travel around zurich

What you need to know before traveling to Zürich

Apr 21, 2023 • 4 min read

The best, and most environmentally friendly, way to get to Zürich is by train © Maythee Voran / Shutterstock

Welcome to Zürich , a beautiful city nestled in the heart of Switzerland . As a Swiss-Italian content creator I've traveled the world, but always feels most at home in the Alps. Zürich is for me the perfect mix of Alpine closeness and tranquility with a buzzing city life, which is why I've lived here for over 10 years.

Before you pack your bags and head to this beautiful Swiss city destination, let's dive into what you need to know.

1. Planning your trip to Zürich

When planning your itinerary keep in mind that Zürich is a a comparably small city that can be easily explored in two to three days. However, if you plan on visiting other parts of Switzerland, I recommend staying here for at least a week.

Book your accommodation in advance, especially during peak tourist season. If you feel that staying central is not your main focus, you can easily find hotels a little further out on the lakeside, or even in direction Oerlikon (in the northern reaches of Zürich) which are much more budget-friendly and quieter. In general, you can get to the city center within 30 minutes by public transport, so choosing a more economic accommodation is not going to cause you any major delays. 

If you're looking for a unique experience, try visiting a traditional restaurant. A good recommendation is the classic  Kronenhalle  which serves fine-dining versions of local home-style cuisine and drinks. Bookings can be made online via their website, but as Zürich is a very international city and most people speak English, feel free to give a quick call to book a table.

It’s not just cliché: the chocolates , Luxemburgerli, and other sweet creations at Lindt & Sprüngli, are a must. I always bring my friends to the store at Paradeplatz because the experience is exquisite. And if you might think Luxemburgerli is just a copy of the famous macarons, they're not. They're smaller and lighter than macarons and come in a unique bite-size form.

2. Transportation in Zürich

As for transportation, the easiest and cheapest way to get from the airport to the city center is by train. You can purchase a ticket at the airport station or via the SBB mobile app . Ideally buy a day pass so you can hop on and off as many times you want on Zürich's trams and buses.

Note that the transport is always precisely on time. If it says departure at 10:15, it is exactly that and not a minute later or earlier.

If you are coming from Europe mainland, consider taking a train to Zürich instead of a flight. Overall, it doesn’t take longer and you can relax and enjoy the incredible landscape along the ride.

3. Etiquette in Zürich

Switzerland is known for its punctuality, and Zürich is no exception. If you have a scheduled appointment or reservation, make sure to arrive on time.

It's important to realise that Swiss people are rather reserved which means they may seem aloof at first, but they are friendly once you get to know them. Also note: when first greeting someone use their last name with the appropriate title (Mr. or Ms. for example).

Dress code in Zürich is typically smart casual, but in summer a dress and sandals, or shorts and flip-flops, are perfectly fine.

Finally, tipping is not mandatory, but rounding up a bill is appreciated when you eat out in a restaurant.

4. Where to stay in Zürich

If you're looking for a vibrant neighborhood to experience the local culture, I recommend staying in Kreis 4 or 5 (these are abbreviations for districts in Zürich). These areas are known for their street art, bars, and diverse food scene.

On the other hand, if you prefer a quieter neighborhood, Seefeld and Enge are excellent options. Both areas have beautiful parks, lakeside views, and charming cafes.

5. Health and Safety in Zürich

Zürich is a safe city, but as with any destination, it's important to take precautions. Petty crime, such as pickpocketing, can occur in crowded tourist areas, so keep your valuables close to you. In case of an emergency, dial 117 for the police and 144 for medical assistance.

And finally, Swiss tap water is safe to drink, so there's no need to buy bottled water.

Zürich is a city that offers something for everyone, whether you're a history buff, foodie, or nature lover. So pack your bags, and get ready for an unforgettable trip.

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Best Museums

Guide to Lake Zurich

Day Trips From Zurich

Best Restaurants

Nightlife in Zurich

Best Time to Visit

Weather & Climate

Zurich Airport Guide

Public Transportation

Neighborhoods to Explore

Top Things to Do

The Top 15 Things to Do in Zurich

Cosmo Condina/GettyImages 

It's not the capital of Switzerland (that would be Bern), but Zurich is Switzerland's largest city and its commercial, transportation, and cultural hub. The city is set along the Limmat River, encompasses Lake Zurich (Zürichsee), and is surrounded by mountains. With its scenic setting, colorful and well-preserved Old Town, and ample museums, parks, and pedestrian areas, it is a delightful city to explore. Plus there's a great dining and arts scene, and a comprehensive and efficient system of trams, buses, and boats meaning you can travel around Zurich, including to its outlying areas, with ease.

Get Acquainted with Old Town

TripSavvy / Michela Sieman

Start your visit to Zurich in the oldest part of the city. The Limmat River divides Zurich's Altstadt (Old Town) in two, with the Lindenhof to the west (left) bank and the Rathaus to the east (right). Archaeological remains dating to the pre-Roman and Roman eras have been found in Lindenhof, making it the oldest part of the city. Both halves of the Altstadt are medieval in character, with houses, churches, public buildings, and historic guild-houses dating from the 12th to 19th centuries. Auto traffic is limited on all but the main arteries, making this a lovely area for walking and exploring. Shops and restaurants, some in existence for hundreds of years, line most streets in the Altstadt.

Climb the Towers of the Grossmünster

The most recognizable landmark on the Zurich skyline and a symbol of the city, the Romanesque-style Grossmünster (Great Minster) is one of a handful of important churches in the Altstadt. Construction on the present church began in 1100, and the church was allegedly founded by Charlemagne. When the church seceded from the papacy in the 1500s, it became the focal point of the Swiss Reformation and the growth of Protestantism in the country.

After touring the interior, you can climb one of the Grossmünster's twin towers for sweeping views over Zurich, Lake Zurich, and the mountains beyond.

Ride a Tram

New and vintage trams rumble all over Zurich, and connect visitors and residents to practically all parts of the city and its suburbs. Apart from being a convenient mode of transportation, the above-ground trams are also a way to see the city. Single tickets are good for 30 minutes and are priced from 2.70 Swiss francs with prices going up according to how many zones are crossed. A simpler way around the fairly complicated zone and tariff system is to buy a Zurich Card , which includes unlimited travel on all city transport and free or reduced admission to dozens of museums.

Zip Around on an Electric Scooter

tolgart/GettyImages 

When in Zurich, make like a local and zip around town on an electric scooter, hundreds of which are readily available through various rental and share programs. You simply have to download the app for the company you wish to rent from, leave your email address and credit card number, scan the available scooter, and take off. When you're done with your ride, leave the scooter parked wherever; an online mapping system will let the next user know where available scooters are waiting. On Zurich's mostly flat streets, this is a fun way to get around, and you'll blend right in. Apps and scooters are currently available from Circ , Lime , and Bird .

Take a Boat Ride on Lake Zurich

A sightseeing boat ride on Lake Zurich or the Limmat River is a fun and relaxing way to take to the water any time of year. Lake Zurich Navigation Company operates a large fleet of sightseeing vessels, including motorboats and steam-powered ships. Sailings are more frequent in the warmer months and include such novelties as a fondue cruise (yes, please!), beer cruises, and salsa-dancing cruises. If your stay in Zurich is over and you're transferring to a different location along the lake, a boat commute is a scenic and fun option.

Stroll the Limmat

The Limmat River cuts a pretty swath through Zurich, and like all rivers in Switzerland, it's remarkably clear and clean. On both sides of the Altstadt, but particularly on the Lindenhof side, it's possible to walk along the embankment and to watch the swans, ducks and, in warm weather, swimmers and kayakers enjoying the river. The waterfront walkway runs under covered arcades in places, and passes historic buildings, squares, and riverside bathhouses.

Swim in the Lake or River

Swimming in Lake Zurich and the Limmat River is a favorite pastime of Zurich's residents young and old, and many of them are willing to brave very chilly water to take a dip! All along the banks of both bodies of water are places to wade in and swim, including bathhouses with changing areas and "swimming pools" built out over the water. There are also beaches and grassy areas along the lake where you can just roll out a towel. If you want to take to the water and (hopefully) stay dry, kayak, stand-up paddleboard, and canoe rentals are available.

Ascend the Uetliberg

Courtesy of Zürich Tourism 

The closest mountain to Zurich, the Uetliberg is 2,850 feet above sea level and offers sweeping views of Zurich, the lake, and the Alps beyond. Trams depart every 10 minutes from Zurich's main station for the 30-minute ride to Uetliberg station, from where walking trails depart for the summit. Hiking and mountain biking trails fan out from the summit, and in winter, it's a popular sledding area. Families will enjoy the Planet Trail, a walking trail with a scale model of the solar system. There are casual to upscale restaurants at the Uto Kulm Hotel , plus modern rooms and suites if you just can't tear yourself away from the views.

Marvel at the Fraumünster

With its elegant green steeple rising across the river from the Grossmünster, the Fraumünster (Women's Minster) is built on the remains of a ninth-century abbey. Throughout the Middle Ages, the Fraumünster was a powerful and independent woman's abbey, which even minted its own coins. The steeple dates to 1732, though sections of the oldest parts of the church still remain. Art lovers come to see the 20th-century stained glass windows by artists Alberto Giacometti and Marc Chagall.

Eat Fondue and Hearty Swiss Fare

Fondue is likely the most iconic Swiss cuisine you can eat—bubbling hot, melted cheese served with chunks of bread and small potatoes for dipping. You'll find it all over Zurich, but Le Dézaley , on the Rathaus side of the river, has been serving it up for a century. It and Swiss Chuchi , also on the Rathaus side, are also great places to try raclette, a dish of melted cheese typically served with thick-sliced bread, pickled vegetables and sliced, cured meat. For hearty Swiss fare like Wienerschnitzel, rösti (fried potatoes), and sausage sold by the meter, try Zeughauskeller , a raucous, rustic eatery in a building from the 1400s.

Drink Coffee at a Historic Cafe

Zurich has a strong coffee culture, and there are several historic cafes and coffee roasters around the city where patrons can sip a premium brew, nosh on chocolate, pastries, or other sweets, and soak up the storied setting. Schwarzenbach has been roasting coffee and selling high quality beans, teas and foodstuffs in the same Marktgasse location since 1910. In a building from the 1300s, elegant Conditorei Schober , in business since 1842, has tea and coffee-drinking salons that are almost as frilly as the fancifully packaged chocolates, candies, nuts, and pastries it sells. Right near the mouth of the Limmat, Cafe Bar Odeon was once the haunt of Albert Einstein, Vladimir Lenin, James Joyce, and a host of other early 20th-century intelligentsia.

Shop Along Bahnhofstrasse

Bahnhofstrasse, the wide boulevard that starts at Zürich Hauptbahnhof train station and ends at the lakefront at Bürkliplatz, is often called the most expensive stretch of real estate in the world, and the labels are not far off. The street is lined on both sides with high-end to ultra-high-end retailers—the kind of stores where security has to buzz you in. Prada, Chanel, TOD's, Salvatore Ferragamo—they're all here, along with millions and millions of dollars of jewelry and watches. Even if you can't afford to shop here, it's fun to window shop; plus the prices get much more affordable the closer you get to the train station.

Dive into Zurich West

The development of Zurich West, a once-abandoned industrial area, is an absolute success story of urban planning and repurposing. Former factories and even an old railway viaduct have taken on new life as Zurich's trendiest area for shopping, dining, nightlife, and living. Be sure to check out the Freitag Flagship Store (home of the made-in-Zurich recycled bags), which is housed in a high-rise crafted out of 17 shipping containers, the Im Viadukt food hall, and the top-floor bar at the 35-story Prime Tower .

Sample Sweets at Fancy Chocolatier

Switzerland is synonymous with chocolate, and in truth, eating good Swiss chocolate is a life-changing experience. Zurich's streets are dotted with fancy chocolatiers, many of which have been handcrafting delicate bon-bons, macarons, brittle candies, and other confections for 100 years or more. Window displays are often spectacular and tempting, and while fine chocolate can be very expensive, it's perfectly acceptable to just purchase a couple of pieces to enjoy on the spot. Hallowed halls of chocolate and all things confectionery include Confiserie Teuscher , Confiserie Sprüngli , and Läderach .

Ponder Picassos at the Kunsthaus

Courtesy of Zürich Tourism

One of the largest art museums in Switzerland, Zurich's Kunsthaus houses thousands of works of art from the 13th century to the present. While the collection is vast and varied, the museum is best known for its holdings of Impressionism, Expressionism, and Modernism—among the finest anywhere. Allow at least a few hours to scratch the surface here.

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A Complete Travel Guide to Zürich – Insider Tips & Map

Traveling to Zürich? This travel guide will give you all the information you need. From what to see and do to where to eat, where to stay, plus a lot of practical travel tips.

Whilst Zürich is almost too small to be considered a city by any other country’s standards, don’t be fooled – there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye.

In fact, this is the case for most Swiss cities and in many ways adds to their charm.

