The gateway to the Swiss Alps, Zurich offers families a blend of outdoor-centered activities, a walkable Altstadt, or old town and a rich cheese-and-chocolate culinary heritage. For those flying into Switzerland, it is the country’s largest international airport. Stay for a day, or an extended visit, and here are the top things to do in Zurich during your stay.
Should you Visit Zurich?
Absolutely, after two separate visits to Zurich, it is one of my favorite cities in Switzerland. It offers a few days of attractions, or you can use it as a home base while in eastern Switzerland exploring other areas.
Its public transportation is top-notch, and Zurich is both walkable and clean. During my visits, I used its public transport exclusively, from its trains to its trams to its lake cruises.
Things to Do in Zurich
Take a cruise on Lake Zurich
Tour the Lindt Home of Chocolates
Walk through Zurich’s Altstadt
See one of the centuries-old churches
Walk through the Münserhof
Climb the Lindenhof Hill
Visit one of Zurich’s museums
See the animals at the Zoo Zurich
Ride the Adliswil-Felsenegg Cable Car
Sample Switzerland’s Cheese
Day trip to Another Swiss City
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Lake Zurich Cruise
One of my favorite things to do in Switzerland is to take a scenic lake cruise. There are several across the country, and each acts as transportation to get across the lake.
Lake Zürich Cruise departs from Bürkliplatz, and you can take a tram from Zurich HB to Bürkliplatz. During my visit, I just walked down Bahnhofstrasse, a notable shopping street. Bürkliplatz also boasts sculptures and open-air markets.
There are several options, like the Mini Lake Cruise that loops near the city and lasts around 1 hour. I took the Short Lake Cruise that lasts about an hour and a half. Occasionally, there are specialty cruises like brunch and fondue cruises.
If you have a Swiss Travel Pass, you can use it to board a Lake Zurich cruise for free. If not, you can purchase tickets from a kiosk at Bürkliplatz.
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Lindt Home of Chocolates
Switzerland is known internationally for its chocolate. One of the country’s largest chocolate producers is Lindt, known worldwide.
The Lindt Home of Chocolate is a chocolate museum and home to the towering 9-meter chocolate fountain. If that wasn’t enough, it also offers truffle samples. There are also specialty classes
It’s a 20-minute train ride from the Zürich HB, or main train station. Or you can take the Lake Zurich Cruise from Bürkliplatz.
Located at Schokoladenplatz 1, 8802 Kilchberg. Open daily from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM and reservations are recommended. Adults are CHF 17 and kids (8 to 15 years) are CHF 10.
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Walk Through the Altstadt
The Limmat River runs through the old town, with narrow cobblestone-lined streets and medieval buildings. It is one of Zurich’s most scenic areas and is best explored on foot.
Top sites to see in the Altstadt include the old churches, dating back centuries. Churches are usually open and free to enter. They ring their bells during the day.
St. Peter’s Church
Built in the Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque styles, part of the building was completed in 1706, on the foundations of a church from about 900 AD. It includes elements from several rebuilds over the centuries.
St. Peter’s Church is a Protestant church and home to the largest tower clock face in Europe. During my visit, I walked past St. Peter’s while it was ringing its bells.
Located at St. Peterhofstatt 1, 8001 Zürich. It is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., outside of religious services.
Grossmünster
The Grossmünster is a Protestant Church and one of the four major churches in Zurich. Built in the Romanesque style, it features a bell tower, or the Karlsturm, that visitors can climb for views.
Note: Grossmünster is undergoing a renovation and will be covered in scaffolding until 2027.
Located at Grossmünsterplatz, 8001 Zürich. Open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Monday to Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. During the winter season (November to February), it closes at 5 p.m.
Fraumünster
A Gothic Catholic church dating back to 853 AD, Fraumünster Church includes five Marc Chagall windows. It originally opened as an Abbey for girls. The Fraumünster also includes a crypt museum. It offers tours for adults (CHF 5).
