Are you in search of the very best issues to do in Zürich? You’ve come to the best place. We tried the very best meals, adventures, and actions in Switzerland’s largest metropolis, and have rounded up essentially the most stunning lookouts and must-see sights. Being the monetary capital of Switzerland, Zürich is stuffed with stylish eating places, posh patrons, and an entire lot of cash. Zürich is fashionable and complicated, however additionally it is enjoyable and laid again.
Best Things to do in Zürich
When you go to Zurich we extremely counsel buying a Zürich Card. It is one of the simplest ways to get across the metropolis and to lower your expenses. It consists of limitless public transportation together with tram, bus, prepare, boat and cableway. It even features a mini lake cruise and river cruise. You get free or decreased 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 not less than three days in Zürich. Read our full The Perfect 3 Days in Zurich, Switzerland
1. Lindt Home Chocolate
It might sound cliche to go to a chocolate manufacturing unit when in search of issues to do in Zürich, however this isn’t your peculiar manufacturing unit tour. Lindt Home of Chocolate is without doubt one of the high Zurich sights and for good motive. This chocolate museum is a spectacle and while you go to Zurich, be sure to put this on the high of your listing.
Upon getting into you come face to face with a large chocolate fountain standing tall in the huge corridor. It is then onto a tour to study in regards to the historical past of chocolate and eat a number 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 top while you enter a room stuffed 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 had been content material. We didn’t understand that there was extra, however as we walked on, we had one other pattern of chocolate bars to see if we might decipher the totally different flavors.
We failed, however we had been joyful to preserve making an attempt. Our tour then ended in a room stuffed with vats of well-known Lindor candies permitting us to eat as many as we wished. The Lindt Home of Chocolate is really a chocolate lover’s paradise.
Visit the Lindt Home of Chocolate Website for excursions and data. Tours begin at 15 CHF per particular person, it’s also possible to ebook experiences like making your personal chocolate.
2. SUP on Lake Zürich
Hands down our favourite factor to do in Zürich spending time on Lake Zürich. We made our approach 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 time day.
Being on a paddleboard allow us to see town from a special 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 the calm and quiet waters.
Even in the event you don’t need to paddleboard, be sure to get on the water while you go to Zurich. Lake Zurich has among the greatest views of town. A ship experience is included in your Zürich Card, so if nothing else, not less than hop on a ship to take in 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 town the place individuals 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 town middle, and it’s a phenomenal walkway alongside the lakefront with parks and views of the Swiss Alps and town. There is a blended and women-only solely swimming space, swimming lanes, a restaurant, and picket solar decks.
In the winter Seebad Enge is became a sauna, so you may 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 very best factor to do is just stroll by the Old Town, get pleasure from an aperitif and do some window purchasing. The Cobbled Streets of Zürich’s Altstadt are lined with medieval buildings and bridges lining the Limmat River. There are numerous galleries and outlets the place you may choose 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 outside patios and folks 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 vital fascinating people-watching afternoons of our lives.
5. Walking Tours
One of the very best methods to get acquainted with Zürich is to take a strolling tour. You can get 50% off a strolling tour together with your Zurich Card and it is a wonderful means to see many of the high Zurich sights 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 refill our water bottles with contemporary water.
We began our tour of town middle by strolling by the gorgeous Rechberg gardens earlier than making our approach by the medieval structure to the University for among the finest views of Zürich. Weaving our approach by the outdated city, we noticed the highest Zürich sights 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 vital essential locations in Zürich because it was the sight of reformation in Switzerland. You can stroll up the towers to see stunning views over Zürich and ensure to go into the crypt to see a powerful statue of Charlemagne.
7. Fraumünster
Another church to go to in Zürich is Fraumünster. People go into this church to see the gorgeous 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 town.
Founded in 853, this church was initially a convent inhabited by aristocratic females from Europe. Five stained glass home windows designed by Chagall had been put in in 1970. Inside there may be additionally a formidable pipe organ with 5793 pipes.
