Are you in search of the most effective issues to do in Zürich? You’ve come to the correct place. We tried the most effective meals, adventures, and actions in Switzerland’s largest metropolis, and have rounded up essentially the most lovely lookouts and must-see points of interest. Being the monetary capital of Switzerland, Zürich is crammed with stylish eating places, posh patrons, and a complete lot of cash. Zürich is fashionable and complicated, however it’s also enjoyable and laid again.
Best Things to do in Zürich
When you go to Zurich we extremely recommend buying a Zürich Card. It is the easiest way to get across the metropolis and to lower your expenses. It consists of limitless public transportation together with tram, bus, practice, boat and cableway. It even features a mini lake cruise and river cruise. You get free or lowered admission to museums and 50% off an Old Town strolling tour. We did all this with our Zurich Card.
You can select from 24 hours passes to 72-hour passes beginning at 24CHF. We advocate spending no less than three days in Zürich. Read our full The Perfect 3 Days in Zurich, Switzerland
1. Lindt Home Chocolate
It could sound cliche to go to a chocolate manufacturing facility when in search of issues to do in Zürich, however this isn’t your atypical manufacturing facility tour. Lindt Home of Chocolate is without doubt one of the high Zurich points of interest and for good cause. This chocolate museum is a spectacle and if you go to Zurich, be certain to put this on the high of your listing.
Upon coming into you come face to face with an enormous chocolate fountain standing tall in the huge corridor. It is then onto a tour to study concerning the historical past of chocolate and eat quite a lot of chocolate.
We picked up our audio information and chosen our chosen language (English) as we adopted the shows to discover the evolution of chocolate. It was an fascinating and entertaining tour, however the actual deal with comes close to the tip if you enter a room crammed with chocolate fountains.
The fountains are pouring out the heavenly Lindt chocolate simply ready to be tasted. We grabbed a disposable spoon and tasted white, darkish, and milk chocolate till our hearts have been content material. We didn’t notice that there was extra, however as we walked on, we had one other pattern of chocolate bars to see if we might decipher the completely different flavors.
We failed, however we have been joyful to hold attempting. Our tour then ended in a room crammed with vats of well-known Lindor sweets permitting us to eat as many as we wished. The Lindt Home of Chocolate is actually a chocolate lover’s paradise.
Visit the Lindt Home of Chocolate Website for excursions and data. Tours begin at 15 CHF per individual, it’s also possible to e-book experiences like making your individual chocolate.
2. SUP on Lake Zürich
Hands down our favourite factor to do in Zürich spending time on Lake Zürich. We made our method to Badi Enge the place they hire paddleboards by the hour. It was a lot enjoyable to get on the water in the course of the sizzling summer season day.
Being on a paddleboard allow us to see the town from a distinct view and we had the liberty to paddle into the Schanzenbraben Canal the place we escaped the hustle and bustle as swans adopted us by means of the calm and quiet waters.
Even should you don’t need to paddleboard, be certain to get on the water if you go to Zurich. Lake Zurich has among the greatest views of the town. A ship experience is included in your Zürich Card, so if nothing else, no less than hop on a ship to take in the town views.
3. Seebad Enge
Zürich is the land of public baths and from what we perceive, there are six lake baths on Lake Zurich and 5 different river baths all through the town the place folks get pleasure from basking in the solar whereas having the ability to take a dip in the clear and clear waters.
Seebad Enge was simply reached by strolling from the town middle, and it’s a lovely walkway alongside the lakefront with parks and views of the Swiss Alps and the town. There is a blended and women-only solely swimming space, swimming lanes, a restaurant, and wood solar decks.
In the winter Seebad Enge is became a sauna, so you possibly can go to it year-round. Imagine scorching in a sauna as you view the snow capped mountains of the Swiss Alps. That is heavenly.
It prices 8CHF (8.74 USD) to enter and paddleboard leases begin at 35 CHF (38 USD) for an hour. For extra data Visit the Zürich Website at Seebad Enge
4. Altstadt (Old Town)
When visiting any European metropolis, the most effective factor to do is just stroll by means of the Old Town, get pleasure from an aperitif and do some window buying. The Cobbled Streets of Zürich’s Altstadt are lined with medieval buildings and bridges lining the Limmat River. There are numerous galleries and retailers the place you possibly can decide up some Swiss chocolate or scrumptious cheese.
