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Here are some of the very best things to do in Zurich.

As Switzerland’s largest city, Zurich is much more than just a financial hub. Here you’ll find medieval streets and world class museums alongside panoramic viewpoints and lakeside walks, making it the ideal place to both explore and relax.

Zurich truly blends historic charm with modern culture, meaning there really is something for everyone. It’s also well located as a base for day trips, with nearby locations including the snowy peaks of the alps and glistening glaciers in Engelberg.

Here is my guide to the very best things to do in Zurich, both for first-time visitors and frequent travellers.

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Find the best Zurich tours and activities on the Get Your Guide website here.

What To Do In Zurich, Switzerland

Whether you prefer outdoor adventures or exploring historic neighbourhoods, Zurich has a something available for everyone. From sampling the local cheese fondue to taking a beginner’s skiing lesson in the alps, there are endless opportunities to choose from.

The city of Zurich is also relatively compact, meaning that it’s super easy for visitors to get around.

Is Zurich Worth Visiting

There are SO many reasons why Zurich is worth visiting, but here are some of my favourites.

The city itself has a number of districts to suit all tastes. The historic Old Town, Altstadt, is perfect for culture lovers, with sleek modern districts and lakeside activities just a short journey away.
The selection of museums here is fantastic. Personally I adored the Lindt Chocolate Museum, but you can also find the FIFA Museum here alongside the typical arts, design and history museums.
Scenic Swiss activities are only a short journey away, including hikes up the Uetliberg mountain and viewpoints over the city.
Zurich may be the country’s largest city, but it’s also very compact and easy to get around. Much of the city is walkable, and there are plenty of public transport options available.

When Is The Best Time To Visit Zurich

A fab travel destination at any time of year, each season brings different reasons to enjoy Zurich.

Summer (June–August)

One of the busiest and most expensive seasons for tourism, the summer months are the best for activities along Lake Zurich. This is also when you’ll get the best weather, with temperatures typically ranging from 20°C to 30°C.

Autumn (September–October)

If you’re keen to visit when the summer crowds have started to dissipate, then you need to visit Zurich during the autumn. This is the ideal time of year for sipping coffee in cosy cafes and strolling around the art museums.

Winter (December–February)

If you love Christmas, then this is the season for you. Each December the city is transformed into a winter wonderland, with lively Christmas markets, ice skating and warming winter treats to enjoy.

In comparison, January and February are much more quiet. If you don’t mind the cold and want to keep costs down, then this can be a great time to travel to Zurich.

Spring (April–May)

Finally, make sure to consider visiting Zurich in the spring. It won’t be quite as busy or as hot as the summer, making it the best time to hike up Uetliberg. Time it right and you might even get to see the cherry blossoms!

How Many Days In Zurich Is Enough?

You can easily see much of what Zurich has to offer in a long weekend, spanning 2 - 3 days. It’s also a great spot for a day trip, if you want to visit one of the museums and go for a casual wander around the city.

Zurich also makes an ideal base for heading out on day trips during longer stays. Locations easily within reach of the city include Engelberg, Jungfraujoch, Rhine Falls and Grindelwald.

Best Things To Do In Zurich Switzerland

Here is my complete list of the very best things to do in Zurich.

Museums

Visit the Lindt Home of Chocolate Museum

Possible my very favourite thing to do in the city, Zurich is home to the wonderful Lindt Chocolate Museum.

For a small fee you can spend a few hours learning about the history of Lindt Chocolate in Switzerland, and enjoy an unlimited number of chocolate samples! There’s even a 9-meter high chocolate fountain in the entrance hall for you to marvel at.

Entry costs just £16 per person and includes an audio guide.

Make sure you book your tickets in advance as this activity is likely to sell out.

Learn About the History of Football at the FIFA Museum

An essential stop for football fans, the FIFA Museum is an interactive experience suitable for visitors of all ages. The exhibits will walk you through the rich tapestry of global football, with over 3000 square meters of exhibition space.

Enjoy stories and anecdotes from the world of football, and admire artefacts that include the original FIFA World Cup Trophy.

Tickets can be booked in advance and start at £23 per person.

Visit Switzerland’s Largest Art Museum Kunsthaus Zürich

Located in the eastern side of the city, Kunsthaus Zürich is a fantastic museum with an extensive collection spanning from the Middle Ages to the present day.

This includes the largest collection of Edvard Munch paintings outside of Norway, and the most important collection of works by Alberto Giacometti. There’s even a large Swiss exhibition which showcases artwork in all mediums, dating back to the 1500s.

Admission costs CHF 24 per person, with an additional fee for selected exhibitions.

Find out more on the Kunsthaus Zürich website here.

Explore the Swiss National Museum

Those who are interested in the culture and history of Switzerland need to stop by the Swiss National Museum. The museum itself dates back to the 1800s, and holds a wide range of temporary and permanent exhibitions.