8. Go Up Uetliberg Mountain
Our subsequent big shock was making our approach up to the very best lookout over Zürich. Using our Zürich Card, we boarded a bus after which a tram, and eventually a prepare up to the highest of Zürich’s very personal mountain. Uetliberg Mountain It is just about 45 minutes to get right here from town middle and it’s effectively price it for the very best views of Zurich
When you attain the top of the road, it’s a couple of 10-minute stroll to the lookout tower for superb views of Zurich, Lake Zurich, and the Swiss Alps. If you’ve gotten greater than a day or two, we extremely counsel you make the journey up the mountain while you go to Zurich. It was our favourite factor to do outdoors town middle.
After you’ve gotten taken in the views of the rolling hills and town beneath, you may have lunch on the restaurant or proceed mountaineering for about 2 hours to the gondola that can take you again down. If you’ve gotten a while, this makes for an excellent 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 feel utilizing the phrase hip, simply made me look sq.). Once a warehouse and manufacturing unit district, Zürich West has been remodeled into a spot with fashionable bars, cool cafes, and loads of purchasing. There are nice artistic endeavors 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 had been in this hip a part of city inside 10 minutes from town middle. When the lights go down, locals and vacationers alike flock to the bars for his or her intoxicating nightlife scene. Fun truth, Zürich has extra bars per capita than some other metropolis in Europe!
10. Zürich Viadukt
Don’t miss purchasing alongside the Viadukt. This 550-meter-long railway viaduct is a phenomenal show of arches stuffed 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 environment on a summer time’s day.
While you’re on the Viadukt, get pleasure from dinner at Restaurant Viadukt positioned instantly underneath the prepare tracks wanting in the direction of the park. There is outside and indoor eating. It is advisable to make a reservation.
11. Frau Gerolds Garten (Mrs. Gerold’s Garden)
Zürich West is stuffed 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 outside sizzling spot is a modular bar and eating space with outside meals stalls and markets. Grab a beer and folks watch as you are feeling like an area 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 sights, Urban Surf. For a steep value, you may strive some metropolis browsing in their wave pool.
If you aren’t up for getting moist, no worries, you may sit on one of many plush patio chairs and luxuriate in a cocktail as you watch individuals wrestle 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 could 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 town middle.
The spotlight of this location is the beautiful stroll alongside the Cassiopeia Boardwalk. We realized that Zürich has labored laborious to make its valuable waterfront out there to the general public and persons are not allowed to buy waterfront property on Lake Zurich. In entrance of the homes that had been grandfathered in with waterfront property, town constructed a boardwalk on the water to enable entry to the general public.
14. Mönchhof am See
While you’re strolling by Wollishofen, take your time to go to the neighborhood of artists. It is a cool neighborhood of Zürich that isn’t to be missed. Slightly additional south is Kilchberg which has loads of waterfront eating places the place you may sit again and benefit from the surroundings.
We ate a Mönchhof am See, which we realized is owned by one of many high restauranteurs in town. With scrumptious truffle fries, refreshing ginger photographs and a contemporary burrata and tomato salad, my mouth was stuffed with flavors. There is loads of outside eating, you can also make a reservation right here.
15. Bahnhofstrasse
Speaking of purchasing, Zürich boasts one of the vital costly purchasing streets in the world. Bahnhofstrasse is Zürich’s principal downtown avenue spanning 1.4 km from the principle prepare station.
As you stroll from the prepare station towards Lake Zürich, the outlets turn into ever extra unique with the likes of Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, Rolex, and all the opposite big-name manufacturers. Zürich is the guts of the Swiss Bank system and when you attain Paradplatz, one can solely marvel 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 possibly get fairly busy, however at dawn, it’s quiet and peaceable.
Once house to a Roman Fort, Lindenhof affords among the finest views of Zürich and the river. After you go to Lindenhoff, cease by St. Peter’s Church one of many 4 principal church buildings in the historic metropolis middle.