One of our favourite issues to do in Zürich’s Old Town was to merely pull up a seat on one of many out of doors patios and other people watch. Zürich is without doubt one of the costliest cities in the world and watching the style and households stroll by made for one of the crucial fascinating people-watching afternoons of our lives.
5. Walking Tours
One of the most effective methods to get acquainted with Zürich is to take a strolling tour. You can get 50% off a strolling tour along with your Zurich Card and it is a smart way to see a lot of the high Zurich points of interest in a short while. We cherished our time with native information Barbara who confirmed us all of the little unseen gems that vacationers miss.
From the chewing gum artwork in entrance of Cabaret Voltaire, the Birthplace of Dadaism, to her favourite fountains the place we might replenish our water bottles with contemporary water.
We began our tour of the town middle by strolling by means of the attractive Rechberg gardens earlier than making our method by means of the medieval structure to the University for among the best views of Zürich. Weaving our method by means of the outdated city, we noticed the highest Zürich points of interest from Kunsthaus to Grossmünster, Zürich’s most well-known landmark.
6. Grossmünster (Great Minster)
Grossmünster is an imposing landmark in Zürich with its twin towers standing tall over the Limmat River. It can also be one of the crucial essential locations in Zürich because it was the sight of reformation in Switzerland. You can stroll up the towers to see lovely views over Zürich and ensure to go into the crypt to see an impressive statue of Charlemagne.
7. Fraumünster
Another church to go to in Zürich is Fraumünster. People go into this church to see the attractive stained glass home windows by Marc Chagall and Augusto Giacometti (uncle to the well-known Swiss sculptor, Alberto Giacometti) Fraumünster is without doubt one of the most recognizable landmarks in the town.
Founded in 853, this church was initially a convent inhabited by aristocratic females from Europe. Five stained glass home windows designed by Chagall have been put in in 1970. Inside there’s additionally a formidable pipe organ with 5793 pipes.
8. Go Up Uetliberg Mountain
Our subsequent large shock was making our method up to the most effective lookout over Zürich. Using our Zürich Card, we boarded a bus after which a tram, and eventually a practice up to the highest of Zürich’s very personal mountain. Uetliberg Mountain It is just about 45 minutes to get right here from the town middle and it’s properly price it for the most effective views of Zurich
When you attain the tip of the road, it’s a few 10-minute stroll to the lookout tower for wonderful views of Zurich, Lake Zurich, and the Swiss Alps. If you’ve got greater than a day or two, we extremely recommend you make the journey up the mountain if you go to Zurich. It was our favourite factor to do outdoors the town middle.
After you’ve got taken in the views of the rolling hills and the town under, you possibly can have lunch on the restaurant or proceed mountain climbing for about 2 hours to the gondola that may take you again down. If you’ve got a while, this makes for a fantastic half-day tour in Zürich. To climb the tower it prices 2 CHF (bank cards accepted) and it’s fully price the fee.
9. Explore Zürich West
Zürich West is the hippest spot in city. (I believe utilizing the phrase hip, simply made me look sq.). Once a warehouse and manufacturing facility district, Zürich West has been remodeled into a spot with fashionable bars, cool cafes, and loads of buying. There are nice artworks scattered all through ZürichWest so it’s price exploring on foot.
It is straightforward to get to through the use of our Zurich card. We hopped on public transportation and have been in this hip a part of city inside 10 minutes from the town middle. When the lights go down, locals and vacationers alike flock to the bars for his or her intoxicating nightlife scene. Fun reality, Zürich has extra bars per capita than another metropolis in Europe!
10. Zürich Viadukt
Don’t miss buying alongside the Viadukt. This 550-meter-long railway viaduct is a lovely show of arches crammed with boutiques, eating places, and galleries. Built in 1894, it’s a spot the place locals meet up, have picnics in the park, and benefit from the laid-back ambiance on a summer season’s day.
