21 Finest Issues To Do In Zurich

SwitzerlandFebruary 15, 2023

Zurich is Switzerland’s most populous metropolis, located within the north of the nation. 

It’s a world monetary hub, set alongside the shores of the beautiful Lake Zurich and surrounded by hills and mountains. 

It’s an energetic metropolis, the place folks embrace nature and spend time amongst it.

It has a ravishing historic coronary heart, with excessive finish retailers, prime eating places and the peace of thoughts that nature is inside strolling distance.

Nevertheless, regardless of its popularity as a centre of worldwide finance, don’t be fooled, it actually isn’t purely strait laced.

It’s a cool, artistic, buzzing and youthful metropolis – with a wonderful food and drinks scene, full of life nightclubs and inventive edge.

With good museums, galleries and a packed occasions calendar, it’s a metropolis which is certain to maintain you busy.

It’s additionally ideally positioned, with excellent transport connections to profit from the remainder of Switzerland, a lot of which could be accessed in a day journey. 

Be a part of us as we spotlight the very best issues to do in Zurich. 

21 Finest Issues To Do In Zurich

#1. Lake Zurich

The shores of the beautiful Lake Zurich run straight up into the guts of the town. 

It’s a focus for folks within the city all year long, however is a buzzing hive of exercise in the course of the hotter months of the yr particularly. 

It’s an exquisite place to take a break from the town’s streets, with actions for all of the household – stretching 40 kilometres lengthy and three kilometres broad, surrounded by hills and mountains. 

A should is the beautiful promenade known as Utoquai, proper subsequent to the town centre, which is lined with beautiful cafes, eating places and bars.

In the meantime, many individuals take to the lake itself – swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding and renting a ship or pedalo – even within the winter months. 

There are numerous peaceable parks on the metropolis finish of the lake, which make nice spots to have a picnic or sunbath.

And there’s a huge array of ferry shuttle providers, which result in different villages and cities alongside the banks of Lake Zurich. 

The lake is a significant attraction in itself and can at all times maintain you busy. 

#2. River Life

We talked about that Zurich has nature at each flip and it isn’t simply Lake Zurich which pulls folks of their 1000’s. 

The river which runs off the lake is a improbable spot to relax and loosen up in the summertime months. 

An space known as The Letten is lined with wood decking and has quite a few nice bars, the place folks sunbath and funky off with dips into the close by river. 

There are quite a few spots to dive off, a waterside skatepark, basketball courts and loads of tasty eateries.

A big authorized graffiti wall additionally attracts artists in massive numbers, the place you’ll be able to see artwork being created as you loosen up by the water.

You may also catch DJs enjoying at a few of the native bars in the summertime months, which all collectively creates one of many coolest vibes within the metropolis. 

This space is one among our favourites, notably in summer time, but it surely’s additionally a pleasant spot to amble in the course of the winter months too.

# 3. Historic coronary heart 

Zurich has some beautiful historic structure and it’s inside the community of cobbled streets across the Altstadt space the place you will see that nearly all of it.

The neighbourhood spans two sides of the Limat River, close to its mouth with Lake Zurich, full of medieval buildings, spectacular church buildings, cute cafes and attractive eating places serving native delicacies. 

It’s improbable place to wander and get misplaced amongst a labyrinth of tight streets. 

The realm can also be residence to the town’s most important purchasing districts, stuffed with high-end retailers, cocktail bars and enjoyable squares. 

Amongst a few of the must-see websites within the space are the town’s Grossmünster and Fraumünster church buildings, the Lindenhof hill, which rises up on the japanese financial institution of the River Limmat, and the luxurious retailers alongside Bahnhofstrasse. 

#4. Industriequartier 

Zurich’s Industrial Quarter, simply north of the primary railway station, couldn’t be extra totally different to the historic coronary heart in Altstadt. 

That is the town’s cool and inventive district, stuffed with avenue artwork and previous warehouses which now home eating places, nightclubs, bars and exhibition areas.

One of many coolest spots within the space is the spectacular field park known as Frau Gerald’s Garten – a set of delivery containers in a giant open plan backyard stuffed with bars, avenue meals eateries, small artistic retailers 

From DJ occasions and Christmas markets to reside bands and artwork exhibitions. 

Subsequent door you’ve one of many metropolis’s coolest nightclubs, known as Hive, which attracts main names in digital music from world wide.

Close by you’ll be able to surf on a artifical wave pool, proper within the coronary heart of the town, whereas subsequent door you drink beers in a bar the place you can even play a recreation of badminton. 

I feel you’re getting a really feel for the world now – it’s an eclectic mixture of extremely cool companies.

One other prime choose on this space is the Markthalle IM VIADUKT – a lined market corridor underneath the railway line, which has many avenue meals eateries, bars, eating places and connoisseur meals stalls. 