17. eat Fondue
Dave and I had a purpose when going again to Switzerland, and it was to eat as a lot fondue and raclette as doable. We managed to do so and considered one of our favourite fondue eating places in your entire nation was Swiss Chuchi in the Altstadt.
Located in the guts 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 once we felt silly ordering a sizzling dish in the center of summer time, our waiter mentioned “It’s always a good time for fondue.” I consider he was right as a result of after we obtained 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, while you go to Zürich, is to preserve an eye fixed out for the 1200 ornate fountains scattered all through town. These aren’t your common ingesting fountains, the fountains of Zürich are artistic endeavors. You’ll see youngsters enjoying 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 stunning so if you are filling your bottle, be sure to benefit from the particulars of the artist’s work.
19. zürich Opera House
The Zürich Opera House, also referred to as the Opernhaus Zürich was first constructed in 1891 and has undergone a number of renovations over time. 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 is best to go inside to see this stunning venue. You can take a 50 minute tour that can take you thru all of the departments from make-up to wardrobe and also you’ll even go onstage.
The Zürich Opera House is house to quite 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 equivalent to Mozart and Verdi to modern 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 affords a complete take a look at the historical past of Switzerland, from prehistoric instances to the current day. Visitors can study in regards to the nation’s political, social, and financial improvement, in addition to its artwork and tradition.
The Swiss National Museum was designed to appear like a historic castle-like constructing, which is an attraction in itself. It homes intensive collections of medieval and Renaissance artwork, textiles, weapons, and furnishings. It additionally has a big assortment of ornamental artwork, equivalent to ceramics, glass, and metalwork. If you’re in search of issues to do in Zürich on a wet day, it is a nice alternative.
21. Kunsthaus Zürich
Art lovers will get pleasure from shopping Kunsthaus Zürich (Zurich Museum of Art) the place you may view the greats equivalent to Chagall, Monet, and Van Gogh. There are loads of different artists to see on the Museum of Art because it homes considered one of Switzerland’s most essential artwork collections.
There are 1000 items on show at any given time. It has the most important 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 superb issues to do in Zurich that you may spend a whole season exploring. But Dave and I made a great go of it. Running on just some hours of sleep every day, we had been up on the first light to late into the evening testing the very best of Zurich. Follow the map to see in the event you can take a look at all of those sights.
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 fashionable 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 resorts in Zurich West which is just 10 minutes to downtown by transit and is a extra inexpensive possibility.
How to Get Around Zurich
The greatest approach to get round Zurich is to buy a City Pass Zurich Card. It gives limitless journey by bus, prepare, cableway, and tram plus you may 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 permits you to enter considered one of Zurich’s 43 museums free of charge or with decreased admission. Plus, it’s also possible to take a Zurich Old city strolling tour at half value. This card is the very best bang to your buck for getting round Zurich and seeing its high vacationer sights.
Before boarding any public transport, be sure to validate your ticket and have it helpful. Once it’s validated, you may hop on any public transport in city in the course of your ticket. You don’t have to validate it once more when you’ve finished it the primary time.
Best Day Trips from Zurich
Switzerland has an environment friendly prepare system making it among the finest methods to journey round Switzerland. Plus it’s sustainable journey. Travel by prepare produces much less O2 than some other mode of transportation (aside 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 prepare, 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 may take a day journey from Zurich. If you don’t have a number 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 considered one of Switzerland’s most stunning 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’re in search of nearer day journeys from Zurich, a go to to the medieval city of Stein am Rhein and the fantastic Rhine Falls is an efficient possibility. This extremely rated guided tour will take you on a journey in the direction of the Swiss/German border of northern Switzerland to see the most important 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 greatest waterfall. You’ll take the carry to Rhine Falls and see an in depth up take 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 may 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 traces, 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 approach up to Mountain Titlis, 3000 metres above sea degree. 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 ebook today 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 sure to put Zurich on the high of your listing.
The individuals 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 time and winter. From purchasing alongside one of many world’s costliest streets to mountaineering in the close by Swiss Alps there may be 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 present.