While you might be on the Viadukt, get pleasure from dinner at Restaurant Viadukt positioned immediately beneath the practice tracks wanting in direction of the park. There is out of doors and indoor eating. It is beneficial to make a reservation.
11. Frau Gerolds Garten (Mrs. Gerold’s Garden)
Zürich West is crammed with cool cafés however the busiest spot we encountered was Frau Gerold’s Garten. This is the place everybody who’s anybody hangs out after work. This out of doors sizzling spot is a modular bar and eating space with out of doors meals stalls and markets. Grab a beer and other people watch as you’re feeling like a neighborhood for the night. Visit the web site for particulars.
12. Urban Surf
Right subsequent to Frau Gerold’s Garten is without doubt one of the extra distinctive Zurich points of interest, Urban Surf. For a steep worth, you possibly can strive some metropolis browsing in their wave pool.
If you aren’t up for getting moist, no worries, you possibly can sit on one of many plush patio chairs and revel in a cocktail as you watch folks battle in the waves. Whatever you determine, it’s a enjoyable place to hang around. Visit Urban Surf for classes and costs.
13. Wollishofen
No journey to Zürich can be full with out hopping on a ship tour of Lake Zurich. We had a style of that when transferring to the cool lakeside neighborhood of Wollishofen utilizing our Zürich Card for a free boat experience. It was simply quarter-hour from the town middle.
The spotlight of this location is the stunning stroll alongside the Cassiopeia Boardwalk. We discovered that Zürich has labored arduous to make its valuable waterfront accessible to the general public and persons are now not allowed to buy waterfront property on Lake Zurich. In entrance of the homes that have been grandfathered in with waterfront property, the town constructed a boardwalk on the water to permit entry to the general public.
14. Mönchhof am See
While you might be strolling by means of Wollishofen, take your time to go to the neighborhood of artists. It is a cool neighborhood of Zürich that isn’t to be missed. A little bit additional south is Kilchberg which has loads of waterfront eating places the place you possibly can sit again and benefit from the surroundings.
We ate a Mönchhof am See, which we discovered is owned by one of many high restauranteurs in the town. With scrumptious truffle fries, refreshing ginger photographs and a contemporary burrata and tomato salad, my mouth was crammed with flavors. There is loads of out of doors eating, you may make a reservation right here.
15. Bahnhofstrasse
Speaking of buying, Zürich boasts one of the crucial costly buying streets in the world. Bahnhofstrasse is Zürich’s most important downtown avenue spanning 1.4 km from the principle practice station.
As you stroll from the practice station towards Lake Zürich, the retailers turn into ever extra unique with the likes of Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, Rolex, and all the opposite big-name manufacturers. Zürich is the center of the Swiss Bank system and when you attain Paradplatz, one can solely surprise how a lot money and jewels are sitting inside their vaults.
16. Lindenhof
One of the highest issues to do in Zürich is to go to the quiet park overlooking Zürich from the Old City Walls. Lindenhof is the oldest a part of Zürich the place the stays of a Roman medieval metropolis wall stands excessive on a hill overlooking the Limmat River. During the day it may well get fairly busy, however at dawn, it’s quiet and peaceable.
Once residence to a Roman Fort, Lindenhof gives among the best views of Zürich and the river. After you go to Lindenhoff, cease by St. Peter’s Church one of many 4 most important church buildings in the historic metropolis middle.
17. eat Fondue
Dave and I had a aim when going again to Switzerland, and it was to eat as a lot fondue and raclette as doable. We managed to do so and certainly one of our favourite fondue eating places in all the nation was Swiss Chuchi in the Altstadt.
Located in the center of Niederdorf a pedestrian plaza main to hidden alleyways across the Old Town, Swiss Chuchi is without doubt one of the greatest locations in Zürich for Fondue. (we discovered that out after selecting to eat there, fortunate us!) The scrumptious melted goodness got here with a sack of potatoes and contemporary bread.
Who cares that it was 30 levels Celcius outdoors, we ordered a refreshing aperitivo and after we felt silly ordering a sizzling dish in the center of summer season, our waiter stated “It’s always a good time for fondue.” I imagine he was right as a result of after we acquired our dish, a number of different vacationers joined us on the terrace to order fondues of their very own! Hey when you’re at it, get pleasure from a Swiss sizzling chocolate too! Swiss Chuchi is positioned in the Hotel Adler, Zurich.
