Visit Zuerich.com
✦ Welcome to Zürich ✦

The city by the lake

Medieval old town, turquoise waters, the twin towers of the Grossmünster and one of Europe's finest shopping avenues — Zürich packs all of Switzerland into a single city.

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Must-sees

Zürich's iconic sights

From the Grossmünster's bell tower to the lakeshore, every corner of Zürich blends centuries of history with Swiss living at its best.

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Landmark

Grossmünster

The twin-towered Romanesque church, birthplace of the Swiss Reformation led by Zwingli in the 16th century.

⭐ City symbol
🚤
Nature

Lake Zürich

Boat cruises, summer swimming and Alpine views: the lake is the city's recreational heart.

🌅 Cruises & swimming
🛍️
Avenue

Bahnhofstrasse

One of the world's most prestigious shopping streets, running from the main station to the lake.

💎 Luxury & watches
🏘️
District

Old Town (Altstadt)

Cobbled lanes, medieval guild houses and small squares on both banks of the Limmat.

🏛️ Historic core
🪟
Church

Fraumünster

An abbey founded in 853, famous for its stained-glass windows designed by Marc Chagall.

🎨 Chagall windows
🖼️
Museum

Kunsthaus

Switzerland's largest art museum: Munch, Giacometti, and the richest Munch collection outside Norway.

🏛️ Modern art
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Viewpoint

Uetliberg

Zürich's local mountain, 30 min by train, with a 360° view over the city, the lake and the Alps.

🚞 Panoramic view
🏰
Museum

Swiss National Museum

A neo-Gothic castle tracing the whole cultural history of Switzerland, right by the main station.

📜 National history
🏭
District

Zürich West

Former factories turned into trendy bars, galleries and the Prime Tower — Zürich's creative quarter.

🍸 Nightlife & design
Things to do

Tickets & experiences in Zürich

A hand-picked selection of Zürich's best experiences — cruise the lake, taste Swiss chocolate, ride to the top of Uetliberg or take the train into the Alps. Skip-the-line tickets, free cancellation on most options.

★ Most booked

City Tour, Lake Cruise & Lindt Home of Chocolate

The all-in-one Zürich day: a guided city tour, a scenic cruise on the lake and a visit to the Lindt chocolate museum — Switzerland's number-one experience.

from €89 Book →
Hop-on hop-off

Open-Top Bus Sightseeing Tour

See Bahnhofstrasse, the old town and the lakeshore from an open-top double-decker, with an optional Lake Zürich cruise added on.

from €32 Book →
City tour

Top Attractions Bus Tour with Audio Guide

A 2-hour round trip past the Grossmünster, Fraumünster, the National Museum and the Kunsthaus, with commentary in eleven languages.

from €28 Book →
Lake cruise

Lake Zürich Boat Cruises

Glide across the turquoise water on a short round-trip or a longer cruise toward the Alps — the most scenic way to see the city from the lake.

from €9 Book →
Alpine day trip

Day Trip to Jungfraujoch — Top of Europe

A full-day rail journey from Zürich through Lucerne and Interlaken up to the highest railway station in Europe, surrounded by glaciers and peaks.

from €199 Book →
Transport

Swiss Travel Pass

Unlimited travel on Switzerland's trains, buses and boats, plus free entry to 500+ museums — the smartest base for exploring Zürich and beyond.

from €235 Book →
See all experiences in Zürich →
Booking platforms

Book your stay in Zürich

Compare the world's leading platforms to find the accommodation and experiences that suit you best.

Booking.com logo Booking.com

The world's leading accommodation site, with free cancellation on most stays in Zürich.

View deals →
GetYourGuide logo GetYourGuide

Guided tours, lake cruises and Alpine day trips departing from Zürich.

Discover →
Viator logo Viator

Thousands of bookable activities and day trips (Lucerne, the Rhine, Jungfrau).

Explore →
Expedia logo Expedia

Bundle flight + hotel for exclusive savings on your trip to Zürich.