They also have an interactive experience titled ‘A Magic Carpet Ride Through History’, which provides a fun family experience with puzzles, hidden treasures, stories, dressing up and drawing.

Book your tickets from £12 per person here.

Visit Museum für Gestaltung Zürich

A leading Swiss museum for design and visual communication, the Museum für Gestaltung has a collection of more than half a million items related to the history of graphics and design.

Tickets are only available to purchase in person, and cost between CHF 10 and CHF 15 depending on your circumstances.

Find out more on the museum website here.

Zurich City Tours

Join a Food Tour

One of the very best ways to explore a new city is by joining a guided tour.

Zurich has much to offer when it comes to culinary delights, and this top rated guided tour includes 8+ individual tastings. The delicious Swiss cuisine on offer includes cheese, chocolate and fondue bites, led by an experienced local guide.

The tour itself lasts for 3.5 hours and costs £114 per person.

Book your place on the Get Your Guide website here.

Hop on an Open Top Bus Sightseeing Tour

If you’re looking to see Zurich on a budget, then this open top bus sightseeing tour is perfect for you. The tour lasts for 1 hour and includes numerous parks, museums and historic squares, accompanied by an audio guide.

Tickets cost £20 per person and an optional Lake Zurich river cruise is available for an additional cost.

Book your ticket here.

Take a Self-Guided Tour of Zurich’s Bookshop Scene

Regular readers will know that I visit the local bookshops wherever I go, and Zurich is no exception. There are lots of fantastic bookshops to visit in the city, including many with a large stock of titles in English.

One of my favourites is The Travel Bookshop, which is located towards the edge of the old town, and stocks a variety of travel books in a number of languages. Across the road you’ll find Never Stop Reading and Buchhandlung Calligramme, a second hand bookshop based in a former police station.

Pile of Books is a must-visit for anyone after English language books, and is located in the south west of the city. Don’t miss Paranoia City Books & Wine, which is an excellent feminist bookshop with a large bookcase of English titles.

Cruise Along Lake Zurich

Enjoy a relaxing cruise as part of this half day tour, which also includes a guided coach tour of Zurich and a visit to nearby town Rapperswil. The drive will take you down the breathtaking Höhenstrasse panoramic road, as well as a short guided walk through Rapperswil, which is known for its medieval castle and cobblestoned old town.

The cruise portion of the tour lasts for 2.5 hours, passing by beautiful landscapes, lakeside towns and nearby mountains. It’s unaccompanied, meaning you can just sit back, relax and enjoy the view.

This option is ideal if you want to see as much as possible during a short visit to the city.

Book your tickets for £86 per person here.

Peddle Away on an E-Bike City Tour

Cyclists will enjoy this electric bike tour, which is both comprehensive and suitable for those on a budget. There’s no need to worry about the traffic, as this tour takes place entirely on cycle paths, led by an experienced guide.

The £23 ticket price is an absolute steal, which includes the cost of bike hire and lasts for 135 minutes.

Book your Zurich e-bike tour here.

Zurich Based Activities

Watch the FLOW light show

This popular activity is a magical light experience that takes place inside a small medieval church, Wasserkirche. The show itself was designed by the Zurich artist collective PROJEKTIL, and uses thousands of light sources to bath the church’s historic vaulted arches in light.

Accompanied by music that combines classical pieces with modern beats, this really is a unique activity that you do not want to miss.

This activity is likely to sell out, so make sure you book your tickets in advance here.

Play Galaxy Mini Golf at WeAreVR

This unique activity is ideal for families or couples looking for a low cost novelty activity. Grab your 3D glasses (included) and navigate the site’s creative mini golf courses designed with cosmic themes and vibrant colours.

There’s also an entire virtual reality experience here too if you want to continue the technological fun.

Book your Galaxy Mini Golf experience here.

Battle in the Zurich Virtual Reality Arena

A step up from the previous 3D experience, this activity will see you immersed in a virtual reality adventure. The VR gear is provided in the ticket price, and the area includes a variety of games including PvP shooter matches, escape rooms and a post-apocalyptic zombie survival mode.

Ticket prices vary depending on the day and time, starting at a cost of £18 per person.

Book your tickets on the Get Your Guide website here.

See a Show at Zurich Opera House

A must-visit option for fans of opera or ballet, the Zurich Opera House offers a packed performance calendar with different shows to see throughout the year.

The venue itself dates back to the 1800s, and offers surtitles in both German and English for most opera performances.

Take a look at the performance schedule here.

Enjoy the View from Grossmünster Church

One of the city’s four major churches, the Grossmünster is a Romanesque-style Protestant church that offers fantastic views across Lake Zurich to the Alps.

The church itself is free to visit, while the viewing platform in the Karlsturm tower costs a small additional fee. Tickets are available to purchase onsite, for a price of CHF 5 for adults, CHF 4 for students and CHF 1 for children.