This complete travel guide to Zürich will take you from one end of the city to the other, highlighting some of the most popular spots and also a few of my own personal favorites.

The first piece of advice I could give anyone going on a trip to Zürich is simple: don’t be afraid to go off the beaten path!

Traveling to Zürich – Everything You Need to Know

Sights to see in zürich, 1. the main event: grossmünster*.

No postcard or picture of Zürich would be complete without the Grossmünster towers standing proudly in the background.

The inside of this church is somewhat understated, but climb to the top of the towers and you won’t be disappointed by the spectacular views.

2. Fraumünster*

Fraumünster is a smaller church with a rich history and an ancient crypt museum.

It is set on the edge of the lively Münsterhof square.

3. Lake Zürich

Zürich wouldn’t be a Swiss city without a lake.

And with boat trips, a Chinese garden, and plenty of cafés to choose from, Lake Zürich has a lot to offer at any time of year.

4. Lindenhof Hill

The perfect place to escape from city life and get some quiet time , Lindenhof Hill is my favorite spot in Zürich.

It also offers you some prime photo opportunities (you guessed it, of those lovely Grossmünster towers) or the chance to simply watch the world go by.

5. Niederdorf

Cross over the Limmat River on your way down from Lindenhof and you’ll find yourself in the heart of the old town – Niederdorf.

Lined with eateries, bars and shops , Niederdorf is a lovely place to wander through and take in the atmosphere.

Tip: some eateries and bars open on Sundays but not all. Check them on Google maps for opening hours.

6. Bellevue / Zürich Opera House

Once you reach the end of Niederdorf, you’ll be met with a sea of people and traffic.

Bellevueplatz is home to many businesses, cafés, and the best part: the Opera House.

If the magnificent façade of the Opera House sparks your interest, you can book a behind-the-scenes tour to see where the magic happens.

7. Book a Tour of Zürich

if you really want to get to know the city one of my best tips is to book a tour.

There is this great city tour that includes a cruise and a visit to the Lindt chocolate museum for some delicious chocolate tasting!

Or, if you’d rather not join a group tour, this private tour around Zürich in a tuk-tuk is a lot of fun!

8. Üetliberg

A short train journey from the main train station (around 25 minutes) will take you on an adventure to Zürich’s very own mountain.

Although it’s nowhere near as impressive as the other mountains Switzerland has to offer , you won’t be disappointed by the views from the top of Üetliberg.

Best Cafés in Zurich

There aren’t too many places to grab a coffee – Zürich definitely has more bars than cafés. But the cafés that they do have are well worth a visit.

1. Babu’s*

This is my all-time favorite café . A big claim, I know, but after your first visit, you’ll see why.

Babu’s caters for your on-the-go working breakfast to your after-work apéro – and everything in between.

The place itself is always packed, so if you do have your heart set on trying it out, make a reservation!

2. Café des Amis*

A little piece of Paris in the heart of Zürich.

Café des Amis is particularly famous for its weekend brunch, which ranges from traditional French pastries, bread, and Swiss cheese to a lighter birchermüesli.

The cafe is only a short tram journey from the main station.

3. Café & Conditorei 1842*

Set in the heart of Niederdorf, Conditorei 1842 is about as idyllic as a café can be.

It opened in 1842, hence the name.

Stepping into the café for the first time is like being transported back in time ; velvet curtains, a grand piano, and the most delicious cakes make for a very grand afternoon.

Best Restaurants in Zürich

1. Zeughauskeller*

This restaurant was formally a storage place for weapons, and legend has it the crossbow of national hero William Tell was once stored here.

Zeughauskeller is a must-visit for any tourist visiting Zürich (and for many locals).

The restaurant offers traditional Swiss food, and dining here is more of an experience than just a meal out!

A bit of a claim to fame for the city, Hiltl is credited as the world’s oldest vegetarian restaurant.

Service is a ‘help yourself’ affair and you can enjoy rooftop views from the Dachterrasse branch!

If you fancy something a bit more exotic than traditional Swiss delicacies, Saigon is the place to be.

The restaurant itself is small and minimalist and the selection of Vietnamese food on offer is delicious –it does fill up quickly so time your visit well!

Tip: if you love fondue and wine, check out this Fondue & Wine Tuk-Tuk Tour . A unique way to experience Zürich!

Best Bars in Zürich

1. Raygrodski

Potentially the most hipster bar to ever exist.

There is something captivating about the atmosphere in Raygrodski, even if you can’t really hear yourself think.

The extensive cocktail list strays from the classics in favor of creative mixes and presentations.

If you have your heart set on visiting this bar at the weekend, reserve a table – it WILL be busy!

2. Jules Verne Panorama Bar*

This bar really is something special.

Boasting a panoramic view of the city and almost too many drinks to choose from, this is the perfect place to go for celebratory drinks and a must-see for tourists traveling to Zürich.

As a result of its reputation, it is a bit pricey… but well worth it.

3. Frau Gerolds Garten

At first glance, you might mistake Frau Gerolds for a scrap yard that someone has tried to dress up with fairy lights.

In theory, you wouldn’t be completely wrong. But once you step through the gate you’ll be fascinated by the wonderland that awaits you.

From the popup stores and outdoor bars to the quirky terrace with views over Hardbrücke, this place is certainly something special.

Museums in Zürich

A visit to one of Zürich’s many museums could just turn that boring rainy day around. Here are my top 3:

1. Landesmuseum*

The Swiss National Museum where you can learn all about Swiss history and traditions. The museum is closed on Mondays.

2. FIFA Museum*

One for the football fans – includes a detailed history of football as well as classic memorabilia. The museum is closed on Mondays.

3. Kunsthaus Zürich*

This art museum plays host to one of the most important art collections in Zürich. With a little bit of everything, it’s sure to please every art enthusiast. The museum is closed on Mondays.

Shopping in Zürich

Zürich might not be the first place you think of for a shopping spree, but it is home to one of the world’s most expensive shopping streets: Bahnhofstrasse.

The street is a designer lover’s dream; lined with shops including Cartier, Tiffany’s and Chanel, but also with more affordable shops including Zara and H&M.

Where to Stay in Zürich

If you are only traveling to Zürich for a few days I’d recommend staying in the city center.

Two popular hotels in the center of Zürich are citizenM and Hotel Schweizerhof . Both are good 4-star hotels that you can easily reach from the train station.

But, for a small city, Zürich has a good selection of hotels, plus a few guesthouses and hostels.

I would recommend using Booking.com to find a place to stay in Zürich.

Practical Tips for Visiting Zürich

1. travel passes.

The Zuri Pass gives you free travel on buses and trams in central Zürich.

For those of you who fancy exploring the rest of Switzerland, pick up a Swiss Pass (available for various lengths of time) and enjoy unlimited travel around the country. The only thing you may have to add is a supplement for cable cars to explore the mountaintops.

2. Money Money Money

The rumors are true: Switzerland is one of the most expensive countries in the world.

Don’t come here expecting a cheap city break to Zurich – that’s not what this part of the world is about. It’s all about the experience.

3. Sundays in Zurich

Like in a lot of European countries, Sunday is a family day in Switzerland.

In Zürich (and in most other cities/towns in Switzerland) almost everything is closed on Sunday.

But, shops and restaurants in train stations and airports as well as the places marked above with an * will remain open.

4. Swiss German

Brushing up the German you learned in school/uni will only get you so far in Switzerland.

The famous Schwiizerdütsch (Swiss German) is far from easy to learn or understand and also varies between Cantons.

Luckily, most locals also speak High German and English, so there shouldn’t be too much pointing and miming!

I hope you found this guide to Zürich helpful and have a great trip!

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A Complete Travel Guide to Zürich on a Map

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• One Day in Zurich Itinerary: How to See the Best of Zurich in a Day

Although Zurich is truly one of the most beautiful cities in Switzerland, due to its size, spending one day in Zurich is the perfect amount of time to experience the major attractions of the city.

Resting in the shadow of the Swiss Alps, Zurich is a treasure trove of historic landmarks, museums, galleries, and restaurants. Given its setting on the shores of the glistening Lake Zurich with the River Limmat flowing through the Old Town, Zurich is a really picturesque destination.

It offers plenty of appeal for urbanites yet the surrounding nature makes Zurich feel all the more spectacular for those who like their cities in a more rural environment. 

This one day in Zurich itinerary picks out the most interesting things to see and do and provides a few different options to ensure that whatever the weather is doing, you have a few options to select from. Continue reading to find out how to prepare for your trip and what to do in Zurich for one day.

* Disclosure: This post contains a few affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through my link. *

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Table of Contents

Useful Info for Visiting Zurich

How to get to zurich.

Zurich Airport, or Flughafen Zurich (ZRH), serves international and domestic flights with direct connections to most major European cities and North American destinations which makes Zurich a fantastic starting point for a Switzerland road trip .

The airport is situated 10 km (6.2 miles) north of the city. You can hop on the S-Bahn train or take the tram (line 10) into the city. 

Either way, the journey costs 6.80 CHF (€7) but it’s entirely free with the Zurich Card. If you want to purchase a Zurich Card , it costs 27 CHF (€28) for a 24-hour pass or 53 CHF (€55) for a 72-hour pass, if you are spending longer than one day in Zurich.

The card covers your travel via tram, bus, train, boat, and cableway in the city and surrounding area and grants free or reduced admission to a number of museums. It does not, however, cover the scenic boat cruises mentioned later in this Zurich itinerary.

You can purchase a Zurich Card online, via the Zurich City Guide app. Alternatively, you can buy one in person at the airport or at a ticket machine at a train station in town.

You can also travel to Zurich by train from elsewhere in Switzerland. Zurich Main Station is located super centrally in District 1. As a guideline, the journey from Geneva takes around 2 hours 45 minutes to traverse the 273 km (170 miles). 

Best time to visit Zurich

There isn’t a bad time to visit Zurich as the city has year-round appeal and it never gets unbearably hot or cold. It really depends on what you want to do while in the city and whether you prefer to spend more time indoors or outside.

This one day Zurich itinerary is designed for any season but note that some attractions, such as boat cruises, do not operate during the winter. 

The only months that I would recommend avoiding are July and August as this is when the city is the most crowded and when trying to see Zurich in a day, you’ll risk losing valuable time standing in lines. But, on the other hand, these are the best months for taking a dip in the lake!

Zurich is a joy to explore during the spring, early summer, and autumn months. The temperatures hover between 15-20°C (59-68°F) during these shoulder months and it’s pleasant for walking around. You’ll need some layers for the cooler evenings though. 

Winter in Zurich is lovely because the city glows with Christmas markets and yuletide activities. This typically arrives towards the end of November and stays until the New Year celebrations when fireworks erupt over the lake. It rarely snows in Zurich, even during winter, but temperatures can drop to 0°C (32°F). Rain is possible at any time of year so you’ll want to bring something waterproof.  

How to get around Zurich

As with most European cities, Zurich benefits from a fantastic public transport system. Actually, it’s slated to be one of the best in the world!

You can use the U-Bahn (metro), S-Bahn, buses, and trams to get around Zurich. For something more alternative, you can ride the Polybahn, a little red funicular railway, which connects the Old Town to the viewing platform at the Polyterrasse.

Zurich is also served by boats and ferries that navigate the Limmat and Zurichsee (Lake Zurich). So if you are wondering what to do in Zurich for one day, you can literally spend it riding all these fun transit systems around if you want to!

Where to stay in Zurich

As you are only spending 24 hours in Zurich, it makes sense to book accommodation as centrally as possible to save some time. I’ve rounded up three of the best places to stay in Zurich to suit all budgets.

If you do want to stay further afield, the perk is the wonderful public transport system I already told you about. 

LUXURY – Storchen Zürich

This beautiful hotel is located right in the heart of Zurich and has its own boat pier directly at the Limmat River. Rooms come with classic furnishing with warm colors and modern facilities and each room offers a picturesque view of the Old Town. The hotel also has a beautiful outdoor terrace which is perfect for summertime trips.

MID-RANGE – Hotel City Zürich Design & Lifestyle

Situated by the famous Bahnhofstrasse, this modern hotel is artistically presented with comfortable and spacious rooms. All rooms have a private bathroom and most include bathtubs with overhead showers. 

BUDGET – Hotel Marta

This no-frills hotel is clean, functional, and fabulously located in the northern point of the Niederdorf quarter of Old Town. Breakfast is included in the rate and the staff goes out of their way to take care of their guests. 

Overview of Your One Day Zurich Itinerary 

At a glance, this is how you will spend your 24 hours in Zurich. It’s a fairly full agenda but some of the attractions are optional or either/or so feel free to customize this itinerary as you like!

Morning: Museum Rietburg/Rieterpark, Zurich Lake Cruise OR River Limmat Cruise 

Afternoon: Zurich Altstadt (highlights include trying raclette for lunch and visiting Limmatquai, Rathaus, Grossmünster, St Peter’s Church, Predigerkirche, Fraumünster, the Old Botanical Garden, and the Swiss National Museum)

Evening: Uetliberg Viewpoint OR Thermalbad & Spa Zürich OR Urania Sternwarte 

Morning of Your One Day in Zurich 

Museum rietberg/rieterpark .

