A photograph of Zurich

City guide · Switzerland

Places to visit in Zurich, Switzerland — page 2

Zurich’s centre is compact and organised around the Limmat River, the lakefront and the main railway station. The Old Town occupies both riverbanks, while the u...

Photograph · Ikiwaner · CC BY-SA 3.0

1,565 Places
Suggested stay
2-3 days
Getting around
Tram, S-Bahn, bus, boat, funicular and walking

Turn this list into a plan

Set your days, your pace and the hours you actually want to be out. The planner works around closing days and travel time, and leaves room to eat.

Plan Zurich

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

Zurich’s centre is compact and organised around the Limmat River, the lakefront and the main railway station. The Old Town occupies both riverbanks, while the university terraces rise east and the former industrial districts extend west. Trams, S-Bahn trains, buses, boats and funiculars share an integrated zonal network. Walk the historic core, then use public transport for Uetliberg, outer neighbourhoods and longer lake connections.

Checked 2026-08-26

Practical information

Language spoken
German, French, Italian and Romansh
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+41
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Swiss franc (CHF)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
112 · 117 police · 144 ambulance
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type C and J · 230 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Safe from the mains
Public drinking water is controlled under Swiss food-safety rules

Planning a visit

September · September combines an 18.8°C mean high in Zurich with 92.0 mm of precipitation over eight days.

  1. January: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  2. February: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  3. March: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  4. April: good time to visit
  5. May: best time to visit
  6. June: good time to visit
  7. July: best time to visit
  8. August: good time to visit
  9. September: best time to visit — current month
  10. October: good time to visit
  11. November: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  12. December: viable with meaningful trade-offs

Sources

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. Kunsthaus Zürich Kunsthaus Zürich
    07 1 hr 30 min

    Kunsthaus Zürich

    Kunsthaus

    The Kunsthaus Zürich is the municipal art museum of Zürich, Switzerland. It stands as one of the most significant art institutions in the country, housing a substantial collection that spans multiple centuries and movements.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  2. Zürich Opera House Zürich Opera House
    08 3 hours

    Zürich Opera House

    Opernhaus

    The Zurich Opera House is the working home of an opera company, a ballet company and an orchestra, on the lake side of Sechselaeutenplatz a few minutes from Bellevue.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
  3. Zürich Zoo Zürich Zoo
    09 4 hours

    Zürich Zoo

    Zoo Zürich

    Zoo Zurich is a 27-hectare zoological and conservation institution on the Zurichberg above the city.

    • Must see
    • Family attraction
  4. Cabaret Voltaire Cabaret Voltaire
    10 45 min

    Cabaret Voltaire

    Cabaret Voltaire is the small cultural institution at Spiegelgasse 1 in Zurich's Old Town where Dada emerged in 1916. It is not a preserved nightclub recreated exactly as it was.

    • Must see
    • Restaurant or café
  5. Bürkliplatz Bürkliplatz
    11 20 min

    Bürkliplatz

    Bürkliplatz is a central Zurich square at the western end of Lake Zurich. Named after city engineer Arnold Bürkli, it forms a meeting point between the lakeside promenade, Bahnhofstrasse and the city center.

    • Must see
    • Viewpoint
  6. Polyterrasse Polyterrasse
    12 20 min

    Polyterrasse

    Polyterrasse is a prominent elevated terrace located on the campus of ETH Zurich, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology.

    • Must see
    • Viewpoint
  7. FIFA Museum FIFA Museum
    13 1 hr 30 min

    FIFA Museum

    The FIFA Museum is a Zurich museum dedicated to association football and its worldwide cultural reach. Operated by FIFA, it presents the sport as more than a competition: football connects countries, communities, players and supporters across generations.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  8. St. Peter St. Peter
    14 45 min

    St. Peter

    St. Peter is Zurich's oldest parish church, standing above St.-Peter-Hofstatt beside the Lindenhof in the old town.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
  9. Museum Rietberg Museum Rietberg
    15 1 hr 30 min

    Museum Rietberg

    Museum Rietberg is a Zurich museum devoted to art and cultural objects from outside Europe. It occupies three historic villa buildings in Rieterpark, giving the visit an unusually domestic and landscaped setting.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  10. Botanical Garden of the University of Zurich Botanical Garden of the University of Zurich
    16 1 hour

    Botanical Garden of the University of Zurich

    Botanischer Garten der Universität Zürich

    The Botanical Garden of the University of Zurich is a living plant collection serving research, teaching and public education.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  11. Chinese Garden Chinese Garden
    17 1 hour

    Chinese Garden

    Chinagarten Zürich

    Chinese Garden Zürich is a traditional Chinese garden given to the city by its Chinese partner town, Kunming.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  12. Pavillon Le Corbusier Pavillon Le Corbusier
    18 1 hr 30 min

    Pavillon Le Corbusier

    Pavillon Le Corbusier is an architectural museum beside Lake Zurich in the Seefeld district. Completed in 1967 from Le Corbusier’s designs, it is recognized as his final work and presents a rare meeting of architecture, art, and design.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  13. Sukkulenten-Sammlung Zürich Sukkulenten-Sammlung Zürich
    19 1 hour

    Sukkulenten-Sammlung Zürich

    Sukkulenten-Sammlung Zürich is a specialist botanical collection devoted to succulent plants in Zurich. It brings together cacti and other water-storing species from dry regions around the world.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  14. Bauschänzli Bauschänzli
    20 1 hour

    Bauschänzli

    Bauschänzli is a small artificial island and public park in the Limmat River at the heart of Zurich. Its name refers to the defensive bulwark that once occupied the site.

