13 best things to do.in Zurich, Switzerland-top attractions
13 best things to do in Zurich,
Switzerland-top attractions
After our visit in this amazing city we want to present you a full travel guide with the 13 best and unique things to do.in Zurich, Switzerland and the main attractions. Enjoy a complete travel guide that offers you all the informations you need, based on our personal experience.
Table of Contents
Our itinerary from Switzerland written in separate articles from this one: Zurich; Lucerne-Lungern; Interlaken-Lauterbrunnen-Grindelwald; Iseltwald-Spiez- Sarnen; Geneva; Lausanne; Bern; Basel. Discover more of Switzerland with us!
Informations
Zürich is the largest city in Switzerland and It is located in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zürich. Is a hub for railways, roads, and air traffic. Both Zurich Airport and main railway station are the largest and busiest in the country.
Quick Tips
When to travel: Peak tourist months are from May to July, but one can take a trip to Switzerland in any season, depending on their interests.
Language: The official languages are German, Italian, French.
Currency: Swiss Franc (CHF) 1$ =0,9 CHF 1€=1,1 CHF
Food Prices: Meal in a cheap restaurant=23 EUR,Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant=92 EUR
In addition,you can find more information about the visa here.
Things to do
Bahnhofstrasse
The Bahnhofstrasse is an approximately 1.4 kilometer long street in the center of the city. It is internationally known as one of the most expensive and exclusive shopping streets in the world.
Therefore,there are numerous department stores, boutiques of major fashion designers, jewelery and watch shops as well as luxury hotels. The Paradeplatz, which is crossed by the Bahnhofstrasse, is considered the center of the Swiss banking center. The Bahnhofstrasse is largely a pedestrian zone closed to regular car traffic.
National Museum
The National Museum (until 2009: Swiss National Museum) is the most visited historical museum in Switzerland. It opened on June 25, 1898. Since January 2010 it has been part of the Swiss National Museum (SNM). This institution includes three cultural history museums and a collection center. It reports to the Federal Department of Home Affairs.
After that, we headed to the city center and we where lucky to find a place to park, but beware of the paying methods-in other words you will need a credit card or you can pay with coins-euros are not accepted very often so be sure to have some money changed-franc coins are important for parking!
Grossmunster
The Grossmünster is a Romanesque church in the old town, built between 1100 and 1220. The first altar consecration was in 1104 for the crypt and in 1107 for the choir. The final consecration took place in 1117 by Archbishop Bruno von Trier.
Fraumunster Church
The Fraumünster is one of the four reformed old town churches and one of the city’s landmarks. The former Fraumünster monastery was a Benedictine monastery with the rank of a princely abbey.
Lake Zurich
Is located southeast of the city in the cantons of Zurich, St. Gallen and Schwyz. The main tributary is the Linth, which rises in the Tödi massif in the Glarner Alps and flows through the canton of Glarus and since the Linth correction through Lake Walen and as the Linth Canal near Schmerikon into the lake.
Opera House
We are delighted that when we visit the big cities we always pass by the Opera Houses. In all the cities we visited, operas have a magnificent architecture, and the one in Zurich was great. To be honest, the opera did not disappoint at all. However, we are certainly happy that we added it on our list.
The Opera House is located in the center of the city at the Sechseläutenplatz. The building was called the City Theater until 1964 and has since been called the Opera House. It opened on October 1, 1891 and seats 1100 people.
St. Peter
St. Peter is one of the three old town churches that characterize the silhouette of Zurich. It is located on a hill in the old town on the left bank near the Lindenhof, where the Roman settlement of Turicum and the imperial palace were located.
Chinagarden
The Chinagarden is a Chinese garden at the Zürichhorn in the Seefeld district. It belongs to the group of temple gardens. Therefore we believe that it is worth visiting this garden which has buildings with beautiful Chinese architecture but also many species of plants and flowers that will leave you pleasantly impressed. In addition, for lovers of plants and quiet places, here is the oasis of city. Similarly you can also visit the botanical garden.
Lindenhof Zurich
The Lindenhof is the historic city center and a public square in the city. If you have enough time to spend in Zurich this great view has to be on your bucket list…
Be ready to be amazed with this beautiful view that you will never forget…at least we know for sure that we will never forget it. We had the opportunity to have a complete image over the city and the lake, and also to see all the main attractions. In conclusion, please try not to miss this attraction if you will visit Zurich.