Located in the southwest of the city, Museum Rietberg is a collection of artworks and archaeological items from Asia, Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. The archive contains a mix of traditional and contemporary objects and is such an unexpected museum to find in the heart of Zurich.

Housed within a 19th-century mansion, the museum is set within the landscaped Rieterpark. If you are looking for more outdoorsy things to do in Zurich for a day then you can cross the road to visit the neighboring Belvoirpark and work your way over to the waterfront. 

Museum Rietberg is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm, and until 8 pm on Wednesday evenings. Admission to the permanent collection is 14 CHF (€14.50) and if you want to also visit the temporary exhibitions, the ticket costs 18 CHF (€18.60).

Access to both Rieterpark and Belvoirpark is free and they are open 24/7. 

Zurich Lake/River Limmat Cruise 

If you want to get out on the water, then you have a couple of options for touring either the River Limmat or Lake Zurich.

The Lake Zurich Navigation Company schedules daily round trip cruises during the summer season, from early April until late October. If you are spending one day in Zurich, then the short tours that sail down to Thalwil and Erlenbach before returning to the city are the best option.

From Rieterpark, you can walk to Zurich Bürkliplatz in 15 minutes and board a boat there. The cruise takes around 1.5 hours and costs 4.40 CHF (€4.55). You can head straight to the ferry terminal but you might want to check the schedule online once you have your dates. They typically depart every half an hour. 

Alternatively, you can take a scenic cruise along the River Limmat as part of your exploration of Zurich Altstadt. A round trip from Zurich Landesmuseum to the Zurichhorn in District 8 takes around 1 hour and costs 4.40 CHF (€4.55). Again, you can check the schedule online to help plan your time.

Afternoon of Your One Day in Zurich Itinerary

The Old Town, Zurich Altstadt, is situated within District 1 and straddles both banks of the River Limmat. The area is defined by its enchanting heritage architecture and friendly ambiance and it’s lovely to dedicate a few hours to wander around it all. As there is so much to see, my one day Zurich itinerary pulls out some of the highlights.

Feast on Raclette

Raclette is one of the national dishes of Switzerland and if you love cheese, then sampling the delicacy for yourself is one of the best things to do in Zurich for a day. You’ll find a number of restaurants in Altstadt which serve it so you can always follow your nose and see what you find.

But if you would rather save time looking, you can head directly to Raclette Factory for the most classic quality and dining experience. The restaurant is located on the right bank of the River Limmat and has a menu that offers the finest local cheese and a selection of potato options.

Notable Churches 

There are so many beautiful churches in Zurich Altstadt so if you enjoy visiting these landmarks, you’ll have a field day!

On the left bank, Fraumünster Church features an iconic teal spire, its majestic organ, and its elegant stained glass windows by the renowned artist Marc Chagall. There is an entrance fee of 5 CHF (€5.20) to enter the church but the rest of the churches on this list are free to enter.

Less than 5 minutes away, St Peter’s Church brings together Romanesque and Gothic architecture and its signature is the colossal clock ticking down your 24 hours in Zurich!

Across on the right bank, pretty much directly opposite Fraumünster, you will find the twin-towered Grossmünster. Constructed in the 12th century, this church was the backdrop for the preachings of religious reformer Huldrych Zwingli in the 1500s.

One final church that you can linger on is the Predigerkirche, which means Preacher’s Church. First erected in 1231 in the Romanesque style, the church has been through a couple of renovations and at the time the bell tower was added, it was remarked on for being unusually tall.

This charming street lines the right bank of the river and is worth taking a stroll along to appreciate views across the water and shoot some postcard-worthy photos as a memento from your one day in Zurich.

One notable sight that you will not miss is the Zurich Rathaus or Town Hall. With a direct view over the river, the Rathaus has occupied this spot since the late 17th century when the building was constructed to replace an earlier town hall from the 13th century.

The Rathaus is the seat of both the local council and the cantonal council.

Old Botanical Garden

These 19th-century botanical gardens are located in the western point of Zurich Altstadt on the left bank. The park features flowers, bamboos, and edible herbs, vegetables, and fruits and it’s a tranquil spot to recoup your energy while exploring the best of Zurich in a day.

The gardens are open Monday to Friday, between 7 am – 7 pm, and on weekends, between 8 am – 6 pm. The entrance is free.

Swiss National Museum

Located in the northernmost tip of the Aldstadt at the confluence of the Limmat and Sihl rivers, the Swiss National Museum will tell you everything you could want to know about Switzerland’s heritage and culture. They also curate fantastic special exhibitions about interesting topics.

The museum is a huge complex with loads of detail and you can easily spend 2-3 hours devouring the artifacts. For that reason, I recommend this as an option for history buffs or for those seeking things to do in Zurich for a day during winter or inclement weather.

The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm, and until 7 pm on Thursday evenings. Admission is 10 CHF (€10.30).

Evening of Your One Day in Zurich 

For your one evening in Zurich, I have selected a couple of options for you to choose from based on what you would prefer to do. If you are spending longer than one day in Zurich, you might want to tackle all three activities!

Uetliberg Viewpoint 

For one of the best views across the city, lake, and surrounding Alps, you can visit the lookout at Uetliberg, a mountain that overlooks Zurich. Trains (route S 10) connect Zurich Main Station and Uetliberg in 25 minutes, then it’s a short walk to the summit.

Whatever time of year you visit, the scenery is epic. For the purpose of this one day in Zurich itinerary, I suggest going up to catch the sunset although you could always flip it over and visit early in the morning.

Trains typically start around 6.30 am and run until around 11 pm but you can check the specific train schedule online. 

If you are spending longer than one day in Zurich then there are loads of hiking trails waiting for you up here. 

Thermalbad & Spa Zürich

If you aren’t fussed to visit the viewpoint (or went first thing instead) then you might be tempted to indulge in a thermal mineral bath to soothe your aching feet.

Located in the former Hürlimann brewery, the spa has taken inspiration from the casks to create an aquatic wonderland in deep wooden barrels. There are a number of pools to discover and the highlight is the rooftop pool that provides a view across the rooftops of Zurich. While you’re at the spa you can also opt to get a massage treatment if you wish.

Thermalbad & Spa Zurich is located in Enge. The thermal baths are open from Monday to Friday between 8 am – 10 pm and during the weekend between 9 am and 10 pm. It is not possible to book in advance and you might have to wait if the spa is busy. It is, however, recommended to book massages and treatments ahead. Day admission to the thermal baths is 35 CHF (€36.20).

Urania Sternwarte 

One final option for things to do in Zurich for a day at night is to enjoy a spot of stargazing. This 50 meters (164 feet) high observatory in Altstadt hosts public astronomy tours on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings at 8 pm during winter and 9 pm during summer.

The fee is 20 CHF (€20.65), but you get a 5 CHF (€5.20) discount if you have the Zurich card.

Planning a trip to Switzerland?

Then you might want to take a look at all our other travel guides about Switzerland. I promise, they are just as awesome as this article was!

• The Ultimate Switzerland Road Trip Itinerary for 2 Weeks
• 28 Incredible Zermatt Hotels with Matterhorn View
• The Ultimate One Day in Bern Itinerary
• The Perfect Itinerary for Spending One Day in Geneva
• 11 Most Beautiful Castles in Switzerland You Can’t Miss
• Hotel Review: Boutique Hotel Glacier, Switzerland
• Hotel Review: Grand Hotel Des Bains Kempinski St. Moritz

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Zurich Travel Guide

Last Updated: August 17, 2023

The biggest of the Swiss cities, Zürich has a hopping nightlife and is filled with endless bars and restaurants. It’s a cosmopolitan city that’s bustling with activity. It’s also set on a beautiful lake near the mountains so you can also do a lot of nature-based activities when you visit.

While Zürich is known as a financial hub and business center, it’s also one of the most cosmopolitan and dynamic Swiss cities. The city is very arty and full of street art and exhibitions. Zürich’s cultural scene includes theaters and opera, several well-known orchestras, and the Cabaret Voltaire.

The city also has a good number of festivals such as the Sechseläuten in April (which includes a procession and the ceremonial burning of a snowman), the Knabenschiessen in September (a sharpshooting contest for young people), the Fasnacht (Zürich Carnival) in late winter. There’s also the techno music Street Parade in August, which thousands of people come to.

In short, Zürich is a city with tons to see and do — no matter your interests.

While very expensive thanks to all the banks in the city, this travel guide to Zürich can help you visit the city on a budget and ensure you have a great time without breaking the bank!

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on Zürich

Top 5 Things to See and Do in Zürich

1. Go hiking

Zürich has two mountains that offer good views and even better hikes: Zürichberg to the East and Uetliberg to the West. Zürichberg is busier but Uetliberg has better mountain-biking trails. Start with the Planet Trail on Uetilberg for an easy two-hour trek. It takes 20 minutes to get there by train/tram.

2. Visit the National Museum

This museum offers a detailed look into the history of the country. The exhibits are comprehensive and it has a number of both permanent collections and temporary ones. A new archaeological section was opened in 2016 as well. Admission is 10 CHF.

3. See the City Gardens of Stadt Gaertnerei

This small botanical garden is home to some 250,000 plants that are used in public flowerbeds around Zürich. It’s also home to 17 different species of tropical birds, including toucans. It has rotating exhibitions, guided tours, lectures, and every Wednesday there’s an informational talk about plant life.

4. Catch the Street Parade

This is currently the biggest open-air techno rave in Europe. It happens on the second Saturday of August during which time trucks functioning as mobile sound systems start driving along the lakeside. Every year, this event attracts nearly a million visitors who dance carefree in the streets.

5. Walk around the Old Town

Located on both sides of the Limmat River, the Old Town is filled with guild houses and historic churches. Stop to eat at one of many restaurants or have a drink at a variety of pubs, or walk around tasting the city’s unique cheese and chocolates. Be sure to try the truffles at Confiserie Honold too.

Other Things to See and Do in Zürich

1. taste swiss chocolate.

Switzerland is synonymous with chocolate. To do a deep dive into this cultural staple, try a food tour. Sweet Zürich Tour organizes tours that focus on chocolate and its 200-year-old tradition in Switzerland. You’ll get to taste lots of chocolates, uniquely flavored truffles, bars, ice cream, and hot chocolate all while you learn about the chocolate trends of Zürich. Their small tours (2-10 people) take around 2.5 hours and cost CHF 85.

2. Explore Zürich’s vibrant nightlife

Zürich may be a relaxing city during the day, but at night it comes alive with over 500 nightlife venues including pubs, restaurants, music halls. With no open-container laws in Zürich, you can start your night with cheap drinks on the Limmat riverfront before moving to the bars and clubs. When you are ready to hit the town, head to Neiderdorf in the Old Town or Langstrasse just nearby for some of the best clubs and bars in Zürich. Cinchona Bar and Olé-Olé-Bar are two fun options.

3. Eat in the dark at Blindekuh Zürich

At the restaurant Blindekuh (which means “Blind Man’s Bluff” in German) you eat in the dark. Founded in 1999, this restaurant became the first dark restaurant to employ visually impaired staff in the world. Eat with only 4 out of 5 senses here and have a culinary adventure. It’s unlike any other dining experience out there. Expect to pay around 75 CHF for a three-course meal.

4. Walk the lake promenade

The Lake Zürich promenade was created around 1800 and stretches around the entire lake. From Bellevue, the boardwalk runs for about 3 kilometers (2 miles) along the lake towards Tiefenbrunnen, and is always busy with walkers, cyclists, and inline skaters. About halfway, at Bürkliplatz, there’s a peaceful meadow for relaxing on a sunny day, as well as an outlook terrace. If you’d rather mingle with the locals, pause and chat with some of the jewelry sellers or street artists who dot the promenade.

5. Go skiing

Flumserberg is the nearest large ski-resort to the city. A day pass costs around 69 CHF, but there are reduced passes available (as low as 39 CHF) if you go later in the day. There are other nearby ski resorts too, like Sattel-Hochstuckli and Amden, both of which can be reached in under an hour by car. There are also lots of cross-country skiing options nearby too, including Zurgerberg, Bachtel, and Rothenthurm. You can rent cross-country skis and boots for around 110 CHF per day.

6. Visit the Beyer Zürich Clock & Watch Museum

Switzerland is famous for its watchmaking. This private museum has one of the best collections in the world and tells the history of timekeeping from 1400 BCE (when they used things like sundials and hourglasses) to today. Check out all of the timepieces housed in this well-designed museum, and be sure to pay attention to the one-of-a-kind, rare, and antique clocks. Admission is only 10 CHF.

