Zurich is located in the heart of Europe and is the largest city in Switzerland. Constantly ranked as one of the most livable cities in the world, Zurich is clean, prosperous (it’s one of the major financial centers of the world), and green (it was labeled as the most sustainable city in the world).
And while Zurich is an expensive place to visit, it’s a great start or ending point for exploring Switzerland. We visited Zurich for a few days while exploring the Jungfrau region of Switzerland, and found the city to be an absolute charmer! Here are my top 10 recommendations for things to do in Zurich!
Altsdadt
1- Explore the narrow cobblestoned lanes of the Altsdadt (Zurich’s old town). This area of town exudes charm as it’s filled with attractive historical buildings in old Renaissance style. Visit the stately city hall (Rauthaus) and then walk along Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich’s main shopping street filled with some of the most exclusive shops in the world.
TIP: Looking for a great brunch spot near Altsdadt? Check out Babu’s Bakery and Coffeehouse. This quaint breakfast spot features mouthwatering pastries, strong coffee, and a charming atmosphere.
Kreis 5
2- Grab a drink at the hipster Kreis 5 district and visit the colorful umbrellas at the Gerold Cuchi restaurant. There are over 50 hanging umbrellas at Gerold Cuchi in all sorts of colors, patterns, and sizes. It’s a perfect place for THAT perfect instagram shot. Just around the corner is the Frau Gerolds Garten – a trendy spot (especially during warm summer nights) featuring a variety of bars, restaurants, independent shops, and outdoor patios.
Swiss Chocolate
3- Indulge in swiss chocolate at Confiserie Sprungli. Confiserie Sprungli is a world renowned coffeehouse located in the heart of Zurich. It’s famous for its macarons, hot chocolate, and luxurious chocolate assortment. If you’re a fan of super creamy chocolate that doesn’t taste artificially sweet, then you’ll love Confiserie Sprungli (it’s some of the best chocolate I’ve ever had).
Lindenhof Park
4- Enjoy panoramic views of the city in Lindenhof Park. Lindenhof Park is located in Zurich’s Altstadt (Old Town) in the Lindenhof quarter. This elevated park offers some of the city’s best views. Pack a picnic, grab a beer, and take in views of the Limmat River from above (during the summer, it’s best to get there early as the park is quite a popular spot at sunset!).
Limmat River Walk
5- Take a walk. If the weather is nice, there’s nothing better than taking a scenic and leisurely stroll along the Limmat River. The route will take you past the city’s numerous bridges towards the
Wipkinger GZ Playground.
Day trip to Lucerne
6- Take a day trip to the city of Lucerne (an hour-long train ride from Zurich). Fresh air. Crystal blue waters. Picturesque views. Lucerne is exactly what you imagine the perfect Swiss mountain village to be.
Related Post: How to Spend 24 Hours in Lucerne, Switzerland
Oldest Vegetarian Restaurant
7- Have lunch or dinner at Hitl, the world’s oldest vegetarian restaurant. It’s a pricey meal for sure (but almost every restaurant in Switzerland is!), but the food is outstanding. Choose from over 500 different dishes on the a-la-carte menu or indulge in the buffet to get the best bang for your buck.
Day trip to Rhine Falls
8- Take a day trip to Rhine Falls, the largest waterfall in Switzerland and Europe. Rhine Falls is located in the small village of Neuhasen, a short hour-long train ride from Zurich. My husband and I first learned about Rhine Falls when we saw a painting of this glorious waterfall while visiting a museum in London. The painting was so beautiful that we decided we HAD to research the place more…and I’m so glad we did! Rhine Falls is absolutely gorgeous and pictures don’t do this place justice.
TIP: To see the waterfall in all of it’s glory, visit Rhine Falls in the months of May or June when the water level is at its peak.
Grossmuenster
9- Visit Grossmuenster Church, one of Zurich’s most prominent landmarks. Take the 187 steps up the Karlsturm, one of Grossmuenster’s two towers, for a birds eye view over Zurich.
Swiss Cheese
10- Eat Swiss fondue. There are few things better than bread dipped in melted cheese and white wine. Fondue was deemed as the country’s ‘national dish’ as a way to promote cheese consumption in the 1930s. Good restaurant options for trying this local specialty include: Le Dezaley and Fribourger.
Have questions or need help planning a trip to Zurich? Leave me a comment below!
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We’re is the cover photo taken of the winding stone trail? Maybe I missed it in your post. It looks amazing.
The winding stone trail is in Spain, not in Switzerland. Not sure why that was used as a cover photo for this article.
Hello!
I just read your articel about zurich and there are two mistakes that i just have to point out. Zurich is not the capital city of switzerland, it‘s Bern. And it‘s not Krei 5, you forgot the S. It‘s Kreis 5 (means circle 5). I hope you don‘t mind. But i liked the tipps and pictures a lot. Take care.
Thanks for catching. I updated my post