Zurich is one of Europe’s most underrated cities. Because there are no huge tourist must-sees, many people skip it when writing their travel wish lists. However, Switzerland’s largest city is an explorer’s dream, and I fully believe that it should be included in everyone’s European travel plans.
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t a believer at first. I had a long layover in the Zurich airport, and I’ll always choose adventuring into town over sitting at an airport Chilis. The airport is only a 10-minute train ride to the city’s center, and the train station is conveniently located right in the airport. Head down to the lowest level of the airport and catch a train – they depart for the Zurich main station every 5-10 minutes.
Once you’re in Zurich, you won’t need to rent a car or jump in a cab. You’ll step out of the main train station, the Zurich Hauptbahnhof, and be ready to go. The city is one of the most walkable I’ve ever explored! Here are a few of the most fun things to do during your time in Zurich:
Know Before You Go
The currency of Switzerland is the Swiss Franc. Most places will accept credit cards, so make sure you bring one that doesn’t have a foreign transaction fee to save money!
There is no bad time to visit Zurich, year round there is always something to do! Planning ahead if there are certain seasonal-specific activities like skiing or getting tickets to a festival you’d like to do is important.
Museum Rietburg
One of the most popular and beautiful museums in Zurich is Museum Rietburg. Explore the art and artifacts from around the world!
This museum is closed on Mondays, open 10am – 5pm all other days except Wednesday when the museum is open to 8pm.
Bahnhofstrasse
Move over, Rodeo Drive! Bahnhofstrasse is one of the most expensive shopping avenues in the world. Don’t let that scare you away – there are a wide variety of shops from Tommy Hilfiger to Cartier.
Wander Old Town Zurich
Altstadt, also known as Old Town Zurich, is the centerpiece of the city. Old Town is picturesque and very walkable, making it a great place to explore if you have limited time. Stroll down the cobblestone streets to take in the shops and restaurants, or stop for people watching and beautiful views of the Limmat river.
Explore Niederdorf
The Niederdorf neighborhood is one of the most beautiful areas of Old Town with tons of photo opportunities and restaurants to take in the views from.
Like the neighboring Limmatquai, this area is car-free making it the perfect place to spend a few stress-free hours souvenir shopping and photo snapping.
Visit Grossmünster
The Zürich Grossmunster church is in the heart of Old Town, though you can spot its iconic twin steeples rising along the horizon. No elevator here, so if you’re going to the top you’ll need to take the stairs. The breathtaking view of Zurich is worth it!
Spend Time on the Water
Locals love to spend time at Lake Zurich. The clear blue waters are great for taking a quick dip at one of the many beaches and swimming areas, or you can opt for a lake cruise.
Lake Zurich feeds into the Limmat river that runs from the southern edge of Zurich to the northwest. If you’re not looking to get in the water, stop for lunch at a riverside cafe and take in the gorgeous views.
Zurich is Switzerland’s largest city and definitely one of the most popular, and while it definitely warrants a visit there are many more beautiful cities to explore like Lucerne!
Switzerland is perfectly nestled between France, Germany, Austria, and Italy. Why not take a trip to Heidelberg to explore all this German city has to offer?