18. Fill up on the Many Fountains
One of essentially the most fascinating issues, if you go to Zürich, is to hold an eye fixed out for the 1200 ornate fountains scattered all through the town. These aren’t your common ingesting fountains, the fountains of Zürich are artworks. You’ll see kids taking part in in the fountains, runners stopping for a fast slurp, and many individuals filling up their water bottles.
You’ll by no means go thirsty in Zürich, because the water operating from the fountains is clear and contemporary and simply ready for you to have a style. Some Zürich fountains are merely lovely so if you are filling your bottle, be certain to benefit from the particulars of the artist’s work.
19. zürich Opera House
The Zürich Opera House, often known as the Opernhaus Zürich was first constructed in 1891 and has undergone a number of renovations through the years. The opera home is positioned in Sechseläutenplatz which is without doubt one of the largest squares in Switzerland. It is price going to this sq. alone, however it’s best to go inside to see this lovely venue. You can take a 50 minute tour that may take you thru all of the departments from make-up to wardrobe and also you’ll even go onstage.
The Zürich Opera House is residence to a lot of world-renowned productions and occasions together with the Zürich Opera and the Zürich Ballet. The opera firm performs a variety of operas, from classical works by composers resembling Mozart and Verdi to up to date operas.
20. Swiss National Museum
A go to to the Swiss National Museum is included in your Zürich Card. Known as Landesmuseum, it’s the oldest and largest cultural historical past museum in the nation. The museum gives a complete have a look at the historical past of Switzerland, from prehistoric instances to the current day. Visitors can study concerning the nation’s political, social, and financial improvement, in addition to its artwork and tradition.
The Swiss National Museum was designed to appear to be a historic castle-like constructing, which is an attraction in itself. It homes in depth collections of medieval and Renaissance artwork, textiles, weapons, and furnishings. It additionally has a big assortment of ornamental artwork, resembling ceramics, glass, and metalwork. If you might be in search of issues to do in Zürich on a wet day, it is a nice selection.
21. Kunsthaus Zürich
Art lovers will get pleasure from shopping Kunsthaus Zürich (Zurich Museum of Art) the place you possibly can view the greats resembling Chagall, Monet, and Van Gogh. There are loads of different artists to see on the Museum of Art because it homes certainly one of Switzerland’s most essential artwork collections.
There are 1000 items on show at any given time. It has the biggest Edvard Munch assortment outdoors Norway, you’ll see Andy Warhol, Picasso, Rembrandt and Monet. We by no means tire of being uncovered to beautiful artwork.
Plan Your Trip to Zürich
There are so many wonderful issues to do in Zurich that you may spend a complete season exploring. But Dave and I made an excellent go of it. Running on only a few hours of sleep every day, we have been up on the break of day to late into the evening testing the most effective of Zurich. Follow the map to see should you can take a look at all of those points of interest.
Where to Stay in Zurich
When selecting the place to keep in Zurich, we advocate the Old City which is inside strolling distance to all over the place making it straightforward to get round. We stayed on the Florhoff Hotel. This boutique lodge was refurbished in 2014 and has a historic character with trendy rooms and facilities. A scrumptious breakfast is included, there’s a widespread restaurant on-site and whereas it’s in the Old Town, it’s far sufficient away from the hustle and bustle making it a quiet possibility.
There are loads of inns in Zurich West which is just 10 minutes to downtown by transit and is a extra reasonably priced possibility.
How to Get Around Zurich
The greatest method to get round Zurich is to buy a City Pass Zurich Card. It offers limitless journey by bus, practice, cableway, and tram plus you possibly can take a brief boat experience and a Limmat River cruise. City Pass Zurich Cards begin at 24 CHF for twenty-four hours. Get extra particulars right here.
The Zurich Card additionally allows you to enter certainly one of Zurich’s 43 museums at no cost or with lowered admission. Plus, it’s also possible to take a Zurich Old city strolling tour at half worth. This card is the most effective bang in your buck for getting round Zurich and seeing its high vacationer points of interest.