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Hotels.com logo Hotels.com

Loyalty programme: collect 10 nights and get 1 reward night free.

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Tripadvisor logo Tripadvisor

The top-rated hotels by travellers, backed by millions of authentic reviews.

Read reviews →
History & Heritage

2,000 years along the Limmat

Founded by the Romans as Turicum around 15 BC, Zürich began as a customs post on the Limmat. The medieval town grew rich on the silk and wool trade, organised around powerful guilds (Zünfte) whose houses still line the Limmatquai.

In the 16th century, the reformer Ulrich Zwingli made the Grossmünster the epicentre of the Protestant Reformation in German-speaking Switzerland, permanently reshaping the city's identity.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, Zürich became a major banking and industrial hub, then an intellectual haven: the Dada movement was born here at the Cabaret Voltaire in 1916, and both Lenin and James Joyce spent time here in exile. Today the city consistently ranks among the most liveable in the world.

Zürich at a glance

CountrySwitzerland 🇨🇭
Population~440,000
LanguageGerman (Swiss)
CurrencySwiss franc (CHF)
Time zoneCET (UTC+1)
AirportZRH — Kloten
Elevation408 m
Dial code+41 44
Orientation

Map of Zürich

Find your way around the districts, landmarks and hotels. Zoom in, switch to satellite or Street View.

📍 Open in Google Maps 🗺️ View full screen
Right now

Live weather in Zürich

Real-time conditions to help you pack and plan your day. Updated automatically.

⟳ Loading the latest weather for Zürich…
🌦️ MeteoSwiss 📡 Weather Channel Source: Open-Meteo.com — free weather API
Before you go

Plan your trip to Zürich

Transport, budget, climate, health: the essentials for a smooth trip to Switzerland's metropolis.

🚆 Transport & getting around
  • ZVV: a single ticket covers tram, bus, train (S-Bahn) and boat within the city zone.
  • The Zürich Card (24 h / 72 h) gives unlimited transport plus museum discounts.
  • From the airport (ZRH) to the centre: S-Bahn in ~10 min, every 5–10 minutes.
  • The city is very walkable; the centre is compact.
  • Shared bikes and e-scooters are available via local apps.
💶 Budget & payment
  • Zürich is one of the most expensive cities in the world — budget generously.
  • Budget: CHF 120–160/day · Comfort: CHF 250–350 · Luxury: CHF 500+.
  • Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere.
  • Tipping isn't mandatory (service included); rounding up is enough.
  • Tap water is excellent: over 1,200 public drinking fountains.
🗣️ Language & etiquette
  • Language: Swiss German (Schwiizerdütsch); English is widely spoken.
  • A friendly "Grüezi" (hello) is always appreciated when entering a shop.
  • Punctuality and quiet on public transport are strong local values.
  • On Sundays most shops are closed (except at the main station).
🌤️ Climate & best time to visit
  • Summer (Jun–Aug): 18–28 °C, swimming in the lake and river baths (Badi).
  • Autumn: beautiful colours, fewer crowds.
  • Winter: cold (0–5 °C), Christmas markets, Alps within easy reach for skiing.
  • Spring: mild and blooming, ideal for the Sechseläuten festival (April).
🏥 Health & safety
  • Zürich is one of the safest cities in the world, day and night.
  • Excellent healthcare; travel insurance recommended (care is expensive).
  • EU citizens: the European Health Insurance Card is useful.
  • Pharmacies show a green cross; some are open late at night.
🛂 Entry & connectivity
  • Switzerland is outside the EU but in the Schengen area: ID card or passport.
  • Note: Switzerland is not in the EU — EU roaming doesn't always apply.
  • Check your plan or get a local eSIM (Salt, Swisscom, Sunrise).
  • Free Wi-Fi in many cafés, museums and at the main station.
  • Type J sockets (3 pins) — a Swiss-specific adapter is sometimes needed.

🆘 Emergency numbers

144
Ambulance
117
Police
118
Fire
112
European emergency
🌍
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