7. Celebrate Swiss National Day

If you happen to be here on August 1st, Swiss National Day celebrates the founding of the Swiss Confederation in 1291. Festivities are carried out in the evenings and fireworks are launched at night. Watch them over the lake, or if you have experience with (safely) launching fireworks yourself, you can buy them in the days leading up to the national holiday. The display over the Rhine Falls (one hour away by S-Bahn) is also extremely popular. No matter where you are in the city, you can find houses and buildings draped in the Swiss flag and another colorful bunting, while families and friends take advantage of the holiday to gather in parks and public spaces for barbecues and picnics.

8. Take a boat tour

When the weather is nice, take a boat tour on Lake Zürich to admire the scenic views of the region. You can find mini-tours starting at 25 CHF and bookings can be made at the pier on Bahnhofstrasse or online. Tours/cruises just get more elaborate from there, with a variety of themes such as cheese fondue cruise, folklore cruise, a brunch cruise, and even a build-your-own-burger cruise. These trips cost between 45-115 CHF per person.

10. Check out the Rietberg Museum

For a day of international art, head to the Rietberg Museum. It’s the third-largest museum in the city and the only art museum in the country that focuses on non-European art. The museum contains collections from around the world, including Asia, Africa, and Oceania. Admire Indian miniature paintings, Swiss masks, and ceramics from the Meiyintang collection. Other highlights include a shaman eagle mask and Persian wall hangings. Admission is 18 CHF for the collection plus special exhibitions. The park where the museum is located (Lindenhofplatz) looks over the city and is nice to pass a couple of hours in.

11. Tour Rosenhof Market

This seemingly hidden market in a square in the Niederdorf part of the Old Town is perfect for picking up little souvenirs and trinkets. Go here to browse shops selling intriguing goods like incense, jewelry, handicrafts, and bohemian clothing. When you’re here, be sure to sample some international food from one of the many delicious food stalls.

12. Wander around Bahnhofstrasse

Bahnhofstrasse is renowned for being one of the priciest shopping streets in the world per square meter; the entire route is covered in high-end shop fronts featuring international luxury brands. If you’re backpacking, you’re probably not shopping on this pedestrian street but it’s fun to people watch and see how the other side lives. If you’re here in December, be sure to check out the elaborate Christmas decorations lighting up the entire area.

13. Admire the architecture

Zürich is an attractive city and has many architectural features including the beautiful and well-preserved Altstadt (Old Town). Here is the 1,400-year-old Romanesque Grossmünster which was built by Charlemagne, St. Peter’s Church which was built in the 13th-century, and the Fraumünster (Minster of Our Lady) which has some beautiful stained glass windows that were designed by Marc Chagall. There are also guild houses and patrician residences (some are used as restaurants or for civic functions). More old buildings can be found along both shores of the Limmat River too.

  For more information on other cities in Switzerland, check out these guides:

• Basel Travel Guide
• Bern Travel Guide
• Geneva Travel Guide
• Interlaken Travel Guide

Zürich Travel Costs

Hostel prices – There are only a couple of hostels in Zürich and they book up quickly in summer, especially during major festivals and events. Expect to spend at least 50 CHF per night for a bed in a 4-6-bed dorm (although prices can be as high as 100 CHF). Private rooms start at 100 CHF, but you’re more likely to spend over 120 CHF. Hostels typically include free breakfast and free Wi-Fi.

There are a few campsites around Zürich — including some that are right on the lakes. Prices start at 8 CHF per night for a basic plot without electricity but expect to pay more if you want to be closer to the city center. Wild camping is legal in the mountains above the treeline only (and it’s not permitting in official nature reserves).

Budget hotel prices – There are a handful of budget hotels in Zürich and they start at 80 CHF per night. Expect basic amenities like free Wi-Fi, TV, coffee/tea makers, and occasionally free breakfast.

Airbnb is available here with private rooms averaging around 90 CHF per night. Renting an entire home/apartment averages 200 CHF per night (though you can find cheaper options if you book early).

Food – With strong French, German, and Italian influences, Swiss cuisine is a mix of meat and potato-based dishes along with plenty of local cheeses. Popular dishes include veal and mushrooms, fondue (with bread or potatoes), rösti (fried grated potatoes), and quiche. Naturally, Swiss cheese and chocolate should not be missed either. When it comes to breakfast, muesli is a go-to healthy choice.

If you want to eat out, bars and cafés are the cheapest food option and cost about 9-15 CHF for a lunch special. An inexpensive restaurant costs about 25 CHF while a 3-course meal at a mid-range one costs about 60 CHF.

If you want to drink with your meal, a beer costs around 7 CHF and cocktails can cost 12-15 CHF.

Fast food (think McDonald’s) costs around 15 CHF for a combo meal. A large pizza is 15-21 CHF.

Sternen Grill, which has been open since 1963, has a couple of takeaway locations with wurst, deli sandwiches, and other delights for 8-15 CHF. Vegetarians and vegans can enjoy the menu at Tibits. Kafischnaps is a hip café with yummy breakfast and lunch menus with dishes under 20 CHF.

You can keep your food spending in check by going to the local supermarkets and buying your own groceries. Expect to spend around 140 CHF per week for basic staples like pasta, rice, eggs, seasonal produce, and some meat. The major supermarkets are Migros, COOP, and Spar. COOP is the most expensive.

Backpacking Zürich Suggested Budgets

For those backpacking through Switzerland, budget 100 CHF per day. This is a suggested budget assuming you’re staying in a hostel, cooking all of your meals, using local transportation to get around, limiting your drinking, and doing mostly free and cheap activities like walking tours and hiking.

For a mid-range budget of 195 CHF per day, you can stay in a private Airbnb, eat out for most of your meals, enjoy a few drinks, take the occasional taxi to get around, and do more paid activities like food tours, skiing, and museum visits.

On a “luxury” budget of 410 CHF or more per day, you can stay in a hotel, eat out for all your meals, drink more, take more taxis or rent a car, and do whatever tours and activities you want. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages — some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in CHF.

Zürich Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Zürich is a very expensive city. There’s no hiding that fact. But there are plenty of ways to save money in the city so you don’t go bankrupt while visiting. Here are some helpful ways I lowered my costs:

• Buy a Zürich Pass – The Zürich Pass offers excellent value, with free airport transfers and local transportation as well as free admission to forty Zürich museums. A 24-hour Zürich Pass costs 27 CHF while a 72-hour pass costs 53 CHF.
• Ride a free bike – In Zürich, city bikes, e-bikes, and children’s bikes can be rented for free! You can pick your bike up year-round with a valid ID and a deposit of 20 CHF at the main station (Europaplatz). This service, known as Züri rollt, is available for every visitor.
• Stay with a local – Couchsurfing is a service that lets travelers stay with locals for free. It was a lifesaver that allowed me to keep my costs down the most. Since a lot of travelers use this service here, make your requests for hosts early.
• Don’t drink – Drinking alcohol is not cheap here so avoid it if you want to save money. If you’re going to drink, stick to hostel bars and happy hours.
• Cook your own meals – While it isn’t glamorous, cooking your own meals will cost you a fraction of what eating out costs. The major supermarkets are Migros, COOP, and Spar. COOP is the most expensive.
• Go veggie – Meat is expensive in Switzerland. Stick to veggies and avoid buying meat for your meals (especially beef).
• Use lunch specials – If you are going to eat out, do so during lunch when there are lots of affordable lunch specials. Moreover, stick to Chinese, Middle Eastern, Indian, and Thai restaurants for the best deals and biggest portions.
• Take a free walking tour – To get a feel for the city and learn about its history, take a free walking tour with Free Walk Zürich . it’s the best way to see the highlights on a budget. Just make sure to tip your guide at the end!
• Save money on rideshares – Uber is cheaper than taxis and is the best way to get around a city if you don’t want to wait for a bus or pay for a taxi.
• Bring a water bottle – The tap water here is safe to drink so bring a reusable water bottle to save money and reduce your plastic use. LifeStraw is my go-to brand as their bottles have built-in filters to ensure your water is always clean and safe.

Where To Stay in Zürich

There are only a couple of hostels to choose from in Zürich. Here are your options:

• Oldtown Hostel Otter
• Youthhostel
• Green Marmot Capsule Hostel

How to Get Around Zürich

Public transportation – The bus, train, and tram system in Zürich runs on one extensive network. Zürich is divided into zones, and you need to make sure you purchase tickets or a day card which covers the appropriate zones. For example, Zürich City is zone 110, while the airport is part of zone 121.

Single tickets on public transit with Zürich Transport Network (ZVV) start at 3.10 CHF for 1 hour in 1-2 zones and increase from there. These tickets are good for the bus, tram, train, and boat.

The best value for public transit is the Zürich Card, which gives unlimited 2nd-class travel by tram, bus, rail, boat, and cable car in the city, as well as surrounding regions (zones 111, 121, 140, 150, 154, 155). The card also includes transfer between the city and the airport, an excursion trip to Uetliberg, short boat trips, and the Limmat River Cruise. The cost for 24 hours is 27 CHF and it’s 53 CHF for 72 hours.

Bike – Zürich has an excellent public bike-sharing program. Bikes are available year-round at Europlatz and can be used for free, once you pay a 20 CHF deposit. PubliBike is also available and has several stations spread throughout the city. The first 30 minutes cost 2.90 CHF, and then 0.10 CHF for each additional minute, up to a maximum of 20 CHF per day. To sign up, download their app and follow the instructions.

Taxi – Taxis are incredibly expensive in Zürich. In fact, with base fares starting at 6 CHF and then going up by 3.80 CHF per kilometer, Zürich taxis are some of the most expensive in the world. Skip them!

Ridesharing – Uber is available in Zürich and is a bit cheaper than taxis. However, public transportation goes everywhere so you really shouldn’t need one.

When to Go to Zürich

Summer is the most popular time to visit Zürich. July and August have the warmest temperatures, offering snow-free hiking trails and longer days. If you’re around on August 1st, there are tons of celebrations for Swiss National Day. Peak temperatures hover between 18-28°C (65-82°F). This is when prices are the most expensive, though it never gets too crowded here compared to other cities in Western Europe.

The shoulder seasons are from around April-May and October-November, which are known in Switzerland as Zwischenzeit — the “between time” for the ski and summer seasons. The weather can be unpredictable, but if you want to visit Zürich as cheaply as possible (and take your chances on the weather), this is the time to do it.

From December to March Zürich tends to be quieter as everyone flocks to the mountains. The weather is cold, with temperatures dropping below freezing, so be sure to pack plenty of layers. Because of its proximity to the ski resorts, hotel prices can also be quite high during this time – especially around Christmas when Europeans are on holiday. Book early to find the best deals.

How to Stay Safe in Zürich

Switzerland is one of the safest countries in the world (it’s ranked 7th safest currently). Both violent crime and petty theft like pickpocketing are extremely rare here.

That said, always keep your valuables secure and out of reach when in crowded areas and on public transportation.

Solo female travelers should feel safe here, though the standard precautions apply (don’t leave your drink unattended at the bar, don’t walk home alone at night if intoxicated, etc.)

While scams here are rare, if you’re worried about getting ripped off you can read about common travel scams to avoid here.

If you plan on hiking or spending some time skiing in the mountains, pay careful attention to weather reports. Heed avalanche warnings, and stay off the trails if you’re told to do so.

If you experience an emergency, dial 117.

Always trust your gut instinct. Make copies of your personal documents, including your passport and ID. Forward your itinerary along to loved ones so they’ll know where you are.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance protects you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

Zürich Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
• Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!

Zürich Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on backpacking/traveling Europe and continue planning your trip:

The 6 Best Hotels in Florence

The 7 Best Hotels in Madrid

The 6 Best Hotels in Vienna

The Best Walking Tours in Barcelona

How to Be a Digital Nomad in Europe

The Best eSIM for Traveling Europe

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• Where To Stay
• Transportation
• Booking Resources
• Related Blogs

The Best Things to do in Zurich, Switzerland

Written By: The Planet D

Switzerland

Updated On: February 8, 2024

Are you looking for the best things to do in Zürich ? You’ve come to the right place. We tried the best food, adventures, and activities in Switzerland’s largest city, and have rounded up the most beautiful lookouts and must-see attractions. Being the financial capital of Switzerland , Zürich is full of chic restaurants, posh patrons, and a whole lot of money. Zürich is stylish and sophisticated, but it is also fun and laid back.

Best Things to do in Zürich

When you visit Zurich we highly suggest purchasing a Zürich Card . It is the best way to get around the city and to save money. It includes unlimited public transportation including tram, bus, train, boat and cableway. It even includes a mini lake cruise and river cruise. You get free or reduced admission to museums and 50% off an Old Town walking tour. We did all this with our Zurich Card.

You can choose from 24 hours passes to 72-hour passes starting at 24CHF. We recommend spending at least three days in Zürich. Read our complete The Perfect 3 Days in Zurich, Switzerland

1. Lindt Home Chocolate

It may sound cliche to visit a chocolate factory when looking for things to do in Zürich, but this isn’t your ordinary factory tour. Lindt Home of Chocolate is one of the top Zurich attractions and for good reason. This chocolate museum is a spectacle and when you visit Zurich, make sure to put this at the top of your list.