Located at Stadthausquai 19, 8001 Zürich. Open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Monday to Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. During the winter season (November to February), it closes at 5 p.m. Adult admission is CHF 5.
Müntserhof
During my exploration of Zurich’s Altstadt, Münsterhof was one of my favorite places. With the Münsterhof Brunnen (fountain) and the Fraumünster Church, it is particularly scenic.
During Advent, this area hosts a Christmas Market. This area is across the Limmat River from Grossmünster.
Find the Münsterhof off Poststrasse. It is free to enter and best enjoyed from dawn to dusk.
Lindenhof Hill
This is a high point in Zurich’s Altstadt and offers views of Grossmünster, the Limmat and Lake Zurich. Just north of St. Peter’s Church, travelers can walk along Rennweg, east of Bahnhofstrasse to the Lindenhofplatz.
Free to visit and best from dawn to dusk.
I recommend a walking tour of Altstadt that takes you across the Limmat’s pedestrian bridges and down tiny streets lined with centuries-old buildings. For a pay-as-you-wish option, consider GuruWalks.
Landesmuseum Zürich
Located in a 19th-century fairytale castle near Zürich Main Station, the Swiss National Museum includes 870,000 cultural history artifacts, including Gothic art and medieval armour. If limited on time, the Landesmuseum Zürich is an easy museum to visit.
Located at Museumstrasse 2, 8001 Zurich. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Monday). Adult admission is CHF 13 and kids 16 and younger enter for free. The Swiss National Museum accepts the Swiss Travel Pass.
Zoo Zürich
Home to over 4,600 animals from 375 species, the Zoo Zürich is a favorite with families. As Switzerland’s third-oldest zoo, visitors will find the Masoala Rainforest exhibit and Lewa Savannah, both dedicated to African environments.
Originally opened in 1929, Zoo Zurich’s Asian elephants are located inside an enclosed dome, as is the Masoala display. The zoo is also the only institution to breed tortoises in captivity.
Located at Zürichbergstrasse 221, 8044 Zürich. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from March to October and 5 p.m. from November to February. Adult admission is CHF 31, young people (13 to 17) enter for CHF 26 and kids ( 6 to 12) enter for CHF 17. Note: there is no discount at the zoo with the Swiss Travel Pass.
Kunsthaus Zürich
As Zurich’s art museum, the Kunsthaus Zürich is the largest art museum in Switzerland. With works by Monet, Van Gogh, Picasso, Giacometti and Edvard Munch, it is a must for art lovers.
Opening in 1910, it houses the largest collection of Edvard Munch’s work outside of Norway. The Kunsthaus Zürich displays works by masters like Monet’s water lilies and works by Henri Matisse and Marc Chagall.
Located at Heimplatz 1, 8001 Zürich. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (closed Monday) and open to 8 p.m. on Thursday. Adult admission is CHF 31 and free for those 14 and younger. It is also free with the Swiss Travel Card.
Adliswil-Felsenegg Cable Car
The Adliswil-Felsenegg cable car originates in Adliswil, 30 minutes from Zurich’s main train station. It takes travelers up 800 metres to Flesenegg in a 30-person cabin in under five minutes for views of the city centre and Lake Zurich.
The base station is located at Zelgstrasse 80, 8134 Adliswil. Open Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. It is part of the public transportation system so adults ride for CHF 5.60, and it is free with a Swiss Travel Pass.
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Sample Switzerland’s Cheese
Fondue and Raclette are synonymous with Switzerland. Families will find several restaurants across the Altstadt serving both.
During my visit, I learned more about Switzerland’s cheese heritage, so I ventured to the Appenzeller Show Dairy and Tour, located in the Appenzeller canton, about an hour and a half away by public transportation, outside of St. Gallen.
Appenzeller cheese dates back to 1282 and is classified as an Alpine hard cheese. Widely available across Switzerland, I found the brand at Coop supermarkets in Zurich.
