We’re going to Zurich, y’all! Well… maybe someday, when there isn’t a world-wide pandemic… But the delay of our Switzerland trip has given me so much time to research! And from that research comes this guide.
Here is a boiled down version of my research about Zurich – all of the need to knows! But before I get into that, can I tell you about how I’ve become obsessed with the How To Switzerland YouTube channel? How freaking charming is she? So charming that I may just link some of their videos instead of recapping. Okay, that’s all, let’s talk about Zurich!
A Little History
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland, a major transport hub, and is in the German speaking park of Switzerland. Despite being considered large by Switzerland standards, it’s actually quite small compared to most other major cities. Only ~402k people living in the city! However, it’s also a leading banking city, so it’s actually pretty metropolitan. This also makes it one of the most expensive cities to visit and live in. Zurich is located at the northwestern end of a Lake Zurich and is made up of 12 city districts; or in German, 12 Kreis.
Zurich Neighborhoods
This post focuses mostly on activities and neighborhoods in Zurich Kreis 1 – right downtown! City, Niederdorf, Lindenhof, and Hochschulen make up this downtown area, with the neighboring Enge (Kreis 2) and Aussersihl (Kreis 4) as nearby neighborhoods to stay in if Kreis 1 is out of your price range. I provide more details on all of these locations below, but take a look at the map above to get a better understanding of the layout.
Money in Switzerland
Unlike neighboring countries that use the Euro, Switzerland is not part of the European Union, and they use their own form of currency: the Swiss franc (CHF). While you should be able to use euros at stores and restaurants in Zurich, you will receive change in francs; it’s best to just get some francs from an ATM when you arrive in Switzerland! Same thing with credit cards – while they are widely accepted, you may want to stich to swiss francs to avoid any extra fees from your bank.
Public Transportation
Switzerland has great public transportation, and Zurich is no exception. Plus, Zurich’s city center is pretty small, so walking is often a great option. There is a lot to cover on this topic so I have written a whole guide dedicated to public transportation in Zurich.
For a quick overview: a single ticket in Zurich will allow you to ride trains, trams, buses, and boats. But only for a certain amount of time, and only for a certain area. The easiest way to purchase a ticket for the exact route you need is to use the SBB app.
To use the app you will put in your starting location and your destination, and the app will tell you how much your ticket costs, which zones it’s valid for, and how long it is valid.
If you’re looking for a free option and are willing to put in a little sweat, Zurich offers free bike rental! To rent a bike for the day (8am-9:30pm) you will have to show a passport and provide a refundable CHF 20 deposit. You can find bikes at Zurich HB all year long, and at the Bahnhofstrasse/Pestalozziwiese and Bellevue/Utoquai from May to October. When you grab your bike, make sure to ask for a helmet!
AND, of course, for instructions on how to get to Zurich from the airport, checkout my full guide on taking the train from Zurich Airport to downtown!
Zurich Card
Like many cities with a lively tourism business, Zurich offers a discount card that has the potential to save you money. It’s rather cheap for a city discount card coming in at only 27 CHF for an adult 24-hour card (53 CHF for 72-hours).
The Zurich card provides free/reduced admission to 47 museums in the area, and conveniently covers unlimited 2nd class ZVV travel (see validity area here).
So is it worth it? If you’re planning the Uetliberg hike and a museum visit in the same day, it may be worth it. Or, since it’s relatively reasonably priced, it may be an easy way to budget for all your Zurich public transportation costs.
You can buy the Zurich Card directly from ZVV either online or at any ticket station in Zurich.
Where To Stay
We always like to stay right in the downtown area, close to a transportation hub (Zurich HB). For Zurich, that means Kreis 1, Altstadt (which, by the way, is car free!). However, when you’re staying in one of the most expensive cities in the world, it may make more sense to save some money by staying a little farther out. We will still probably stay within Kreis 1, but I will recommend a couple other options in case you want to save some money!
- Altstadt City: This is the metropolitan downtown shopping district. It’s located within Kreis 1, north of the lake, and west of the river. There’s tons to see in this area, but it is probably the most expensive place to stay in the city.
- Niederdorf/Rathaus: Rathaus is the other half of Altstadt, on the east side of the river, also between the lake and the Zurich HB. This is another very expensive area, but for good reason as you’re right in the middle of the city.
- Enge: Enge is located in Kreis 2, just south of Kreis 1, on the west side of the lake. If you stay in the northern part of Enge, you can still walk to Zurich HB in under 30 minutes. This area is a bit calmer than Kreis 1, and has great views of the lake.