Wandering across the artwork lined space you’ll additionally discover many wonderful craft beer breweries, espresso roasteries, eateries and different smaller gallery areas.

It’s a spot to not miss. 

#5. Store till you drop

We briefly touched upon it earlier, Zurich is a magnet for luxurious purchasing.

Town is stuffed with high-end retailers, from the style manufacturers like Louis Vuitton and Gucci, amongst a whole bunch of others, to luxurious jewelry producers, automobile producers and galleries promoting superb artwork.

Town’s Bahnhofstrasse, in Altstadt, has been named as one of the crucial costly and unique purchasing streets on earth, working greater than 1 kilometre from Lake Zurich to the town’s most important railway station.

In the meantime, elsewhere within the metropolis, you will see that 100s upon 100s of different smaller style boutiques and plenty of excessive avenue names promoting extra reasonably priced gadgets.

It’s actually value bringing your purse and pockets out with you on a wander round Zurich’s metropolis centre.

#6. Go mountain climbing 

The Swiss are keen about their mountain climbing. 

The nation is a hiker’s paradise, with infinite pure magnificence, beautiful excessive peaks and dense forest.

You don’t must enterprise removed from Zurich’s metropolis centre to seek out stunning strolling territory. 

There are hills and mountains surrounding the town, and the remainder of Lake Zurich, with routes for all skills. 

One among our favorite areas is Uetliberg, a mountain to the south of Zurich, which rises as much as 868m proper out the again of residential neighbourhoods. 

#7. Uetliberg

Zurich’s Uetliberg mountain is a superb escape from the busy metropolis streets. 

As we talked about, it’s tremendous accessible, rising straight as much as the south of the town, solely a 15 minute stroll from the busy purchasing streets and the shores of Lake Zurich.

The entire mountain aspect is criss-crossed with many kilometres of wonderful mountain climbing trails, which meander their means via dense woodland, rising as much as the highest of the mountain.

From the highest of Uetliberg you’ve panoramic views throughout the entire metropolis, Lake Zurich and the encircling mountains.

It’s a ravishing spot, with cafes and a bar on the prime, and in winter the snow-covered mountain climbing trails are remodeled into sledding tracks – so you’ll be able to whizz down the mountainside. 

From the highest you’ll be able to then hike additional south throughout the hills to smaller villages behind the town.

And in the event you can’t handle the hike up, don’t fear, there’s a practice which runs to the highest from Zurich’s central railway station (Zurich HB).

#8. Catch a ship

The shores of Lake Zurich are lined with boats of all sizes and styles – from massive public ferries which result in different villages and cities, to smaller pleasure crafts to hire on a summer time’s day.

We suggest going out and getting on the lake, taking a visit to one of many close by villages or having a spin across the lake in a rental boat or on a guided tour. 

There are numerous spots to hire boats, proper subsequent to the guts of the town centre. 

It’s a beautiful method to get a really feel for the remainder of Lake Zurich and see the town from a special perspective. 

You may also discover one of many metropolis’s finest currywurst stalls, proper subsequent to the ferry port. 

#9. Artwork & Museums

Zurich is likely one of the artistic hearts of Switzerland and has a vibrant cultural scene. 

One spot, which may’t be missed, is the town’s Kunsthaus, the most important artwork museum in Switzerland, which has works by the likes of Monet, Picasso and Van Gough. 

It additionally hosts many momentary exhibitions all year long, showcasing extra trendy items. 

The Swiss Nationwide Museum can also be an amazing place to go to to get a grasp of Swiss historical past via the ages.

In the meantime, in the event you’re in search of a extra trendy cultural twist, then the Migros Museum of Up to date Artwork is a good spot– it’s garnered a world popularity for its ahead considering and ever-changing collections. 

#10. Summer time surf within the metropolis

Though Zurich may be very a lot landlocked, it has a sizeable browsing group and the town has its very personal artifical wave within the Industriequartier, known as City Surf.

It’s solely open in the summertime months, but it surely’s a wonderful place to hone your browsing abilities or simply loosen up with a beer as you watch folks take to the wave.

There’s an onsite café and you’ll hire tools on the surf centre. 

A good way to spend a summer time’s afternoon and the encircling space is crammed to the brim with nice locations to eat and drink. 

#11. Go to a badi 

Water is vastly essential to many individuals in Zurich, which you may anticipate with an infinite lake on the metropolis’s door. 

The entire metropolis is stuffed with public swimming spots and swimming pools, some which you must pay a small quantity to make use of and others that are free. 

From lakeside services, with diving boards into the lakes, to public lidos within the coronary heart of the town’s busy neighbourhoods, they actually nail public swimming areas in Zurich. 

We’ve already talked about one among our favorite spots, alongside the river, however there are lots of others.

