Visiting the Vitra Campus: VitraHaus, museum, architecture

My take on the Vitra Campus

Where is Vitra? In Weil am Rhein, on the border with France and Switzerland

Vitra is based in Weil am Rhein, Germany, right on the border with France and Switzerland. So it’s very easy to pop over during a stay in Alsace or a visit to Basel.

💡 A tip from a local: Vitra pairs perfectly with a day in Basel—check out my ideas for visiting Basel.

What to do at the Vitra Campus

The Vitra Campus is an exceptional place that’s well worth a visit. The trickiest part is figuring out how everything fits together, but I’ve been several times, so I’ll break it down for you. Here’s the plan:

💡 A tip from a local: start with the free VitraHaus to get your bearings. Then choose which paid tickets to buy depending on your time and what you feel like doing.

Visiting the Vitra factory: the Production Tour

The Vitra factory is a well-kept secret. The Production Tour lets you watch the final production stages of an Aluminium Chair by Charles and Ray Eames, in German on Wednesdays and in English on Thursdays at 1:30 PM (except on public holidays). Expect to pay €12 (€10 reduced).

ℹ️ Note: starts at the VitraHaus; booking recommended.

Architecture Tour: the guided tour featuring Gehry, Hadid and Herzog & de Meuron

The guided architecture tour of the Vitra Campus is well worth it. Renowned international architects such as Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid and Herzog & de Meuron have built various buildings on the campus. The whole place is truly incredible!

The guided tour is offered in German and English every day, and in French one Saturday a month (the first) and on certain French public holidays, at 2:30 PM. Allow around 2 hours and €18 (€16 reduced), with departure from the VitraHaus. It gives access to parts of the campus you can’t visit otherwise: a true open-air architecture museum! Really impressive—I loved this tour.

💡 A tip from a local: if you don’t speak German or English, plan your visit for the first Saturday of the month.

Visiting the VitraHaus, the free-access showroom

The VitraHaus, designed by Herzog & de Meuron, is an iconic campus building, recognizable by its silhouette of houses stacked on top of each other. It’s both Vitra’s flagship store (a huge showroom), an exhibition space, and an architectural showcase.

Each floor features staged displays of furniture by iconic designers such as Eames, Prouvé or Panton. You wander through it like a large contemporary home, marvelling at the designers’ creativity—and as a bonus, the top floor offers a lovely panoramic view over the campus.

In my opinion, the VitraHaus is a fantastic tip: it’s free to visit, yet feels like a rich museum with remarkable architecture, where you can happily wander for quite a while. It’s my favorite spot on the Vitra Campus!

💡 A tip from a local: head all the way up to the top floor for the panoramic view over the campus.

Visiting the Vitra Design Museum, Frank Gehry’s museum

The Vitra Design Museum, inaugurated in 1989, is the work of architect Frank Gehry. It’s his first building in Europe, and it doesn’t go unnoticed, with its sculptural forms, deconstructed volumes and bright white walls.

The museum has no permanent collection, but offers temporary exhibitions, often linked to contemporary themes such as sustainability, future technologies, or the social impact of design.

💡 A tip from a local: given the ticket price, I’d only go if the exhibition theme really appeals to you—I’ve been disappointed before.

Visiting the Schaudepot: over 400 pieces of design furniture

The Schaudepot, designed by Herzog & de Meuron and opened in 2016, is a red-brick building with a clean, minimalist design. It houses part of the Vitra Design Museum’s vast collection, with over 400 pieces of furniture on display, from Charles and Ray Eames classics to contemporary creations.

It showcases, in particular, many armchairs and chairs from the Vitra collection dating back to 1800. There’s no special staging here: the pieces are displayed on large shelving units, with the focus on how design has evolved over time. I really like this place—you discover so many beautiful objects!

💡 A tip from a local: the combined ticket with the museum (€26) works out cheaper than two separate tickets (€32).

Where to eat on site: VitraHaus Café and Depot Deli

During or after your visit, a break can be very welcome! Good news: the Vitra Campus has two cafés whose interiors showcase Vitra creations—perfect for extending the design experience over a coffee or a meal:

• The VitraHaus Café, on the ground floor of the VitraHaus, with a superb terrace.
• The Depot Deli, in the Schaudepot building—also a very pleasant spot.

💡 A tip from a local: the food is really good, and both terraces are lovely in summer.

Sliding down Carsten Höller’s slide tower

For a fun twist during your visit, don’t miss the slide tower designed by artist Carsten Höller. This 30.7-metre-high structure offers a panoramic view over the campus from its 17-metre platform, before you spiral back down via a 38-metre slide. It’s a fun experience that kids and adults alike enjoy (yes, really!). And it’s free.

ℹ️ Note: it’s closed in bad weather or extreme heat. Opening hours: 10 AM to 6 PM from April to September, 12 PM to 4 PM from October to March, depending on the weather.

💡 A tip from a local: if it’s closed, head for the view from the top floor of the VitraHaus instead.

Shopping: the VitraHaus and Schaudepot stores

The Vitra Campus store, located in the VitraHaus and the Schaudepot, is a real Ali Baba’s cave for design enthusiasts. You’ll find a wide selection of furniture, accessories and decorative objects, from timeless classics to the latest releases. A word of caution, though: prices are Vitra prices—this is high-end design! I still enjoy browsing; the shops are worth a look even if you don’t buy anything.

What to remember about visiting Vitra

• 🏠 Start with the VitraHaus, which is free to visit.
• 🎟️ Only pay for the museum if the exhibition appeals to you, and consider the combined ticket (€26) with the Schaudepot.
• 📐 Book the Architecture Tour if you’re into architecture—there’s a French tour one Saturday a month.
• 🚌 Take bus 55 from Basel—it’s direct.
• 🎢 The slide is free, but check the weather: it closes in bad weather.

Want to extend your trip at the three borders? Check out my easy three-country bike loop.

Frequently asked questions before your visit