Zurich is the business capital and largest city in Switzerland. Despite it’s size and energy, the center and Old Town display authentic Swiss charm, with medieval streets and squares, a wide range of shops and cafes, the Limmat riverbank, and a stunning lakefront. The city is alive with locals enjoying all their city has on offer. It is well connected by tram, train, and ship, and still a reasonably walkable city that might be best experienced by foot.
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Zurich is a special place to visit
I was born in the canton of Zurich and have spent a lot of time in the region. I grew up hearing stories of my great-grandmother’s travels to Zurich, and later my grandparents’ own stories, from a time when travel was much less convenient and small distances seemed much farther. They lived on Lake Zurich just a few train stops from the main Zurich train station. When I visited the city with my Grandfather, he helped me appreciate the details in every nook and cranny. Each visit was narrated with stories and history. Now when I visit, I can still feel the presence of my grandfather guiding me through the narrow streets. These memories are perhaps one of the reasons I like Zurich so much!
Since my grandmother passed in 2019, I no longer include Switzerland on every visit to Europe. But I still get the itch to return every year. We recently visited a few Swiss cities as an extension to a road trip in southern Germany. My kids are dual citizens, with Swiss citizenship, so it is fun for them to see the “homeland” they hear so much about. On our visits, we try to squeeze in a couple of sites, explore the Old Town, do some shopping, and eat as much Swiss food as possible. We usually arrive with a long list of things we want to eat or bring home. Senf (mustard) and Aromat seasoning generally rank pretty high on this list (although I have been buying it on Amazon).
What to see and do in Zurich
For this post, I decided to recommend an itinerary for first-time visitors or anyone looking for a refresher, instead of detailing a specific trip of mine. As I have visited frequently, I often just enjoy being there these days and don’t necessarily follow a plan anymore. In my opinion, Zurich really isn’t all that tourist-oriented. It is a place to experience life versus running through a check-list of sites. Zurich generally ranks in the top 10 cities in the world for the highest quality of life for its residents, which may be helpful reference as you explore.
One day in Zurich itinerary
1. Visit Zurich Old Town or Altstadt
Every visit to Zurich must include spending ample time exploring the Old Town. To truly immerse yourself into the history and stories of the city, I recommend that you take the 2-hour Zurich Old Town Walking Tour. I can attest that uncovering this part of the city is much richer when you have a knowledgeable guide. A 50% discount is offered for this specific tour if you happened to buy the ZurichCARD. If you prefer to see it on your own, be sure to hit the following locations:
Grossmunster Church
This church is a Zurich landmark located in the Old Town. You can’t miss it. It was the site of the Swiss Reformation, making it rich in history. You can learn more about the Reformation by registering for an audio guide or taking a guided tour. The church is open to the public Mar to Oct from 10am to 6pm, and Nov to Feb from 10am to 5pm. While visiting the church, be sure to take the 187 steps to the viewing platform of Charlemagne Tower for panoramic views of the city, Lake Zürich, and as far away as the alps. Some visitors might also find the church’s collection of manuscripts interesting.
Niederdorf
Another area of Old Town that is a must visit is the Niederdorf area, conveniently located next to Grossmunster. This shopping area is also a great place to visit at night if you are looking to experience the nightlife.
Bahnhofstrasse
Your journey into Zurich’s Old Town might start with a stroll down Bahnhofstrasse, which runs between the main train station in Zurich and Lake Zurich. This 20-minute stretch of street is known as one of the most expensive shopping streets in the world. You can find many chain and luxury retailers on this street, and if you come on a Sunday and most things are closed, it can still be fun to window shop. Take your time to stroll as you immerse yourself amongst the locals doing the same thing. Also check out Augistinergasse and Rennweg, two streets that connect with Bahnhofstrasse and worth a stroll.
Augustinergasse
Some consider this narrow lane to be the most beautiful historical street in Zurich. Augustinergasse connects with the Bahnhofstrasse. Visitors may observe the colorful bay windows and distinct architecture.
Rennweg
Rennweg is a pedestrianized street that also connects to the Bahnhofstrasse, offering additional shopping opportunities. The street has a gentle incline and was the widest street in Zurich in medieval times.
