Are you in search of the very best issues to do in Zürich? You’ve come to the suitable place. We tried the very best meals, adventures, and actions in Switzerland’s largest metropolis, and have rounded up probably the most stunning lookouts and must-see sights. Being the monetary capital of Switzerland, Zürich is full of stylish eating places, posh patrons, and an entire lot of cash. Zürich is trendy and complex, however additionally it is enjoyable and laid again.
Best Things to do in Zürich
When you go to Zurich we extremely recommend buying a Zürich Card. It is one of the simplest ways to get across the metropolis and to lower your expenses. 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 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 suggest spending a minimum of 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 abnormal manufacturing facility tour. Lindt Home of Chocolate is without doubt one of the high Zurich sights and for good purpose. This chocolate museum is a spectacle and while you go to Zurich, be certain that to put this on the high of your checklist.
Upon coming 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 concerning the historical past of chocolate and eat loads 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 top while 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 understand that there was extra, however as we walked on, we had one other pattern of chocolate bars to see if we may decipher the completely different flavors.
We failed, however we have been joyful to hold attempting. Our tour then ended in a room full of 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 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 lease paddleboards by the hour. It was a lot enjoyable to get on the water throughout the scorching summer season day.
Being on a paddleboard allow us to see 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 way of the calm and quiet waters.
Even should you don’t need to paddleboard, be certain that to get on the water while you go to Zurich. Lake Zurich has a number of the finest views of town. A ship journey is included in your Zürich Card, so if nothing else, a minimum of 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 heart, and it’s a phenomenal walkway alongside the lakefront with parks and views of the Swiss Alps and town. There is a combined and women-only solely swimming space, swimming lanes, a restaurant, and wood solar decks.
In the winter Seebad Enge is changed into 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 info 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 way of the Old Town, get pleasure from 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 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 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 probably the most 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 along with your Zurich Card and this can be a good way to see many of the high Zurich sights in a short while. We liked 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 may refill our water bottles with recent water.
We began our tour of town heart by strolling by way of the attractive Rechberg gardens earlier than making our method by way of the medieval structure to the University for among the finest views of Zürich. Weaving our method by way of the previous 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 be probably the most 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 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 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 may be additionally a powerful pipe organ with 5793 pipes.
8. Go Up Uetliberg Mountain
Our subsequent large shock was making our method up to the very best lookout over Zürich. Using our Zürich Card, we boarded a bus after which a tram, and at last 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 town heart and it’s effectively price it for the very best views of Zurich
When you attain the top of the road, it’s a few 10-minute stroll to the lookout tower for superb 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 while you go to Zurich. It was our favourite factor to do exterior town heart.
After you’ve got taken in the views of the rolling hills and town under, you may 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 an awesome half-day tour in Zürich. To climb the tower it prices 2 CHF (bank cards accepted) and it’s utterly 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 procuring. There are nice artworks scattered all through ZürichWest so it’s price exploring on foot.
It is simple to get to by utilizing our Zurich card. We hopped on public transportation and have been in this hip a part of city inside 10 minutes from town heart. 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 procuring alongside the Viadukt. This 550-meter-long railway viaduct is a phenomenal show of arches full of 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 season’s day.
While you might be on the Viadukt, get pleasure from dinner at Restaurant Viadukt positioned immediately underneath the practice tracks wanting in the direction of the park. There is outside and indoor eating. It is beneficial to make a reservation.
11. Frau Gerolds Garten (Mrs. Gerold’s Garden)
Zürich West is full of 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 scorching spot is a modular bar and eating space with outside 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 sights, Urban Surf. For a steep worth, 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 revel 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 group of Wollishofen utilizing our Zürich Card for a free boat journey. It was simply quarter-hour from town heart.
The spotlight of this location is the beautiful stroll alongside the Cassiopeia Boardwalk. We realized that Zürich has labored arduous to make its treasured waterfront out there 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 enable entry to the general public.
14. Mönchhof am See
While you might be strolling by way of Wollishofen, take your time to go to the group of artists. It is a cool neighborhood of Zürich that’s not 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 recent burrata and tomato salad, my mouth was full of flavors. There is loads of outside eating, you may make a reservation right here.
