Outdoors · Zurich · Switzerland
5 best outdoor things to do in Zurich
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Roland zh , upload on 14. September 2009, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Lake Zurich cruise, Uetliberg and Zurich Zoo. Together the 5 picks below take roughly 11–17 hours across 5 areas; all charge for entry.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 5
- Free entry
- 0
- Time to see them all
- 11–17 hours
- Areas
- Bürkliplatz, Uetliberg and Fluntern
Outdoors in Zurich
Experience · Bürkliplatz
1.Lake Zurich cruise
Sit on the open upper deck when the weather allows, and look south-east down the lake for the Alps on clear days.
- Time needed
- 1.5–4 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Couples
- Kids
- Outdoors
Viewpoint · Uetliberg
2.Uetliberg
Walk the ridge to Felsenegg (about 2 hours), ride the cable car down to Adliswil and take the S4 back to the city.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Active
- Kids
Zoo · Fluntern
3.Zurich Zoo
Head to the Masoala hall early when the animals are most active, and save the elephant park for feeding times.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Rainy day
Experience · Lake Zurich and Limmat
4.Lake and river baths (Badis)
Bring a waterproof bag and swim only at the official baths; the Limmat's current is strong outside them.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Outdoors
- Active
- Kids
- Couples
Garden · Seefeld
5.Zürichhorn: Pavillon Le Corbusier and Chinese Garden
Walk the lakeside promenade from Bellevue to Zürichhorn, about 30 minutes, and return by boat or tram.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Off the beaten path
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Bürkliplatz | Lake Zurich cruise | 1.5–4 hours |
| Uetliberg | Uetliberg | Half a day |
| Fluntern | Zurich Zoo | Half a day |
| Lake Zurich and Limmat | Lake and river baths (Badis) | 2–3 hours |
| Seefeld | Zürichhorn: Pavillon Le Corbusier and Chinese Garden | 1.5 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 5, 4 low cost, 1 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Lake Zurich cruise; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 4 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Bürkliplatz): Lake Zurich cruise, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Uetliberg): Uetliberg, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Fluntern): Zurich Zoo, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Lake Zurich and Limmat and Seefeld): Lake and river baths (Badis) → Zürichhorn: Pavillon Le Corbusier and Chinese Garden, at least 4 hours.
The best months to be outside
- September: highs of 19°C (66°F), about 9 rainy days, moderate crowds. Often settled and mild; one of the best months for hiking and cruises.
- July: highs of 24°C (75°F), about 11 rainy days, busy crowds. Warmest month, with the lake and river baths at their busiest.
- August: highs of 24°C (75°F), about 11 rainy days, busy crowds. Hot spells and thunderstorms; big events fill the lakeside.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Seefeld — Upmarket lakeside district of the Opera House, promenades and the Zürichhorn park
More of Zurich
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Zurich?
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.