2. Spend time on Lake Zurich
Be sure to head down to the lake, when visiting Zurich. There should be plenty of other people there too, sunbathing, relaxing, swimming, feeding ducks, and watching swans. I would suggest heading out on the lake itself. There are all sorts of options for exploring the lake by boat. There are scheduled boat cruises, including the opportunity to ride on a steamboat, that allow visitors to explore some of the other towns around the lake. Or sail to the other end and visit Rapperswil, a medieval town with a castle. Boats generally sell drinks and snacks. But if you are wanting something more, consider a fondue, brunch or dinner cruise. Or consider renting a boat from here or here. The ZurichCARD inlcudes a short lake cruise.
Ferries Crossing Lake Zurich
There are ferries that cross Lake Zurich approximately midway down the lake. You can catch the ferry from either Horgen or Meilen. The ferries carry both cars and people and depart regularly, crossing each other midway.
Two days in Zurich itinerary
1. Visit the Swiss National Museum in Zurich
To better understand the history and culture of Switzerland, be sure to visit the Swiss National Museum. This museum houses 14 collections including jewelry and watches, textiles and fashion, weapons and uniforms, and technology and customs. Photos of items in these collections can be viewed online. The museum also houses a number of special exhibits. The museum is conveniently located across from the main train station. The opening times depend on the day and some days have special opening times. Tickets are 10 CHF for adults, and children up to age 16 are free. Admission to this museum is included in the Swiss Museum Pass and the ZurichCARD. The museum offers a free app with audio guides to enhance your visit.
2. Head up to the Uetliberg above Zurich
Take a break from the bustle of the city and do what the locals do; head up to the Uetliberg! This mountain above Zurich offers panoramic views in all directions. There are also marked hiking trails that are part of the Swiss Wanderwege system. A popular trail, especially with kids, is the Planet Trail. I used to love this trail when I was a kid, and adults like it too. To get to the Uetliberg, take the S10 Train from Zurich main station and get off at the Uetliberg stop. You’ll find yourself a short 10-minute walk from the summit and lookout point.
If you have more time to spend in Zurich
If you have more than 2 full days in Zurich, there is still lots left to see and do. Consider the ideas below, or take a day trip (my recommendations from the linked list are Einsiedeln, Rapperswil, or Rhine Falls). As I previously mentioned, Zurich (and really all of Switzerland) is very well connected by public transportation.
Visit the Zurich Art Museum
Art and history lovers will enjoy a visit to the Kunsthaus Zurich. The museum houses one of the largest art collections in Switzerland and works range from the middle ages to now. The museum engages visitors of all ages with opportunities to engage with and create art. A children’s audio guide is available for free. Make the most of your visit by using the interactive guide to plan your visit. Adult tickets cost CHF 23/29 and children under 17 are free. The museum offers reduced admission of CHF 10 on Thursdays from 6pm-8pm, but if you can visit on Wednesdays admission is free for all visitors all day! The museum hours are: Tuesday, Friday – Sunday from 10am to 6pm; and from 10am to 8pm on Wednesday and Thursday.
Visit the Lindt Home of Chocolate
Chocolate lovers (or should I say “everyone?”) will love a visit to Lindt’s interactive world of chocolate. Visitors will find a chocolate museum with Lindt chocolate tastings, the opportunity to make your own chocolate, a 9 meter high chocolate fountain, chocolate courses, and the BIGGEST Lindt chocolate shop in the world. If all this chocolate leaves you craving something savory, you will find a Cafe on site that has you covered.
If you are sold on a visit, be sure to book your tickets in advance for this popular attraction. Ticket prices start at CHF 10. You can visit the Cafe, chocolate store, and chocolate fountain without a ticket (or should the tickets be sold out). Daily hours are from 10am to 7pm. You can get there from Zurich in about 20 minutes using public transportation. Take the bus from Burkliplatz (line 165, stop Lindt & Sprungli) or the boat from Burkliplatz (short lake cruise 3731, Kilchberg stop, plus a 10-minute walk). Or you can take the train from the Zurich main station, lines S8 or S24 to Kilchberg, plus a 10-minute walk via Pilgerweg.
Check out the Univeristy of Zurich's free museums and collections
The University of Zurich operates a number of free museums and collections that are open to the public. I have visited a few, but not all, therefore I cannot say which ones are the best to visit. I would suggest if you are interested in visiting, choosing those that align most with your own interests.
Open hours depend on the museum or collection.
