Are you on the lookout for the very best issues to do in Zürich? You’ve come to the appropriate 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 points of interest. Being the monetary capital of Switzerland, Zürich is full of stylish eating places, posh patrons, and a complete lot of cash. Zürich is trendy and complicated, however it’s also enjoyable and laid again.
Greatest Issues to do in Zürich
Once you go to Zurich we extremely recommend buying a Zürich Card. It’s one of the best ways to get across the metropolis and to economize. It contains 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 You get free or diminished admission to museums and 50% off an Outdated City strolling tour. We did all this with our Zurich Card.
You’ll be able to select from 24 hours passes to 72-hour passes beginning at 24CHF. We advocate spending a minimum of three days in Zürich. Learn our full The Good 3 Days in Zurich, Switzerland
1. Lindt Residence Chocolate
It might sound cliche to go to a chocolate manufacturing facility when on the lookout for issues to do in Zürich, however this isn’t your extraordinary manufacturing facility tour. Lindt Residence of Chocolate is without doubt one of the high Zurich points of interest and for good purpose. This chocolate museum is a spectacle and if you go to Zurich, ensure that to place this on the high of your listing.
Upon coming into you come head to head with a large chocolate fountain standing tall within the huge corridor. It’s then onto a tour to study in regards to the historical past of chocolate and eat a whole 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 true deal with comes close to the tip if you enter a room full of 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 totally different flavors.
We failed, however we have been blissful to maintain attempting. Our tour then resulted in a room full of vats of well-known Lindor sweets permitting us to eat as many as we wished. The Lindt Residence of Chocolate is really a chocolate lover’s paradise.
Go to the Lindt Residence of Chocolate Web site for excursions and data. Excursions begin at 15 CHF per individual, you can even ebook experiences like making your personal chocolate.
2. SUP on Lake Zürich
Palms down our favourite factor to do in Zürich spending time on Lake Zürich. We made our option to Badi Enge the place they lease paddleboards by the hour. It was a lot enjoyable to get on the water through the scorching summer season day.
Being on a paddleboard allow us to see town from a unique 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 way of the calm and quiet waters.
Even should you don’t need to paddleboard, ensure that to get on the water if you go to Zurich. Lake Zurich has among the greatest views of town. A ship journey is included in your Zürich Card, so if nothing else, a minimum of hop on a ship to soak up 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 take pleasure in basking within the solar whereas having the ability to take a dip within the clear and clear waters.
Seebad Enge was simply reached by strolling from town middle, and it’s a lovely walkway alongside the lakefront with parks and views of the Swiss Alps and town. There’s a blended and women-only solely swimming space, swimming lanes, a restaurant, and picket solar decks.
Within the winter Seebad Enge is became a sauna, so you possibly can go to it year-round. Think about scorching in a sauna as you view the snow capped mountains of the Swiss Alps. That’s heavenly.
It prices 8CHF (8.74 USD) to enter and paddleboard leases begin at 35 CHF (38 USD) for an hour. For extra info Go to the Zürich Web site at Seebad Enge
4. Altstadt (Outdated City)
When visiting any European metropolis, the very best factor to do is just stroll by way of the Outdated City, take pleasure in an aperitif and do some window procuring. 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 choose up some Swiss chocolate or scrumptious cheese.
Considered one of our favourite issues to do in Zürich’s Outdated City was to easily pull up a seat on one of many outside patios and other people watch. Zürich is without doubt one of the most costly cities on the planet and watching the style and households stroll by made for one of the fascinating people-watching afternoons of our lives.
5. Strolling Excursions
Among the finest methods to get acquainted with Zürich is to take a strolling tour. You may get 50% off a strolling tour along with your Zurich Card and this can be a nice option to see a lot of the high Zurich points of interest in a short while. We beloved 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 town middle by strolling by way of the gorgeous Rechberg gardens earlier than making our method by way of the medieval structure to the College for the most effective views of Zürich. Weaving our method by way of the outdated city, we noticed the highest Zürich points of interest from Kunsthaus to Grossmünster, Zürich’s most well-known landmark.
6. Grossmünster (Nice Minster)
Grossmünster is an imposing landmark in Zürich with its twin towers standing tall over the Limmat River. It is usually one of the necessary locations in Zürich because it was the sight of reformation in Switzerland. You’ll be able to stroll up the towers to see stunning views over Zürich and ensure to enter the crypt to see a powerful statue of Charlemagne.
7. Fraumünster
One other church to go to in Zürich is Fraumünster. Individuals 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 within the metropolis.
Based in 853, this church was initially a convent inhabited by aristocratic females from Europe. 5 stained glass home windows designed by Chagall have been put in in 1970. Inside there may be additionally a powerful pipe organ with 5793 pipes.
8. Go Up Uetliberg Mountain
Our subsequent enormous shock was making our method as much as the very best lookout over Zürich. Utilizing our Zürich Card, we boarded a bus after which a tram, and eventually a practice as much as the highest of Zürich’s very personal mountain. Uetliberg Mountain It’s only about 45 minutes to get right here from town middle and it’s properly value it for the very best views of Zurich
Once you attain the tip of the road, it’s a couple of 10-minute stroll to the lookout tower for wonderful views of Zurich, Lake Zurich, and the Swiss Alps. If in case you have 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 town middle.
