3 days in Zurich

Day by day

1. Day 1: Niederdorf and the right-bank Old Town and Grossmünster

   Niederdorf and the right-bank Old Town, Grossmünster and Polybahn and Polyterrasse, then Im Viadukt and Zurich West in the evening.

   1. Morning

      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.

   2. Late morning

      Grossmünster

      Climb the tower for the best view of the Limmat bends, then look at the crypt and the bronze doors on the way out.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Zurich-style veal

      Traditional restaurants in the Old Town, including historic guild houses along the Limmat.

   4. Afternoon

      Polybahn and Polyterrasse

      The red Polybahn funicular, running since 1889, climbs from Central to the terrace of ETH Zurich's main building, designed by Gottfried Semper.

   5. Evening

      Im Viadukt and Zurich West

      Climb the Freitag tower for a free look over the railway lines, then eat at the Markthalle.

2. Day 2: Fraumünster and Bahnhofstrasse

   Fraumünster, Bahnhofstrasse and Lindenhof hill, then Thermalbad & Spa Zürich in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Fraumünster

      Visit on a bright day, ideally in the morning, when the sun lights up the Chagall windows.

   2. Late morning

      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.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Rösti

      Traditional Swiss restaurants; vegetarian versions topped with cheese and egg are common.

   4. Afternoon

      Lindenhof hill

      Come early in the morning or at sunset for the view, and walk down through the lanes to the Fraumünster.

   5. Evening

      Thermalbad & Spa Zürich

      Go on a weekday evening, and finish in the rooftop pool after dark.

3. Day 3: Lake Zurich cruise and Kunsthaus Zürich

   Lake Zurich cruise, Kunsthaus Zürich and Swiss National Museum, then Langstrasse (Kreis 4) in the evening.

   1. Morning

      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.

   2. Late morning

      Kunsthaus Zürich

      Start with the Giacometti rooms, then cross through the underground passage to the extension.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Cheese fondue

      Swiss restaurants in the Old Town and seasonal fondue chalets that appear in winter.

   4. Afternoon

      Swiss National Museum

      Housed in a turreted 1898 building beside the main station with a modern wing added in 2016, the Landesmuseum tells Swiss history from prehistoric times through the Middle Ages and the Reformation to the present, with period rooms, armour, furniture and well-designed temporary exhibitions.

   5. Evening

      Langstrasse (Kreis 4)

      The city's densest strip of bars, small clubs and late-night food, with a mixed, diverse crowd.

Before you go

• Thermalbad & Spa Zürich: Entry is often limited at busy times; reserve a slot online if possible.

If it rains

• Swap in Zurich Zoo (Fluntern): Head to the Masoala hall early when the animals are most active, and save the elephant park for feeding times.
• Swap in FIFA Museum (Enge): Leave time for the interactive football games on the lower floor, which children enjoy most.
• Swap in Museum Rietberg (Enge): Combine it with a walk through the Rieterpark and a swim at Seebad Enge in summer.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Niederdorf keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Langstrasse ($$) suits budget, nightlife, food lovers and solo travellers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 15–19 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 8.5 hours in December to 15.9 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Zurich
• 2 days in Zurich

Questions travellers ask