Make sure to check the church’s opening hours on their website before travelling.

Stroll Around the Botanical Garden

Zurich’s stunning botanical garden is the ideal place to relax and be inspired. The garden itself is expansive, spanning an impressive 5.6 hectares in size and including a wide range of habitats.

The site also houses three large tropical domes where you can view thousands of plants year-round. Amazingly, entry to this fantastic attraction is free - including entrance into the tropical domes.

Find out more on the Zurich Botanical Garden website here.

Wander Through Zurich University Library, Rechtswissenschaftliche Bibliothek

An ideal choice for the literary inclined, this Zurich University Library is absolutely beautiful.

Designed by Santiago Calatrava and opened in 2004, the Rechtswissenschaftliche Bibliothek is the university’s law library with more than 500 individual study spaces. This hidden gem is a working library, so make sure that you visit respectfully and without disturbing the students who study here.

Note: desk space here has to be booked, so you’re likely to be booted out if you sit down at an empty desk. Entry is free and visitors are welcome to stroll inside and enjoy the architecture.

Hike Up Uetliberg Mountain

Located on the edge of the city, Uetliberg is Zurich’s closest mountain and an excellent spot for a hike. The peak of the mountain is 871 meters (2,858 feet) above sea level, offering spectacular panoramic views.

The climb is particularly popular in November, when the mountain’s summit pierces through the wall of fog that tends to settle over the city in the late autumn.

This activity is completely free, with a variety of trails available depending on your fitness level.

Day Trips and Excursions From Zurich

Embark on a Day Tour of Switzerland’s Filming Locations

Zurich makes the ideal base for further exploration. Movie buffs will love this 10 hour day tour, with visits to some of Switzerland’s most iconic filming locations.

Stops include locations from popular K-Drama Crash Landing on You, where you can follow in the footsteps of Yoon Se-ri and Ri Jeong-hyeok. From charming villages and stunning lakes to the Sigriswil Panorama Bridge and Lauterbrunnen’s waterfall valley, this popular tour is unforgettable.

Book your place from £265 per person here.

Spend a Day in Grindelwald, Interlaken & Lauterbrunnen

Setting off from Zurich, this stunning full day activity will take you through mountains, glaciers and waterfalls in some of Switzerland’s most beautiful locations.

The tour includes dedicated free time in multiple locations, including Interlaken, Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen, while other areas will be explored by bus. If you like to get out into nature and want to see the sights that Switzerland has to offer, then this activity is perfect for you.

Tickets start at £102 per person and can be purchased here.

Visit Rhine Falls

If you’re after a shorter option that’s still exciting, then book yourself a place on this guided visit to Rhine Falls.

Here you can observe Europe’s largest plain waterfall, and enjoy a 2.5 hour guided walk through the area. Viewing platforms are available and entry to Rhine Falls is included in the price of the tour, along with return transport from Zurich.

Tickets cost £48 per person and can be booked here.

Marvel at the snow capped mountains and ice caps at Lucerne, Engelberg and Titlis

Another extensive full-day trip, this 11 hour tour includes multiple stops, a cable car ride, Titlis Cliff Walk and excursion into Titlis Glacier Cave in Engelberg.

This option really does involve a little of everything that Switzerland has to offer, with snow capped mountains, glaciers and alpine views, as well as a thrill inducing chair lift and vertigo-inducing suspended bridge.

If you’re looking for an adventure, then this is the ideal tour for you!

Tickets cost £155 per person and can be booked here.

Day Trip to Jungfraujoch in the Swiss Alps

Another alpine option, this day trip to Jungfraujoch includes a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as the largest glacier in Europe, cable car and scenic train ride.

You’ll have a minimum stay of 2 hours on top of Jungfraujoch, and enjoy a stop at the Sphinx Observation Terrace for views of the Aletsch Glacier. Priced at £268, this tour might be one of the most expensive on this list, but really will offer a once-in-a-lifetime snowy experience.

Book your ticket on the Get Your Guide website here.

Hit the Slopes for a Beginner’s Ski lesson

If you’ve always wanted to try your hand at skiing, then make the most of your trip to Zurich by booking this exciting excursion.

For the price of £185 per person, you can enjoy a beginner’s ski lesson at snowXpark, as well as a cable car ride over the Alps and drive through the stunning Swiss countryside.

Book your place on this fantastic tour here.

Snowy Day Trip to Flumserberg

The final day-trip on this list, this 7 hour experience includes a train ride, cable car, and free time to explore snowy Flumserberg. This resort area of the Swiss Alps offers fantastic views and skiing opportunities, just an hour away from Zurich.

Skiing itself is an optional add on, meaning that this excursion is also suitable for those who want to relax and enjoy the alpine views. Tickets are priced at £265 per person.