Are you on the lookout for one of the best issues to do in Zürich? You’ve come to the precise place. We tried one of the 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 crammed with stylish eating places, posh patrons, and a complete 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 essentially admire it, you need to spend no less than three days exploring the Altstadt (Old Town) within the historic centre of Zürich alone. But there are many different areas to see as properly. We’re right here that can assist you resolve what to do first once you go to Zurich! But it’s also possible to learn our full The Perfect 3 Days in Zurich, Switzerland
1. Lindt Home Chocolate – Factory Tour
It might sound cliche to go to a chocolate manufacturing unit when on the lookout for issues to do in Zürich, however this isn’t your strange manufacturing unit tour. Lindt Home of Chocolate is a spectacle. Upon getting into you come head to head with a large chocolate fountain standing tall within the huge corridor. It is then onto a tour to study in regards to 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 once 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 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 totally different flavors.
We failed, however we have been completely satisfied to maintain making an attempt. Our tour then resulted in a room crammed with vats of well-known Lindor sweets 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 knowledge. 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 option to Badi Enge the place they lease paddleboards by the hour. It was a lot enjoyable to get on the water through the sizzling 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 individuals take pleasure in 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 downtown and it’s an exquisite 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 picket 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 Zurich Website at Seebad Enge
4. Walking Tour of Altstadt (Zurich Old Town)
One of one of the best methods to get acquainted with Zurich is to take a strolling tour. 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 may refill our water bottles with recent water.
We began our tour strolling by means of the attractive Rechberg gardens earlier than making our approach by means of the medieval structure to the University for the most effective views of Zurich. Weaving our approach by means of the outdated city, we noticed the highest Zurich sights from Kunsthaus to Grossmünster, Zurich’s most well-known landmark.
5. Grossmünster(Great Minster)
Grossmünster is an imposing landmark in Zurich with its twin towers standing tall over the Limmat River. It can also be one of the vital essential locations in Zurich because it was the sight of reformation in Switzerland. You can stroll up the towers to see stunning views over Zurich and ensure to enter the crypt to see a powerful statue of Charlemagne.
6. Visit Fraumünster
Another church to go to in Zurich is Fraumünster. People go into this church to see the attractive stained glass home windows by Marc Chagal, however Fraumünster can also be a vital landmark. Founded in 853, this church was initially a convent inhabited by aristocratic females from Europe.
7. Get Lost within the Altstadt (Old Town)
When visiting any European metropolis, one of the best factor to do is solely stroll by means of the Old Town, take pleasure in an aperitif and do some window procuring. The Cobbled Streets of Zurich’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 Zurich’s Old Town was to easily pull up a seat on one of many outside patios and other people watch. Zurich is among the most costly cities on the planet and watching the style and households stroll by made for one of the vital fascinating people-watching afternoons of our lives.
8. Take the Train to Uetliberg
Our subsequent enormous shock was making our approach as much as one of the best lookout over Zurich. Using our Zurich card, we boarded a bus after which a tram, and at last a prepare as much as the highest of Zurich’s very personal mountain, Uetliberg. When you attain the top 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.
After you’ve taken within the views of the rolling hills and the town beneath, you possibly can have lunch on the restaurant or proceed climbing for about 2 hours to the gondola that can take you again down. If you’ve a while, this makes for an important half-day tour in Zurich. To climb the tower it prices 2 CHF (bank cards accepted) and it’s fully price the fee.
9. Explore Zürich West
Zurich West is the hippest spot on the town. (I feel utilizing the phrase hip, simply made me look sq.). Once a warehouse and manufacturing unit district, Zurich West has been reworked into a spot with stylish bars, cool cafes, and loads of procuring. There are nice artistic endeavors scattered all through Zurich West so it’s price exploring on foot.
When the lights go down, locals and vacationers alike flock to the bars for his or her intoxicating nightlife scene. Fun truth, Zurich has extra bars per capita than every other metropolis in Europe!
10. Zurich Viadukt
Don’t miss procuring alongside the Viadukt. This 550-meter-long railway viaduct is an exquisite show of arches crammed with boutiques, eating places, and galleries. Built-in 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 time’s day.
While you’re on the Viadukt, take pleasure in dinner at Restaurant Viadukt situated immediately below the prepare tracks wanting in the direction of the park. There is outside and indoor eating. It is beneficial to make a reservation.
11. Have a Drink at Frau Gerolds Garten (Mrs. Gerold’s Garden)
Zurich West is crammed with cool cafés however the busiest spot we encountered was Frau Gerolds 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 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 the cool Urban Surf. For a steep worth, you possibly can strive some metropolis browsing of 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 revel in a cocktail as you watch individuals wrestle within 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 Zurich can 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. The spotlight of this location is the stunning stroll alongside the Cassiopeia Boardwalk.
We realized that Zurich has labored exhausting to make its valuable waterfront obtainable to the general public and persons are now not allowed to buy waterfront property. In entrance of the homes that have been grandfathered in with waterfront property, the town constructed a boardwalk on the water to permit entry to the general public.
14. Lunch at Mönchhof am See
While you’re strolling by means of Wollishofen, take your time to go to the group of artists. It is a cool neighborhood of Zurich that’s not to be missed. A bit of 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 prime restauranteurs within the metropolis. With scrumptious truffle fries, refreshing ginger photographs and a recent burrata and tomato salad, my mouth was crammed with flavors. There is loads of outside eating, you possibly can make a reservation right here.
