FIFA Museum

Zurich is the home of FIFA, world football's governing body, and the FIFA Museum, opened in 2016 in the Enge district a short walk from the lake, tells the story of the global game across three floors. It is designed for football fans of every age and level of interest, and it is as much about the culture of the sport as about the trophies. The visit begins with the history of the game and of FIFA, founded in Paris in 1904 and based in Zurich for most of its existence, and with a striking display of the shirts of every member association, arranged in a rainbow of colours. The heart of the museum is the World Cup gallery, where the original trophies are on display, including the FIFA World Cup Trophy, alongside objects from every tournament: match balls, shirts, boots, tickets, posters and the stories of famous goals and players. The women's game has its own strong presence, with the FIFA Women's World Cup trophy and a history of the tournament, and a section on football's place in society, from fan culture to the game's role in politics and peace, gives the visit depth. Downstairs, the interactive area turns visitors into players, with games testing shooting, passing and reactions, and a large football-themed play zone that makes the museum a strong choice for families. Changing exhibitions focus on themes such as the cultural impact of football. With the 2026 World Cup in North America fresh in fans' memories, the museum is a natural pilgrimage. The museum opens Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm and is closed on Mondays. Tickets include an audio guide and cost around the price of a mid-range Zurich museum, with reductions for children, and combination tickets with the Lindt Home of Chocolate or a city tour are available.

How to plan your visit: allow two hours for the exhibitions and another hour if you have children who will want to play in the interactive zone. The museum is fully accessible, and the bistro on the ground floor and the shop make it easy to spend half a day. Weekday mornings are quiet; weekend afternoons and school holidays are busier, especially in the play area. The audio guide, included with the ticket, adds commentary in several languages. Photography is allowed for personal use, and the trophy displays are among the most photographed spots in Zurich.

Getting there: the museum is on the Seestrasse in Enge, about ten minutes' walk from the lakeshore at Mythenquai and a short tram ride or a fifteen-minute walk from the main station; Zurich Enge railway station is close by. The lakeside promenade nearby, with its parks and swimming areas in summer, makes a pleasant walk back to the city centre. If you are heading to the Lindt Home of Chocolate in Kilchberg, a few kilometres further along the same lakeshore, the two make a natural pairing, and Tiqets sells a combination ticket.

Who will love it: football fans obviously, but also families with children of any age, thanks to the interactive games, and design lovers, who will enjoy the exhibition design and the colourful shirts. Non-fans may find the trophy halls brief; the society and culture sections are the most rewarding for them. For a full football day, check whether FC Zurich or Grasshopper Club are playing at the Letzigrund stadium, a short ride away. On a rainy day, the museum combines well with the Kunsthaus or the Swiss National Museum, and on a sunny one with a swim or a stroll at the lakeside parks of Mythenquai, so it fits easily into any Zurich itinerary without needing a full day of its own.