Are you on the lookout for 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 lovely lookouts and must-see sights. Being the monetary capital of Switzerland, Zürich is crammed 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
There are loads of issues to do in Zürich and to actually admire it, you need to spend a minimum of three days exploring the Altstadt (Old Town) in the historic centre of Zürich alone. But there are many different areas to see as properly. We’re right here to assist you to resolve what to do first whenever you go to Zürich! But you may as well learn our full The Perfect 3 Days in Zurich, Switzerland
1. Lindt Home Chocolate – Factory Tour
It could sound cliche to go to a chocolate manufacturing facility when on the lookout for issues to do in Zürich, however this isn’t your peculiar manufacturing facility tour. Lindt Home of Chocolate is a spectacle. Upon getting into you come face to face with an enormous chocolate fountain standing tall in the large corridor. It is then onto a tour to study concerning the historical past of chocolate and eat quite a lot of chocolate.
We picked up our audio information and chosen our chosen language (English) as we adopted the shows to discover the evolution of chocolate. It was an fascinating and entertaining tour, however the true deal with comes close to the top whenever you enter a room crammed with chocolate fountains.
The fountains are pouring out the heavenly Lindt chocolate simply ready to be tasted. We grabbed a disposable spoon and tasted white, darkish, and milk chocolate till our hearts 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 blissful to preserve attempting. Our tour then ended in a room crammed with vats of well-known Lindor candies permitting us to eat as many as we wished. The Lindt Home of Chocolate is actually a chocolate lover’s paradise.
Visit the Lindt Home of Chocolate Website for excursions and data. Tours begin at 15 CHF per individual, you may as well ebook 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 manner to Badi Enge the place they hire paddleboards by the hour. It was a lot enjoyable to get on the water through the scorching summer time day.
Being on a paddleboard allow us to see the 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 means of the calm and quiet waters.
3. Seebad Enge
Zürich is the land of public baths and from what we perceive, there are six lake baths on Lake Zürich and 5 different river baths all through the town the place folks get pleasure from basking in the solar whereas having the ability to take a dip in the clear and clear waters.
Seebad Enge was simply reached by strolling from downtown and it’s an attractive walkway alongside the lakefront with parks and views of the Swiss Alps and the 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 was a sauna, so you possibly can go to it year-round. Imagine scorching in a sauna as you view the snow capped mountains of the Swiss Alps. That is heavenly.
It prices 8CHF (8.74 USD) to enter and paddleboard leases begin at 35 CHF (38 USD) for an hour. For extra data Visit the Zürich Website at Seebad Enge
4. Walking Tour of Altstadt (Zürich Old Town)
One of the very best methods to get acquainted with Zürich is to take a strolling tour. 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 strolling by means of the gorgeous Rechberg gardens earlier than making our manner by means of the medieval structure to the University for among the best views of Zürich. Weaving our manner by means of the previous city, we noticed the highest Zürich sights from Kunsthaus to Grossmünster, Zürich’s most well-known landmark.
5. 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 lovely views over Zürich and ensure to go into the crypt to see a powerful statue of Charlemagne.
6. Visit 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 Chagal, however Fraumünster can be an important landmark. Founded in 853, this church was initially a convent inhabited by aristocratic females from Europe.
7. Get Lost in the Altstadt (Old Town)
When visiting any European metropolis, the very best factor to do is solely stroll by means 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 possibly can decide up some Swiss chocolate or scrumptious cheese.
One of our favourite issues to do in Zürich’s Old Town was to merely pull up a seat on one of many outside patios and other people watch. Zürich is likely 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.
8. Take the Train to Uetliberg
Our subsequent large shock was making our manner up to the very best lookout over Zürich. Using our Zürich Card, we boarded a bus after which a tram, and eventually a practice up to the highest of Zürich’s very personal mountain, Uetliberg. 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.
