Zurich, Switzerland
Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city, is renowned for its blend of historic charm and modern sophistication. Nestled in the heart of Europe, Zurich is situated on the northern shores of Lake Zurich. he Old Town (Altstadt) is a maze of cobblestone streets and very walkable. Landmarks like the Grossmünster and Fraumünster churches reflect the city’s rich history. The city also offers a dynamic culinary and nightlife scene. It is a great place to stay as focal point of your trip with easy trains to nearby cities and attractions.
Things to do in Zurich
Altstadt
The Old Town (Altstadt) is a maze of cobblestone streets lined with medieval buildings, charming cafés, and boutique shops. There are so many great things to see in the Old Town.
Grossmünster
The Grossmünster is the Protestant Church in Zurich. The two towers may be one of the top iconic landmarks of Zurich. The church is Romanesque style and construction started in 1100. You can visit for 5 CHF (2 for children/students) and climb the tower for 5 CHF (2 for children). The tower is 187 steps without an elevator/lift available. Visiting hours are between 10AM-6PM during the summer and 10AM-5PM during the winter.
Fraumünster
Fraumünster is a Protestant church in Zurich. Its interior has beautiful stained glass. You can visit the church for 5 CHF (free for children 0-16 years old). Public tours are available in German. Private tours can be booked in English. You can visit Fraumünster and Grossmünster for a combined ticket of CHF 8. It is open from 10AM-6PM during the summer and 10AM-5PM in the winter.
Linderhof Hill
The Linderhof Hill is an elevated park with incredible views of the Limmat River and Zurich Old Town. Depending the direction you take up to the park you can go up paved hill without stairs (come up Pfalzagasse from Schiusselgasse) or go up stairs (Fortunagasse). This was useful for us using a stroller. (I luckily did a run day before and figured this out so much easier when we went walking with the baby the next day).
More of Old Town
There are some other iconic things to check out in Old Town. Peterskirche features Europe’s largest clock face. Muhlesteg is a scenic footbridge for “love locks”. Münsterbrücke is another historic bridge over the Limmat. Just soaking in the views (and the swans) is incredible!
culinary experience
The city also offers a dynamic culinary scene, with Michelin-starred restaurants, traditional Swiss eateries, and trendy bars. One must try dishes include Zürcher Geschnetzeltes, a creamy veal stew served with Rösti (crispy potato pancakes). Bratwurst is a very popular street food. Switzerland is known for its cheese and chocolates. While here you can tour the Lindt Chocolate Factory (which is a little bit from the old town). It is recommended to book your ticket in advance.
Coffee and Beer
The fuel of all while on vacation. There are so many incredible places to check out. We stayed near the train station just outside of the Old City and were able to check out some cool more local vibe places. We had amazing coffee at MAME Josef. We also went to a cool brewery the International Beer Bar which had a huge selection and both outdoor and indoor areas.
Museums
Zurich boasts a host of museums that are worth checking out! Kunsthaus Zurich is the Museum of Art and is packed with works of art from icons like Picasso, Monet, Kandinsky, Warhol, Van Gogh and so much more. The Landesmuseum is the Swiss National Museum. It is a castle like building which is beautiful on its own. There is a free Landesmuseum app that has English audioguide since many exhibits in German. You can also check out the FIFA Museum to get your soccer fix!
Day Trips from Zurich
Bus tour to Liechtenstein
We did a day tour from Zurich bus station that went to Rapperswil, Heidiland and Liechtenstein.
Lucerne
Lucerne was a short train ride from Zurich and perfect for a day trip.
Bern
Bern is an incredible UNESCO World Heritage City that is a train ride from Zurich and perfect for a day trip.
Other top Day trips
Zurich is such a central place and great place to stay and do day trips from. Some other incredible day trips you can consider while you are based in Zurich include Rhine Falls (Europe’s largest waterfall), Mount Titlis panoramic views with glacier cave or Stein am Rhein a picturesque town with colorful painted houses.
Visit Zurich
Zurich should definitely be on your list of top Switzerland destinations. You will absolutely love your time visiting this incredible city! No doubt we will be back!
