{"id":34007,"date":"2026-03-17T19:41:03","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T19:41:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/34007\/"},"modified":"2026-03-17T19:41:03","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T19:41:03","slug":"explore-zurich-with-swiss-style-icon-susanne-bartsch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/34007\/","title":{"rendered":"Explore Zurich with Swiss style icon Susanne Bartsch"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cZurich is a beautiful city,\u201d declares Swiss-born fashion and nightlife trailblazer Susanne Bartsch<\/a>, who knows a thing or two about beauty. \u201cI just love the culture \u2014 how they\u2019re living life, the whole culture of hanging out. I feel like they really stop and smell the roses.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now through December 7, Zurich is celebrating Bartsch\u2019s iconic career of unforgettable outfits and spectacular New York City events with the exhibition \u201cTransformation!,<\/a>\u201d on glorious display at the Museum f\u00fcr Gestaltung<\/a> (Museum of Design). The exhibition, Bartsch\u2019s first in her native Switzerland, takes the visitor on a dazzling nocturnal journey through getting ready, queuing up, clubbing, and winding down \u2014 with a cavalcade of phenomenal lewks along the way, of course.<\/p>\n

\"Susanne Bartsch at the Museum f\u00fcr Gestaltung’s ‘Transformation!’ exhibition, which highlights the nightlife icon’s illustrious career.Niklaus Stauss<\/p>\n

\u201cMy idea was that it would be more than Susanne Bartsch,\u201d says the style icon. \u201cI wanted to do the whole Bartschland club experience, and the space lends itself perfectly to this. I love that it\u2019s a basement.\u201d<\/p>\n

Embark on your own Bartsch-esque transformation through Zurich by gearing up at Fidelio<\/a> in the Altstadt (Old Town), where twin boutiques for men and women both offer fantastic selections of stylish global brands like Acne Studios and Thom Krom. If money\u2019s no object, head a few blocks over to the ultra-posh Bahnhofstrasse<\/a> to find luxury fashion shops like Chanel, Prada, and Gucci. If secondhand is more your speed, Maroni Vintage<\/a> in the Werd neighborhood promotes sustainable fashion with a great curated selection of gently used designer pieces.<\/p>\n

\"An Bahnhofstrasse, the main downtown shopping area of Zurich, Switzerland.Schweiz Tourismus\/Daniel Loosli<\/p>\n

Accessorize at Freitag Tower, home to the flagship store for the hip Swiss Freitag brand of sustainable bags<\/a>, made from durable former truck tarps. The tower\u2019s striking structure consists of 19 disused freight containers stacked atop each other and now offering excellent views of the surrounding Kreis 5, a former industrial area that\u2019s now one of Zurich\u2019s trendiest districts.<\/p>\n

Get ready for the evening\u2019s escapades at the super cool and comfy 25hours Hotel Zurich Langstrasse<\/a>, with vibes and decor inspired by the hotel\u2019s neighboring red light district. Within easy walking distance of Zurich\u2019s main train station, the hotel also claims to be the first in the world where you can pay for your stay with art or other collectibles (details on its site). Cinchona Bar on the ground floor often hosts fun drag brunches.<\/p>\n

\"\" A beautifully lit street in the Niederdorf neighborhood.Z\u00fcrich Tourismus<\/p>\n

Start your night out in the Niederdorf neighborhood at Kweer<\/a>, a relaxed and diverse LGBTQ<\/a>+ coffeehouse by day and bar come evening. Kweer opened in 2022 on the former site of Barf\u00fcsser, Zurich\u2019s oldest gay bar and one of the earliest in Europe, dating back to the 1950s. <\/p>\n

If it\u2019s the weekend, head across the street to Heaven, Zurich\u2019s main gay club<\/a>, offering a lively mix of pop, drag, and disco. On Wednesdays, make your way back to Kreis 5 for the riverside Heldenbar<\/a>, which serves up an edgier, more inclusive, and always upbeat vibe.<\/p>\n

\"\" Locals and tourists traverse the streets of Langstrasse, Zurich’s nightlife hotspot. Z\u00fcrich Tourismus<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re feeling adventurous, on Thursday to Saturday nights you can join the queue with some of the coolest Z\u00fcrchers for entry to Klaus on Langstrasse, the city\u2019s main nightlife strip. But don\u2019t do so without an invitation, since at least in theory Klaus is a private club for \u201cfriends and friends of friends.\u201d Bartsch held the transformative after-party for her show\u2019s opening there, so it\u2019s definitely worth asking around and trying to tag along with a Klaus member as their plus-one.<\/p>\n

For Bartsch, few things can electrify our power to resist the world\u2019s darkness like club culture. \u201cThe dance floor to me is a big place to fight back,\u201d she says. \u201cCommunity right now is very important. Stick together, create things where we unite, be together, have each other\u2019s energy, have each other\u2019s backs.\u201d<\/p>\n

This travel article is part of Out’s Sept-Oct issue, which hits newsstands August 26. Support queer media and subscribe<\/a> \u2014 or download the issue through Apple News, Zinio, Nook, or PressReader starting August 14.<\/p>\n

\"cover OutTraveler FALL 2025<\/p>\n