After you have got taken in the views of the rolling hills and the town beneath, you possibly can have lunch on the restaurant or proceed mountaineering for about 2 hours to the gondola that may take you again down. If you have got a while, this makes for an important half-day tour in Zürich. To climb the tower it prices 2 CHF (bank cards accepted) and it’s utterly value the associated 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 reworked into a spot with fashionable bars, cool cafes, and loads of procuring. There are nice artworks scattered all through ZürichWest so it’s value exploring on foot.
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 an attractive show of arches crammed with boutiques, eating places, and galleries. Built-in 1894, it’s a spot the place locals meet up, have picnics in the park, and benefit from the laid-back environment on a summer time’s day.
While you might be on the Viadukt, get pleasure from dinner at Restaurant Viadukt situated immediately underneath the practice tracks trying in the direction of the park. There is outside and indoor eating. It is advisable to make a reservation.
11. Have a Drink at Frau Gerolds Garten (Mrs. Gerold’s Garden)
Zürich West is crammed with cool cafés however the busiest spot we encountered was Frau Gerold’s Garten. This is the place everybody who’s anybody hangs out after work. This 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 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 the cool Urban Surf. For a steep value, you possibly can attempt some metropolis browsing in their wave pool. If you aren’t up for getting moist, no worries, you possibly can sit on one of many plush patio chairs and luxuriate in a cocktail as you watch folks battle in the waves. Whatever you resolve, it’s a enjoyable place to hang around. Visit Urban Surf for classes and costs.
13. Take a Boat to Wollishofen
No journey to Zürich can be full with out hopping on a ship tour of Lake Zürich. We had a style of that when transferring to the cool lakeside neighborhood of Wollishofen. The spotlight of this location is the beautiful stroll alongside the Cassiopeia Boardwalk.
We discovered that Zürich has labored laborious to make its valuable waterfront accessible to the general public and individuals are now not allowed to buy waterfront property. In entrance of the homes that had been grandfathered in with waterfront property, the town constructed a boardwalk on the water to enable entry to the general public.
14. Lunch at Mönchhof am See
While you might be strolling by means of Wollishofen, take your time to go to the neighborhood of artists. It is a cool neighborhood of Zürich that’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 discovered is owned by one of many high restauranteurs in the town. With scrumptious truffle fries, refreshing ginger pictures and a contemporary burrata and tomato salad, my mouth was crammed with flavors. There is loads of outside eating, you can also make a reservation right here.
15. Window Shop at Bahnhofstrasse
Speaking of procuring, Zürich boasts probably the most costly streets in the world. Bahnhofstrasse is Zürich’s fundamental downtown road spanning 1.4 km from the primary practice station.
As you stroll from the practice station towards Lake Zürich, the outlets turn out to be ever extra unique with the likes of Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, Rolex, and all the opposite big-name manufacturers. Zürich is the center of the Swiss Bank system and when you attain Paradplatz, one can solely marvel how a lot money and jewels are sitting inside their vaults.
16. Sunrise From 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 residence to a Roman Fort, Lindenhof affords among the best views of Zürich and the Limmat River. After you go to Lindenhoff, cease by St. Peter’s Church one of many 4 fundamental church buildings in the historic centre.
17. Eat a Fondue at Swiss Chuchi
Dave and I had a aim when going again to Switzerland, and it was to eat as a lot fondue and raclette as doable. We managed to do so and one among our favourite fondue eating places in the complete nation was Swiss Chuchi in the Altstadt.
Located in the center of Niederdorf a pedestrian plaza main to hidden alleyways across the Old Town, Swiss Chuchi is likely 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 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 center of summer time, 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 situated in the Hotel Adler, Zurich.
18. Fill up on the Many Fountains
One of essentially the most fascinating issues, whenever you go to Zürich, is to preserve a watch out for the 1200 ornate fountains scattered all through the town. These aren’t your common consuming fountains, the fountains of Zürich are artworks. You’ll see kids taking part in in the fountains, runners stopping for a fast slurp, and many individuals filling up their water bottles.