- Aussersihl: If you enjoy the nightlife, than this Kreis 4 neighborhood might be a good choice for you. This area also has a less touristy vibe than Altstadt, so if you’re looking to live like a local, this may be the right feel. Aussersihl is located to the west of Altstadt, and the Langstrasse area is still a very close walk to Zurich HB.
This all said, Zurich is a pretty small city. If you’re you’re staying in the city, and not too picky about being close to the main transportation hub, you’re probably fine!
What To Do
Zurich city center is a pretty small area, but that doesn’t mean there’s not a lot to see! Here are some of the must-see destinations when visiting Zurich:
Altstadt (Old Town)
The first place we plan to visit when we arrive in Zurich is Altstadt. This is the historical old town and is the perfect destination for a walking tour! It takes up about 3/4 square miles and straddles the Limmat River. You can divide Altstadt a few ways:
- City is the western most section of downtown Zurich. The main attraction is the Bahnofstrasse which is such a big deal that there is a whole section about it below!
- Lindenhof is the area west of the Limmat River, and to the east of Bahnofstrasse. This is the oldest part of the city and contains major sites such Fraumünster Abbey with its Chagall stained glass windows, and the famous St. Peter’s Church clock tower. You also won’t want to miss beautiful views of the Limmat River!
- Niederdorf/Rathaus is on the east side of the Limmat River, but to the west of Hirschengraben street. You’ll want to stroll the Limmatquai, see the iconic Grossmünster Cathedral, and check out Niederdorf.
- Hochschulen is the eastern most section of downtown, extending a little south, to the east of Lake Zurich. It includes the city’s major universities, and the opera house.
We like to do self-guided tours, and are considering this audio guide from Voice Map for our tour around Altstadt. If a guided tour is more your thing, there are plenty of options!
If you’re feeling tired of walking, another option is a Limmat River cruise!
Uetliberg Hike
If you’re planning one hike during you’re trip to Zurich, it’s probably going to be Uetliberg. At 2,858 feet above sea level, Uetliberg obviously provides awesome views of the alps and Zurich, but what makes it really special is Planetenweg. Planetenweg, or “Planet Trail,” which extends from Uetliberg to Felsenegg. Each meter of the hike represents 1 million kilometers as you travel from the sun past each planet to Pluto. The total hike is about 3.75 miles. For all the details of how to get there and how to navigate, check out my post all about this ideal Zurich daytrip.
Bahnofstrasse
If you travel to shop, you have to check out Bahnofstrasse. This is the highclass shopping district in Zurich, and it’s everything you would expect from one of the world’s most expensive cities!
Bahnofstrasse is a single road that travels from Bahnhofplatz – outside of Zurich’s main train station (Zurich HB) – down to Bürkliplatz, where Lake Zurich begins. It’s mostly a pedestrian zone, with some trams intermixed.
While most of us will be window-shopping, this is still a worthwhile walk as it’s one of the most iconic spots in Zurich. It’s about a 20 minute walk from start to finish if you don’t take the time to stop and shop!
About half way down the Bahnofstrasse is another street worth taking a look at: Augustinergasse. Augustinergasse is a preserved medieval street with colorful buildings and a historic feel.
Depending on your schedule, feel free to pick a direction and walk the whole thing, or just a portion!
Rapperswil
If you’re interested in getting outside of downtown, you can take a 50 minute train ride from Zurich HB to Rapperswil to see the Rapperswil Rose Gardens, containing more than 20,000 roses that bloom from May to October. While you’re there, checkout the Rapperswil Castle, and cross the half-mile long Holzbrücke Rapperswil-Hurden, a pedestrian footbrige where you walk all the way to the west side of the lake.
Lake Zurich
Zurich is positioned on the aptly named Lake Zurich. It’s not only beautiful, but also provides a unique way to see the city and surrounding area via boat. Additionally, you can walk from downtown through Seefeld to the east of the lake, or Enge to the west.
Kunsthaus Zürich
If you’re going to go to one art museum in Zurich, it should probably be the Kunsthaus. With a wide variety of styles and mediums, this should be on your list if you’re an art fan.
Other Resources
- The Official Zurich City Guide: A great resource linked often in this article for what to do and see in Zurich
- Where to Stay in Zurich: A great post on Rear View Mirror about where to stay when visiting Zurich with hotel recommendations
- Zurich Neighborhoods & Area Guide: Another great guide on The Crazy Tourist about Zurich neighborhoods and hotel recommendations
- Zurich | Switzerland Tourism: Helpful site to learn about Zurich and Switzerland
- ZVV: Travel Cards & Tickets: The official ZVV website for learning all about public transportation in Zurich
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