Upon entering you come face to face with a giant chocolate fountain standing tall in the massive hall. It is then onto a tour to learn about the history of chocolate and eat a lot of chocolate.

We picked up our audio guide and selected our chosen language (English) as we followed the displays to explore the evolution of chocolate. It was an interesting and entertaining tour, but the real treat comes near the end when you enter a room filled with chocolate fountains.

The fountains are pouring out the heavenly Lindt chocolate just waiting to be tasted. We grabbed a disposable spoon and tasted white, dark, and milk chocolate until our hearts were content. We didn’t realize that there was more, but as we walked on, we had another sample of chocolate bars to see if we could decipher the different flavors.

We failed, but we were happy to keep trying. Our tour then ended in a room filled with vats of famous Lindor chocolates allowing us to eat as many as we wished. The Lindt Home of Chocolate is truly a chocolate lover’s paradise.

Visit the Lindt Home of Chocolate Website for tours and information. Tours start at 15 CHF per person, you can also book experiences like making your own chocolate.

2. SUP on Lake Zürich

Hands down our favorite thing to do in Zürich spending time on Lake Zürich. We made our way to Badi Enge where they rent paddleboards by the hour. It was so much fun to get on the water during the hot summer day.

Being on a paddleboard let us see the city from a different view and we had the freedom to paddle into the Schanzenbraben Canal where we escaped the hustle and bustle as swans followed us through the calm and quiet waters.

Even if you don’t want to paddleboard, make sure to get on the water when you visit Zurich. Lake Zurich has some of the best views of the city. A boat ride is included in your Zürich Card , so if nothing else, at least hop on a boat to take in the city views.

3. Seebad Enge

Zürich is the land of public baths and from what we understand, there are six lake baths on Lake Zurich and five other river baths throughout the city where people enjoy basking in the sun while being able to take a dip in the clear and clean waters.

Seebad Enge was easily reached by walking from the city center, and it’s a beautiful walkway along the lakefront with parks and views of the Swiss Alps and the city. There is a mixed and women-only only swimming area, swimming lanes, a restaurant, and wooden sun decks.

In the winter Seebad Enge is turned into a sauna, so you can visit it year-round. Imagine sizzling in a sauna as you view the snow capped mountains of the Swiss Alps. That is heavenly.

It costs 8CHF (8.74 USD) to enter and paddleboard rentals start at 35 CHF (38 USD) for an hour. For more information Visit the Zürich Website at Seebad Enge

4. Altstadt (Old Town)

When visiting any European city, the best thing to do is simply stroll through the Old Town, enjoy an aperitif and do some window shopping. The Cobbled Streets of Zürich’s Altstadt are lined with medieval buildings and bridges lining the Limmat River. There are countless galleries and shops where you can pick up some Swiss chocolate or delicious cheese.

One of our favorite things to do in Zürich’s Old Town was to simply pull up a seat on one of the outdoor patios and people watch. Zürich is one of the most expensive cities in the world and watching the fashion and families walk by made for one of the most interesting people-watching afternoons of our lives.

5. Walking Tours

One of the best ways to get acquainted with Zürich is to take a walking tour. You can get 50% off a walking tour with your Zurich Card and this is a great way to see most of the top Zurich attractions in a short time. We loved our time with local guide Barbara who showed us all the little unseen gems that tourists miss.

From the chewing gum art in front of Cabaret Voltaire, the Birthplace of Dadaism, to her favorite fountains where we could fill up our water bottles with fresh water.

We started our tour of the city center by walking through the beautiful Rechberg gardens before making our way through the medieval architecture to the University for one of the best views of Zürich. Weaving our way through the old town, we saw the top Zürich attractions from Kunsthaus to Grossmünster, Zürich’s most famous landmark.

6. Grossmünster (Great Minster)

Grossmünster is an imposing landmark in Zürich with its twin towers standing tall over the Limmat River. It is also one of the most important places in Zürich as it was the sight of reformation in Switzerland . You can walk up the towers to see beautiful views over Zürich and make sure to go into the crypt to see a magnificent statue of Charlemagne.

7. Fraumünster

Another church to visit in Zürich is Fraumünster. People go into this church to see the beautiful stained glass windows by Marc Chagall and Augusto Giacometti (uncle to the famous Swiss sculptor, Alberto Giacometti) Fraumünster is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the city.

Founded in 853, this church was originally a convent inhabited by aristocratic females from Europe. Five stained glass windows designed by Chagall were installed in 1970. Inside there is also an impressive pipe organ with 5793 pipes.

8. Go Up Uetliberg Mountain

Our next huge surprise was making our way up to the best lookout over Zürich. Using our Zürich Card, we boarded a bus and then a tram, and finally a train up to the top of Zürich’s very own mountain. Uetliberg Mountain It is only about 45 minutes to get here from the city center and it is well worth it for the best views of Zurich

When you reach the end of the line, it is about a 10-minute walk to the lookout tower for amazing views of Zurich, Lake Zurich, and the Swiss Alps. If you have more than a day or two, we highly suggest you make the trip up the mountain when you visit Zurich. It was our favorite thing to do outside the city center.

After you have taken in the views of the rolling hills and the city below, you can have lunch at the restaurant or continue hiking for about 2 hours to the gondola that will take you back down. If you have some time, this makes for a great half-day tour in Zürich. To climb the tower it costs 2 CHF (credit cards accepted) and it is completely worth the cost.

9. Explore Zürich West

Zürich West is the hippest spot in town. (I think using the word hip, just made me look square). Once a warehouse and factory district, Zürich West has been transformed into a place with trendy bars, cool cafes, and plenty of shopping. There are great works of art scattered throughout ZürichWest so it is worth exploring on foot.

It is easy to get to by using our Zurich card. We hopped on public transportation and were in this hip part of town within 10 minutes from the city center. When the lights go down, locals and tourists alike flock to the bars for their intoxicating nightlife scene. Fun fact, Zürich has more bars per capita than any other city in Europe!

10. Zürich Viadukt

Don’t miss shopping along the Viadukt. This 550-meter-long railway viaduct is a beautiful display of arches filled with boutiques, restaurants, and galleries. Built in 1894, it’s a place where locals meet up, have picnics in the park, and enjoy the laid-back atmosphere on a summer’s day.

While you are at the Viadukt, enjoy dinner at Restaurant Viadukt located directly under the train tracks looking towards the park. There is outdoor and indoor dining. It is recommended to make a reservation.

11. Frau Gerolds Garten (Mrs. Gerold’s Garden)

Zürich West is filled with cool cafés but the busiest spot we encountered was Frau Gerold’s Garten. This is where everyone who is anyone hangs out after work. This outdoor hot spot is a modular bar and dining area with outdoor food stalls and markets. Grab a beer and people watch as you feel like a local for the evening. Visit the website for details.

12. Urban Surf

Right next to Frau Gerold’s Garten is one of the more unique Zurich attractions, Urban Surf. For a steep price, you can try some city surfing in their wave pool.

If you are not up for getting wet, no worries, you can sit on one of the plush patio chairs and enjoy a cocktail as you watch people struggle in the waves. Whatever you decide, it’s a fun place to hang out. Visit Urban Surf for lessons and prices.

13. Wollishofen

No trip to Zürich would be complete without hopping on a boat tour of Lake Zurich. We had a taste of that when transferring to the cool lakeside community of Wollishofen using our Zürich Card for a free boat ride. It was just 15 minutes from the city center.

The highlight of this location is the lovely walk along the Cassiopeia Boardwalk . We learned that Zürich has worked hard to make its precious waterfront available to the public and people are no longer allowed to purchase waterfront property on Lake Zurich. In front of the houses that were grandfathered in with waterfront property, the city built a boardwalk on the water to allow access to the public.

14. Mönchhof am See

While you are strolling through Wollishofen, take your time to visit the community of artists. It is a funky neighborhood of Zürich that is not to be missed. A little further south is Kilchberg which has plenty of waterfront restaurants where you can sit back and enjoy the scenery.

We ate a Mönchhof am See, which we learned is owned by one of the top restauranteurs in the city. With delicious truffle fries, refreshing ginger shots and a fresh burrata and tomato salad, my mouth was filled with flavors. There is plenty of outdoor dining, you can make a reservation here.

15. Bahnhofstrasse

Speaking of shopping, Zürich boasts one of the most expensive shopping streets in the world. Bahnhofstrasse is Zürich’s main downtown street spanning 1.4 km from the main train station.

As you walk from the train station toward Lake Zürich, the shops become ever more exclusive with the likes of Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, Rolex, and all the other big-name brands. Zürich is the heart of the Swiss Bank system and once you reach Paradplatz, one can only wonder how much cash and jewels are sitting within their vaults.

16. Lindenhof

One of the top things to do in Zürich is to visit the quiet park overlooking Zürich from the Old City Walls. Lindenhof is the oldest part of Zürich where the remains of a Roman medieval city wall stands high on a hill overlooking the Limmat River. During the day it can get quite busy, but at sunrise, it is quiet and peaceful.

Once home to a Roman Fort, Lindenhof offers one of the best views of Zürich and the river. After you visit Lindenhoff, stop by St. Peter’s Church one of the four main churches in the historic city center.

17. eat Fondue

Dave and I had a goal when going back to Switzerland, and it was to eat as much fondue and raclette as possible. We managed to do so and one of our favorite fondue restaurants in the entire country was Swiss Chuchi in the Altstadt.

Located in the heart of Niederdorf a pedestrian plaza leading to hidden alleyways around the Old Town, Swiss Chuchi is one of the best places in Zürich for Fondue. (we found that out after choosing to eat there, lucky us!) The delicious melted goodness came with a sack of potatoes and fresh bread.

Who cares that it was 30 degrees Celcius outside, we ordered a refreshing aperitivo and when we felt foolish ordering a hot dish in the middle of summer, our waiter said “It’s always a good time for fondue.” I believe he was correct because after we received our dish, several other tourists joined us on the terrace to order fondues of their own! Hey while you’re at it, enjoy a Swiss hot chocolate too! Swiss Chuchi is located in the Hotel Adler, Zurich.

18. Fill up at the Many Fountains

One of the most fascinating things, when you visit Zürich, is to keep an eye out for the 1200 ornate fountains scattered throughout the city. These aren’t your average drinking fountains, the fountains of Zürich are works of art. You’ll see children playing in the fountains, runners stopping for a quick slurp, and many people filling up their water bottles.

You’ll never go thirsty in Zürich, as the water running from the fountains is clean and fresh and just waiting for you to have a taste. Some Zürich fountains are simply beautiful so while you are filling your bottle, make sure to enjoy the details of the artist’s work.

19. zürich Opera House

The Zürich Opera House, also known as the Opernhaus Zürich was first built in 1891 and has undergone several renovations over the years. The opera house is located in Sechseläutenplatz which is one of the largest squares in Switzerland. It is worth going to this square alone, but you should go inside to see this beautiful venue. You can take a 50 minute tour that will take you through all the departments from makeup to wardrobe and you’ll even go onstage.

The Zürich Opera House is home to a number of world-renowned productions and events including the Zürich Opera and the Zürich Ballet. The opera company performs a wide range of operas, from classical works by composers such as Mozart and Verdi to contemporary operas.

20. Swiss National Museum

A visit to the Swiss National Museum is included in your Zürich Card. Known as Landesmuseum, it is the oldest and largest cultural history museum in the country. The museum offers a comprehensive look at the history of Switzerland, from prehistoric times to the present day. Visitors can learn about the country’s political, social, and economic development, as well as its art and culture.

The Swiss National Museum was designed to look like a historic castle-like building, which is an attraction in itself. It houses extensive collections of medieval and Renaissance art, textiles, weapons, and furniture. It also has a large collection of decorative art, such as ceramics, glass, and metalwork. If you are looking for things to do in Zürich on a rainy day, this is a great choice.

21. Kunsthaus Zürich

Art lovers will enjoy browsing Kunsthaus Zürich (Zurich Museum of Art) where you can view the greats such as Chagall, Monet, and Van Gogh. There are plenty of other artists to see at the Museum of Art as it houses one of Switzerland’s most important art collections.

There are 1000 pieces on display at any given time. It has the largest Edvard Munch collection outside Norway, you’ll see Andy Warhol, Picasso, Rembrandt and Monet. We never tire of being exposed to exquisite art.

Plan Your Trip to Zürich

There are so many amazing things to do in Zurich that you could spend an entire season exploring. But Dave and I made a good go of it. Running on just a few hours of sleep each day, we were up at the crack of dawn to late into the night checking out the best of Zurich. Follow the map to see if you can check out all of these attractions.

