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 individuals embrace nature and spend time amongst it.

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

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

It’s a cool, artistic, buzzing and youthful metropolis – with a superb foods and drinks scene, energetic nightclubs and creative 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 will be accessed in a day journey. 

Be a part of us as we spotlight one of the 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 center of town. 

It’s a focus for individuals within the city all year long, however is a buzzing hive of exercise through the hotter months of the yr specifically. 

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

A should is the beautiful promenade referred to as Utoquai, proper subsequent to town centre, which is lined with pretty 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 companies, which result in different villages and cities alongside the banks of Lake Zurich. 

The lake is a serious 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 attracts individuals of their hundreds. 

The river which runs off the lake is a incredible spot to relax and calm down in the summertime months. 

An space referred to as The Letten is lined with wood decking and has quite a few nice bars, the place individuals 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 calm down by the water.

You too can catch DJs taking part in 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 in every of our favourites, notably in summer season, nevertheless it’s additionally a pleasant spot to amble through the winter months too.

# 3. Historic coronary heart 

Zurich has some beautiful historic structure and it’s throughout the community of cobbled streets across the Altstadt space the place you will discover 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 incredible place to wander and get misplaced amongst a labyrinth of tight streets. 

The realm can be dwelling to town’s principal procuring districts, full of high-end retailers, cocktail bars and stress-free squares. 

Amongst a few of the must-see websites within the space are town’s Grossmünster and Fraumünster church buildings, the Lindenhof hill, which rises up on the jap 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 town’s cool and inventive district, filled with avenue artwork and outdated warehouses which now home eating places, nightclubs, bars and exhibition areas.

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

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

Subsequent door you will have one of many metropolis’s coolest nightclubs, referred to 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 town, whereas subsequent door you drink beers in a bar the place you may also play a recreation of badminton. 

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

One other high decide on this space is the Markthalle IM VIADUKT – a coated market corridor below the railway line, which has many avenue meals eateries, bars, eating places and gourmand meals stalls. 

Wandering across the artwork coated 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 procuring.

Town is full of high-end retailers, from the style manufacturers like Louis Vuitton and Gucci, amongst a whole lot of others, to luxurious jewelry producers, automotive producers and galleries promoting positive artwork.

Town’s Bahnhofstrasse, in Altstadt, has been named as probably the most costly and unique procuring streets on earth, operating greater than 1 kilometre from Lake Zurich to town’s principal railway station.

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

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

#6. Go mountaineering 

The Swiss are keen about their mountaineering. 

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

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

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

Considered one of 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 an excellent escape from the busy metropolis streets. 

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

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

From the highest of Uetliberg you will have panoramic views throughout the entire metropolis, Lake Zurich and the encompassing mountains.

It’s a good looking spot, with cafes and a bar on the high, and in winter the snow-covered mountaineering 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 town.

And should you can’t handle the hike up, don’t fear, there’s a prepare 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 season’s day.

We advocate 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 center of town centre. 

It’s a stunning solution to get a really feel for the remainder of Lake Zurich and see town from a distinct perspective. 

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

#9. Artwork & Museums

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

One spot, which may’t be missed, is town’s Kunsthaus, the biggest 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 fashionable items. 

The Swiss Nationwide Museum can be an awesome place to go to to get a grasp of Swiss historical past by the ages.

In the meantime, should you’re in search of a extra fashionable cultural twist, then the Migros Museum of Up to date Artwork is a good spot– it’s garnered a global fame for its ahead pondering and ever-changing collections. 

#10. Summer season surf within the metropolis

Though Zurich could be very a lot landlocked, it has a sizeable browsing neighborhood and town has its very personal artifical wave within the Industriequartier, referred to as City Surf.

It’s solely open in the summertime months, nevertheless it’s a superb place to hone your browsing abilities or simply calm down with a beer as you watch individuals 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 season’s afternoon and the encompassing space is stuffed to the brim with nice locations to eat and drink. 

#11. Go to a badi 

Water is massively vital to many individuals in Zurich, which you would possibly count on with an infinite lake on the metropolis’s door. 

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

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

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

Strandbad Mythenquai, on the southern shore of Lake Zurich, is a good spot to take pleasure in a summer season’s day, with a soothing park, numerous diving boards, paddleboard rental and plenty of pretty dipping spots. 

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

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

#12. Go biking

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

Town is nicely set-up for biking, with a superb protected lane infrastructure and safe lock-up amenities.

It’s a great way to get frequented with town correctly too, reasonably 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 town. 

#13. Ice hockey

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

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

The membership play their matches on the Swiss Life Enviornment, within the north-west of town, close to Altstetten station, with the season operating 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 high division, however generally function in all-European competitions too.

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

Town can be dwelling 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. Road artwork 

Zurich has a rising avenue artwork scene, with an growing variety of giant scale murals adorning the perimeters 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 town’s creativity on the partitions. 

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

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

#16. Snowboarding & snowboarding 

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

You’ll be able to attain incredible snowboarding areas from Zurich in an hour and a half on the prepare.

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

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

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

#17. Large occasions

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

Listed below are a few of our favourites:

#18. Christmas Markets 

Zurich actually nails Christmas, with numerous enchanting Christmas markets, filled with domestically produced festive items, wonderful meals and festive bars. 

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

#19. Zurich Road Parade

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

It often runs on the second Saturday of August with DJs from world wide taking part in to very large crowds across the metropolis. 

#20. Züri Fäscht

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

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

#21. Zurich Marathon

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

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

Closing Ideas

Zurich is a good looking and energetic metropolis in an unimaginable setting. 

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

But the place additionally provides a lot buzzing metropolis life too – with incredible retailers, museums, nightlife, eating places and a energetic occasion’s calendar. 

Zurich is way from a boring monetary hub, it’s an unimaginable thrilling and various metropolis, with baggage of creativity and tradition.

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