As a city by the water, Zurich combines creative urban life with abundant nature. Between the Old Town, art collections, viewpoints and hiking destinations, you’ll find a variety of ways to spend your stay—from a historic city walk to a path into the countryside.
The Old Town and striking cityscapes
On both sides of the Limmat, guild houses, churches, historic squares and hidden corners shape Zurich’s Old Town. You can explore it independently from the main railway station; Niederdorf is part of it too. You can plan your city walk around the historic buildings and squares that interest you most.
Lindenhof sits on a glacial moraine hill and offers views of the right bank of the Limmat, the university buildings and the Old Town. The site combines scenic views with the city’s older history: a Roman fort stood here in the 4th century, and in the 9th century Charlemagne’s grandson built a royal residence on the same site.
The Grossmünster’s distinctive twin towers continue to shape the cityscape today. The Grossmünster tour in the “Altstadtkirchen Zürich” app leads up 187 steps from the nave to the viewing platform in the Karl Tower. From there, you can see across Zurich and the lake to the nearby Glarus Alps. As access arrangements may change and temporary closures are possible, check the latest visitor information before climbing. The Fraumünster offers a different artistic highlight: it is known for its stained-glass windows by Marc Chagall and Augusto Giacometti.
Art, Swiss history and Dada
The Swiss National Museum has a unique collection on Switzerland’s cultural history and applied arts, from its beginnings to the present day. The collection comprises more than 870,000 objects and is divided into 14 collections. The Landesmuseum Zürich building is also a notable part of the visit: it is considered an exceptional 19th-century museum building and a listed monument of national importance.
At the Kunsthaus Zürich, you’ll encounter more than eight centuries of art history. A special collection is devoted to Dada: with 740 historical documents and works of art, the Kunsthaus has the world’s largest Dada collection. Cabaret Voltaire is considered the birthplace of the movement, which emerged in Zurich in 1916. Its programme includes temporary exhibitions in the vaulted cellar and soirées in the Historic Hall. As the programme changes, it’s worth checking the current dates before your visit.
The FIFA Museum adds football history to Zurich’s cultural offerings. Its chronicle traces football’s journey from its origins in the British Isles in the 19th century to its prominent place in today’s sporting world. The exhibition spans three floors and covers more than 3,000 m². At the Pinball, visitors can test their ball skills in five disciplines; the exhibition layout may change, so check the latest visitor information in advance.
Green spaces and trails around Zurich
At the Masoala Rainforest, visitors can see animals in their natural habitat; the site is designed as a functioning mini-rainforest ecosystem. Around 40 vertebrate species live there, and their composition may change. Since 2013, the Masoala treetop walkway has also offered a view from among the treetops.
Uetliberg is a local recreation area, hiking destination and excursion spot all in one. One specific hiking option is the Planet Trail: it leads from Uetliberg to Felsenegg and represents the distances in the solar system. The route is considered an easy, approximately two-hour hike for the whole family. This lets you combine an outing in nature with an engaging theme, rather than choosing a route based solely on its duration.
The city’s horticultural department also offers green spaces to visit. Its palm house is home to more than 50 tropical and subtropical plant species as well as various animals. The 7,000 m² park showcases European and overseas plants and has been listed in the municipal inventory of gardens and grounds worthy of protection since 2013. For a stroll by the water, Zurich’s lakeside promenade runs from Tiefenbrunnen to the opposite edge of the city and offers a route around the lake basin. Other activities on Lake Zurich include swimming, picnicking along the shores and cycling around the lake.
Discover more destinations: Dielsdorf, Bülach, Meilen, Horgen, Andelfingen, Hinwil, Winterthur, Uster.
Back to the main travel overview: Zurich.