Where to Stay in Zurich

When choosing where to stay in Zurich, we recommend the Old City which is within walking distance to everywhere making it easy to get around. We stayed at the Florhoff Hotel. This boutique hotel was refurbished in 2014 and has a historic character with modern rooms and amenities. A delicious breakfast is included, there is a popular restaurant on-site and while it is in the Old Town, it is far enough away from the hustle and bustle making it a quiet option.

There are plenty of hotels in Zurich West which is only 10 minutes to downtown by transit and is a more affordable option.

How to Get Around Zurich

The best way to get around Zurich is to purchase a City Pass Zurich Card. It provides unlimited travel by bus, train, cableway, and tram plus you can take a short boat ride and a Limmat River cruise. City Pass Zurich Cards start at 24 CHF for 24 hours. Get more details here.

The Zurich Card also lets you enter one of Zurich’s 43 museums for free or with reduced admission. Plus, you can also take a Zurich Old town walking tour at half price. This card is the best bang for your buck for getting around Zurich and seeing its top tourist attractions.

Before boarding any public transport, make sure to validate your ticket and have it handy. Once it is validated, you can hop on any public transport in town for the duration of your ticket. You don’t have to validate it again once you’ve done it the first time.

Best Day Trips from Zurich

Switzerland has an efficient train system making it one of the best ways to travel around Switzerland. Plus it is sustainable travel. Travel by train produces less O2 than any other mode of transportation (other than bicycle or foot) including electric cars which produce 13 times more emissions. It is easy to do day trips from Zurich with the Swiss Travel Pass or to move on to your next destination

Swiss Travel Pass

When you purchase a Swiss Travel Pass it includes:

• Unlimited travel by train, bus, and boat
• Public transportation in more than 90 cities and towns
• Including mountain excursions: Rigi, Schilthorn, Stanserhorn and Stoos
• Free admission to more than 500 museums throughout Switzerland
• Two free informative apps to help plan your Switzerland journey are: Grand Train Tour of Switzerland app and Swiss Travel Guide app

Jungfraujoch

While Jungfraujoch deserves three to five days to visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site, you can take a day trip from Zurich. If you don’t have a lot of time, this is one of the best day trips from Zurich but it is a long one!

This guided day trip to Jungfraujoch with Train Ride gives you a taste of seeing one of Switzerland’s most beautiful areas. You’ll get to explore the snow capped mountains of Jungfraujoch and the high Alps scenery. After a stop in Interlaken, you’ll board the cable car at the Grindelwald Terminal for a spectacular 15-minute ride to the Eiger Glacier by gondola. Book your tour here . Read more about this at Spectacular Switzerland, a Visit to Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe

Stein am Rhein and Rhine Falls

If you are looking for closer day trips from Zurich, a visit to the medieval town of Stein am Rhein and the glorious Rhine Falls is a good option. This highly rated guided tour will take you on a journey towards the Swiss/German border of northern Switzerland to see the biggest waterfall in Europe!

You’ll tour the Medieval village of Stein am Rhein and see the splendid medieval castle of Schloss Laufen and the mighty Rhine Falls and experience Europe’s biggest waterfall. You’ll take the lift to Rhine Falls and see a close up look at 700,000 liters of water plunging into the basin. You’ll also get to see the half-timber frame townhouses in the old town, and St. George’s Abbey. Book it here.

Grindelwald

Another day trip that is possible from Zurich is to see Grindelwald and Interlaken. This full-day tour takes you to the Bernese Oberland. You’ll have the chance to explore a bit of the region on your own, and we recommend going up to Grindelwald First.

Here you can take the cable car to walk the First Cliff Walk, hike out to the lake (about 2 hours return) and then get down quickly via the First Adventures that include the zip lines, First First Flyer, and First Glider, and whizzing down the mountain on Trottibikes and mountain carts. Read more About Grindelwald at The Best Things to do in Grindelwald

Lucerne and Mount Titlis

Another day trip from Zurich is to visit the medieval city of Lucerne before making your way up to Mountain Titlis, 3000 metres above sea level. You’ll take the Rotair revolving cable car and stop at an ice grotto. It’s then onto the Ice Flyer chairlift and the Titlis Cliff Walk bridge. You can book this day tour here.

Zurich is one of the most exciting cities to visit in Switzerland. With a balanced mix of old and new, adventure and dining, there is something for everyone. When planning your trip to Switzerland, make sure to put Zurich at the top of your list.

The people in Zurich know how to enjoy life by spending time on the lake and watching the sunset over the Limmat River in both summer and winter. From shopping along one of the world’s most expensive streets to hiking in the nearby Swiss Alps there is never a dull moment in Zurich.

Our trip to Switzerland is in partnership with My Switzerland. Visit their website to start planning your trip today.

• Our trip to Switzerland is in partnership with MySwitzerland.com . Visit their website to start planning your trip today.
• For more information visit the Zurich Tourism website for more travel to the city.
• Visit the My Switzerland website for more details.
• And see more Swiss travels at: 19 Beautiful Places to Visit in Switzerland
• 10 Simple Ways to Travel Switzerland on a Budget
• The Ultimate One-Week Switzerland Itinerary
• Unique and Crazy Things to do in Switzerland

Travel Planning Resources

Looking to book your next trip? Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly.

Flights: Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner

Book your Hotel: Find the best prices on hotels with these two providers. If you are located in Europe use Booking.com and if you are anywhere else use TripAdvisor

Find Apartment Rentals: You will find the cheapest prices on apartment rentals with VRBO . 

Travel Insurance: Don't leave home without it. Here is what we recommend:

• Allianz - Occasional Travelers.
• Medjet - Global air medical transport and travel security.

Need more help planning your trip? Make sure to check out our Resources Page where we highlight all the great companies that we trust when we are traveling.

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Zurich   Travel Guide

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Getting Around Zurich

The best way to get around Zurich is on foot or by bike. If your feet need a break, you can take the city's efficient tram system. From Zurich Airport (ZRH), you can also take a train for 6 miles (around 20 minutes) into Zurich. Though expensive, traveling by taxi to the city center from the airport is a viable option, as is Uber. If you take a taxi from the airport into the city, expect to pay around 50 Swiss francs (around $54). Driving within Zurich is not recommended due to the city's constant traffic and intentionally limited amount of parking.

Explore More of Zurich

Things To Do

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What to Do in Zurich

Zurich is an exciting city with numerous attractions and things to do: activities, outings, hikes, sights, museums, tours, restaurants - from gourmet to street food, and, of course, shopping at Bahnhofstrasse, Viadukt or in the Old Town. The biggest city in Switzerland offers indoor and outdoor activities and fun things to do as well in Winter as in Summer and also during the seasons in between.

So, if you are asking yourself what are the places to visit in Zurich, what are the top things to do with kids or which restaurant or café to visit, scroll down and you will find the best ideas for your perfect stay.

Top 10 Tourist Attractions

Sightseeing in Zurich: These are the 10 must-see spots and sights in Zurich.

Excursions near Zurich

Plan your adventures with this list of best day trips from Zurich.

Discover Zurich in One Day

Explore Zurich in 24 hours? No problem with this ultimate itinerary.

Zürich Card

Use public transport for free and benefit from many discounts with the Zurich Card.

The Best Guided City Tours

Clever explorers have experts show them the best places. Professional guides take you on unique tours and show the many sides of the city.

Zurich Restaurant Guide

Local, vegan, brunch, lunch or dinner, spicy, exotic or typically Swiss: With this guide, the perfect restaurant is just a click away.

Escape the Rain

Don't worry, even on rainy days, Zurich is an exciting place with great offers and attractions for the whole family.

The Seasons in Zurich

Because Zurich, Switzerland has four distinct seasons, visitors from home and abroad plan their activities accordingly – find ideas for each of the seasons here.

Public art works and installations not only are a delightful enrichment of urban space, but also tell stories about the neighborhood.

Zurich is a playground for numerous events, festivals, art and cultural happenings. Check out the goings-on and plan your next visit to Switzerland's cultural heart.

From luxurious boutiques on Bahnhofstrasse to high street fashion. From local artisans to young designers: Zurich is a great place for design and fashion lovers.

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My Europe Days

Amazing Journeys Through Europe

How To Get Around Zurich Easily & Cheap

Getting to the city.

Zurich International Airport or Flughafen Zurich (ZRH) is the largest airport of Switzerland and also known as Kloten airport. It’s located 13 kilometres north of Zurich city centre and has 3 terminals. There are multiple options to reach Zurich city centre from the airport.

Note: The currency of Switzerland is Swiss Franc (CHF). 1 CHF is equal to 0.88 Euro, although conversion rate may vary. All fares below are mentioned in CHF.

Train: The train station is inside the airport terminal. It takes only 11 minutes to reach Zurich main station (Zurich Hauptbahnhof/HB) by train. The service operates from 5:00am until 12:30am at an interval of 15 minutes. Additionally S-Bahn lines S2 and S16 connect with Zurich HB. A single 2 nd class ticket costs 6.80 CHF for an adult and 3.40 CHFfor a child (6 to 16 years). Ticket can be purchased from the ticketing machines, SBB travel centre or from Switzerland info+ counters.

Shuttle Bus: There is a shuttle bus service from airport to city centre with an hourly frequency. Tickets can be booked online. For an adult a single journey ticket is 25 CHF and children below 12 years travel free if accompanied by parents.You can get the shuttle bus timing information at the time of booking.

Streetcar (Tram): City Centre can be reached by tram as well. Line 10 trams take around 35 minutes. A single ride costs 6.80 CHF.

Taxi: There are designated taxi ranks opposite to the arrival 1 and 2. Taxis are available from 6:00am to 11:30pm. During rest of the time a taxi can be hired by dialing 0848 850 852 (from Switzerland). The fare is around 70 CHF from airport to city centre. It takes approximately 20 to 25 minutes.

You can choose from a wide range of private transport and transfer services (including airport transfers) and book online from this Viator site .

Public Transport

Public transport network in Zurich is integrated and it helps one to reach any part of the city.

ZVV or the Zurcher Verkehrsbund runs the basic public transport infrastructure in Zurich.

Bus service as well as trams and suburban trains complement each other. There are over 60 regular bus lines and articulated trolley buses in the fleet. There are 15 lines for the city bus network (Stadtbusnetz), 9 lines serving the suburbs (Quartiernetz), a special service for busy zones inside the city (Regionalnetz), and night service. 14 night service lines operate from Friday to Sunday (Nachtnezt). Zurich is also connected internationally by long distance bus services to cities in France, Germany, Croatia and Bosnia. Shilquai is the main bus zone in Zurich.

The commuter trains or S-Bahn connects Zurich with its suburbs including the airport. Operating time is from 5:00am until 12:30am with a service interval of 15 minutes. Within the city there are four railway stations including the main station Zurich Hauptbahnhof (also known as Zurich HB) which is also connected with other important international destinations like Germany, Austria, France, Italy and Spain.

There are 26 S-Bahn lines. Apart from the regular service there is a City Night Line as well. Another interesting rail service is Poly-Bahn. It is a metre gauge line that connects city centre with Zurich University located on a mountain. There is another rail service for North Zurich known as Seil-Bahn Rigiblick which is very popular among tourist for its scenic beauty. Few trains are double decked.

Tram or the Streetcar service (Forchbahn interurban) complements bus and train lines in Zurich to connect every part of the city. Most places of tourist interest are reachable by trams including the airport. Service is available every 7 minutes and operates always on time. There are over 12 lines that serve the city. Tram stops are equipped with time tables, ticketing machines and other information. The major sightseeing and shopping tram stops are Bahnhofstrasse, Rennweg, Paradeplatz and Boersenstrasse.

Zurichsee Schiffahrtgesellschaft or ZSG, commonly known as Zurich Navigation Company runs boat service on Lake Zurich. There are two types of boat trips, long round journey and short round journey. Duration of the first one is four hours and the second one takes one and half hours. Price for the first ride is 24 CHF while the cost of second ride is 8.20 CHF for an adult. A river cruise is also available on Limmat River that costs 4.10 CHF for an adult.Tickets can be purchased from ZVV ticket office, Burkliplatz ticket office or on the boat. ZVV zone ticket is accepted but for long round journey an all zone ticket is required.

Zurich taxis are very expensive. There are both metered taxis and other taxi services, and many taxi stands at important points of the city. The base fare is 6 CHF. Additional fare is 3.80 CHF per kilometre. You can dial the following numbers to call a taxi over phone.

• Taxi 444: +41 44 444 4444
• iTaxi: +41 44 666 1616
• 7X7 Fahrdienste: +41 44 777 7777

Ticketing and Transport Passes

Zurich transportation system has 7 zones. Airport comes under zone 121. Three zones combined ticket (zone 110, 111 and 121) is usually enough for tourists. One can travel by any public transport. A Zurich card and Travel Pass gives excellent opportunity to travel around and visit many attractions with discounts. Following are the various ticketing options and discount pass offers available in Zurich.

Single ticket is valid for 1 hour, 3 zones and costs 6.80 CHF for an adult. 2-zone ticket costs 4.40 CHF. For local zone (single zone) the cost is 2.70 CHF (valid for 30 minutes).

