A photograph of Switzerland

Country guide

Up to 1 hour in Switzerland — page 3

The Alps cover most of Switzerland's 41,291 km², which is why almost all of its 9,154,242 people live on the plateau — a band of low ground carrying Zurich, Ber...

Photograph · Sam Ferrara · CC0 1.0

1,565 Places
1Cities

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

The Alps cover most of Switzerland's 41,291 km², which is why almost all of its 9,154,242 people live on the plateau — a band of low ground carrying Zurich, Bern, Basel, Lausanne, Geneva, Lucerne and Winterthur within a few hours of one another. Cross a ridge and it is the language that changes: German is spoken by 62 per cent of the country, French by 23, Italian by 8, Romansh by half a per cent. Twenty-six cantons write their own rules on top of that. A trip here is usually a choice between the flat line of cities and the valleys branching off it.

Checked 2026-08-25

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

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

Top things to see

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

  1. Wasserkirche Wasserkirche
    32 30 min

    Wasserkirche

    Wasserkirche is a church on a small island in the Limmat River at the historic centre of Zurich. Its name means “Water Church,” a fitting description of its riverside setting.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Zurich
  2. Wipkingerpark Wipkingerpark
    33 1 hour

    Wipkingerpark

    Wipkingerpark is a public green space in Zurich’s Wipkingen district. It gives residents and travellers a place to pause away from the busiest central streets while remaining within the city.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  3. Zunfthaus zur Meisen Zunfthaus zur Meisen
    34 1 hour

    Zunfthaus zur Meisen

    Zunfthaus zur Meisen is a historic guild house in Zurich, Switzerland, within the city’s Old Town. Its importance comes from the guild tradition that shaped Zurich’s political, social and commercial life for centuries.

    • High
    • Restaurant or café
    • Zurich
  4. Zunfthaus zur Waag Zunfthaus zur Waag
    35 1 hour

    Zunfthaus zur Waag

    Zunfthaus zur Waag is a historic guild house in central Zurich’s Old Town. The building belongs to the city’s tradition of guild houses, which served artisan associations and helped shape Zurich’s economic, social and civic life.

    • High
    • Restaurant or café
    • Zurich
  5. Zunfthaus zur Zimmerleuten Zunfthaus zur Zimmerleuten
    36 1 hour

    Zunfthaus zur Zimmerleuten

    Zunfthaus zur Zimmerleuten is a historic guild house on Zurich’s Limmatquai, the riverside promenade in the city centre. The building belongs to the carpenters’ guild, one of Zurich’s traditional craft associations with medieval origins.

    • High
    • Restaurant or café
    • Zurich
  6. Zürichberg Zürichberg
    37 20 min

    Zürichberg

    Zürichberg is a wooded hill and district on the northeastern side of Zurich. It rises above the Limmat valley and combines forest, residential areas and recreational routes.

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Zurich
  7. Zurich Letten railway station Zurich Letten railway station
    38 45 min

    Zurich Letten railway station

    Zürich Letten

    Zurich Letten railway station is a former railway station beside the Limmat in Zurich. The disused station and surrounding infrastructure preserve an industrial and railway-heritage atmosphere, while the riverside setting now serves recreation and informal urban life.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Zurich
  8. Adlisberg Adlisberg
    39 20 min

    Adlisberg

    Adlisberg is a forested hill east of central Zurich, Switzerland. The wooded elevation forms part of the landscape between the Limmat and Glatt valleys and serves as a recreational escape from the city.

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Zurich
  9. Bäckeranlage Bäckeranlage
    40 1 hour

    Bäckeranlage

    Bäckeranlage is a public park and green space in Zurich, Switzerland. The park brings open outdoor space into the city’s urban fabric and provides a place for walking, pausing and everyday recreation.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  10. Basteiplatz Basteiplatz
    41 1 hour

    Basteiplatz

    Basteiplatz is a public square in Zürich, Switzerland. It belongs to the city’s network of open civic spaces and provides an urban setting for passing through, orienting yourself, or pausing during a walk.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  11. Gustav-Ammann-Park Gustav-Ammann-Park
    42 1 hour

    Gustav-Ammann-Park

    Gustav-Ammann-Park is a public green space in Zurich named after Gustav Ammann, a Swiss landscape architect. The park offers an urban pause for residents and visitors who want open air and greenery within the city.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  12. Hardaupark Hardaupark
    43 1 hour

    Hardaupark

    Hardaupark is an urban public park in Zurich that gives residents and travellers a place to walk, pause and spend time outdoors. It belongs to the city’s network of green spaces woven through developed neighbourhoods.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  13. Hönggerberg Hönggerberg
    44 20 min

    Hönggerberg

    Hönggerberg is a hill in northern Zurich, rising above the Limmat valley within the city. It is best known for the ETH Zurich Hönggerberg campus, an important concentration of science, technology and academic buildings.