Before boarding any public transport, be certain to validate your ticket and have it useful. Once it’s validated, you possibly can hop on any public transport in city all through your ticket. You don’t have to validate it once more when you’ve executed it the primary time.
Best Day Trips from Zurich
Switzerland has an environment friendly practice system making it among the best methods to journey round Switzerland. Plus it’s sustainable journey. Travel by practice produces much less O2 than another mode of transportation (apart from bicycle or foot) together with electrical vehicles which produce 13 instances extra emissions. It is straightforward to do day journeys from Zurich with the Swiss Travel Pass or to transfer on to your subsequent vacation spot
Swiss Travel Pass
When you buy a Swiss Travel Pass it consists of:
Unlimited journey by practice, bus, and boat Public transportation in greater than 90 cities and cities Including mountain excursions: Rigi, Schilthorn, Stanserhorn and Stoos Free admission to greater than 500 museums all through Switzerland Two free informative apps to assist plan your Switzerland journey are: Grand Train Tour of Switzerland app and Swiss Travel Guide app
Jungfraujoch
While Jungfraujoch deserves three to 5 days to go to this UNESCO World Heritage Site, you possibly can take a day journey from Zurich. If you don’t have quite a lot of time, this is without doubt one of the greatest day journeys from Zurich however it’s a lengthy one!
This guided day journey to Jungfraujoch with Train Ride provides you a style of seeing certainly one of Switzerland’s most lovely areas. You’ll get to discover the snow capped mountains of Jungfraujoch and the excessive Alps surroundings. After a cease in Interlaken, you’ll board the cable automotive on the Grindelwald Terminal for a spectacular 15-minute experience to the Eiger Glacier by gondola. Book your tour right here. Read extra about this at Spectacular Switzerland, a Visit to Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe
Stein am Rhein and Rhine Falls
If you might be in search of nearer day journeys from Zurich, a go to to the medieval city of Stein am Rhein and the wonderful Rhine Falls is an effective possibility. This extremely rated guided tour will take you on a journey in direction of the Swiss/German border of northern Switzerland to see the largest waterfall in Europe!
You’ll tour the Medieval village of Stein am Rhein and see the luxurious medieval citadel of Schloss Laufen and the mighty Rhine Falls and expertise Europe’s largest waterfall. You’ll take the carry to Rhine Falls and see a detailed up have a look at 700,000 liters of water plunging into the basin. You’ll additionally get to see the half-timber body townhouses in the outdated city, and St. George’s Abbey. Book it right here.
Grindelwald
Another day journey that’s doable from Zurich is to see Grindelwald and Interlaken. This full-day tour takes you to the Bernese Oberland. You’ll have the prospect to discover a little bit of the area by yourself, and we advocate going up to Grindelwald First.
Here you possibly can take the cable automotive to stroll the First Cliff Walk, hike out to the lake (about 2 hours return) after which get down rapidly through the First Adventures that embrace the zip strains, First First Flyer, and First Glider, and whizzing down the mountain on Trottibikes and mountain carts. Read extra About Grindelwald at The Best Things to do in Grindelwald
Lucerne and Mount Titlis
Another day journey from Zurich is to go to the medieval metropolis of Lucerne earlier than making your method up to Mountain Titlis, 3000 metres above sea stage. You’ll take the Rotair revolving cable automotive and cease at an ice grotto. It’s then onto the Ice Flyer chairlift and the Titlis Cliff Walk bridge. You can e-book this present day tour right here.
Zurich is without doubt one of the most fun cities to go to in Switzerland. With a balanced mixture of outdated and new, journey and eating, there’s something for everybody. When planning your journey to Switzerland, be certain to put Zurich on the high of your listing.
The folks in Zurich understand how to get pleasure from life by spending time on the lake and watching the sundown over the Limmat River in each summer season and winter. From buying alongside one of many world’s costliest streets to mountain climbing in the close by Swiss Alps there’s by no means a boring second in Zurich.
Our journey to Switzerland is in partnership with My Switzerland. Visit their web site to begin planning your journey at this time.