After you may have taken within the views of the rolling hills and town beneath, you possibly can have lunch on the restaurant or proceed mountaineering for about 2 hours to the gondola that can take you again down. If in case you have a while, this makes for a terrific half-day tour in Zürich. To climb the tower it prices 2 CHF (bank cards accepted) and it’s fully value the price.
9. Discover Zürich West
Zürich West is the hippest spot on the town. (I believe utilizing the phrase hip, simply made me look sq.). As soon as a warehouse and manufacturing facility district, Zürich West has been remodeled into a spot with fashionable bars, cool cafes, and loads of procuring. There are nice artistic endeavors scattered all through ZürichWest so it’s value exploring on foot.
It’s simple to get to by utilizing our Zurich card. We hopped on public transportation and have been on 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. Enjoyable reality, Zürich has extra bars per capita than another metropolis in Europe!
10. Zürich Viadukt
Don’t miss procuring alongside the Viadukt. This 550-meter-long railway viaduct is a lovely show of arches full of boutiques, eating places, and galleries. In-built 1894, it’s a spot the place locals meet up, have picnics within the park, and benefit from the laid-back environment on a summer season’s day.
While you’re on the Viadukt, take pleasure in dinner at Restaurant Viadukt situated immediately beneath the practice tracks trying in direction of the park. There’s outside and indoor eating. It is suggested to make a reservation.
11. Frau Gerolds Garten (Mrs. Gerold’s Backyard)
Zürich West is full of cool cafés however the busiest spot we encountered was Frau Gerold’s Garten. That is the place everybody who’s anybody hangs out after work. This outside scorching spot is a modular bar and eating space with outside meals stalls and markets. Seize a beer and other people watch as you are feeling like an area for the night. Go to the web site for particulars.
12. City Surf
Proper subsequent to Frau Gerold’s Garten is without doubt one of the extra distinctive Zurich points of interest, City Surf. For a steep value, you possibly can strive some metropolis browsing of their wave pool.
If you’re not up for getting moist, no worries, you possibly can sit on one of many plush patio chairs and luxuriate in a cocktail as you watch individuals battle within the waves. No matter you resolve, it’s a enjoyable place to hang around. Go to City 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 journey. It was simply quarter-hour from town middle.
The spotlight of this location is the stunning stroll alongside the Cassiopeia Boardwalk. We realized that Zürich has labored laborious to make its treasured waterfront accessible to the general public and individuals are not allowed to buy waterfront property on Lake Zurich. In entrance of the homes that have been grandfathered in with waterfront property, town constructed a boardwalk on the water to permit entry to the general public.
14. Mönchhof am See
While you’re strolling by way of Wollishofen, take your time to go to the neighborhood of artists. It’s a funky neighborhood of Zürich that’s not to be missed. A 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 realized is owned by one of many high restauranteurs within the metropolis. With scrumptious truffle fries, refreshing ginger pictures and a contemporary burrata and tomato salad, my mouth was full of flavors. There’s loads of outside eating, you possibly can make a reservation right here.
15. Bahnhofstrasse
Talking of procuring, Zürich boasts one of the costly procuring streets on the planet. Bahnhofstrasse is Zürich’s foremost downtown road spanning 1.4 km from the primary 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 Financial institution 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 many high issues to do in Zürich is to go to the quiet park overlooking Zürich from the Outdated Metropolis Partitions. 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. Throughout the day it will possibly get fairly busy, however at dawn, it’s quiet and peaceable.
As soon as residence to a Roman Fort, Lindenhof gives the most effective views of Zürich and the river. After you go to Lindenhoff, cease by St. Peter’s Church one of many 4 foremost church buildings within 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 attainable. We managed to take action and one among our favourite fondue eating places in the whole nation was Swiss Chuchi within the Altstadt.
Positioned within the coronary heart of Niederdorf a pedestrian plaza resulting in hidden alleyways across the Outdated City, 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 scorching dish in the course of summer season, our waiter stated “It’s all the time an excellent time for fondue.” I consider he was appropriate 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, take pleasure in a Swiss scorching chocolate too! Swiss Chuchi is situated within the Lodge Adler, Zurich.
18. Refill on the Many Fountains
Probably the most fascinating issues, if you go to Zürich, is to maintain a watch out for the 1200 ornate fountains scattered all through town. These aren’t your common consuming fountains, the fountains of Zürich are artistic endeavors. You’ll see kids taking part in within 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 working from the fountains is clear and contemporary and simply ready so that you can have a style. Some Zürich fountains are merely stunning so while you’re filling your bottle, ensure that to benefit from the particulars of the artist’s work.
19. zürich Opera Home
The Zürich Opera Home, also referred to as the Opernhaus Zürich was first inbuilt 1891 and has undergone a number of renovations through the years. The opera home is situated in Sechseläutenplatz which is without doubt one of the largest squares in Switzerland. It’s value going to this sq. alone, however you need to go inside to see this stunning venue. You’ll be able to 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 Home is residence to numerous 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 up to date operas.