Multiple journey ticket consists of 6 single tickets and one can save 10% per single ticket.

Day pass costs 13.60 CHF for 3 zones, 8.80 CHF for 2 zones and 5.40 CHF for a single zone. It is valid for 24 hours.

Multiple Day ticket allows travelling for 6 days (it can be non-consecutive days). Separate validation is required on each day. It is transferable and can be used by 6 persons together on a single day (separate part of the ticket to be validated per person). 10% can be saved compared to a single day pass.

Zurich Card is ideal for tourists staying for up to 3 days in Zurich. It is available for 24 and 72 hours and valid for all the 7 zones. Apart from free unlimited access to public transportation it also allows free access to most of the museums and additionally offers 10% discount at selected shops. A 24 hour ZurichCARD costs 24 CHF for an adult and 16 CHF for a child (6 to 16 years) and 72 hours ZurichCARD is 48 CHF for an adult and 32 for a child.

All tickets and passes can be purchased from ticket machines, ticket counters, and through ZVV mobile app.

Swiss Travel Pass is a good option for a traveller visiting Switzerland’s multiple destination. It allows unlimited travelling by public transports (Road, Rail and water) with additional benefits. Swiss Travel Pass is available for 3, 4, 8 and 15 days. The prices are 225, 270, 398 and 485 CHF respectively. This pass allows unlimited free travel by trains, buses and boats. Premium Panorama Trains are also free but prior reservation is required and in some cases extra surcharge has to be paid. Admissions in over 500 museums are free. This pass is valid for consecutive days.

Hiring Bicycles

Zurich like many other European cities encourages riding bicycles. There are dedicated biking paths in the city. Here are some dos and don’ts for the bikers.

• Ride on the yellow mark dedicated bike paths
• Never ride on sidewalks
• Always use hand signals
• Always wear a bike helmet

A bike can be hired for free on a deposit of 20 CHF (refundable). A photo ID is must. A good place to rent a bike is the main train station’s bike hiring point (between 8:00am to 9:30pm). Download Zurich bike rental app for more details.

Car Rentals

All international car rental companies have services in Zurich. Per day rental rate starts from 80 CHF. Following are some good sources for car rental services.

• Carflexi Zurich: carflexi.com/en-us/
• Autoeurope: autoeurope.eu
• Avis Autovermietung: avis.ch/
• Sixt Autovermietung: sixt.ch
• Europcar Zurich: europcar.ch/en

Scooter/Motorbike Rentals

Numerous makes and models of scooters and motorcycles are available on rent in Zurich… from Vespa to high end Harley Davidson. Per day rental rate ranges from 65 CHF up to 250 CHF depending on the model. Following are few good sources to rent a scooter/motorbike.

• BikesBooking: bikesbooking.com
• Rentalmotorbike: rentalmotorbike.com
• Hertz Bikes: hertz.ch/p/en/bikes
• AdMo: rental-motorcycle.com/europe/switzerland/zurich_rental.html

Getting To Major Attractions

The starting point for the journeys below is taken as Zurich Central Station (the main station) unless mentioned otherwise. Note that many areas of Zurich are vehicle free and would require a walk. However you will find several attractions near to each other. Although those places are mentioned separately below, you can combine them while planning your trip.

Pavilion Le Corbusier is a highly photographed art museum in Zurich due to its excellent exterior. It is also a fantastic host of art collections. The best way to get there is to take a line 4 tram towards Tiefenbrunnen and get down at Hoschgasse. This place is located around 3 kilometres south of the main station.

Dorfi or the Neiderdorf is basically the old town of Zurich. Exploring this quaint shopping and architecture hub is best done by walking.

Grossmunster Church is located around half a kilomtere south of the main station. Take a line 4 tram towards Tiefenbrunnen to get there. Journey time is around 3 minutes.

Opernhaus Zurich is graced by Mozart and William Shakespeare. Opernhaus is located towards south at a distance of around 1.6 kilometres. You can take S-Bahn train numbers S5, S6, S9 or S11 to reach Zurich Stadelhofen station. Journey time is around 3 minutes.

The most beautiful concert hall in Zurich is Tonhalle in Claridenstrasse. This place is located around 1.5 kilometres south of the main railway station. You can take tram line number 6,7,11 or 13. For route 11 you need to disembark at Borsenstrasse and then walk for around 260 metres. For other 3 lines you need to get off at Stockerstrasse and then walk for around 300 metres.

The Fraumunster Church (Women’s Church) of Zurich is dated back to 853 AD and was built by Emperor Ludwig. The church is located 1 kilometre south of the main station. Tram is the best transport and there are 4 different tram routes to get there. If you take line 6 or 13 then get off at Paradeplatz, from there it is around 3-minute walk. Alternatively take line 4 tram towards Tiefenbrunnen, get down at Rathaus, from there it is little less than 300 metres. You can also take a line 15 tram from central stoppage (250 metres from central station) towards Stadelhofen and disembark at Helmhaus, from there it is less than 200 metres.

Church of the Great Minister (Grossmunster) is located at Grossmunsterplatz towards south of the main station at a distance of around 1 kilometre. This place is quite near the Fraumunster Church and located within the Neiderdorf area.

Swiss National Museum or Schweizerisches Landesmuseum looks like a fairy tale castle. It has very rich collection of historical and cultural exhibits. This museum is located at Museumstrasse towards northeast of Zurich main station at a distance of little more than 100 metres. So you can easily walk down.

Museum Rietberg is located inside the biggest public park of Zurich at Gablerstrasse. This place is loaded with gorgeous artefacts from all over the world. You need to travel little more than 2.5 kilometres from the main station towards south. Take a line 7 tram towards Wollishofen and get down at Museum Rietberg stop (journey time is around 9 minutes), then walk for 350 metres to the museum gate. Alternatively you can take S-Bahn S4 or S24 line trains towards Shilwald or towards Zug. In the first case get off at Saalsporthalle otherwise at Zurich Enge, but in both cases you need to walk for about a kilometre to get to the museum.

FIFA World Football Museum has exhibits dated back to the first world cup played in Uruguay. It is located at Seestrasse (around 2 kilometres south of the main station). You can get there by tram but taking an S-Bahn train will be quicker and you need to walk less. Take a S8/S24 line train from the main station towards Pfaffikon SZ/Zug and get down at Zurich Eng, the museum is only 120 metres away.

Zurich Zoo is located at Zurichbergstrasse towards northeast of the main station at a distance of around 3 and half kilometres. You can get there in 20 minutes by taking a line 6 tram for Zurich Zoo. Once you get off, you need to walk for little over 300 metres.

Great Day Trips

Mount Titlis is one of the best day trips from Zurich. Even if you are not a sports enthusiast you will love the panoramic 360 degree landscape of this place from cable car and from the top of the mountain. It is a 10-hour trip and costs around 165 Euros per person in a guided tour.

To explore Mount Titlis on your own you need to reach Engelberg (located around 82 kilometres south of Zurich). Take a train from Zurich HB (main station) to Lucerne, from there change to a train to Engelberg. Total journey time will be around 90 minutes. A return journey ticket costs 38 CHF per person. From Engelberg station take a line 5 bus towards Engelberg Titlisbahn and get down there (journey time 3 minutes). From Titlisbahn take a cable car to reach Stand, and from Stand change to another cable car to get to the top. The cable car fare is 66 CHF per person for one-way journey (from Titlisbahn to the top of Mount Titlis) and 92 CHF for return journey..

Another fantastic day trip is to the  ‘Top of Europe’ Jungfraujoch . The spectacular views from the cogwheel train during your journey will surely be a lifetime experience. This trip takes 12 hours and costs around 220 Euros per person.

If you want to go on your own to Jungfraujoch then first take a train from Zurich to Kleine Scheidegg which is located around 144 kilometres south of Zurich. The train goes via Bern, Interlaken and Lauterbrunnen. Check for suitable trains at www.sbb.ch/de/ . Single journey per person ticket costs around 56 CHF (return journey ticket is economical). Journey time is little more than 4 hours (one-way). From Kleine Scheidegg take the cogwheel train to reach the top of Europe (return journey ticket costs 128 CHF). Journey time is around 35 minutes one-way.

To experience Alpine landscapes and serene lakes one of the best day trips is to visit Grindelwald and Interlaken . Interlaken is a small town with lakes on its both sides (east and west). Guided tour duration is around 12 hours and will cost around 85 Euros for an adult. Interlaken is located 118 kilometres south of Zurich. You can take a train to reach there in 2 to 2 and half hours. Take an IC1 (towards Geneva Airport) or IC8 (towards Brig) and get down at Bern. From Bern IC61 goes to Interlaken Ost. Single journey ticket costs 35 CHF.

Transport tips

• Outside cars are not allowed inside the city of Zurich
• Always validate your transport ticket or you might attract a huge fine
• The centre of the city is pedestrianised
• Ensure enough coins while travelling
• Credit card is accepted in most of the transport ticketing systems
• To enter or exit a tram, press the button to open the door
• An extra ticket is required to take your bicycles on board a public transport
• Two tickets are required for night time traveller including the surcharge ticket
• Secrets of tourism in Zurich
• Switzerland Tourism

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How to plan a trip to Switzerland

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This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

SWISS. Stunning views from the Grütschalp, Mürren, and Gimmelwald trail.

Joshua Berida

When you think of Switzerland, you’ll think of delectable chocolates, rolling hills, snow-capped peaks, and stunning landscapes. These are exactly what you’ll get when you get the chance to visit this beautiful country.

You don’t need to hike up to the best viewpoints all the time because you can just take the cable car or train to reach them. However, you can also follow the trails to earn the views of the mountains.

Getting a visa

You’ll need a Schengen visa to enter Switzerland. Some of the basic requirements for visa applications include:

• Valid passport
• Photo (35 x 45 mm)
• Accommodation confirmation
• Application form
• Proof of occupation or business registration
• Proof of funds (bank certificate, credit card statements, bank statements, etc.)

You will have to apply at a VFS office: https://visa.vfsglobal.com/phl/en/che /

Check the link out to learn more about the requirements and booking an appointment.

Get into Switzerland

There are no direct flights to Switzerland from Manila. You’ll have to transit through a different country before reaching Zurich, the capital. You can check Skyscanner or your preferred website to check schedules and prices. You can then book directly with the airline if you want. You can combine Switzerland with other countries in Europe if you have the time and the budget.

Getting around Switzerland

You can get around the country by train and get to mountain villages and trails using the cable cars.

Check schedules and fares here: https://www.sbb.ch/en .

Itinerary and places to visit

This itinerary consists mostly of day hikes with Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald, and Interlaken as jump-off points.

Upon arrival in Zurich, make your way to the main train station and catch the train bound for Lauterbrunnen. There are no direct trains to this destination, you’ll have to switch trains after arriving in Interlaken. Lauterbrunnen is a small town with stunning mountain views. Check in your accommodation and walk around to experience the Swiss countryside.

You can check schedules and book train tickets here: https://www.sbb.ch/en

One of the reasons I visited Switzerland is to see the mountains and hike along its scenic trails. The hike I would recommend on your first day is the Grütschalp, Mürren, and Gimmelwald trail. The latter is beginner-friendly with mostly flat surfaces and stunning mountain views.

I suggest starting the hike from Grütschalp so that you’ll descend gradually instead of walking uphill if you started from Gimmelwald. After the cable car ride up, you’ll immediately see the snow-capped mountains in the distance. The recurring theme of this trail is spectacular mountain vistas. You won’t sweat much because of the cool breeze and the easy-to-follow trail. The Gimmelwald section is paved and leads you to the station where you can catch the cable car down.

How to get to the trail: Take the cable car from Lauterbrunnen to Grütschalp. You can buy tickets here https://www.sbb.ch/en .

Check out of your accommodation and get ready to do another easy hike. The trail I suggest doing on your second day is Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg. The latter is another beginner-friendly and easy trail with beautiful views of the mountains. The trail is straightforward, it’s easy to find and follow it. It’s also mostly flat with gradual descents.

Take as much time as you want soaking in the views and breathing in the fresh air. Bring some snacks and drinks with you. The trail takes around two hours with plenty of time to stop, take photos, and eat. You can stay for a few hours in Wengen if you’re not in a hurry. This quaint mountain town is a nice place to relax and unwind in before or after your hike. Make your way back to your accommodation in Lauterbrunnen and head on over to Grindelwald.

How to get to the trail:

• From Lauterbrunnen, take a train bound for Wengen. After arriving in Wengen, take a cable car to Männlichen.
• From Grindelwald, take a direct cable car to Männlichen.

You can buy tickets here https://www.sbb.ch/en or over the counter.

It’s time to do another hike, this time your jump-off point is Grindelwald. The hike you’ll do is the Eiger Trail. You’ll start at Eigergletscher Station and finish the trip at Alpiglen before taking another cable car to Grund (Grindelwald). The cable car ride up is scenic with a view of the mountains throughout. The view from the station is spectacular (again).