You’ll by no means go thirsty in Zürich, because the water operating from the fountains is clear and contemporary and simply ready for you to have a style. Some Zürich fountains are merely lovely so if you are filling your bottle, ensure to benefit from the particulars of the artist’s work.
19. 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 occasions to the current day. Visitors can study concerning the nation’s political, social, and financial improvement, in addition to its artwork and tradition.
The museum is housed in 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 on the lookout for issues to do in Zürich on a wet day, this can be a nice alternative.
20. zürich Opera House
The Zürich Opera House, also called the Opernhaus Zürich was first constructed in 1891 and has undergone a number of renovations over time. The opera home is situated in Sechseläutenplatz which is likely one of the largest squares in Switzerland. It is value going to this sq. alone, however you need to go inside to see this lovely venue. You can take a 50 minute tour that may take you thru all of the departments from make-up to wardrobe and also you’ll even go onstage.
The Zürich Opera House is residence to quite a few 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 modern operas.
Plan Your Trip to Zürich
There are so many superb issues to do in Zurich that you would spend a complete season exploring. But Dave and I made a superb go of it. Running on only a few hours of sleep every day, we had been up on the first light to late into the evening trying out the very best of Zurich. Follow the map to see should you can take a look at 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 in all places 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 resorts in Zurich West which is barely 10 minutes to downtown by transit and is a extra inexpensive possibility.
How to Get Around Zurich
The finest manner to get round Zurich is to buy a Zurich Card. It offers limitless journey by bus, practice, cableway, and tram plus you possibly can take a brief boat trip and a Limmat River cruise. Zurich Cards begin at 24 CHF for twenty-four hours. Get extra particulars right here.
The Zurich Card additionally permits you to enter one among Zurich’s 43 museums at no cost or with lowered admission. Plus, you may as well take a Zurich Old city strolling tour at half value. 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, ensure to validate your ticket and have it useful. Once it’s validated, you possibly can 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 achieved it the primary time.
Switzerland has an environment friendly practice system making it among the best methods to journey round Switzerland. Plus it’s sustainable journey. Travel by practice produces much less O2 than another mode of transportation (aside from bicycle or foot) together with electrical vehicles which produce 13 occasions extra emissions.
When you buy a Swiss Travel Pass it consists of:
Unlimited journey by practice, bus and boatPublic transportation in greater than 90 cities and citiesIncluding mountain excursions: Rigi, Schilthorn, Stanserhorn and StoosFree admission to greater than 500 museums all through SwitzerlandTwo free informative apps to assist plan your Switzerland journey are: Grand Train Tour of Switzerland app and Swiss Travel Guide app
Best Day Trips from Zurich
Jungfraujoch
While Jungfraujoch deserves three to 5 days to go to this UNESCO World Heritage Site, you possibly can take a day journey from Zurich. This guided day journey to Jungfraujoch with Train Ride provides 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 trip to the Eiger Glacier by gondola. Read extra about this at
Stein am Rhein and Rhine Falls
Another nice day journey from Zurich is to see Stein am Rhein and Rhine Falls. Your 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 a close-up view of 700,000 liters of water plunging into the basin. You’ll additionally get to see the half-timber body townhouses in previous city, and St. George’s Abbey.
Grindelwald
Another day journey that’s doable from Zurich is to see Grindelwald. 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 up to Grindelwald First. Here you possibly can take the cable automobile 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 manner up to 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 Walk bridge. You can ebook today tour right here.
Zurich is likely 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, ensure to put Zurich on the high of your checklist.
The folks 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 time and winter. From procuring alongside one of many world’s costliest streets to mountaineering in the close by Swiss Alps there’s by no means a boring second in Zurich.
Our journey to Switzerland is in partnership with My Switzerland. Visit their web site to begin planning your journey as we speak.