With its multilingual programming, I walked through its interpretive area, learning about the history and culture of the Appenzeller area. It also explained the cheese’s different flavor profiles.
During my visit, I watched from the viewing gallery as the cheesemaker stirred the curds and whey in a giant vat as it was heated. I also saw the storage room, or cheese cellar, where the cheese was aging.
One of my favorite activities was the herb bar. When I entered the tour, I received a small cloth bag to add scoops of herbs to craft my own herb blend.
Located at Dorf 711, 9063 Stein, AR. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. from May to October, and 5:30 p.m. for the rest of the year. Cheesemaking demonstration from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Adult admission is Adults is CHF 12, and kids are CHF 7. Or you can use the Swiss Travel Pass.
Worth noting, the bus runs every 60 minutes, and the route is very scenic. The tour takes about an hour or two. There is a gift shop, and you can purchase cheese at the show dairy.
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Day Trips from Zurich
During my travels to Switzerland, I have used Swiss Rail extensively. For a day trip from Zurich, I recommend visiting Lucerne or St. Gallen, both connected by train. To add another country, Liechtenstein is an easy day trip by public transport.
Lucerne
Located in central Switzerland, Lucerne (or Luzern) is a medieval city, set on Lake Lucerne where the Reuss River flows out of the lake. It is surrounded by two peaks, Mount Pilatus and Mount Rigi.
It is best known for its medieval bridges that cross the river, dating back to the 14th century. Travelers frequently visit Lucerne for its scenic cruises and its panoramic trains that depart from its train station or nearby.
I breezed through Lucerne on my trip to Mt. Pilatus and vowed to come back. I returned a year later to tour the old town.
St. Gallen
In northeastern Switzerland, about an hour from Zurich by train, St. Gallen is close to Austria, Germany and Liechtenstein. South of Lake Constance (Bodensee in German), St. Gallen’s roots go back to the 8th century.
On my trip to St. Gallen, I explored its a historic old city and several museums to explore. Its Abbey of St. Gall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a top destination in the area.
Liechtenstein
As Europe’s fourth-smallest country, Liechtenstein is home to the Vaduz Castle, the 700-year-old hilltop home of the Prince of Liechtenstein. During my visit, I hiked up to the castle, visited the prince’s vineyards and toured its museums.
Travel Tips for Switzerland
I took the train to and from the Zurich International Airport. It was easy, and I also reserved hotels near the main train station at my destinations.
The public transportation system is easy to navigate, and most travelers and residents use it. It was exceptionally clean and included cafe cars and vending machines.
The trains leave at the top of the minute and are very punctual.
Download your travel pass, and I used the PDF saved in my phone’s notes feature. Conductors will check it.
I used my French while traveling in the French-speaking portion of Switzerland. However, I don’t speak much German and didn’t have a problem getting around.
Most navigational signs are in multiple languages, including English.
Switzerland uses the Swiss franc CHF; however, Euros are routinely accepted. Cards are the norm for payment now. During my trip, I carried a small amount of Swiss Francs for tips and small purchases.
Switzerland uses a different type of electrical outlet, a three-prong, not the standard two-prong for the rest of the EU. Also, a converter is necessary for devices like hairdryers, curling irons and flat irons.
Swiss Travel Pass
During my trip in Switzerland, I used the train exclusively. I had an 8-day Swiss Travel Pass.
It allows visitors unlimited travel by train (including panoramic ones), post bus and boat. It grants pass holders entry to 500 Swiss museums.
The Swiss Travel Pass is available in 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 consecutive days. Plus, kids six and younger travel for free with an accompanying Adult Swiss Travel Pass.
To travel to Mt. Pilatus, you will need to purchase a discounted fare. It is half-price, so guests can travel to the hotel and back for CHF 40 using the gondola + aerial tram and the cogwheel railroad.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. During my trip, I received a complimentary Swiss Travel Pass.