After taking some photos, you’ll likely see a crowd heading for another ride up to the Top of Europe. Walk away from them and make your way to the start of the Eiger Trail. There are signs that point you to it. The first half of the trek is easy enough with mostly flat dirt paths. You’ll also get to see the North Face. The surrounding views are worth dozens of photos. The last section of the trail gets more challenging and steeper. The hike to Alpiglen was the toughest part with steep inclines that require some balancing but nothing technical.

How to get to the trail: You can take a direct cable car from Grindelwald to Eigergletscher Station. You’ll most likely encounter a crowd because this is the same route that goes to the Top of Europe Station.

You can buy tickets here https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/ , https://www.sbb.ch/en or at the station counters.

After breakfast, board a cable car all the way up to First Station. First is a beautiful area where you can try the Cliff Walk. The latter provides you with breathtaking views of the mountains and the landscape. However, sometimes the weather can be unpredictable. It could be foggy the whole time you’re there (which happened during my visit). Despite poor visibility, you can still get a glimpse of how spectacular the views are. There’s also a restaurant where you can get a hot drink and something to eat.

Another reason to make your way here is the walk to Bachalpsee. The walk takes a few hours going there and back. The lake is pretty and the views of the mountains the same. Again, it depends on the weather. It could get foggy during your trip.

If you have the budget, you can go all the way up to Jungfraujoch or also known as the “Top of Europe.” The cable car to it is quite expensive.

After breakfast, hop on a train and make your way to Interlaken. After arriving, head on over to your accommodation to check in or at least leave your things in the luggage storage.

Interlaken is a lovely destination with views of the mountains and a laid-back vibe. It’s a tourist town so expect more people. It has some attractions you might want to visit during your stay. You can go on a short trip to Lake Thu and Lake Brienz. You can go up Harder Kulm for more overlooking views, visit Unterseen, try paragliding, walk to Unspunnen Castle, or visit the Interlaken Monastery and Castle.

After visiting some attractions in Interlaken, it’s time to go for another hike with spectacular views at Schynige Platte. You can reach this hiking destination by taking the train from Wilderswil. The ride up to the mountain station is scenic (you’ll be staring out the window most of the time kind of views).

I would recommend the panorama trail as it’s easy to do and has stunning vistas. The loop takes around three hours or faster depending on your pace. The trail is mostly flat with gradual inclines in some parts. You’ll have to climb up stairs to reach one of the viewpoints but it’s also easy. You’ll see views of the lake and the mountains throughout your adventure. Wilderswil is a short train ride from Interlaken. If you have the time and the energy, you can combine Schynige Platte with Faulhorn and all the way to First. This alternative can take an entire day so bring enough food and drinks.

You can buy tickets here https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/prices-and-tickets/ , https://www.sbb.ch/en or at the station counters.

Check out of your accommodation in Interlaken then take the morning train to Zurich. After arriving at Zurich, head on over to your accommodation to check in or leave your stuff in the luggage room. Zurich is a small city to explore on foot and at a slow pace. You can see a lot in a short time. Go at a leisurely pace to soak in the culture and history of the city after hiking for most of this itinerary.

The old town is a quaint and charming neighborhood that has plenty of historic buildings that are centuries old. Take a leisurely stroll along Lake Zurich, hang out by the gardens and parks, and/or grab something to eat at the cafes and restaurants. Another pedestrian street worth checking out is the Banhof and Banhofstrasse. Here you’ll find shops from various brands.

Grossmünster or Great Minster dominates Zurich’s cityscape with its towers. This church is centuries old and is a renowned city landmark. Other churches of note include the Fraumünster and St. Peter’s Church. Take another leisurely stroll around Lindenhof. The latter also provides beautiful views of the old town.

If you have the time and budget for museums, you can check out the following:

• Lindt Home of Chocolate
• Swiss National Museum
• FIFA Museum
• Museum of Fine Arts

Zurich has other activities you can do in the city or just a day trip from it.

Depending on the time of your flight, you’ll have extra time to revisit some of your favorite hangout spots in the city. You can also do some last-minute shopping before leaving Switzerland.

You can also combine this itinerary with other places you want to visit while in Europe.

When is hiking season?

The hiking trails are closed during certain months of the year. Most trails are open from the end of June until late October. Dates change so you’ll have to check official websites for more information.

You can check this website for the trails mentioned above: https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/

Swiss Pass or Half-Fare Card?

For the itinerary mentioned above, I would recommend a half-fare card instead of the Swiss Travel Pass.

The card reduces the price of cable cars and train tickets by 50% within its scope of coverage. On the other hand, the Swiss Pass only provides unlimited rides within its scope of coverage, and you won’t get a 50% discount for some of the cable car rides up and down the mountains.

You can get a Swiss Pass and learn more about it here: https://www.sbb.ch/en/tickets- offers/swisspass/swisspass.html

You can purchase a Half-Fare Card from Klook: https://www.klook.com/en-PH/activity/10184-swiss-half-fare-card-switzerland/

You can also buy a Half-Fare Card from the official site here: https://www.sbb.ch/en/tickets- offers/tickets/guests-abroad/swiss-halffare-card.html

How much will you spend?

There’s no denying it Switzerland is an expensive country even if you’re trying to go on a budget. A budget of around P80,000 for the itinerary mentioned above covers the following:

• Budget room or bed din a dorm
• Eat at a budget restaurant or food from supermarkets
• Swiss Half-Fare Card
• Cable cars up and down mountains and train rides between cities and towns

This budget doesn’t include shopping, flights, and other activities you might want to do such as boat rides, kayaks, etc. Sky’s the limit for you if you can afford it. –  Rappler.com

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Here are the top 10 smartest cities in the world — and none are in the U.S.

Smart cities in Europe and Asia are gaining ground globally while North American cities have fallen down the ranks, according to the 2024 Smart City Index released April.

Of the top 10 smart cities on the list, seven were in Europe.

This year's index was produced by the IMD World Competitiveness Center's Smart City Observatory in collaboration with the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO) that's based in Seoul, South Korea.

The report ranks 142 smart cities worldwide based on data analyzed by researchers, as well as survey responses of 120 residents in each city. The study captures an overview of how the infrastructure and technology available in a city impacts the city's performance and the quality of life of its inhabitants.

So, what is a smart city?

According to the IMD , a smart city is defined as "an urban setting that applies technology to enhance the benefits and diminish the shortcomings of urbanization for its citizens."

With very few exceptions, cities in the top 20 are geographically located in areas where social and economic environments are relatively predictable, even against the overall climate of global uncertainties. IMD Smart City Index 2024

The cities that perform well on the list have also developed initiatives that cater to their citizens' overall quality of life.

"Such initiatives have focused on developing green spaces and broadening opportunities for cultural events and social bonding, for example," according to the report.

"In the majority of these leading cities, such efforts have been combined with innovative strategies to attract and retain talent, foster investment in a selective fashion [e.g. pro-sustainability], and tackle long standing issues regarding geographical inequalities and inclusion," the report said.

Here are the top 10 smart cities, according to the 2024 Smart City Index.

• Zurich, Switzerland
• Oslo, Norway
• Canberra, Australia
• Geneva, Switzerland
• Copenhagen, Denmark
• Lausanne, Switzerland
• London, England
• Helsinki, Finland
• Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Notably, for the first time since the index's inception in 2019, there is an absence of North American cities in the top 20.

"Using three year moving averages (i.e. comparing a city's average ranking for the period 2021-24 to that of the period 2020-23), a significant number of US cities have been losing ground," according to the report.

"This is the case in particular for Washington DC, Denver, and Los Angeles (-12, -12, and -11 respectively), but also for San Francisco (-9), New York City (-7), and Chicago (-4)."

The highest ranking U.S. city this year is New York City which ranked 34th, followed by Boston at 36th and Washington DC, coming in at 50th place.

While European cities dominated the list, Asian cities are gaining ground too.

Here are the top 5 smart cities in Asia:

• Singapore (5th)
• Beijing (13th)
• Taipei City (16th)
• Seoul (17th)
• Shanghai (19th)

Singapore has consistently ranked among the top 10 positions since the index's inception in 2019. It ranked 7th from 2020 to 2023 — except in 2022 when no rankings were released, and jumped up two positions this year.

Taipei City has also jumped 13 positions over the last year, from 29th in 2023 to 16th this year.

"Cities must design and adopt strategies that can resist the test of a future plagued with growing uncertainties, " said Bruno Lanvin, president of the Smart City Observatory.

"Health-related concerns remain high, while climate-related ones grow even larger; a mix complicated by renewed international tensions. Trust and good governance are growing in importance, and the significance of Al in city design and management is set to increase," he said in the report.

"Counterintuitive as it may sound, Al can help cities to become more human-centric," Lanvin added.

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High Winds Scuttle Burning of Snowman in Zurich, Disappointing the Swiss

The burning of the effigy known as the Böögg is the finale of Sechseläuten, an annual spring festival akin to Groundhog Day. The normally stoic Swiss wallowed in disappointment.

By Claire Moses

Imagine if Punxsutawney Phil just didn’t show up one year. How would people know how much longer winter would last?

People in Zurich found themselves in a similar state of limbo this week.

On Monday, high winds disrupted the city’s annual spring festival, a Swiss version of Groundhog Day that includes a parade and the ceremonial burning of a fake snowman — an effigy of winter — whose head is packed with fireworks.

The parades went off without a hitch. But when the time came for the festival’s grand finale, the burning and explosion of the snowman atop a pyre, high winds kicked up and the ceremony was scuttled for safety reasons.

The festival, Sechseläuten, takes place on the third Monday of April. Its name roughly translates to “the six o’clock ringing of the bells.” The snowman is called the Böögg, a term that likely has its roots in the English word boogeyman.

Here’s how the day usually goes: At 3 p.m. sharp, about 3,500 members of Zurich’s ancient guilds — associations of artisans or tradesmen that date to the Middle Ages — embark on a parade. They wear traditional attire and accept flowers from spectators. The parade also includes floats and hundreds of people on horseback.

Then, at 6 p.m. on the dot — Swiss time-keeping is no joke — a church bell chimes and the pyre below the snowman is lit. As the fire makes its way up to the Böögg, guild members on horseback ride around the blazing effigy.

Eventually, the snowman’s head explodes.

The day ends with a public barbecue, with people cooking sausages over the bonfire.

The faster the snowman burns, legend has it, the better summer will be. (Between five and 12 minutes is considered good. Anything over 15 minutes is bad.)

So when the Böögg didn’t burn on Monday, some residents of Zurich wallowed in a brief, if very un-Swiss, period of disappointment.

“It’s sort of a drama that plays out at different stages,” said Thomas Meier, who grew up in Zurich and has ridden around the burning effigy on horseback for the past 20 years or so. He noted that the festival spans two days, beginning with a children’s parade on Sunday and culminating with the burning of the Böögg. This year, Mr. Meier said, “the drama is missing its last part.”

“It’s ripping out the soul of the event,” he said. “It indeed leaves a funny feeling.”

When the announcement was made at the last minute on Monday afternoon that the burning wouldn’t be happening, “there was some grumbling in the crowd,” said Lauren Tucci, an American who moved to Zurich from California about three years ago. But most people quickly snapped back into pragmatic mode and swiftly made their way to the train station. “I didn’t hear a lot of complaining to be completely honest,” she said.

People were quick to flood the internet with memes and jokes. “Summer is canceled, I understand that correctly, right?” one person asked . “Gone with the Wind,” a journalist joked under a picture of a pristine Böögg.

This isn’t the first mishap related to the snowman on Sechseläuten. There have been years in which the snowman fell off the pyre before the fire reached its head. In 2006, a group of people “abducted” the Böögg. The celebrations went ahead with a replacement snowman. In 2020, in the early months of the coronavirus pandemic, the celebration was canceled altogether.

But Monday’s disruption was still noteworthy. For the first time in 100 years, “it was not possible to burn the snowman because of heavy wind gusts,” said Victor Rosser, a spokesman for the committee that organizes the event. He added that it would be too dangerous to have a fire in a square among tens of thousands of spectators.

The plan now is to burn the Böögg in the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden, about an hour outside Zurich, according to Zurich Tourism , which did not say when the burning would take place.

The Sechseläuten tradition dates to the 16th century, according to Zurich’s tourism board. Back then, the City Council was made up of the members of Zurich’s guilds. The council decided that the first Monday after the vernal equinox, a bell of the city’s Grossmünster church would ring out at exactly 6 p.m. to indicate the start of spring.

On Tuesday, workers took the snowman down, still in pristine condition. It was an unusual sight for the people of Zurich.

Of course, the Böögg’s weather predictions are more symbolic than scientific. But Mr. Meier, the horseback rider who took part in Monday’s festivities, said that for summer to start, the Böögg must burn.

“The winter is still here,” he said. “It’s not gone.”

Claire Moses is a Times reporter in London, focused on coverage of breaking and trending news. More about Claire Moses