leader when you add together skis, boards and cross‑country. FN: What is your annual turnover? GM: I won't reveal that as the Anta Sports company (which includes Salomon) is quoted on the NYSE. So, we have some limitations. But I can say that in 2024, we passed the bar of $1 billion in footwear. So, we are in a very good place. FN: What sort will 2025 be? GM: Double‑digit growth. Worldwide, we have some 200 stores of our own, the majority of them in China, and a further 300 franchise stores. Performing well. Additionally, in terms of wholesale business, we are in more than 10,000 sales points. FN: In 2019, the brand was acquired by a Chinese‑Canadian consortium, Anta. How did that change the way you operate? GM: It was a big accelerator for Salomon — it led us to rethink how we reach the consumer by opening stores in strategic places, like the Champs‑Élysées in 2024. Now we have a store in the Marais, Opéra, and five in Paris. We opened a third store in London and a second in Milan. We have one in NYC and want another. We want to open 10 stores in the U.S., in LA, Miami and others, and to have concept stores in places like Berlin or Copenhagen. The idea is that our core business is still B‑to‑B, but we want to create impact with high‑visibility spaces where you can express what's best about Salomon — driving awareness. The DNA of Salomon is the modern mountain sports lifestyle, and I think that is a very nice place to be. Lifestyle is not just about chilling out — it's about sport, exercise, going out for a walk or to dinner — and we accompany you then. I believe that the consumer is greatly inspired today by the outdoors and the mountains, by being healthy, being active and biking. That's a huge and growing community. That's our community.
