Best Things to Do
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Top 19 Best Things to Do
Zurich
Downtown
Hotels

Top 19 Best Things to Do in Zurich - 2023

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Discover the top attractions, sightseeing spots, activities, landmarks, and unforgettable experiences in Zurich. Plan your perfect itinerary and make the most of your visit to this vibrant destination.
Updated Oct 2023
  • No.1
    4.7/5
    339 Reviews
    Free
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 3837 reviews
    "Since we were there in December, the street was decorated for Christmas and there were a few stalls from the Zurich Christmas market on the street, only handicrafts. you could buy almost everything- arts and crafts, gastronomy (also mulled wine, with a certificate required). shops close very early- at 7 pm so be ready not to be too late! Check many shops with watches, glasses, try cheese and chocolate and voila- you saw everything in here"
    Zurich
    330m from downtown
    Highlights: Bahnhofstrasse (freely translated as Railway Station Street) is located on the west side of the Limmat River, extending from Zurich Railway Station to Bürkeli Square on the shore of Lake Zurich, with a total length of about 1.3 kilometers. This is one of the more expensive shopping streets in the world, as famous as New York's Fifth Avenue, and a must-see for everyone who comes to Zurich. The world business district is also a world-renowned business district. Bahnhofstrasse is known as "Swiss Wall Street". More than 200 banks from all over the world are stationed here, and the world's top ten banks have a place here, including appearing in many movies. Zurich Bank. The world's largest "gold market" is here. It is said that the gold reserves of many Swiss banks are stored under Bahnhofstrasse. Do you feel like walking on the "Golden Avenue" when you walk through it? Exquisite window display If you are not keen on shopping, you may wish to take a good look at the beautiful street view of Bahnhofstrasse, known as the "European window". In order to keep the streets clean and the air pure, no cars are allowed to pass here, and only trams run slowly through it. The streets are lined with shady trees, and the stone roads on the pavement have a medieval style. Most of the buildings next to the streets were built in the 19th century, which are simple and elegant, and have a low-key luxury. The well-arranged window displays of major brands are also a beautiful sight on Bahnhofstrasse. In addition, the branch of Swiss chocolate Sprüngli, known as the "essence of Switzerland", is located at Bahnhofstrasse 21.
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  • No.2
    4.7/5
    185 Reviews
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 1905 reviews
    "Zurich Cathedral This cathedral covers a large area and can accommodate about 300 people at the same time. It is also very beautiful to take pictures here. When I went there, no one visited there for a long time. And there are foxes and pigeons outside, it feels particularly romantic"
    Zurich
    400m from downtown
    Highlights: The Zurich Cathedral stands on the banks of the Limmat River, reflecting the Frauenkirche. Its unique twin towers have become a symbol of Zurich, blending Romanesque, Post-Gothic and Neo-Gothic architectural styles. The founder of the Zurich Cathedral is the famous Karl the Great. After the restoration in the 11th-13th centuries, you can see the seated statue of Karl the Great with a sword on the south tower, but this is a replica, and the real one is collected in the St. inside the hall. The underground chapel and the choir seats are the oldest existing parts of the church, dating back to the late 11th and early 12th centuries, and traces of frescoes on the decoration can still be seen today. During the Reformation movement in the 16th century, the religious reformer Huldrych Zwingli gave a speech here, calling on people to "work without forgetting prayer".
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  • No.3
    4.6/5
    113 Reviews
    Free
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 5244 reviews
    "I believe Zurich is the most visited Swiss city by tourists, with a prosperous daytime environment and a different flavor at night. There are many restaurants and taverns in the city, offering exquisite cuisine from all over the world."
