Switzerland
Zurich
Give it 2 days: Old Town and the lake on foot, a museum or two, and an evening up Uetliberg. Below: 4 sights, 1 activity and 1 outdoor spot, plus how Zurich fits into a longer trip.
- Places
- 10
- Curated routes
- 1
- Best season
- May – Oct
- Warmest month
- July
- Coolest month
- January
- Wettest month
- August
4 See · 1 Do · 1 Outdoors · 2 Eat · 2 Drink
Swiss Lakes by Rail
from our route notes
24°C / 76°F avg high
3°C / 38°F avg high
about 146 mm rain
Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.
Things to do in Zurich
10 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.
See
4 sights worth building a day around across Kreis 1, Old Town and Niederdorf.
Photo: Matt Joseph · CC BY-SA 4.0SeeSwiss National Museum
Castle-like museum of Swiss history next to the main station.
Tip Easy first stop off the train.
Photo: Ank Kumar · CC BY-SA 4.0SeeLindenhof
Tree-shaded hill on a Roman fort site, overlooking the Limmat and Old Town.
Tip Bring coffee; locals play giant chess here.
Photo: Roland zh · CC BY-SA 3.0SeeGrossmünster
Twin-towered church where the Reformation began in Zurich; climb the Karl tower.
Tip Tower climb is small fee and 187 steps.
Photo: Roland zh · CC BY-SA 3.0SeeKunsthaus Zürich
Major art museum with Swiss and modern collections.
Tip Free on Wednesdays for the collection.
Do
1 activity for when the group wants to do more than look in Bürkliplatz.
Photo: Rathakarn Khuruthiti · GoogleDoLake Zurich Boat Cruise
ZSG boat cruises from Bürkliplatz; short and long lake loops.
Tip Swiss Travel Pass covers most boats.
Outdoors
1 outdoor spot for fresh air in Uetliberg.
Photo: roland zh · CC BY-SA 3.0OutdoorsUetliberg
Zurich's hill, reached by S-Bahn, with views of the city, lake and Alps.
Tip Go for sunset; hike the Planet Trail on the ridge.
Eat
Where we would book a table in Zurich across Paradeplatz and Old Town.
Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domainEatConfiserie Sprüngli
Zurich's chocolatier since 1836, famous for Luxemburgerli macarons.
Tip Get a mixed box to take on the train.
Photo: Restaurant Zeughauskeller · GoogleEatZeughauskeller
Beer hall in a 1487 armory serving Zürcher Geschnetzeltes and sausages.
Tip Reserve for dinner.
Drink
Our picks for a drink in Zurich across Bellevue and Zurich West.
Photo: Restaurant Kronenhalle · GoogleDrinkKronenhalle
Classic restaurant and bar with Chagall and Picasso on the walls.
Tip The bar is easier to get into than the dining room.
Photo: manual · GoogleDrinkFrau Gerolds Garten
Summer garden bar built from shipping containers in Zurich West.
Tip Pair with the Freitag tower shop next door.
How to fit Zurich into a trip
Zurich is stop 1 of 3 on our Swiss Lakes by Rail route. Follow it as-is or lift Zurich into your own plan.
Stop 1 of 3
Swiss Lakes by Rail
Lake promenades, mountain trains & storybook towns
- Trip length
- 5 days
- Best season
- May – Oct
- Pace
- easy
- Next: Lucerne
Getting here and onward
- Zurich to LucerneLucerne is about 40 km / 25 mi away in a straight line
Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.
Zurich month by month
Average daily highs run from 3°C / 38°F in January to 24°C / 76°F in July. August is the wettest month, with about 146 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.
- Jan3° / 38°F average high
- Feb5° / 40°F average high
- Mar10° / 49°F average high
- Apr15° / 59°F average high
- May19° / 66°F average high, in our recommended season
- Jun23° / 73°F average high, in our recommended season
- Jul24° / 76°F average high, in our recommended season
- Aug24° / 74°F average high, in our recommended season
- Sep20° / 67°F average high, in our recommended season
- Oct15° / 59°F average high, in our recommended season
- Nov9° / 48°F average high
- Dec4° / 39°F average high
Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Zurich weather and the best time to visit →
Near Zurich
8 other destinations from our guides within about 200 km (124 mi), measured in a straight line.
Zurich questions, answered
How many days do you need in Zurich?
Our route notes suggest 2 days in Zurich. On our Swiss Lakes by Rail route it is stop 1 of 3 in a 5-day trip. The listed visit times for our 10 places add up to roughly 15 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.
What is Zurich best known for?
Give it 2 days: Old Town and the lake on foot, a museum or two, and an evening up Uetliberg. Standouts on our list: Swiss National Museum (Castle-like museum of Swiss history next to the main station); Lindenhof (Tree-shaded hill on a Roman fort site, overlooking the Limmat and Old Town); Grossmünster (Twin-towered church where the Reformation began in Zurich; climb the Karl tower).
When is the best time to visit Zurich?
Our Swiss Lakes by Rail route is best May – Oct. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (24°C / 76°F), the coolest in January (3°C / 38°F) and the most rain in August (about 146 mm).
What are the best things to do in Zurich?
Start with Swiss National Museum, Lindenhof, Grossmünster, Kunsthaus Zürich and Lake Zurich Boat Cruise. Our guide lists 10 places in all, from 4 sights, 1 activity, 1 outdoor spot, 2 places to eat and 2 bars & cafés.
Where should a group eat in Zurich?
Our picks: Confiserie Sprüngli (Paradeplatz); Zeughauskeller (Old Town). Get a mixed box to take on the train (Confiserie Sprüngli).
What is near Zurich?
The closest destinations in our guides are Lucerne (about 40 km / 25 mi), Andermatt (about 85 km / 53 mi) and Interlaken (about 92 km / 57 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.
Plan Zurich with your crew
Open the Swiss Lakes by Rail route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 10 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.