Home of Chocolate
This is like heaven on earth for the chocolate lovers like me…It was an amazing experience and the history of what is probably the best chocolate is beautifully presented in the Home of Chocolate. Starting with the cultivation and harvesting of cocoa to the finished bar of chocolate.At the end you can try different chocolates.So,in conclusion,if you are a chocolate lover,like i am,i can just recommend to add this on your bucket list.
Fifa Museum
Although before one hour ago we had the great pleasure of visiting the Home of Chocolate, now it was my husband’s turn to fulfill a wish, namely to see the Fifa museum. He has been a football lover since he was a child, so this was the perfect place for a visit to this museum that is dedicated to the history and development of international football.
More attractions to visit if you spend more days here: Art House, Uetliberg , Zoo Zurich , Botanical Garden.
Where to stay
A good night’s sleep is particularly important when you are travelling. Zurich offers its guests a host of luxurious, charming and also out-of-the-ordinary accommodation.
Whether in the heart of the city,near the lake or surrounded by nature – Zurich’s hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses guarantee a relaxing and invigorating stay.
We managed to find the best three companies that offer hotels, holiday homes and transportation. These are: Booking.com,Trip.com and Vrbo. We have already tested these companies and we warmly recommend them. As a result this will just bring you good deals for your next vacation.
Luxury Zurich Switzerland hotels: La Réserve Eden au Lac, Park Hyatt – City Center Luxury , Zurich Marriott Hotel , The Dolder Grand .
Mid-range Zurich Switzerland hotels: Hotel Uto Kulm – autofrei , Hotel Kernhof , aja Zürich .
Budget Zurich Switzerland hotels : Green Marmot Capsule Hotel , Friendly Hostel, Gasthaus zum Guten Glück .
Where to eat
In this section, we are going to present you a few reasons why enjoying the traditional dishes is so important and above all you will never regret for trying it. Firstly, the only way to truly enjoy this amazing dishes is to try the food right at the traditional restaurants that have the original recipes . Secondly, i think doing it can be a fun way of spending your time here,enjoying a nice meal and quality time with your partner or friends. There are, however, some people who will disagree and prefer to just visit the main attractions.Thirdly, and most importantly, do everything that makes you happy when you visit a beautiful city like Zurich is.
In conclusion, create great memories and enjoy the time you spend here!
Traditional dishes: Züri gschnätzlets is a traditional dish, thin strips of veal cooked in a cream sauce, often with mushrooms. However, this is often served with rösti, a cake of fried grated potatoes, a bit like Spanish tortilla but also on the list of Swiss traditionals .
In addition, you can try some great lip-smacking food in Zurich such as Raclette, Cheese fondue, Bircherműesli, Bündnerfleisch, Zuger Kirschtorte, etc.
The Stadtjäger is a locally produced air-dried sausage. It comprises 100% meat from organic city pigs. The sausages are made by hand in small batches and are entirely a Zurich city product.
And the queen of their truffles are the Champagne truffles (they’re made with Dom Perignon). They’re all delicious and taste like heaven-i am a chocolate lover so this was perfect for a beautiful and sunny day in this great city.
Wiedikerli is a grilled pork bratwurst, named after the Wiedikon quarter.
Tirggel-honey cookies-Tirggel are thin, crispy cookies made from honey, flour and spices, and are often distributed at public festivals, They can be purchased at Globus.
Those who want to discover Zurich can take part in a culinary city tour.The food lovers can try the specialties of the house.
Fondue Zurich Restaurats : Älplerstube , Baracca Zermatt , Chäsalp , Le Dézaley , Gmüetliberg .
Best Burgers in Zurich : Big Ben Westside , Brooklyn Burgermeister , Gerolds Chuchi , Holy Cow! Niederdorf , Iroquois , Korner.
Brunch in Zurich on the weekends or à la carte breakfast?
Brunch Zurich restaurants : Restaurant Buckhuser , Restaurant Adlisberg , Chäsalp , Clouds , Tibits Oerlikon .
À la carte breakfast : Bank , Bohemia , Carlton Restaurant , Fork & Bottle , Salon .
Child friendly Zurich restaurants : Kafi für Dich , Luus Muus , Brasserie Freilager , Santa Lucia Wiedikon , Tibits Seefeld , Haus Hiltl .
Cafés : Café & Conditorei 1842 , Confiserie Sprüngli , Henrici , Kafischnaps , Babu’s Bakery & Coffeehouse , Kulturhaus Kosmos .
In conclusion, you have so many options-just have to find the right one and enjoy your meal!