Museums or collections with scheduled open hours:
- Museum of Anthropology
- Archeological Collection
- Botanical Garden
- Ethnographic Museum
- Museum of Wax Moulages
- Paleontological Museum
- UZH Science Pavilion
- Veterinary Anatomy Collection
- Zoological Museum
Those that require a prearranged visit:
Make good use of your Swiss Museum Pass
Other options for your extended visit include these Zurich museums (which are all free if you purchased the Swiss Museum Pass):
- FIFA Museum
- Digital Museum of Learning
- KULTURAMA Museum des Menschen (Museum of Human Evolution)
- Museum Rietberg
- Tram-Museum Zurich
Tips for eating in Zurich
Eating out in Switzerland can be expensive. Or similar to eating at a fancy restaurant in a large American city. This is particularly true for dinner. Traditionally, it was my experience that Swiss people are more likely to eat out for lunch (even frequently) and when they do eat out for dinner, it is often for a social occasion or to celebrate something. They expect to pay the prices that often shock tourists, as every restaurant seems to have fancy restaurant prices. Of course I am sure there are some that eat out more frequently. But eating out every night is more likely something a tourist faces and can quickly break a travel budget. Consider eating a bigger lunch and light dinner, like the Swiss do. Or, try out the Swiss eating schedule of 5 meals so you can graze on less expensive options over the full day: Zmorge (breakfast), Znuni (morning snack), Zmittag (lunch), Zvieri (afternoon coffee and snack), and Znacht (dinner).
Eat Swiss food at a nice restaurant in Zurich
You should definitely experience dinner at a restaurant at least once while you visit Zurich. Some tourists may find the prices expensive, but that is because those serving you are being paid a living wage and you are being served quality food and drinks. Apply the concept of quality over quantity so you can enjoy your meal.
My Swiss grandmother was the best cook I have ever known. While her cooking is hard to beat, here are some restaurants serving Swiss food that you should give a try:
- Swiss Chuchi (Swiss Kitchen): offering a traditional Swiss menu in the city center, including fondue. I recommend trying: Riz Casimir, Kalbsbratwurst mit Zwiebelsauce, or the Zurcher Kalbsgeschnetzeltes ohne Nierli (without kidneys). I also love the mixed salad, or Nusslisalat if it is in season.
- Kronenhalle: this restaurant is famous for its Swiss food. I don’t have a favorite on this menu.
- Zeughauskeller: offering Swiss food in the Old Town. I would recommend trying the Kalbsgeschnetzeltes nach Zurcher Art or the Veal Cordon Bleu with either rosti or noodles.
- Alpenrose: offering organic and farm-sourced Swiss food. You are sure to find something you want to try.
For a cheaper option, try:
Wurst & Mortiz, located at Hardstrasse 318 and serving up Swiss sausages. We ate here the last time we were in Zurich to try it out. It was very busy but you can get food to go, the food was okay, and the prices were cheaper than alternatives. However, I should mention that you can usually get a Cervelat or Kalbsbratwurst (my two favorite Swiss sausages with bread and senf) off a vendor’s grill in the main train station (right in front of where the tracks come in) for a better price, and honestly I preferred them better. But I am sure many would disagree with me.
For vegans and vegetarians, try:
Hiltl: this vegetarian and vegan restaurant has been around a long time (vegetarian since 1898), meaning people keep coming back so you know it is good. You don’t need to be vegetarian or vegan to enjoy the food. And they offer a pay-by-weight buffet.
Have an eating experience in Zurich
The Blindekuh
For a truly unique and enlightening eating experience, I recommend reserving a table at the Blindekuh (blind cow). This restaurant is a commitment to blind and low-sighted people. It offers everyone a chance to experience eating with all your senses, except for sight. That’s right! You don’t see what you eat, or drink! You will have to rely on your guide(s) to have your meal. However, with the focus on taste instead of look, you are sure to delight your tastebuds.
Clearly a restaurant this unique is going to require a reservation. Note that the restaurant is closed on Mondays!
Remember those Lake Cruises Mentioned Earlier?
You could combine dinner with a lake cruise; a 2-for-1 experience! Consider a fondue, brunch or dinner cruise.
Sunday Brunch at Park im Gruene
Speaking of taking a boat or eating on the water, you can get Sunday Brunch at Park im Gruene in Ruschlikon. Take bus 165 from Burkliplatz in Zurich, getting off at Ruschlikon, Park im Gruene. I would only recommend this for a day with nice weather. When the weather is nice, it is a great spot to eat on the patio and enjoy the park. Kids too, will especially love this place. I know the park as Dutti Park which is what it was called when I was a kid. It was a destination restaurant even back then.
