Travel guide · Switzerland
Zurich travel guide
Lakeside old town, world-class art and swimming in the Limmat
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Zurich wraps around the northern tip of Lake Zurich, where the Limmat river flows out through a compact medieval Old Town. The twin towers of the Grossmünster and the Chagall windows of the Fraumünster face each other across the river, Bahnhofstrasse runs 1.4 km from the main station to the lake, and former industrial Zurich West has become the city's creative quarter. Summer life moves to the water, with historic lake and river baths, while trains reach Lucerne, the Rhine Falls and the Alps in about an hour. Plan 3 days for a first visit; the best months are May–September.
Key facts
- Country
- Switzerland
- Best time to visit
- May–September
- Ideal stay
- 3 days
- Main airports
- ZRH
- Mid-range daily budget
- $280–$450 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Lake Zurich, Bahnhofstrasse, Old Town (Altstadt) and Lake and river baths
Why visit Zurich
- In summer you can swim in the lake and the Limmat from wooden bathhouses a few minutes' walk from the Old Town.
- The Kunsthaus, enlarged in 2021, holds major collections of Alberto Giacometti and Edvard Munch alongside Swiss and Impressionist art.
- Marc Chagall's five stained-glass windows in the Fraumünster and the Grossmünster's Reformation history sit either side of the Limmat.
- The S10 train climbs to the Uetliberg summit in about 20 minutes, with views over the lake to the Alps on clear days.
- Lucerne, the Rhine Falls and St. Gallen's Abbey Library are each about an hour away by train.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 18 things to do.
Neighbourhood · Niederdorf
Niederdorf and the right-bank Old Town
Walk the car-free Niederdorfstrasse from Central towards the Grossmünster and branch into the lanes that climb the hill: Spiegelgasse, where the Cabaret Voltaire hosted the first Dada evenings in 1916 and Lenin lived at number 14, Rindermarkt and Neumarkt with their guild houses and fountains.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Food
- After dark
Religious site · Niederdorf
Grossmünster
The twin-towered Romanesque church, begun around 1100, is where Huldrych Zwingli launched the Swiss Reformation in 1519.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Views
- Architecture
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Religious site · City and Lindenhof
Fraumünster
Founded in 853 as an abbey for aristocratic women, the Fraumünster is famous for the five stained-glass windows Marc Chagall created for its choir in 1970, glowing in deep blues, greens and reds.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Street · City and Lindenhof
Bahnhofstrasse
Zurich's best-known luxury shopping street runs 1.4 km from the main station to the lake, mostly car-free and served by trams.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Iconic
- Free
- Food
Experience · Bürkliplatz
Lake Zurich cruise
Passenger boats leave from Bürkliplatz at the lake end of Bahnhofstrasse for short round trips of about 1.5 hours or longer cruises to the rose town of Rapperswil at the far end of the lake.
- Time needed
- 1.5–4 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Couples
- Kids
- Outdoors
Gallery · Heimplatz
Kunsthaus Zürich
Switzerland's largest art museum spans the original building and David Chipperfield's extension, opened in 2021, across Heimplatz.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Iconic
- Architecture
Where to stay
Niederdorf is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife, couples and culture
Niederdorf
Pedestrian lanes of the right-bank Old Town with bars, guild houses and small hotels
$$$$ · Best for luxury, shopping and first-timers
City and Lindenhof
Left-bank Old Town, banks and luxury shops along Bahnhofstrasse
$$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers, solo travellers and shopping
Zurich West
Former factory district of railway arches, design stores, clubs and the Prime Tower
$$ · Best for budget, nightlife, food lovers and solo travellers
Langstrasse
Zurich's grittiest, most diverse district of bars, kebab shops and budget hotels
What to eat
- Zurich-style veal — Thin strips of veal and mushrooms in a cream and white-wine sauce, served with a golden rösti.
- Rösti — Grated potato fried in butter into a crisp-edged cake, served as a side or topped with cheese, a fried egg or bacon as a main dish.
- Cheese fondue — Melted Swiss cheese, wine and garlic in a shared pot, eaten by dipping cubes of bread on long forks.
- Veal sausage — A pale grilled veal sausage served with a crusty bread roll (Bürli) and mustard.
- Luxemburgerli — Bite-sized, very light macarons made by Confiserie Sprüngli in dozens of flavours.
- Swiss chocolate — Zurich has a long chocolate tradition, from mass-market bars to handmade truffles.
When to go
The best time to visit Zurich is June to September, when the lake and river baths are open, cruises run frequently and the city lives outdoors. May and early October are quieter and pleasant for walking. December brings Christmas markets, while January to March suits combining the city with skiing in the Alps.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Blossom, the Sechseläuten festival in April and the opening of the lake baths in May; showery but fresh. |
| Summer | June–August | Swimming in the lake and Limmat, open-air bars and the Street Parade; warm with afternoon thunderstorms. |
| Autumn | September–November | Settled September days, the film festival and autumn colour, then fog and greyer skies into November. |
| Winter | December–February | Christmas markets and cosy fondue evenings in the city, with ski resorts within two hours by train. |
Getting there and around
Zurich Airport is about 10 km north of the city. Trains run to Zurich main station every few minutes and take about 10–15 minutes; tram 10 is a slower but scenic alternative. Taxis are expensive.
Central Zurich is compact and walkable, and the ZVV network of trams, buses, S-Bahn trains, funiculars and lake boats is punctual and fully integrated. Most sights are in zone 110, the city zone.
Plan your days
Two days covers the Old Town, the churches, Bahnhofstrasse, a lake cruise and the Kunsthaus or Swiss National Museum. A third day adds Uetliberg, Zurich West or the zoo; with four or five you can visit Lucerne, the Rhine Falls or a mountain such as the Rigi.
Practical information
- Currency
- CHF
- Language
- German
- Plugs
- Type J sockets (also fit two-pin Type C plugs), 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is excellent, and most public fountains in the city supply drinking water.
- Emergency number
- 112 general emergency, 117 police, 144 ambulance, 118 fire
- Tipping
- Service is included in prices.
Zurich is generally low-risk for visitors, but pickpockets operate around the main station and on crowded trams. Swim only at official baths, as the Limmat's current is strong, and expect some drug dealing and street sex work around Langstrasse at night.
Flights to Zurich
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Zurich?
Two days covers the Old Town, the churches, Bahnhofstrasse, a lake cruise and the Kunsthaus or Swiss National Museum. A third day adds Uetliberg, Zurich West or the zoo; with four or five you can visit Lucerne, the Rhine Falls or a mountain such as the Rigi. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Zurich?
The best time to visit Zurich is June to September, when the lake and river baths are open, cruises run frequently and the city lives outdoors. May and early October are quieter and pleasant for walking. December brings Christmas markets, while January to March suits combining the city with skiing in the Alps.
+What is Zurich known for?
Lake Zurich, Bahnhofstrasse, Old Town (Altstadt), Lake and river baths, Chocolate, Kunsthaus and Street Parade. In summer you can swim in the lake and the Limmat from wooden bathhouses a few minutes' walk from the Old Town.
+Is Zurich expensive?
Zurich is very expensive for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $280–$450 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Zurich?
No. Public transport is excellent and parking in the city is scarce and costly. Trains reach almost every Swiss destination; hire a car only for remote mountain valleys.