Strandbad Mythenquai, on the southern shore of Lake Zurich, is a good spot to get pleasure from a summer time’s day, with a calming park, numerous diving boards, paddleboard rental and plenty of beautiful dipping spots. 

Strandbad Tiefenbrunnen on the northern aspect of Lake Zurich is one other wonderful spot – it has an amazing park to sunbath in, waterslides, pontoons out within the lake and plenty of different nice services. 

Those we’ve talked about is barely scratching the floor, you will discover spots of all sizes and styles all around the metropolis. 

#12. Go biking

Regardless of Switzerland’s mountainous popularity, Zurich is definitely a largely flat metropolis. 

Town is effectively set-up for biking, with a wonderful protected lane infrastructure and safe lock-up services.

It’s a great way to get frequented with the town correctly too, fairly than sticking simply to public transport, and there are many locations to hire bikes for reasonably priced costs.

The shores of Lake Zurich are additionally lined with nice cycle lanes, a great way to get some train in and see extra of the town. 

#13. Ice hockey

Zurich has its very personal skilled ice hockey workforce and a brand-new stadium, the place the town’s Zürcher Schlittschuh Membership Lions play their matches.

The aspect’s residence matches aren’t to be missed, with excessive octane motion and a buzzing atmosphere. 

The membership play their matches on the Swiss Life Area, within the north-west of the town, close to Altstetten station, with the season working between September and March. 

#14. Soccer tradition 

Soccer has a giant place in Zurich too. 

Town has two skilled soccer golf equipment, who play their matches on the Stadion Letzigrund.

FC Zurich and Grasshoppers not solely function within the native home prime division, however typically function in all-European competitions too.

The native derbies are video games which you must soar on the likelihood of seeing, with passionate native followers organising vibrant shows, full with fireworks earlier than matches.

Town can also be residence to the FIFA Museum, which drew 400,000 soccer followers to it in 2022, to see its huge collections of soccer memorabilia, interactive soccer video games and plenty of different soccer associated exhibitions. 

#15. Avenue artwork 

Zurich has a rising avenue artwork scene, with an rising variety of massive scale murals adorning the edges of buildings. 

The scene is most vibrant across the hip Industriequartier, the place you’ll be able to’t go far with out seeing an instance of the town’s creativity on the partitions. 

There are additionally quite a lot of authorized portray places, the place you’ll be able to recurrently see graffiti artists taking to the partitions, notably alongside the banks of the river across the Letten.

A lot of the town’s streets, across the extra trendy areas, are adorned with vibrant work and there’s a neighborhood avenue artwork tour, which presents a guided expertise that will help you perceive the town’s portray tradition.

#16. Snowboarding & snowboarding 

Switzerland is within the coronary heart of the Alps and is a rustic stuffed with huge mountains.

You possibly can attain improbable snowboarding areas from Zurich in an hour and a half on the practice.

It means you’ll be able to hit the slopes in a easy day journey and make it again to get pleasure from dinner within the metropolis. 

Few European cities have such great entry or transport connections to prime notch snowboarding territory.

It isn’t uncommon to see folks on native trams in Zurich metropolis centre sporting their snowboarding or snowboarding gear.

#17. Massive occasions

Zurich has a packed occasion’s calendar, with main occasions right through the yr.

Listed below are a few of our favourites:

#18. Christmas Markets 

Zurich actually nails Christmas, with a lot of enchanting Christmas markets, stuffed with regionally produced festive items, wonderful meals and festive bars. 

There are quite a few markets dotted across the metropolis over the festive interval. 

#19. Zurich Avenue Parade

Each August greater than 1 million folks go to Zurich for an infinite techno and digital music occasion via the town’s streets. 

It normally runs on the second Saturday of August with DJs from world wide enjoying to large crowds across the metropolis. 

#20. Züri Fäscht

A big 2 day music competition in July, with greater than 2 million music followers visiting the town to look at bands and DJs across the metropolis.

It’s accompanied by massive fireworks shows and different occasions.

#21. Zurich Marathon

Each April tens of 1000’s of runners, together with the world’s finest, come to the town to tackle the town’s marathon.

The 26.2 mile loop takes in a big a part of the town and across the stunning Lake Zurich. 

Ultimate Ideas

Zurich is a ravishing and full of life metropolis in an unbelievable setting. 

There are few European cities which supply such wonderful entry to nature, with mountains, forests, lakes and waterways throughout.

But the place additionally presents a lot buzzing metropolis life too – with improbable retailers, museums, nightlife, eating places and a full of life occasion’s calendar. 

Zurich is much from a uninteresting monetary hub, it’s an unbelievable thrilling and various metropolis, with luggage of creativity and tradition.

We love Zurich and hope to see you by the lake, within the hills or on the town’s streets quickly.