‘Creative thinking shapes the way we experience everyday life’
Milan
Triennial Design Museum
Viale Emilio Alemagna, 6, 20121
Milan’s Triennale Milano finds its home inside the elegant Palazzo dell’Arte, a Rationalist landmark surrounded by the lush Sempione Park. Established in 1923, the museum exists to champion Italian design, architecture and visual culture. A highlight running through summer is Casa Lana: a meticulous reconstruction of Italian architect Ettore Sottsass’s mid-1960s Milanese interior, offering an intimate glimpse into what would have been considered radical domestic design for the time.
Zurich
Vitra Design Museum
Charles-Eames-Strasse 2, D-79576
While not strictly in Zurich, the Vitra Design Museum is a world-leading institute of art and design and sits just one hour’s drive away from 25hours Hotel Zürich West, over the German border. And, trust us; it’s worth the trip. Permanent exhibition Wunderkammer collects hundreds of action figures made post WW2, capturing society’s spirit at the time. From 25hours Hotel: 1 hour.
Seoul
Dongdaemun Design Plaza
281 Eulji-ro, Jung-gu
Seoul’s Dongdaemun Design Plaza is an architectural marvel. Designed by the esteemed Zaha Hadid and opened in 2014, its flowing aluminium curves and futuristic scale make it one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks. By day it hosts design exhibitions, fashion shows and cultural programmes; by night it glows like a sci-fi sculpture. Design lovers come for the building alone but stay for the way it places contemporary Korean creativity front and centre.
Dubai
Jameel Arts Centre
Jameel Arts Centre, Jaddaf Waterfront
The Jameel Arts Centre is exactly that; a bustling, thriving centre for all things creative, ranging from Michelin-starred dining to events spaces and meticulously preened gardens. Contemporary art anchors the collection but there’s an impressive programme of talks and workshops too, such as a kids summer camp through March, where little ones are invited to create in response to the world around them. From 25hours Hotel: 15 mins.
Hamburg
Design Zentrum Hamburg
Hongkongstraße 8, 20457
This is one of Hamburg’s most interesting design concepts; less a museum or gallery, more a community-focused hub offering weekly industry get-togethers, talks and tours of local stores and studios. If visiting the city, it’s an innovative way to connect with other enthusiasts. Events are released monthly, so keep an eye on the website for what’s coming up. Based in Hafencity, it’s just steps from both 25hours Hotels, and surrounded by cool eateries, new developments and the striking Elbphilharmonie concert hall. From 25hours Hotel: 5 mins.
New York City
Cooper Hewitt
2 East 91st Street, 10128
Set inside the ‘Gilded Age’-worthy Carnegie Mansion on New York’s Upper East Side, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum is driven by the belief that creative thinking shapes the way we experience everyday life. Founded in 1897, it champions design as a practical force rather than a purely aesthetic one, tracing its evolution through more than 215,000 objects. Book your ticket for Art of Noise explores a century of music and design, from record sleeves to sound systems, via over 300 works, immersive listening rooms and playful installations.
Copenhagen
Designmuseum Danmark
Bredgade 68, 1260
As one of the world’s design capitals, Copenhagen’s Designmuseum Danmark is a no-brainer. While the foundation was conceived in 1890, it wasn’t until 1926 that it moved to a Rococo former hospital building. It’s a pleasure to wander the exhibitions, stylish cafe, library, gift shop and gardens. This year, you can see ‘Belongings: Affection as a Design Strategy’ which explores why we look after objects we’re emotionally connected to. From 25hours Hotel Indre By: 21 mins. From 25hours Hotel Paper Island: 23 mins.
Berlin
Bauhaus-Archiv
Knesebeckstrasse 1, 10623 Berlin-Charlottenburg,
U Ernst-Reuter-Platz
Home to the world’s largest Bauhaus collection, since 1960 Bauhaus-Archiv has been collating works from across this iconic movement, gathering artists, students and enthusiasts, as well as showcasing its incredible structure designed by the father of Bauhaus himself, Walter Gropius. Right now, the main building is being renovated, but a smaller, temporary exhibition addresses contemporary issues of design, architecture and society – and the gift shop is still open! It’s a Berlin rite of passage. From 25hours Hotel: 16 mins, 5 mins.
Paris
Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine
1 Pl. du Trocadéro et du 11 Novembre, 75116
Set inside the Palais de Chaillot, Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine offers one of the most immersive ways to experience a city known for its architecture; Paris. This summer, its permanent galleries are complemented by rotating exhibitions exploring contemporary practice and urban thinking, alongside vast displays of full-scale casts, models and drawings. If you’re interested in practises throughout history, check out the medieval stonework next to modern city-making, showing how architecture has progressed. From 25hours Hotel: 28 mins.
Cologne
Museum of Applied Arts
An der Rechtschule, 50667
One of the largest institutions for applied art in Germany, you’ll find over 250,000 pieces here, spanning the Middle Ages to today. While there’s a varied mix of permanent and temporary exhibitions, design and architecture continue to be the focus. Check out their on-going Art + Design in Dialogue exhibition which features furniture sourced across Early Modernism to Bauhaus and Mid Century styles. From 25hours Hotel: 15 mins.
Vienna
MAK
Stubenring 5, 1010
MAK – Museum of Applied Arts in Vienna is a treasure for design lovers, not least because its beautifully proportioned building sits proudly on the city’s Ringstrasse, hinting at the rich blend of craft, creativity and design inside. The museum connects historic applied arts with cutting-edge design, architecture and contemporary practice. In 2026, highlights include Vienna 1900 Permanent Collection Textiles and Carpets and ongoing shows such as Hito Steyerl and Helmut Lang: Séance de Travail 1986 – 2005 that explore fashion, media and modern ideas. From 25hours Hotel: 35 mins, 10 mins.
Frankfurt
Dam – The Deutsches Architekturmuseum
Schaumainkai 43, 60596
The Deutsches Architekturmuseum (DAM) in Frankfurt is an essential stop for design lovers because it showcases architecture as both art and idea. Housed in a striking villa redesigned with a “house-within-a-house” concept, it offers changing exhibitions on architectural history, urban planning and contemporary design alongside a rich permanent display. The extensive collection of drawings, models and photographs reveals how buildings shape our world, while talks and workshops deepen insight into the art of making space. From 25hours Hotel The Trip: 21 mins, 5 mins. From 25hours Hotel The Goldman: 41, mins 14 mins.