    • Must see
    • Restaurant or café
  15. Villa Belvoir Villa Belvoir
    21 1 hour

    Villa Belvoir

    Belvoirpark

    Villa Belvoir stands within Belvoirpark in Zurich’s Enge district, combining historic architecture with landscaped parkland.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  16. Irchelpark Irchelpark
    22 1 hour

    Irchelpark

    Irchelpark is a public green space beside the University of Zurich’s Irchel Campus. Its lawns, trees, paths, and sloping ground serve residents, students, and visitors looking for outdoor time away from the busiest central streets.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  17. Josefwiese Josefwiese
    23 1 hour

    Josefwiese

    Josefwiese is an urban public park in Zurich, centred on an open meadow where visitors can pause, relax, and enjoy outdoor space within the city.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  18. Seebad Enge Seebad Enge
    24 1 hr 30 min

    Seebad Enge

    Seebad Enge is a public bathing lido on the western shore of Lake Zurich in the Enge district. As a historic lakeside facility, it represents traditional Swiss outdoor bathing culture.

    • Must see
    • Family attraction
  19. Thermalbad & Spa Zürich Thermalbad & Spa Zürich
    25 1 hr 30 min

    Thermalbad & Spa Zürich

    Thermalbad & Spa Zürich is an urban bathing and wellness venue set inside a former brewery building. Its character comes from combining thermal bathing and spa relaxation with an industrial heritage setting.

    • Must see
    • Family attraction
  20. Strandbad Wollishofen Strandbad Wollishofen
    26 1 hr 30 min

    Strandbad Wollishofen

    Strandbad Wollishofen is a public bathing beach and lido on the western shore of Lake Zurich, in the Wollishofen district.

    • Must see
    • Family attraction
  21. Alter Botanischer Garten Alter Botanischer Garten
    27 1 hour

    Alter Botanischer Garten

    Alter Botanischer Garten is a historic botanical garden in Zurich, located near the main railway station in the city center. It served as Zurich's primary botanical garden before the establishment of the newer Botanischer Garten der Universität Zürich.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  22. Museum of Design Museum of Design
    28 1 hr 30 min

    Museum of Design

    Museum für Gestaltung

    Museum of Design, also known as Museum für Gestaltung, is a Zurich design museum connected with Zurich University of the Arts. It explores visual communication, product design, craft, and the history of designed objects and images.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  23. Zurich Tram Museum Zurich Tram Museum
    29 1 hr 30 min

    Zurich Tram Museum

    Tram-Museum Zürich

    Zurich Tram Museum preserves the history of Zurich’s tramway system in a former tram depot.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  24. Zoological museum of the university of Zurich Zoological museum of the university of Zurich
    30 1 hr 30 min

    Zoological museum of the university of Zurich

    Naturhistorisches Museum

    The Zoological Museum of the University of Zurich is a university museum devoted to zoology and natural history.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  25. Kunsthalle Zürich Kunsthalle Zürich
    31 1 hr 30 min

    Kunsthalle Zürich

    Kunsthalle Zürich is a contemporary art exhibition space in Zurich, Switzerland. It operates as a kunsthalle, a type of institution without a permanent collection that hosts temporary exhibitions of modern and contemporary art.

    • Must see
    • Museum

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

How the city is laid out

The main station anchors the northern edge of central Zurich. Bahnhofstrasse runs south toward Lake Zurich, with Lindenhof and the western Old Town between it and the Limmat. Niederdorf and the eastern Old Town climb toward the university and Polyterrasse. Enge and the lake promenades continue south, while Zurich West occupies converted industrial ground beyond the centre. Uetliberg, the zoo and farther lake destinations are separate excursions reached efficiently by rail or tram.

Checked 2026-08-26

Getting around

Use the ZVV network for trams, buses, S-Bahn trains, boats and funicular railways. Zurich Tourism notes that one zonal ticket can cover these modes within the selected zones, which makes transfers straightforward. The central Old Town and lakefront are best walked, while rail is the practical choice for Uetliberg and the airport. Check the zones before travel and do not assume a scenic boat or mountain connection uses the same validity area.

Checked 2026-08-26

Common questions

How many days does Zurich need?

Two to three days are enough for a first visit. Two cover the Old Town, lakefront and central museums; add a third for Uetliberg, the zoo or a longer trip on the lake.

When is the best time to visit Zurich?

May through September gives longer daylight for the lakefront, viewpoints and outdoor district walks. Winter is better suited to museums and shorter central routes unless snow activities are the main purpose.

Is Zurich easy to explore on foot?

The Old Town, Bahnhofstrasse, lakefront and university terraces fit into connected walking routes. Use transit for Zurich West, the zoo, Uetliberg and other destinations beyond the compact centre.

Does one ticket cover different transport modes?

Within the relevant ZVV zones, tickets can cover trams, buses, trains, boats and funicular or cable connections included in the network. Confirm the required zones for longer journeys.

Which Zurich areas combine well?

Combine both sides of the Old Town with Bahnhofstrasse and the lakefront. Give Zurich West, Uetliberg or a longer lake trip its own block to avoid repeated crossings through the main station.