    Zurich
    626m from downtown
    Highlights: Zurich is a very modern city, but the old town in the center is well preserved and you can still get a glimpse of the medieval European town. There are many elegant and beautiful ancient buildings on both sides of the cobblestone paved stone road in the old city, and the whole city is filled with nostalgic and retro atmosphere. Standing on the banks of the Limmat River, you can see the three main landmarks in the old town at a glance: the Cathedral, St. Peter's Church and the Church of Our Lady. In addition to the quaint appearance, most of the old buildings in the old city have been converted into trendy restaurants and bars, which are very popular with tourists. In addition, there are a number of quirky but decently priced hotels in the Old Town. Personality cafes, bookstores, gift shops, etc. also abound, you can visit here in depth.
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  • No.4
    4.5/5
    55 Reviews
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 1935 reviews
    "Ot is the most important art museums in Switzerland and was opened in 1910.. There is a permenan as well as a time limited exhibition. There are 3 restaurants and cafes as well as a museum’s shop."
    Zurich
    796m from downtown
    Highlights: The Zurich Museum of Fine Arts is located in the old town and has the richest collection of modern works in Switzerland. In addition to the works of the famous Swiss surrealist painter Alberto Giacometti, there are also works by Picasso, Monet, Chagall, etc. The entrance of the Zurich Art Museum is Rodin's famous sculpture - the gate of hell. The museum houses many famous works of art in Switzerland, including many Swiss painters' paintings, sculptures and prints, most of which are works from the 19th and 20th centuries. . Alberto Giacometti's paintings and sculptures are especially worth seeing, his work is a display of the emotions inherent in individual life and the spirit of human tragedy. Works by other painters such as Alfred Hodler and Arnold Boecklin also deserve attention.
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  • No.5
    4.6/5
    113 Reviews
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 1761 reviews
    "Suning is the Church of the Virgin Mary. This church is still a relatively famous church in the local area. It covers a very large area. From the appearance, it is very beautiful and very solemn. Sometimes it is open for business. You can visit a more sacred place."
    Zurich
    203m from downtown
    Highlights: The Notre Dame Church stands on the west bank of the Limmat River. The green spire is very eye-catching, and the stained glass windows designed by the famous painter Marc Chagall are also very iconic. The Church of Our Lady was built in the middle of the 9th century. The Germanic King Rudolf II built it in the name of a women's monastery. It was rebuilt in Gothic style in the 12th-15th centuries, and the bell tower was built after 1732. In addition to the iconic green spire, the interior of the Church of Our Lady is not to be missed. On the left side of the church entrance, you will see an elegant stained glass that is different from other churches. This is a work by Marc Chagall in 1970, which depicts Christ with a unique brushstroke. The glass on the north promenade on the right side of the entrance is by Giacometti. The fresco decoration of the cloister on the south side is a hand-painted work by Paul Podma on the theme of the founding of the church.
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  • No.6
    4.7/5
    92 Reviews
    Free
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 945 reviews
    "On the west side of the Limat River, Banhof Street is lit in blue moments. Inside, the snow-capped mountains and lakes are outside, and the light at the end leads to Lake Zurich. After a first winter, I saw the swans and treasures~ The warm winter of the 2221s and 1920s was quiet in Zurich to welcome the new year."
    Zurich
    1.7km from downtown
    Highlights: The Limmat River traverses the city of Zurich, leads from the northern end of Lake Zurich, and then flows through the center of Zurich, dividing Zurich into new and old towns, and then empties into the Aare River. The banks of the Limmat River are a good place to enjoy the scenery. With the light of the water and the sky, the buildings on the riverside can reflect a different kind of beauty. The famous Church of Our Lady stands on the west bank of the Limmat River, and the Gross Cathedral on the east bank is famous for its unique "pepper shaker" tower. Even more pleasing. In addition to the buildings, the swans on the Limmat River are also a beautiful landscape. You may wish to stroll along the river, admire the exquisite buildings on the shore, watch the leisurely water birds on the lake, and enjoy a pleasant time. From April to October every year, public boats travel around the Limmat River, starting from the National Museum near the train station, and the journey takes about 55 minutes, with departures every half an hour.