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Zurich
  14. Käferberg Käferberg
    45 20 min

    Käferberg

    Käferberg is an elevated hill and surrounding area in northern Zurich. It brings together natural hillside terrain, mixed vegetation, wooded sections, open areas, and residential surroundings.

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Zurich
  15. Karlsturm Karlsturm
    46 20 min

    Karlsturm

    Karlsturm is a named tower structure in Zurich, Switzerland, and forms part of the city's built landscape. Its identity makes it a compact architectural point of interest for travellers exploring Zurich beyond the best-known headline sights.

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Zurich
  16. Reformed Church of the Holy Cross Reformed Church of the Holy Cross
    47 30 min

    Reformed Church of the Holy Cross

    Kreuzkirche

    The Reformed Church of the Holy Cross, known locally as Kreuzkirche, is a Reformed Protestant church in Zurich. It is an active place of worship and belongs to the Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of Zurich.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Zurich
  17. Letzipark Letzipark
    48 45 min

    Letzipark

    Letzipark is a shopping centre located in the Altstetten district of Zurich, Switzerland. The facility serves as a retail destination for residents of western Zurich and surrounding areas.

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Zurich
  18. Leutschenpark Leutschenpark
    49 1 hour

    Leutschenpark

    Leutschenpark is a public park in Zurich and part of the city’s network of urban green spaces.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  19. Loorenkopf tower Loorenkopf tower
    50 20 min

    Loorenkopf tower

    Loorenkopf-Turm

    The Loorenkopf tower, also known locally as Loorenkopf-Turm, is a viewing structure on Loorenkopf hill in Zurich. Its purpose is to give visitors an elevated place from which to look across the surrounding landscape.

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Zurich
  20. MFO-Park MFO-Park
    51 1 hour

    MFO-Park

    MFO-Park is a public green space in Zurich’s Oerlikon district, created on the former grounds of Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  21. Reformed Church Fluntern Reformed Church Fluntern
    52 30 min

    Reformed Church Fluntern

    Grosse Kirche Fluntern

    Reformed Church Fluntern, also known locally as Grosse Kirche Fluntern, is a Protestant church in Zurich’s Fluntern district. It serves the local congregation and forms part of the city’s religious and community landscape.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Zurich
  22. Rieterplatz
    53 1 hour

    Rieterplatz

    Rieterplatz is a public square in Zurich, Switzerland, forming part of the city’s everyday urban fabric. It is best understood as an open civic space rather than a single-purpose museum, monument, or ticketed attraction.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  23. Sagentobelbach Sagentobelbach
    54 1 hour

    Sagentobelbach

    Sagentobelbachfall

    Sagentobelbach is a small watercourse in the Zurich area, and the local name Sagentobelbachfall identifies a waterfall or cascade along its course.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  24. St. Anthony Catholic Church St. Anthony Catholic Church
    55 30 min

    St. Anthony Catholic Church

    St. Anton

    St. Anthony Catholic Church, also known locally as St. Anton, is an active Catholic parish church in Zurich. It serves the local Catholic community and contributes to the city’s varied religious landscape.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Zurich
  25. St. Jakob church St. Jakob church
    56 30 min

    St. Jakob church

    St. Jakob

    St. Jakob church is a church in Zurich and an active place of worship with religious and community functions. Its role is local and ecclesiastical rather than that of a dedicated tourist attraction.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Zurich

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Switzerland be?

Seven to ten days can combine two city or lake bases with one mountain region. Switzerland’s dense transport network reduces transfer friction, but weather-dependent alpine excursions still need flexible time.

What entry documents are needed for Switzerland?

Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Migration publishes entry requirements. Passport nationality, visit purpose and the wider Schengen route determine whether a visa is required and where to apply.

What is the best way to travel around Switzerland?

Zurich and Geneva airports connect directly to national rail. SBB trains, regional railways, PostBus routes and lake boats form the core network, while many mountain railways and cable cars use separate products.

When is a practical time to visit Switzerland?

June to September serves hiking and high-pass travel; December to March is the broad snow season. Mountain operating dates and weather vary by altitude, so verify the specific lift or route rather than relying on a national season.

What money and payment basics apply in Switzerland?

Switzerland prices in Swiss francs (CHF). The current treatment of euros, card fees and exchange rates is Not recorded here; verify the charged currency and amount before accepting conversion.

What practical safety details should I save for Switzerland?

Switzerland uses 112 as a general emergency number, 117 for police and 144 for ambulance. Type C and J sockets supply 230 V, and mains tap water is recorded as safe.