Are you on the lookout for one of the best issues to do in Zürich? You’ve come to the proper place. We tried one of the best meals, adventures, and actions in Switzerland’s largest metropolis, and have rounded up probably the most lovely lookouts and must-see sights. Being the monetary capital of Switzerland, Zürich is full of stylish eating places, posh patrons, and a complete lot of cash. Zürich is fashionable and complex, however it’s also enjoyable and laid again.
Greatest Issues to do in Zürich
Whenever you go to Zurich we extremely recommend buying a Zürich Card. It’s the easiest way to get across the metropolis and to economize. 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 diminished admission to museums and 50% off an Previous City strolling tour. We did all this with our Zurich Card.
You possibly can select from 24 hours passes to 72-hour passes beginning at 24CHF. We suggest spending at the least three days in Zürich. Learn our full The Excellent 3 Days in Zurich, Switzerland
1. Lindt Residence Chocolate
It could sound cliche to go to a chocolate manufacturing unit when on the lookout for issues to do in Zürich, however this isn’t your extraordinary manufacturing unit tour. Lindt Residence of Chocolate is among the high Zurich sights and for good purpose. This chocolate museum is a spectacle and if you go to Zurich, ensure to place this on the high of your checklist.
Upon coming into you come nose to nose with an enormous chocolate fountain standing tall within the large corridor. It’s then onto a tour to be taught concerning 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 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 had 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 had been comfortable to maintain making an attempt. Our tour then led to a room full of vats of well-known Lindor goodies permitting us to eat as many as we wished. The Lindt Residence of Chocolate is actually a chocolate lover’s paradise.
Go to the Lindt Residence of Chocolate Web site for excursions and knowledge. Excursions begin at 15 CHF per individual, you too can e-book experiences like making your personal chocolate.
2. SUP on Lake Zürich
Fingers down our favourite factor to do in Zürich spending time on Lake Zürich. We made our approach 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 the 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 the calm and quiet waters.
Even if you happen to don’t wish to paddleboard, ensure to get on the water if you go to Zurich. Lake Zurich has a few of the finest views of the town. A ship journey is included in your Zürich Card, so if nothing else, at the least hop on a ship to absorb 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 within the solar whereas with the ability to take a dip within the clear and clear waters.
Seebad Enge was simply reached by strolling from the town heart, and it’s a stupendous walkway alongside the lakefront with parks and views of the Swiss Alps and the 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 become a sauna, so you may 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 data Go to the Zürich Web site at Seebad Enge
4. Altstadt (Previous City)
When visiting any European metropolis, one of the best factor to do is solely stroll by the Previous City, 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 may decide up some Swiss chocolate or scrumptious cheese.
One in every of our favourite issues to do in Zürich’s Previous City was to easily pull up a seat on one of many outside patios and folks watch. Zürich is among the most costly cities on the earth and watching the style and households stroll by made for probably the most fascinating people-watching afternoons of our lives.
5. Strolling Excursions
The most effective 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 it is a nice approach to see a lot 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 might refill our water bottles with recent water.
We began our tour of the town heart by strolling by the attractive Rechberg gardens earlier than making our manner by the medieval structure to the College for among the finest views of Zürich. Weaving our manner by the outdated city, we noticed the highest Zürich sights 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’s also probably the most essential locations in Zürich because it was the sight of reformation in Switzerland. You possibly can stroll up the towers to see lovely 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. Folks 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 among 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 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 manner as much as one of the best lookout over Zürich. Utilizing our Zürich Card, we boarded a bus after which a tram, and at last a prepare as much as the highest of Zürich’s very personal mountain. Uetliberg Mountain It’s only about 45 minutes to get right here from the town heart and it’s properly value it for one of the best views of Zurich
Whenever you attain the top 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. 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 the town heart.
After you could have taken within the views of the rolling hills and the 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. In case you have a while, this makes for an incredible half-day tour in Zürich. To climb the tower it prices 2 CHF (bank cards accepted) and it’s utterly 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 unit district, Zürich West has been reworked into a spot with fashionable bars, cool cafes, and loads of buying. There are nice artistic endeavors scattered all through ZürichWest so it’s value exploring on foot.
It’s straightforward to get to through the use of our Zurich card. We hopped on public transportation and had been on this hip a part of city inside 10 minutes from the town heart. When the lights go down, locals and vacationers alike flock to the bars for his or her intoxicating nightlife scene. Enjoyable truth, Zürich has extra bars per capita than every other metropolis in Europe!
10. Zürich Viadukt
Don’t miss buying alongside the Viadukt. This 550-meter-long railway viaduct is a stupendous show of arches full of boutiques, eating places, and galleries. Inbuilt 1894, it’s a spot the place locals meet up, have picnics within the park, and benefit from the laid-back ambiance on a summer season’s day.
If you are on the Viadukt, get pleasure from dinner at Restaurant Viadukt situated straight below the prepare tracks trying in the direction of the park. There’s outside and indoor eating. It’s endorsed 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 folks 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 among the extra distinctive Zurich sights, City Surf. For a steep worth, you may attempt some metropolis browsing of their wave pool.
In case you are not up for getting moist, no worries, you may sit on one of many plush patio chairs and revel in a cocktail as you watch folks wrestle 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 group of Wollishofen utilizing our Zürich Card for a free boat journey. It was simply quarter-hour from the town heart.