Where to get a less expensive meal in Zurich
For those unfamiliar with Switzerland, I am going to let you in on where many Swiss eat on a regular ol’day without breaking the bank. In fact, I would say these places challenge the notion that food in Zurich is expensive. Ready for it?! Many of the centrally located Swiss chain stores you’ll walk past have an awesome cafeteria. Locals who do not eat at their work, but still want a decent lunch, often pop into these cafeterias for a quick and inexpensive meal. I actually prefer eating at these cafeterias because they are good quality, quick, have lots of options, and cater to locals.
So what are these places called and where do I find them? Well, you find them all over if you know what you are looking for. So look for:
- Migros Restaurants. These are found inside larger Migros stores. You can find locations all over Switzerland on their website, While you are looking, check out the weekly specials. They also have a kids menu and usually offer an unbeatable price on a hot drink and pastry for Zvieri. Migros Restaurant also offers a great breakfast option. You can get a traditional Swiss breakfast with hot drink, for less than CHF 7.
- Coop Restaurants. These are found inside larger Coop stores. With 180 or more restaurants across Switzerland, they will hook you and your kids up with an inexpensive meal. Like Migros, you can get a Swiss breakfast with hot drink for under CHF 7. Kid’s meals are also under CHF 7 and come with a surprise. For a quick afternoon pick-me-up, you can probably get some coffee and cake for under CHF 6 too. Check out the website to find locations and specials.
- Manora Restaurants: These are found in most Manor stores. This is actually my favorite chain, but the others are close seconds and I miss all three when I am not in Switzerland, if that makes sense. You can also get a Swiss breakfast with hot drink for under CHF 7. They offer an excellent selection of fresh squeezed juices, and I love the lunch salad bar where you pay by the size of the plate (the trick is to build a tower with the heaviest salads on the bottom). My kids like the kids meals here, and they also have excellent coffee and pastry options.
The restaurants are often on the top floor of the store, so ride the escalator all the way up to the top. The best part is that when you are done eating, these stores are the best places to buy Swiss products to take home with you. Migros and Coop are more grocery and housewares oriented, but Manor has it all. I could write a whole post on what you should buy.
How to eat Swiss food on a really tight budget in Zurich
If you eat at Migros, Coop, or Manora restaurants, you are getting a great deal in my opinion. However, if you are looking to save even more, don’t want to eat in those locations, or need a cheap dinner option (Migros, Coop and Manora restaurants have limited dinner hours) consider:
- Buying food at a corner bakery
- Visit the takeaway counter at the front of one of the larger grocery stores for a snack.
- Look for cheap takeaway options in the train station.
- Prepare a picnic. Buy some fresh bread (try the Zopf for a breakfast picnic), cheese, meats, and a bottle of Swiss wine or Feldschlosschen beer. Try fleischkase or buntnerfleisch for the meat.
- Have a traditional Swiss meal in your AirBnB or hostel kitchen. Gschwellti is a traditional Swiss dinner that lots of people in Switzerland are probably eating a version of right now. Here’s the Swiss authority on how to prepare your potatoes just right, but basically, you need to boil some small yellow/gold variety of potatoes and serve them sliced with a variety of Swiss cheeses. I highly recommend you buy these cheeses, plus any more that catch your eye at the cheese counter at Migros or Coop: Tilsiter (I prefer the mild with the green label), Fribourgeois, Gruyere, and Appenzeller. I look forward to this meal every time I am in Switzerland.
- Buy some cervelat or kalbsbratwurst, senf, fresh bread, Z (Zweifel) paprika chips (my kids swear the name brand ones are worth the premium), and some premade mixed salad at Coop or Migros for another quick Swiss meal option. Technically, you can eat the cervelat without cooking it. Or as an alternative, replace the sausage idea with some cervelat salad (wurstsalat) in the refrigerated salad section and eat it with bread.
- My family also likes to eat Knorr Haferkern Suppe with Halbweissbrot (bread). You can find both at Migros or Coop. I personally like my soup with a piece of Aprikosenwaehe! If you see some at the grocery store, I would say grab a piece because it is sooo good.
I could keep going but I think you get the idea. For the cheapest meals, hit the grocery store to enjoy authentic Swiss food.
