Zurich is the perfect city to start your Switzerland adventures from. Whether you’re visiting in the summer or winter, there are endless activities, delicious food, and historic sites to discover. Here’s our favorite things to do in Zurich Switzerland, and why you can’t miss it on your next vacation!
Our Time in Zurich Switzerland
This recent trip was actually our second visit to Zurich! Our first experience there was only for a quick layover, so we knew we would need to return and explore more.
For our second visit, we had two full days to take in the sights and beautiful city. We spent many hours wandering around old town, took a tour with a local guide, and even rode a cable car for views above Lake Zurich.
Our time in the city also inlcuded a wonderful stay at the HomeHotel. This brand new property just opened in August 2024, and has one of the most unique designs we’ve ever seen.
When we weren’t out experiencing some of the best things in Zurich, we were grabbing a cocktail at the bar or enjoying dinner at their LouLou restaurant. Definitely check out this hotel on your next holiday!
How to Get Around Zurich Switzerland
This first thing to know is how easy it is to get around Zurich. Switzerland is known for having some of the most efficient public transportation in the world, and we certainly made us of it!
The Zurich Card has endless perks and discounts for museum entries, boat rides, and more. However, the best benefit is that it allows you access to all the trains and buses in the city.
Staying just outside of old town wasn’t a big deal, as we could easily hop on the train and get anywhere quickly. Be sure to read our general Switzerland travel tips article before your first visit.
Best Things to do in Zurich Switzerland
1. Explore Zurich Old Town
Zurich’s old town is the heart of the city, and somewhere you’ll be spending a lot of time in on your visit. Niederdorf is a fun pedestrian area with many cafes and restaurants to enjoy.
You’ll also want to check out the beautiful historic churches such as St. Peter’s, Fraumunster, and Grossmunster. As you can imagine, Zurich has thousands of years of history to discover… And much of it is centered around the old town!
One of our favorite parts of the city is along the Limat River. We’ve spent a ton of time simply wandering around the medieval architecture here and taking in the views.
2. Swim at a Bathhouse
If you’re up for a swim, you can head to one of the historic bathhouses on the river. Frauenbad Stadthausquai is for women and Männerbad at Schanzengraben is for males.
While they are separated by genders, it’s a great place to spend the afternoon relaxing and cooling off during the warm summer season. Also, the women’s side turns into a bar on select nights when they welcome men.
These public baths have a unique history in the city, and are definitely one of the best things to do in Zurich.
3. Take in the Views from Lindenhof Hill
One of our favorite spots in old town is Lindenhof Hill. A short stroll up from the river will bring you to a large public square that’s bustling with life and energy.
There’s a large life-size chess board, people enjoying takeaway coffees, and sitting around mingling on the benches. However, the best part of Lindenhof is the view over old town!
This makes for one of the most scenic picture opportunities in the city.
4. Bahnofstrasse Shopping Street
Ready to do some shopping in Zurich? Bahnofstrasse is home to the main downtown shopping street, but you’d better bring your wallets and pocket books!
This is recognized as one of the most expensive shopping streets in the world, and for good reason. You’ll see all kinds of designer goods, expensive jewlery, and clothing in this area of Zurich.
While we were ultimately just window shopping here, Bahnofstrasse was still a fun place to experience.
5. Boat Tour of Lake Zurich
One of the best things to do in Zurich involves getting out on the water! Lake Zurich is the stunning centerpiece of the city, and you can easily jump on a boat tour during the warmer months.
On our first trip, we hopped on the 1.5 hour tour which was included in our Zurich Cards. We couldn’t believe how clear the water was for a lake in the city, plus the modern and stylish houses were stunning.
There are also drinks served on the boat, with a local beer being a nice refreshment on a hot summer day. You can even use the public transport boats as a way to get around Zurich instead of the buses and trains.
6. Visit One of the Many Museums
Zurich is full of outstanding museums, which showcase its fascinating history and art scene. Not only do they hold incredible artifacts and paintings inside, but the buildings themselves are quite impressive.
Going to a museum can be a fun activity during the cold or rainy weather that you may see in Zurich, especially during the winter months.
Kunsthaus Zürich, Cabaret Voltaire (Dada Museum), Haus Konstruktiv, and Reitburg are the premier art museums. History lovers will want to go to the Swiss National Museum (book your ticket here), the Zoological Museum of the University of Zurich, and the Moulage Museum to learn about the city’s medieval history.
There are also many museums dedicated to architecture and design such as Museum für Gestaltung, Pavillon Le Corbusier, and the Zurich Clock Museum. Whatever you’re interested in, you’ll surely find a museum for it in Zurich Switzerland!
7. Go On a Guided Zurich Walking Tour
While we highly recommend walking around the city on your own, taking a tour with a local guide can’t be beat! You can actually book your own personal guide here on the official Visit Zurich website.
We learned so much on our personalized tour, and it was the perfect intro to Zurich for us. Our guide also showed us some of the best places to eat in the city, which we will go more into later.
8. Ride the Felsenegg Cable Car
Now that you know some of the best things to do in Zurich, how about getting an eagles-eye view? By taking the train to Adiswil stop, you can hop on the Felsenegg Cable Car 800+ meters above sea level in just 5 minutes.
