Zurich tours, sightseeing, things to do

Zurich

Trip Planning & Itineraries

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10:38 PM Sunday, Nov 8
Passing clouds. Chilly.
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Zurich is the new Berlin. No hesitation, no competition. This formerly staid banking capital has experienced such a creative explosion in recent years, and such a mushrooming of innovative bars, restaurants and shops, that it resembles Berlin's salad days of the mid-80s and early 1990s.

Zurich remains Switzerland's commercial and financial hub, and the canton is the country's most affluent. Explore the city's atmospheric cobblestone Old Town, window-shop glittering boutiques and jewelers lining upmarket Bahnhofstrasse, take a cruise on the lake or stand on the Top of Europe in the surrounding Alps. From A to Z, there's plenty to see and do in this up-and-coming Alpine hot spot.

Best of Zurich: Suggested Itineraries

Day 1: Discover Zurich

Zurich Sightseeing Tours

On your first day in town, get to know Switzerland's most lively city first-hand on land and water. City tours show you the sights from aboard a cable car, on a walking tour through the romantic Old Town and from a ferry on Lake Zurich. Or for something different, tour Zurich aboard a classic trolley car. For a dose of culture, drop into Zurich's Museum of Fine Arts, known for its 19th- and 20th-century works by masters including Rodin and Van Gogh.

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Day 2: Take to the mountains

Zurich Jungfraujoch Tours

Next day, get out of town and drink in that Alpine fresh air. Stand at the Top of Europe at the mighty Jungfraujoch, visit snowcapped Mounts Pilatus and Titlis, or escape into the storybookland of Heidi for the day. The family will love a visit to Zurich's famous zoo, home to Arctic penguins, Asiatic tigers and rainforest lemurs. Or take them on an Alpine adventure for the day, exploring Switzerland's mountain passes and crossing mighty gorges and glaciers.

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Day 3: Day trips from Zurich

Day trips from Zurich

Not far away from Zurich are some of Switzerland's most popular attractions. Visit neighboring gems like medieval Lucerne or the mountain resort town of Engelberg. Indulge in Swiss chocolates and cheeses on a day trip into the lush countryside of Appenzellerland or tour the tumbling Rhine Falls. See why Mt Rigi is known as the Queen of the Swiss Mountains, or drink in panoramic Alpine views of the beautiful Bernese Oberland from Mt Eiger.

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Best of Zurich: Top 3 Hotels

Widder Hotel

The tranquil Widder Hotel blends contemporary style with traditional charm and historic details. The result is an intriguing and relaxing bolthole within tolling distance of St Peter's church and its prominent clock tower. The hotel takes up a series of historic townhouses, with each room individually furnished to create its own personality and style. A renowned whiskey bar and restaurant are on-site.

Baur au Lac

For sumptuous rooms on the shores of Lake Zurich, you can't do better than the old-world Baur au Lac. Synonymous with elegance and style, the hotel has a range of rooms and suites, a fistful of swish restaurants and its own private park.

Hotel Alden

Beautifully ornate and detailed, the Hotel Alden features delicate wrought-iron balconies and fin de siècle elegance in the heart of old Zurich, just a leisurely 10-minute stroll from the Bahnhofstrasse. The hotel may be heritage listed but the rooms have a modern verve and refreshing simplicity, and the vibe here is warm and welcoming. There's a sophisticated restaurant and bar on-site.

Zurich: featured traveler photos
Mannlichen

Photo by: Michael W, Germany

Doing what: Interlaken - Grindelwald in the Bernese Oberland (from Zurich)

More Zurich Resources

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