20. Swiss Nationwide Museum
A go to to the Swiss Nationwide Museum is included in your Zürich Card. Often called Landesmuseum, it’s the oldest and largest cultural historical past museum within the nation. The museum gives a complete have a look at the historical past of Switzerland, from prehistoric instances to the current day. Guests can study in regards to the nation’s political, social, and financial growth, in addition to its artwork and tradition.
The Swiss Nationwide Museum was designed to seem like 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, equivalent to ceramics, glass, and metalwork. If you’re on the lookout for issues to do in Zürich on a wet day, this can be a nice alternative.
21. Kunsthaus Zürich
Artwork lovers will take pleasure in shopping Kunsthaus Zürich (Zurich Museum of Artwork) the place you possibly can view the greats equivalent to Chagall, Monet, and Van Gogh. There are many different artists to see on the Museum of Artwork because it homes one among Switzerland’s most necessary 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 Journey to Zürich
There are such a lot of wonderful issues to do in Zurich that you could possibly spend a whole season exploring. However Dave and I made an excellent go of it. Operating on just some hours of sleep every day, we have been up on the break of day to late into the evening trying out the very best of Zurich. Comply with the map to see should you can take a look at all of those points of interest.
The place to Keep in Zurich
When selecting the place to remain in Zurich, we advocate the Outdated Metropolis which is inside strolling distance to all over the place making it simple to get round. We stayed on the Florhoff Lodge. This boutique resort 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 within the Outdated City, it’s far sufficient away from the hustle and bustle making it a quiet choice.
There are many lodges in Zurich West which is just 10 minutes to downtown by transit and is a extra inexpensive choice.
How one can Get Round Zurich
One of the simplest ways to get round Zurich is to buy a Metropolis Go Zurich Card. It offers limitless journey by bus, practice, cableway, and tram plus you possibly can take a brief boat journey and a Limmat River cruise. Metropolis Go Zurich Playing cards begin at 24 CHF for twenty-four hours. Get extra particulars right here.
The Zurich Card additionally enables you to enter one among Zurich’s 43 museums without spending a dime or with diminished admission. Plus, you can even take a Zurich Outdated 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 points of interest.
Earlier than boarding any public transport, ensure that to validate your ticket and have it helpful. As soon as it’s validated, you possibly can hop on any public transport on the town throughout your ticket. You don’t need to validate it once more when you’ve completed it the primary time.
Greatest Day Journeys from Zurich
Switzerland has an environment friendly practice system making it the most effective methods to journey round Switzerland. Plus it’s sustainable journey. Journey by practice produces much less O2 than another mode of transportation (aside from bicycle or foot) together with electrical vehicles which produce 13 instances extra emissions. It’s simple to do day journeys from Zurich with the Swiss Journey Go or to maneuver on to your subsequent vacation spot
Swiss Journey Go
Once you buy a Swiss Journey Go it contains:
- Limitless journey by practice, bus, and boat
- Public transportation in additional than 90 cities and cities
- Together with 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 Prepare Tour of Switzerland app and Swiss Journey Information app
Jungfraujoch
Whereas Jungfraujoch deserves three to 5 days to go to this UNESCO World Heritage Web site, you possibly can take a day journey from Zurich. If you happen to don’t have a whole 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 Prepare Journey provides you a style of seeing one among 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 automobile on the Grindelwald Terminal for a spectacular 15-minute journey to the Eiger Glacier by gondola. Ebook your tour right here. Learn extra about this at Spectacular Switzerland, a Go to to Jungfraujoch – High of Europe
Stein am Rhein and Rhine Falls
If you’re on the lookout for nearer day journeys from Zurich, a go to to the medieval city of Stein am Rhein and the wonderful Rhine Falls is an efficient choice. This extremely rated guided tour will take you on a journey in 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 sumptuous medieval citadel of Schloss Laufen and the mighty Rhine Falls and expertise Europe’s greatest waterfall. You’ll take the raise 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 within the outdated city, and St. George’s Abbey. Ebook it right here.
Grindelwald
One other day journey that’s attainable from Zurich is to see Grindelwald and Interlaken. This full-day tour takes you to the Bernese Oberland. You’ll have the possibility to discover a little bit of the area by yourself, and we advocate going as much as Grindelwald First.
Right here you possibly can take the cable automobile to stroll the First Cliff Stroll, 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. Learn extra About Grindelwald at The Greatest Issues to do in Grindelwald
Lucerne and Mount Titlis
One other day journey from Zurich is to go to the medieval metropolis of Lucerne earlier than making your method as much as Mountain Titlis, 3000 metres above sea degree. You’ll take the Rotair revolving cable automobile and cease at an ice grotto. It’s then onto the Ice Flyer chairlift and the Titlis Cliff Stroll bridge. You’ll be able to 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, ensure that to place Zurich on the high of your listing.
The individuals in Zurich know methods to take pleasure in life by spending time on the lake and watching the sundown over the Limmat River in each summer season and winter. From procuring alongside one of many world’s most costly streets to mountaineering within 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. Go to their web site to start out planning your journey at present.