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  • No.7
    4.5/5
    73 Reviews
    Free
    "Every time I travel, I am especially willing to go for a walk in some old local lanes and feel the life of the most simple people and some of the most romantic things in the local area. This alley is very long. It takes about three or four hours to walk. After walking, the scenery is beautiful."
    Zurich
    390m from downtown
    Highlights: Augustine Lane is located in the old town of Zurich, next to Bahnhofstrasse. It is a very historic street in the area. There are many exquisite historical buildings on both sides of the stone road, all of which are hung with the Swiss flag, full of romantic nostalgia. In the Middle Ages, Augustine Lane used to be a gathering place for Zurich's craftsmen. Today, these colorful little houses have been transformed into creative craft shops, cafes, bookstores, etc. You can take a good stroll here if you have enough time.
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  • No.8
    4.5/5
    75 Reviews
    Free
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 1599 reviews
    "Lindenhof Hill, 428 meters above sea level, and the relative height of Limat River 25 meters. Under the lush Bodhi tree, a sculpture, a pool of clear springs, a huge chess board, more than ten benches, and many tourists make up the whole park. In the picturesque country, at best, it is a civic square. The hill is not so much a park as a tour, but a condescending view of the city of Zurich. Standing by the stone fence of the park, the clear Limat River flows at the foot, and the cathedral, city hall and Polytechnic University on the other side are in sight. The scenery is unique here!"
    Zurich
    502m from downtown
    Highlights: Lindenhof is located in the old town of Zurich, known as the "green lung" of Zurich. The park is located on a small hill. With the Limmat River as the foreground, you can enjoy a wonderful view of Zurich, which is the ideal place to enjoy the view of the Zurich Cathedral and the right bank of the Limmat River. Lindenhof was once a customs place in ancient Roman times, and was later built as a fortress that could monitor the surrounding riverbanks, and people at that time would also gather here to express their opinions. Today, the unique park and hills on this side of the landscape are popular resting places for citizens. Lindenhof is also a good place to climb and look into the distance. At the top of the mountain, you can have a panoramic view of the city hall, the Limmat River, and the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich.
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  • No.9
    4.4/5
    61 Reviews
    Free
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 589 reviews
    "When St. Peter’s Church did not come before, I often heard that after this church came, it felt more unexpected. It was really beautiful. It was photographed with the blue sky and white clouds behind. It seemed to be in some places in Tibet."
    Zurich
    304m from downtown
    Highlights: St. Peter's Church is a Baroque church in Zurich nestled between winding alleys. The huge Roman-style tower built in the 13th century is the characteristic of the church. It was once used as a guard tower. The bell built in 1880 is the crown of Europe, and its dial is 8.7 meters in diameter. St. Peter's Church is the oldest church in Zurich, dating back around 900 years. In addition, the baptistery in the church, the beautifully carved choir seats, the relief decoration and the pipe organ are also worth seeing.
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  • No.10
    4.4/5
    57 Reviews
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 112 reviews
    "FIFA headquarters is one of the important football headquarters in Europe, and a meeting place before major events, FIFA headquarters is the permanent unit, member countries include countries around the world, the World Cup is launched here."
    Zurich
    3km from downtown
    Highlights: FIFA is the English abbreviation of the famous International Football Federation (FederationInternationalofFootballAssociation). If you are a fan, then the FIFA headquarters in Zurich must be a stop on the trip not to be missed.
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  • No.11
    4.2/5
    46 Reviews
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 3032 reviews
    "Zurich Zoo has various pavilions, and it takes about half a day to visit the zoo. Although it is not early in the morning, it can definitely take a day to watch if you really want to watch it. I don't know how to get it, I only spend half a day to visit the zoo, maybe I have to concentrate the itinerary, it belongs to the horse to see the flowers."
