CH
Zurich
Europe's Most Liveable City
Europe's Most Liveable City
The Grossmünster (the 12th-century Romanesque cathedral; the finest Romanesque towers in the German-speaking world; free to the nave; the Carlsturm north tower climb (5 CHF; the finest view of the Zürichsee); the Marc Chagall and Augusto Giacometti stained glass windows) and the Niederdorf (the Old Town quarter; the finest cobbled lane network in Zurich; free) form the historic core of Zurich.
💡 Grossmünster Carlsturm (5 CHF; 187 steps; the finest view of the Zürichsee and the Old Town; open daily Mar–Oct 9:30am–5pm) — best in the morning before the clouds build over the lake.
The Bahnhofstrasse (the 1.4km shopping boulevard from Zurich HB to the Bürkliplatz; the most expensive shopping street in Europe outside London’s Bond Street; the Confiserie Sprüngli at Paradeplatz (the Luxemburgerli at 7.50 CHF for 6; the finest macarons outside Paris; the Grand Cru truffles at 12 CHF for 4)) is the defining street of Zurich.
💡 Zürichsee Bädi (Seebad Utoquai; 8 CHF; opens 7am; 22–24°C in July; the diving board; the finest urban lake swimming in Europe) — arrive at 7am when the early swimmers have the pool.
The Zurich Kunsthaus (the largest art museum in Switzerland; 23 CHF; the finest Alberto Giacometti sculpture collection in the world; the finest Monet collection in Switzerland; the Pipilotti Rist installation; the David Chipperfield extension (2021)) is the finest single museum in Switzerland.
💡 Kunsthaus Zurich (23 CHF; the finest Giacometti sculpture collection in the world; the Monet collection; the Chipperfield 2021 extension; Tue–Sun) is the finest single museum in Switzerland.
The Zürichsee (Lake Zurich; the Bädi (the public lake swimming pools on the lake; the finest urban lake swimming in Europe; the Seebad Utoquai (8 CHF; 22–24°C in July; the diving board)); the ZSG lake boat circuit (8.80 CHF with the 24h pass; the full lake circuit to Rapperswil (2.5h; the finest lake cruise in Switzerland)) is the finest free and paid afternoon in Zurich.
💡 Confiserie Sprüngli at Paradeplatz (the Luxemburgerli at 7.50 CHF for 6; the finest macarons outside Paris; open Mon–Fri 7:30am–6:30pm, Sat 8am–6pm) — buy before 11am when the freshest batch is on the counter.
Zurich cuisine is a study in expensive excellence: the Zürcher Geschnetzeltes (the veal strips in a cream and white wine sauce with the Rösti potato cake; the most specifically Zurich dish; at the Kronenhalle restaurant — the Zurich institution since 1924, the original Giacometti and Matisse artworks on the walls; 48–65 CHF pp), the Rösti (the Swiss-German potato cake; the finest Rösti in Zurich at the Adler’s Swiss Chuchi in the Old Town; 22–35 CHF), the Sprüngli Luxemburgerli (the Zurich macaron; 0.90 CHF each; the most accessible Swiss luxury in the city; Paradeplatz 15), the Zürich fondue (available year-round unlike in mountain resorts; 28–42 CHF pp at any Old Town restaurant; the most theatrical Swiss meal), and the supermarket lunch (the Migros and the Coop supermarket restaurants throughout the city; the finest quality supermarket food in Europe; 8–14 CHF for a complete hot meal — the single most important cost-saving tip in the most expensive city in Europe).
The Grossmünster (the 12th-century Romanesque cathedral; the finest Romanesque towers in the German-speaking world; free to the nave).
The Bahnhofstrasse (the 1.4km shopping boulevard from Zurich HB to the Bürkliplatz on the lake; the most expensive shopping street in Europe outside London’s Bond Street).
The Zurich Kunsthaus (the largest art museum in Switzerland; 23 CHF; open Tue–Sun 10am–6pm, Wed–Thu until 8pm; the finest Alberto Giacometti sculpture collection in the world).
The Zürichsee Bädi (the public lake swimming pools built directly on the lake; the finest urban lake swimming in Europe).
June–August for the lake swimming and the Street Parade. September for the Film Festival and the uncrowded city. December for the Hauptbahnhof Christmas market.
Grossmünster and Niederdorf Old Town at 7am (free). Kunsthaus (23 CHF; the Giacometti estate). Confiserie Sprüngli at Paradeplatz (the Luxemburgerli 7.50 CHF for 6). Zürichsee Bädi in the afternoon (8 CHF; the Seebad Utoquai).
💡 The ZVV 24h day pass (8.80 CHF; includes all trams, buses, and the Zürichsee lake ferries) covers everything in Zurich — the tram, the Bädi boat connection, and the Im Viadukt market circuit are all on the same day pass.
Lake Zurich boat circuit (ZSG; 8.80 CHF with the 24h pass; to Rapperswil 2.5h; the finest lake cruise in Switzerland). Zurich West (the Im Viadukt market; the Frau Gerolds Garten outdoor bar).
💡 The Street Parade (August; the largest techno festival in Europe; 800,000+ people; the Bahnhofstrasse becomes the dance floor; free) is the single most spectacular free event in Switzerland — book accommodation 6 months ahead.
Zurich is the most expensive city in this guide. Budget aggressively: the supermarket lunch, the free swimming, and the Zürich Card (29 CHF/24h; all transport + 43 museums) are your three cost-saving pillars. Per person per day.
The Zürich Card (29 CHF/24h; 58 CHF/72h; all ZVV transport + all 43 Zurich museums + lake boat) covers the Kunsthaus (23 CHF), the Swiss National Museum (17 CHF), the Museum Rietberg (18 CHF) and the lake boat (up to 35 CHF round trip)
The Kronenhalle (Rämistrasse 4; the Zurich institution since 1924; the original Giacometti, Matisse, Chagall, Miró and Picasso artworks on the dining room walls — not prints; originals; the Zürcher Geschnetzeltes as Zwingli’s Zurich)
The Baur au Lac (Talstrasse 1; the 1844 lakefront grand hotel; the finest hotel in Zurich and one of the finest in Europe; the lakefront terrace; the private park; the Michelin-starred restaurant; 600–2,000+ CHF/night; the most)
ZVV (Zurich transit) for tram real-time departures and the 24h day pass (8.80 CHF) purchase.
Free
ZSG (Zürichsee Schiffahrtsgesellschaft) for the lake boat timetable and the Rapperswil circuit booking.
Free
Kunsthaus Zurich official app for the Giacometti collection room guide and the Chipperfield extension audio tour.
Free
Zurich restaurant discovery with the Niederdorf Old Town, Zurich West, and Swiss cuisine (Zürcher Geschnetzeltes, Rösti, raclette) filtering.
Free
SBB (Swiss Federal Railways) for the Zurich–Lucerne, Zurich–Rhine Falls, and Zurich–Geneva IC connections.
Free
Download the Zurich offline map before arrival — the Niederdorf’s cobbled lanes, Zurich West, and the lake promenade require offline navigation.
Free
Explore more of Switzerland’s extraordinary cities and landscapes.