15. Bahnhofstrasse
Speaking of procuring, Zürich boasts probably the most costly procuring streets in the world. Bahnhofstrasse is Zürich’s principal downtown road spanning 1.4 km from the principle practice station.
As you stroll from the practice station towards Lake Zürich, the outlets grow to be 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 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 dwelling to a Roman Fort, Lindenhof presents 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 heart.
17. eat Fondue
Dave and I had a objective when going again to Switzerland, and it was to eat as a lot fondue and raclette as doable. We managed to do so and one among our favourite fondue eating places in all the 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 finest 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 recent bread.
Who cares that it was 30 levels Celcius exterior, we ordered a refreshing aperitivo and after we felt silly ordering a scorching dish in the center of summer season, our waiter mentioned “It’s always a good 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, get pleasure from a Swiss scorching chocolate too! Swiss Chuchi is positioned in the Hotel Adler, Zurich.
18. Fill up on the Many Fountains
One of probably the most fascinating issues, while you go to Zürich, is to hold a watch out for the 1200 ornate fountains scattered all through town. These aren’t your common ingesting fountains, the fountains of Zürich are artworks. 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 working from the fountains is clear and recent and simply ready for you to have a style. Some Zürich fountains are merely stunning so if you are filling your bottle, be certain that to benefit from the particulars of the artist’s work.
19. zürich Opera House
The Zürich Opera House, also called 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 you need to go inside to see this stunning 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 dwelling to a variety 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 corresponding to 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 presents a complete take a look at the historical past of Switzerland, from prehistoric occasions to the current day. Visitors can study concerning the nation’s political, social, and financial growth, 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 in depth collections of medieval and Renaissance artwork, textiles, weapons, and furnishings. It additionally has a big assortment of ornamental artwork, corresponding to ceramics, glass, and metalwork. If you might be in search of issues to do in Zürich on a wet day, this can be 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 corresponding to Chagall, Monet, and Van Gogh. There are loads of different artists to see on the Museum of Art because it homes one among Switzerland’s most essential artwork collections.
There are 1000 items on show at any given time. It has the biggest Edvard Munch assortment exterior 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 could possibly spend a whole season exploring. But Dave and I made a great go of it. Running on only a few hours of sleep every day, we have been up on the first light to late into the night time testing the very best of Zurich. Follow the map to see should you can try all of those sights.
Where to Stay in Zurich
When selecting the place to keep in Zurich, we suggest 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 standard 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 inexpensive possibility.
How to Get Around Zurich
The finest method to get round Zurich is to buy a City Pass Zurich Card. It gives limitless journey by bus, practice, cableway, and tram plus you may take a brief boat journey 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 one among Zurich’s 43 museums free of charge or with lowered admission. Plus, it’s also possible to take a Zurich Old city strolling tour at half worth. This card is the very best bang on your buck for getting round Zurich and seeing its high vacationer sights.
Before boarding any public transport, be certain that to validate your ticket and have it helpful. Once it’s validated, you may hop on any public transport in city throughout 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 finest 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 occasions extra emissions. It is simple 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 contains:
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 may take a day journey from Zurich. If you don’t have loads of time, this is without doubt one of the finest 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 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 automotive on the Grindelwald Terminal for a spectacular 15-minute journey 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 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 largest waterfall. You’ll take the carry to Rhine Falls and see a detailed 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 previous 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 possibility to discover a little bit of the area by yourself, and we suggest 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 shortly by way of 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 method 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 e-book at the present time tour right here.
Zurich is without doubt one of the most enjoyable cities to go to in Switzerland. With a balanced mixture of previous and new, journey and eating, there’s something for everybody. When planning your journey to Switzerland, be certain that to put Zurich on the high of your checklist.
The individuals in Zurich know the way 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 procuring alongside one of many world’s costliest streets to mountain climbing in the close by Swiss Alps there may be by no means a uninteresting second in Zurich.
Our journey to Switzerland is in partnership with My Switzerland. Visit their web site to begin planning your journey immediately.