    Zurich
    3.4km from downtown
    Highlights: Zurich Zoo is one of the most popular zoos in Europe. There are currently about 360 species of animals, including snow leopards, spectacled bears, giant tortoises, emperor penguins and other precious species. In 2009, the zoo developed the Masora rainforest with an area of 10,000 square kilometers, during which tropical jungle creatures such as flying foxes are stocked, which is very worth seeing. In addition, "Penguin Parade Play" is also one of the signature projects of Zurich Zoo. Whenever the temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius, the penguins in the Antarctic Pavilion can play outdoors at noon. They are very cute and very popular with tourists.
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  • No.12
    3.8/5
    18 Reviews
    From40.91
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 832 reviews
    "If you buy a Swiss Travel Pass, it is recommended that you include your itinerary, because you do not need to buy tickets to enter the tour. If it is a family tour, there are children at home to go together, it is very good value. To be honest, it is more like a playground, the exhibition hall in the bottom field is very crowded, and the exhibition hall on the upper floor is full of many families. Children also walk around, play everywhere, take children to Zurich, in addition to the zoo, the FIFA museum must come."
    Zurich
    816m from downtown
    Highlights: The FIFA World Football Museum covers an area of about 3,000 square meters, and the exhibition area is distributed on 3 floors. Zurich is the seat of FIFA's headquarters. The completion of the World Football Museum will become a new landmark of the city that football fans around the world cannot miss when visiting Zurich. The museum displays a large number of precious exhibits from the 209 member states of FIFA, which vividly and comprehensively show the development history of modern football for more than 100 years.
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  • No.13
    4.3/5
    38 Reviews
    Free
    "The headquarters of the Swiss bank is also a very famous bank in the world, the whole bank is very safe and confidential, the security measures within the bank are very strict, can be carried out here some financial transactions and some foreign exchange takeaways."
    Zurich
    370m from downtown
    Highlights: The UBS Group headquarters on Bahnhofstrasse is currently the largest financial holding group in Europe. This well-known financial service company is also the world's largest asset management company, a large investment bank, and also ranks high in private services. status, serving more than four million individuals and businesses.
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  • No.14
    4.2/5
    44 Reviews
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 192 reviews
    "The clock museum is also a more interesting landscape, the watch exhibition here is very interesting, you can see a lot of different expensive watches from all over the world, the watchmaking industry in Switzerland is really developed, the maintenance watch here is also very professional."
    Zurich
    253m from downtown
    Highlights: The Beyer Watch Museum is located on Bahnhofstrasse. It was established in 1760 and is affiliated to the Beyer Watch Shop. It is a Swiss watch and jewelry dealer with a long history. There are about 250 exhibits in the museum, which is a good place to learn about watch craftsmanship. The museum provides a complete introduction to the history of people's time counting from 1400 BC to the present, and also provides visitors with the opportunity to glimpse into the magical world of watchmaking and appreciate the fascinating art of watchmaking. Many rare and valuable exhibits are especially worth seeing, such as standard watches, sundials, oil clocks, hourglasses, water clocks, standing clocks, table clocks, pocket watches, wristwatches, etc.
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  • No.15
    4.3/5
    35 Reviews
    Free
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 2569 reviews
    "Yutli Mountain is a very beautiful mountain outside Zurich, Switzerland. The natural environment here is very good. There are many natural plant resources. The air in the mountains is very good. You can stroll here for a walk and play. Yutli Mountain is also very suitable for taking pictures."
    Zurich
    4.1km from downtown
    Highlights: Yutli Mountain is located in the western suburbs of Zurich, with an altitude of 871 meters. From the top of the mountain, you can overlook the whole city of Zurich and Lake Zurich. There are not only observation decks on the top of the mountain, but also TV towers, restaurants, hotels and other facilities. It is very comfortable to take a break and dine in the beautifully decorated restaurant and enjoy the scenery under the mountain through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
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  • No.16
    4.3/5
    22 Reviews
    Free
    "Niederdorf is also an old city part, the house structure is very traditional, there are no modern high-rise buildings built here for decades, life is very comfortable, are very comfortable working attitude, the income level here is also very high."