Saving Tips
It is a known fact that Zurich is a pricey city to visit. If you want to discover the top attractions, find accommodation in a good area and eat in renowned restaurants, it will be expensive. Nevertheless, if you plan in advance, it is possible to save money on your trip. In addition, his is our advice: Book your flight and hotel in advance-is one of the easiest ways of saving. In our hotel search engine, you’ll be able to find great deals. Furthermore, in most cases it is possible to cancel just 24 hours before your arrival date and you won’t have to pay until you get to the hotel.
The Zürich Card is the ideal companion during your stay here: already the trip from the airport to the city center is free of charge. With this city pass, you can travel for free on all types of local public transportation, enjoy free admission to countless museums and exhibitions, and receive a free culinary surprise in some restaurants. Download the Zürich Card onto your smartphone via the City Guide app. This means that you always have your travel ticket, city map, and important information conveniently to hand.
Enjoy unlimited access by public train, bus, and boat to visit more than 41 cities, reach peaks of many mountains, and sail through beautiful lakes in Switzerland with the Swiss Travel Pass. So if you want to visit all the cities and villages in Switzerland this is the best option to save money, because buying everytime a train or bus ticket for every new destination, would be very expensive.
Because Switzerland is a neutral country, it does not belong to the EU and that is why your internet and your European card will not work as soon as you arrive in Switzerland. As nowadays it is almost impossible to travel as a tourist without internet, we found this offer that can help you:
If you do not go by car and need to know more informations about the tours, things to see and do in Zurich, we recommend this two companies that are offering tours for any kind of activity you want to do and where you can buy trips much cheaper than if you buy them when you arrive at your destination. It is always good to be able to save some money!
Viator and Get Your Guide : the best activities in town!
When you think about your dream vacation, you also need to plan your budget! This is why we found the perfect partner – Check24 ! We traveled with a lot of companies and they are the best if you need comfort, luxury but also fair prices! And this is very important! You can now travel and really enjoy your vacation, when you know that you can live your travel dream by paying a fair price.
When you think travel, think Orbitz ! They are one of the leading U.S. online travel websites, offering a full range of travel products and services. They got everything from flights, hotels, and car rentals to cruises, travel insurance, and destination services from suppliers worldwide.
Whe have even more good news! We have the best partners from around the world and you can find your dream vacation right here! We are sure that you will find everything you need – Just check our partners websites and find your dream vacation!
There’s no feeling in the world like connecting with new places, people and experiences through travel. From the iconic to the unexpected, get those “pinch me” moments through a series of Trafalgar highlights others may never know about, or have access to.
Shopping
Opening Times of Boutiques and Stores: Most stores are open from Monday to Friday between 9am and 8pm. Smaller outlets often close at 6.30pm.However,on Saturdays, the majority of shops are open for business from 9am to 5pm.
For fashionistas :Shopping in the old town , Im Viadukt or Bahnhofstrasse
Department Stores : Sihlcity shopping and leisure center , Globus Bahnhofstrasse , Jelmoli , Airport Shopping , Globus am Bellevue , Einkaufszentrum Glatt .
Zurich Originals:
EnSoie – Fashion Label with a Family Tradition Jewelry, ceramics, clothing, accessories.
Fabric Frontline -similarly with EnSoie, you will find here: silk foulards, scarves, and other accessories from the well-known Swiss label the world.
Freitag -The unique, colorful bags from Freitag are famous throughout the world.
On Running-shoes
Soeder-home accessories, stylish kitchen utensils, sophisticated garments, natural cosmetic products, and self-designed objects.
Where to buy chocolate: Max Chocolatier , Vollenweider Chocolatier , Lindt Chocolate Shop , Teuscher .
Wineries : Weingut Bachmann , Weingut Diederik , Weingut Höcklistein , Weingut Irsslinger .
Getting Around
All public transport in Zurich is free with a Swiss Travel Pass and several other rail passes. Alternatively, you can purchase a Zurich Card that allows free public transport throughout the city as well.
Train or S-Bahn:10-15 minutes: With the City Card: free of charge. Single trip: CHF 6.80 (Children: CHF 3.40) Day travel pass 24h: CHF 13.60 (Children: CHF 6.80)
Tram line 10:35 minutes: With the City Card: free of charge.Single trip: CHF 6.80 (Children: CHF 3.40) Day travel pass 24h: CHF 13.60 (Children: CHF 6.80)
Taxi:10-20 minutes:CHF 45-70
Auto Europe Car Rental, provides the clients with the best rates & service in the industry! They offer travelers the best rates at 20,000 pickup locations in over 180 countries worldwide. The Auto Europe Advantage: Free Cancellation Up to 48 Hours Before Pickup, Best Rate Guarantee,24/7 Service Hotline from Pickup to Drop off. Enjoy now a 30% discount!