From here, you’ll have amazing views of Lake Zurich and the mountains surrounding the city. There is also restaurant with glorious views of the nature below.
Yet, the best part of Felsenegg may be the network of hiking trails that it’s a part of. If you have time, you can connect to more viewpoints like Albishorn, Hochwacht, and Uetliberg.
9. Zurich Cafes & Chocolates
Zurich is also great city to visit for travelers who have a sweet tooth like us! Swiss chocolate is known worldwide, and there are plenty of places to try it here.
After getting off the train downtown at Hauptbahnhof, our very first stop was Confiserie Sprüngli. This store is famous for its Luxembourg macarons. We bought a small box to taste and were blown away with how good they were.
You’ll also want to stop into Läderach to try their fresh chocolate bark, Max Chocolatier for seasonal chocolates, and Teuscher for their champagne truffles! Aside from the tasty chocolates, Zurich also plays host to an abundance of cafes.
Café Schober is a must-visit in Zurich old town with its fancy decor, pastries, and hot chocolate. We also loved Café Odeon, as it was once a meeting place for famous writers and artists since the early 1900’s.
Be sure to check out Café Henrici, Babu’s Bakery & Coffeehouse, and Café Bar Schwarzenbach during your visit as well.
10. Lindt Home of Chocolate Museum
Speaking of chocolate… One of the most popular places to visit in Zurich is the world famous Lindt Chocolate Museum. Travelers come from all around the world to get a delicious taste of the celebrated chocolate and see how it’s made.
The Lindt Museum is actually right outside the city center. However, you can easily reach it by the ferry that we talked about earlier!
The one thing to be aware of is that tickets sell out days, if not weeks in advance. We recommend booking a ticket (reserve your spot here) as soon as you know your dates so you don’t miss out.
11. Climb the Grossmünster Tower
As you know now, Zurich’s old town has so many historical highlights. Yet, the most notable of all may be the Grossmünster Tower!
The Protestant church was built in Romanesque-style back in the 12th century. It would take many years to finish, with the Gothic towers not being completed until the 15th century.
It famously played a part in the Swiss Reformation that followed and remains an important icon of the city. Today, you can climb the 187 stairs to the top for a gorgeous view of the old town and river.
12. Drink From the Zurich Switzerland Fountains
You may be wondering why we’d include water fountains in our things to do in Zurich article. Yet, know that these aren’t just any old fountains!
Each one has a unique design that you honestly won’t find anywhere else in the world. There are over 1,200 fountains all around Zurich placed throughout the public squares and colorful streets.
Many of them were created by famous artists, date back centuries, and showcase the amazing architecture and history of the city. In addition, Switzerland has some of the most high-quality drinking water in Europe, so you know it’s the good stuff!
13. Experience Zurich’s Nightlife
Once the sun goes down, the city comes alive! Zurich is home to a thriving nightlife scene that every traveler will love.
From historic bars to exciting nightclubs and cocktail bars, Zurich has it all. It truly offers something for everyone, whether you’re looking to dance the night away or simply grab a high-end cocktail with a view. Here’s our top picks below:
- Home Bar & Lounge
- Widder Bar
- Old Crow
- Ziegal oh Lac
- Clouds Bar
- Frau Gerolds Garten
- Barfussbar
- La Stanza
- Hiltl Dachterrasse
14. Eat a Traditional Swiss Meal
We went over the chocolate and drinks, but how about the actual Swiss food? There are so many great restaurants to choose from around the city.
Swiss cuisine has influences from the surrounding countries like Germany, France, and Italy, with many of the best dishes centered around its delicious cheese. We recommend trying fondue, raclette, and rösti if you have the chance during your visit.
You’ll also find German treats such as schnitzel and bratwurst, which are done with a Swiss twist in Zurich! One of of the best currywursts we’ve ever had was at the Sternen Grill near the lake.
We also ate at the Raclette Factory, which is right in old town and absolutely delicious. The restaurant is more casual than the fancy fondue restaurants and is much more affordable.
15. Zurich Festivals & Events
An important thing to consider when planning your trip is the time of year. Depending on when you visit, you may be lucky enough to attend a festival in Zurich!
In the summer months, you’ll find all kinds of open-air concerts, street food, and cultural celebrations. In August, there is even Europe’s largest techno dance parade that takes place right on Lake Zurich.
Still, the most unique festival is that of the burning snowman to kick off spring. The snowman is set on fire and the faster his head explodes, the longer summer will be. This is certainly more exciting than Groundhog day in the United States!
Check here for all the upcoming festivals and events happening in the city.
More of the Best Things to do in Zurich Switzerland
Obviously, there are more than just 15 things to do in Zurich Switzerland. Nevertheless, these were some of our favorite activities and sights to see on your first visit.
If you have time, you could even rent a car (check prices here) or take the train on a day trip outside the city. The largest waterfall in Europe is only about 50 minutes away in Rhine Falls (this is a popular tour) and Lake Lucerne is about the same distance.
Have any questions about this article or want to share your own favorite things to do in Zurich? Leave us a comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
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We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