    Zurich
    742m from downtown
    Highlights: This is an old town alley not far from the train station. There are a wide variety of restaurants, jewelry stores, gift shops, bookstores, and cafes in the alley. If you want to experience the old town style of Zurich, you can visit here.
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  • No.17
    4.2/5
    25 Reviews
    Free
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 331 reviews
    "China Garden is a park built with imitation Suzhou garden characteristics in China. Pavilions and pavilions can see the traditional design customs of China. It is also very good to visit here. There are many people who plant plants here to maintain, and the air is very comfortable."
    Zurich
    1.8km from downtown
    Highlights: The China Garden in Zurich is located in the Seefeld district to the east of Lake Zurich. It was officially opened in 1994. It is a large-scale Chinese-style garden overseas and was donated by Kunming, the sister city of Zurich. The city of Kunming designed this unique garden with a pattern imitating Cuihu Park, and Zurich people are deeply proud of their city's sister-city relationship with Kunming. So far, Zurich has only maintained sister city relations with Kunming. The Chinese Garden is arranged in a rectangular shape, with the island in the center of the lake as the center, and there are pavilions and waterside pavilions in the middle. Many flowers in the garden are also transplanted from Yunnan.
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  • No.18
    4.1/5
    27 Reviews
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 362 reviews
    "The Zurich Opera House has a history of 180 years, the appearance looks more ordinary, the interior is still magnificent, many well-known performers and orchestras have performed here, and there are generally no performances on Sundays."
    Zurich
    713m from downtown
    Highlights: The Zurich Opera House was built in 1891. This neo-Baroque architectural style theater is small and exquisite, with more than 1,200 seats. Like the Lyon Opera House in France, it is a highly regarded theater today. Operas performed here include Hindemith's "Gotis the Painter" (1938) and Schoenberg's "Moser and Allen" (1957). From September to the end of June of the following year, when there are many tourists, the theater also has ballet performances and recitals. At the end of the peak season in late June, there will be a "JuniFestwoche", and the performances are collector's editions, so they are very popular. In addition to enjoying performances at the theatre, you can also take part in a guided backstage tour of the theatre to see up close the structure of the stage, rehearsal halls and more.
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  • No.19
    4.3/5
    39 Reviews
    Free
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 434 reviews
    "Parades Square is an old building in the city square, the square is a very early artificial paved stone road, there are many bistros and cafes nearby, in summer can enjoy the scenery at the open-air bar, suitable for walking slowly."
    Zurich
    120m from downtown
    Highlights: Paladplatz is located in the heart of Bahnhofstrasse, the financial center of Zurich. There are several Swiss banks in the surrounding area, and the global headquarters of UBS and Credit Suisse are located here. The headquarters of the Swiss famous Sprngli chocolate company is also located in the area of Pallard Square, where the company's larger chocolate branch is located. Ninety percent of the chocolates in the store are handmade, with a variety of varieties and more than 50 flavors.
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FAQ

What are some Best Things to Do in Zurich?
Some Best Things to Do in Zurich include:Bahnhofstrasse|Grossmunster|Old Town|Museum of Art (Kunsthaus Zurich)|Fraumunster Church
What are some highly-rated Best Things to Do in Zurich?
Some highly-rated Best Things to Do in Zurich include:Bahnhofstrasse:4.7|Grossmunster:4.7|Old Town:4.6|Museum of Art (Kunsthaus Zurich):4.5|Fraumunster Church:4.6
At what locations in Zurich can Best Things to Do in Zurich be found?
The Best Things to Do in Zurich are mainly located in:Bahnhofstrasse:Zurich|Grossmunster:Zurich|Old Town:Zurich|Museum of Art (Kunsthaus Zurich):Zurich|Fraumunster Church:Zurich