Zurich Travel Guide
Weather, best time to visit, and the best food, culture, nature and activities.
Typical prices
- Budget mealCHF 22.00≈ $27.23
- Mid-range mealCHF 50.00≈ $61.89
- CappuccinoCHF 5.00≈ $6.19
- Domestic beerCHF 8.00≈ $9.90
- Taxi (per km)CHF 4.50≈ $5.57
- Public transport ticketCHF 4.60≈ $5.69
- Museum entryCHF 23.00≈ $28.47
- Mid-range hotel (night)CHF 280.00≈ $346.59
Food & Drink
- ZeughauskellerSwiss · $$
A historic former armory turned beer hall in the Old Town, serving hearty Swiss dishes and their famous sausages.
- KronenhalleSwiss-French · $$$$
A legendary Zurich institution once frequented by James Joyce and Alberto Giacometti, known for classic Swiss-French dishes and original art on the walls.
- HiltlVegetarian · $$
Recognized as the world's oldest vegetarian restaurant, dating to 1898, known for its extensive buffet.
- SprüngliCafe/Confectionery · $$
Zurich's famous confectioner on Paradeplatz, renowned for Luxemburgerli macarons and chocolate.
- Restaurant Rheinfelder BierhalleSwiss · $$
A traditional Zurich beer hall serving Swiss-German comfort food in the Niederdorf district.
- Haus Hiltl am SihlpostVegetarian · $$
Housed in the historic post office building, this branch of Hiltl blends heritage architecture with the same vegetarian buffet concept.
- Kaufleuten
A historic building turned nightclub and concert venue, a mainstay of Zurich's electronic and live music scene.
- Barfüsser
One of the oldest gay bars in Europe, a Niederdorf institution since 1956.
- Zukunft
An industrial-style club in Kreis 4 known for techno nights and underground electronic acts.
Culture & History
- Kunsthaus Zürich
Switzerland's largest art museum, holding major works by Munch, Giacometti (the world's largest public collection), and Chagall.
- Swiss National Museum (Landesmuseum)
A castle-like building beside the main train station covering Swiss cultural history from prehistory to today.
- FIFA World Football Museum
A museum near the lake dedicated to football history, including all World Cup trophies since 1930.
- Kunsthalle Zürich
A contemporary art space in the Löwenbräukunst complex, showing rotating international exhibitions.
- Kino Riffraff
A well-known arthouse cinema in the Kreis 4 district showing independent and original-language films.
- Corso Kino
A central multiplex near Bellevue showing current mainstream releases.
- Street Parade
One of the world's largest techno parades, filling the lakeside streets with floats and hundreds of thousands of attendees.
- Sechseläuten
A traditional spring festival culminating in the burning of the Böögg snowman effigy to predict the summer weather.
Nature & Outdoors
- Seebad Enge
A historic wooden bathing pavilion on Lake Zurich, popular for swimming and sunbathing with city views.
- Zürihorn
A lakeside park and beach area with grassy lawns and swimming access on the eastern shore.
- Rhine Falls (Rheinfall)
The largest waterfall in Europe by volume, located near Schaffhausen, a popular day trip from Zurich by train.
- Uetliberg
Zurich's local mountain, reached by train, with a ridge trail offering panoramic views over the city and lake toward the Alps.
Active & Fun
- Migros Fitnesscenter Zürich Oerlikon
A well-equipped branch of Switzerland's major fitness chain in the Oerlikon district.
- Flussbad Oberer Letten
A popular outdoor bathing spot on the Limmat river where locals swim and float in summer.