Getting here
Traveling from Europe
Thanks to the numerous low-cost airlines that fly to Zurich, flying has become the easiest and quickest way to get here. If you book in advance, you can easily find return tickets from different European cities to Zurich for around € 50 (US$ 53.70).
Low-cost airlines that fly here:
- SWISS
- British Airways
- Helvetic
- Edelweiss
- Lufthansa
- Qatar Airways is one of the biggest company in the world with unprecedented expansion, flying to over 160 destinations worldwide.
Traveling from Australia
There are no airlines that fly directly from Australia. However, there are numerous charter airlines such as Emirates, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines, etc. that fly here with stop-overs in different countries.
- Emirates-change planes in Dubai
- Lufthansa-change planes in San Francisco
- Singapore Airlines-change planes in Singapore
- United Airlines-change planes in Los Angeles and Newark
Traveling from North America
The citizens for North America will find direct flights and flights with 1 stopp from U.S. cities and Canada to Zurich.Also there are many option to fly from Mexico and the other countries as well.
Some examples of trans-Atlantic airline companies:
- Delta-direct flight from New York
- Air France,Delta-From Los Angeles with stopp in Paris
- Air Canada
- Swiss
Traveling from Asia
You can fly from the Asian continent to Zurich, from cities like New Delhi, Dubai, Tel-Aviv, Singapore and Bangkok etc. with stops in Warsaw, Dubai and direct flights. And from the other countries and cities you will find more flight options with Emirates and Qatar.
- Helvetic(LOT,Swiss)
- Lufthansa
- Emirates
- Etihad
- Turkish Airlines
- Singapore Airlines
- Qatar Airways is one of the biggest company in the world with unprecedented expansion, flying to over 160 destinations worldwide.
Traveling from South America
You can fly from South America to Zurich from Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Bogota, Lima etc. with stops in Paris, Dubai, Doha, Amsterdam etc. There are no direct flights to Zurich. And from the other countries you will find more flight options with Emirates and Qatar.
- KLM
- Air France
- Iberia
- Air Canada,Swiss
Traveling from Africa
You can fly from the African continent to Zurich, but the city that has the most flights to this destination is Johannesburg, followed by Hurghada and Tenerife with stops in Paris, Dubai, Amsterdam etc. or direct flights. And from the other countries you will find more flight options with Emirates and Qatar.
- Etihad
- KLM
- Emirates
- Air France
- SWISS
- Qatar
How to get to the city center from the airport
By S-Bahn or Train-Trains run daily from Zurich Airport to Zurich Main Station every 5–10 minutes between 5 am and midnight. In addition, the S-Bahn lines S2 and S16, as well as various regional trains, transport guests swiftly and safely to Zurich Main Station in just 10 minutes.
If you’re planning to explore other parts of Switzerland during your trip to Zurich, you might want to rent a car. In Zurich, it is difficult to find on-street parking in the center and normally it is expensive.
You can pay at the parking machines near the parking places through the parking application and with franc coins. Some also accept euros but you don’t find them too often.
Be careful if you rely on the fact that you will download the parking application to pay by credit card. Switzerland is not part of the European Union so the internet on your phone card will not work here. In conclusion, you need to find a place with free wireless or to charge your phone card in order to use the internet or call your family
Getting around Europe by bus is also relatively easy and cheap. There are buses to Zurich from most capitals in Europe. However, the journey can be very long, sometimes taking over 15 hours. Diverse bus companies offer bus trips to Zurich. With Busbud you travel cheaply from Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Milan, Turin, Rome, Vienna, Paris, Zagreb, Bratislava, Prague and other cities to Zurich.
Getting to Zurich by train
Travelers can get to Zurich by train from most neighboring countries such as Germany, Austria, Belgium, Italy, among others. Train fares are usually more expensive than plane tickets and the train takes longe.We recommend taking a plane to Zurich, but this alternative is perfect for those who don’t like to fly.
In conclusion the are so many options to get here. You just have to pick the perfect one for you!
LEVEL8 is an NYC-born brand for luggage and bag. We exist to bring a leisure and exquisite way of traveling, with suitcases that honored the art of personal presentation and style. For more information on LEVEL8 Luggage collection, visit :
Good post. I certainly appreciate this website. Continue the good work!
Pretty! This was a really wonderful article. Thank you for supplying these details.