15. Window Shop at Bahnhofstrasse
Speaking of procuring, Zurich boasts one of the vital costly streets on the planet. Bahnhofstrasse is Zurich’s most important downtown avenue spanning 1.4 km from the primary prepare station.
As you stroll from the prepare station towards Lake Zurich, the outlets develop into ever extra unique with the likes of Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, Rolex and all the opposite huge title manufacturers. Zurich 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. Sunrise From Lindenhof
One of the highest issues to do in Zurich is to go to the quiet park overlooking Zurich from the Old City Walls. Lindenhof is the oldest a part of Zurich the place the stays of a Roman medieval metropolis wall stands excessive on a hill overlooking the Limmat River. During the day it could actually get fairly busy, however at dawn, it’s quiet and peaceable.
Once dwelling to a Roman Fort, Lindenhof provides the most effective views of Zurich and the Limmat River. After you go to Lindenhoff, cease by St. Peter’s Church one of many 4 most important church buildings within the historic centre.
17. Eat a Fondue at Swiss Chuchi
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 take action and one in every of our favourite fondue eating places in all the nation was Swiss Chuchi within the Altstadt.
Located within the coronary heart of Niederdorf a pedestrian plaza resulting in hidden alleyways across the Old Town, Swiss Chuchi is among the finest locations in Zurich 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 once we felt silly ordering a sizzling dish in the course 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 whilst you’re at it, take pleasure in a Swiss sizzling chocolate too! Swiss Chuchi is situated within the Hotel Adler, Zurich.
18. Fill up on the Many Fountains
One of essentially the most fascinating issues once you go to Zurich is to maintain a watch out for the 1200 ornate fountains scattered all through the town. These aren’t your common ingesting fountains, the fountains of Zurich are artistic endeavors. You’ll see youngsters 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 Zurich, because the water working from the fountains is clear and recent and simply ready so that you can have a style. Some Zurich fountains are merely stunning so when you are filling your bottle, be sure that 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 Zurich move. Known as Landesmuseum, it’s the oldest and largest cultural historical past museum within the nation. The museum provides 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 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, similar to ceramics, glass, and metalwork. If you’re on the lookout for issues to do in Zurich on a wet day, this can be a nice selection.
20. zürich Opera House
The Zurich Opera House, often known as the Opernhaus zürich was first in-built 1891 and has undergone a number of renovations through the years. The opera home is situated in Sechseläutenplatz which is among 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 Zurich Opera House is dwelling to numerous world-renowned productions and occasions together with the Zurich Opera and the Zurich 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. Botanical Gardens
The Felsenegg will be reached from Adliswil within the Sihl valley, simply exterior Zurich, with the one public cable automotive within the canton of Zurich – a part of the Zurich transport community. Uetliberg-Felsenegg
21. Kunsthaus Zurich
Another museum to go to in Zurich is Kunsthaus Zurich. It is included along with your Zurich Card and it’s a nice museum to pop into if you’re feeling chilly in winter or if its raining in summer time.
22. Thermalbad & Spa Zurich
Plan Your Trip to Zürich
There are so many wonderful 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 have been up on the break of day to late into the evening trying out one of the 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 remain in Zurich, we advocate the Old City which is inside strolling distance to in every single 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 trendy rooms and facilities. A scrumptious breakfast is included, there’s a common restaurant on-site and whereas it’s within the Old Town, it’s far sufficient away from the hustle and bustle making it a quiet possibility.
There are loads of motels in Zurich West which is simply 10 minutes to downtown by transit and is a extra inexpensive possibility.
How to Get Around Zurich
The finest option to get round Zurich is to buy a Zurich Card. It offers limitless journey by bus, prepare, 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 allows you to enter one in every of Zurich’s 43 museums without cost or with decreased admission. Plus, it’s also possible to take a Zurich Old city strolling tour at half worth. This card is one of the best bang to your buck for getting round Zurich and seeing its prime vacationer sights.
Before boarding any public transport, be sure that to validate your ticket and have it helpful. Once it’s validated, you possibly can hop on any public transport on the town at some stage in your ticket. You don’t need to validate it once more when you’ve finished it the primary time.
Switzerland has an environment friendly prepare system making it the most effective methods to journey round Switzerland. Plus it’s sustainable journey. Travel by prepare produces much less O2 than every other mode of transportation (apart from bicycle or foot) together with electrical vehicles which produce 13 instances extra emissions.
When you buy a Swiss Travel Pass it consists of:
Unlimited journey by prepare, bus and boat
Public transportation in additional 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
Best Day Trips from Zurich
Jungfraujoch
While Jungfraujoch deserves three to 5 days to go to this UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, you possibly can take a day journey from Zurich. This guided day journey to Jungfraujoch with Train Ride offers you a style of seeing one in every of Switzerland’s most stunning areas. You’ll get to discover the snow capped mountains of Jungfraujoch and excessive Alps surroundings. After a cease in Interlaken, you’ll board the cable automotive on the Grindelwald Terminal for a spectacular 15-minute trip to the Eiger Glacier by gondola.
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, be sure that to place Zurich on the prime of your record.
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 time and winter. From procuring alongside one of many world’s most costly streets to climbing 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. Visit their web site to start out planning your journey right this moment.