Country guide
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
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
Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.
Photograph · Ikiwaner · CC BY-SA 3.0
Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.
100 places match
Category
Typical visit duration
Interests
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.
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.
Zoo Zürich
Zoo Zurich is a 27-hectare zoological and conservation institution on the Zurichberg above the city.
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.
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.
Polyterrasse is a prominent elevated terrace located on the campus of ETH Zurich, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology.
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.
St. Peter is Zurich's oldest parish church, standing above St.-Peter-Hofstatt beside the Lindenhof in the old town.
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.
Botanischer Garten der Universität Zürich
The Botanical Garden of the University of Zurich is a living plant collection serving research, teaching and public education.
Chinagarten Zürich
Chinese Garden Zürich is a traditional Chinese garden given to the city by its Chinese partner town, Kunming.
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.
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.
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.
Belvoirpark
Villa Belvoir stands within Belvoirpark in Zurich’s Enge district, combining historic architecture with landscaped parkland.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Strandbad Wollishofen is a public bathing beach and lido on the western shore of Lake Zurich, in the Wollishofen district.
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.
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.
Tram-Museum Zürich
Zurich Tram Museum preserves the history of Zurich’s tramway system in a former tram depot.
Naturhistorisches Museum
The Zoological Museum of the University of Zurich is a university museum devoted to zoology and natural history.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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