Things to do in Zurich

• Old Town (Altstadt) and Niederdorf

  Narrow lanes on both sides of the Limmat river with guild houses, small shops, cafés and restaurants. Best explored on foot.

• Grossmünster and Fraumünster

  Two landmark churches by the river. The Fraumünster is known for its stained-glass windows by Marc Chagall.

• Lindenhof

  A quiet hilltop square in the Old Town with a view over the river and rooftops.

• Lake Zurich

  Walk the lakefront from Bürkliplatz, take a lake boat, or swim in summer at the public lake and river baths.

• Uetliberg

  Zurich's local mountain, reached by train from the main station, with a city and lake panorama from the top.

• Museums

  The Kunsthaus Zürich (art), the Swiss National Museum (history) and the Museum Rietberg (non-European art) are the best known.

• Bahnhofstrasse

  The famous shopping street from the main station to the lake.

• Zurich West

  A former industrial district now full of restaurants, bars and the Markthalle Im Viadukt under the railway arches.

Zurich is one of Europe's most expensive cities, so a wrong restaurant choice is costly. A guided food tour is a way to see the Old Town and eat well in the same afternoon. Our tours run from CHF 50 per person, with groups of 2–12 guests.

• Signature Walk: 4-hour food walk through the Old Town, CHF 69
• Evening Journey: 3-hour dinner-time walk, CHF 60
• Night Circuit: bar tour, CHF 50
• Swiss Atelier: Swiss cooking class, CHF 200, food included

Read our Swiss food guide for the dishes to try, or see the Zurich food tour page.

• Rhine Falls (Schaffhausen). Europe's largest plain waterfall, around an hour from Zurich by train.
• Lucerne. Lake, Chapel Bridge and mountains, about 45–60 minutes by train.
• Swiss Alps. Longer day trips to the mountains are possible; check train times and weather first.

• Trams, buses, trains and boats run on one network. Check current ticket prices on the official transport site.
• Tap water is safe to drink, and many fountains around the city offer free drinking water.
• Service is included in restaurant prices. Rounding up is customary, not required.
• Many shops are closed on Sundays, so plan food and sights accordingly.
• Spring to autumn is best for lake and outdoor dining; winter brings fondue, raclette and Christmas markets.