The spotlight of this location is the beautiful stroll alongside the Cassiopeia Boardwalk. We discovered that Zürich has labored arduous to make its valuable waterfront out there to the general public and persons are now not allowed to buy waterfront property on Lake Zurich. In entrance of the homes that had 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
If you are strolling by Wollishofen, take your time to go to the group of artists. It’s a funky 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 discovered is owned by one of many high restauranteurs within the metropolis. With scrumptious truffle fries, refreshing ginger pictures and a recent burrata and tomato salad, my mouth was full of flavors. There’s loads of outside eating, you may make a reservation right here.
15. Bahnhofstrasse
Talking of buying, Zürich boasts probably the most costly buying streets on the earth. Bahnhofstrasse is Zürich’s principal downtown road spanning 1.4 km from the principle prepare station.
As you stroll from the prepare 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 Previous 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 might get fairly busy, however at dawn, it’s quiet and peaceable.
As soon as house to a Roman Fort, Lindenhof provides 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 within the historic metropolis heart.
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 take action and one among our favourite fondue eating places in the complete nation was Swiss Chuchi within the Altstadt.
Positioned within the coronary heart of Niederdorf a pedestrian plaza resulting in hidden alleyways across the Previous City, Swiss Chuchi is among 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 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 a very 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 scorching chocolate too! Swiss Chuchi is situated within the Resort Adler, Zurich.
18. Refill on the Many Fountains
Probably the most fascinating issues, if you go to Zürich, is to maintain 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 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 operating from the fountains is clear and recent and simply ready so that you can have a style. Some Zürich fountains are merely lovely so when you are filling your bottle, ensure to benefit from the particulars of the artist’s work.
19. zürich Opera Home
The Zürich Opera Home, also called the Opernhaus Zürich was first inbuilt 1891 and has undergone a number of renovations over time. The opera home is situated in Sechseläutenplatz which is among the largest squares in Switzerland. It’s value going to this sq. alone, however you need to go inside to see this lovely venue. You possibly 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 Home 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 similar 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 known as Landesmuseum, it’s the oldest and largest cultural historical past museum within the nation. The museum provides a complete have a look at the historical past of Switzerland, from prehistoric occasions to the current day. Guests can be taught concerning the nation’s political, social, and financial improvement, in addition to its artwork and tradition.
The Swiss Nationwide 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, similar to ceramics, glass, and metalwork. In case you are on the lookout for issues to do in Zürich on a wet day, it is a nice selection.
21. Kunsthaus Zürich
Artwork lovers will get pleasure from shopping Kunsthaus Zürich (Zurich Museum of Artwork) the place you may view the greats similar 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 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 Journey to Zürich
There are such a lot of wonderful issues to do in Zurich that you would spend a complete season exploring. However Dave and I made a very good go of it. Working on just some hours of sleep every day, we had been up on the daybreak to late into the night time trying out one of the best of Zurich. Observe the map to see if you happen to can take a look at all of those sights.
The place to Keep in Zurich
When selecting the place to remain in Zurich, we suggest the Previous Metropolis which is inside strolling distance to all over the place making it straightforward to get round. We stayed on the Florhoff Resort. This boutique resort was refurbished in 2014 and has a historic character with trendy rooms and facilities. A scrumptious breakfast is included, there’s a standard restaurant on-site and whereas it’s within the Previous 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 reasonably priced choice.
The right way to Get Round Zurich
The easiest way to get round Zurich is to buy a Metropolis Move Zurich Card. It gives limitless journey by bus, prepare, cableway, and tram plus you may take a brief boat journey and a Limmat River cruise. Metropolis Move Zurich Playing 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 at no cost or with diminished admission. Plus, you too can take a Zurich Previous city strolling tour at half worth. This card is one of the best bang on your buck for getting round Zurich and seeing its high vacationer sights.
Earlier than boarding any public transport, ensure to validate your ticket and have it useful. As soon as it’s validated, you may hop on any public transport on the town at some point of your ticket. You don’t should validate it once more when you’ve carried out it the primary time.
Greatest Day Journeys from Zurich
Switzerland has an environment friendly prepare system making it among the finest methods to journey round Switzerland. Plus it’s sustainable journey. Journey by prepare produces much less O2 than every other mode of transportation (apart from bicycle or foot) together with electrical vehicles which produce 13 occasions extra emissions. It’s straightforward to do day journeys from Zurich with the Swiss Journey Move or to maneuver on to your subsequent vacation spot
Swiss Journey Move
Whenever you buy a Swiss Journey Move it consists of:
- Limitless journey by prepare, 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 Practice Tour of Switzerland app and Swiss Journey Information app
Jungfraujoch
Whereas Jungfraujoch deserves three to 5 days to go to this UNESCO World Heritage Website, you may take a day journey from Zurich. In case you don’t have a number of time, this is among the finest day journeys from Zurich however it’s a lengthy one!
This guided day journey to Jungfraujoch with Practice Experience offers you a style of seeing one among 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 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
In case you are 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 the 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 fort of Schloss Laufen and the mighty Rhine Falls and expertise Europe’s greatest waterfall. You’ll take the raise to Rhine Falls and see an in depth 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 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 suggest going as much as Grindelwald First.
Right here you may take the cable automobile to stroll the First Cliff Stroll, hike out to the lake (about 2 hours return) after which get down rapidly by way of the First Adventures that embody the zip strains, 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 manner as much as Mountain Titlis, 3000 metres above sea stage. 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 possibly can e-book at the present time tour right here.
Zurich is among 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 to place Zurich on the high of your checklist.
The folks in Zurich know the best 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 buying alongside one of many world’s most costly streets to mountaineering within 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. Go to their web site to begin planning your journey right this moment.