Zurich Travel Guide: Things to Do, Eat & Day Trips

Zurich has a reputation for being expensive and a bit stiff, and yes — it is expensive. But stiff? Not even close. This city surprised us completely. We expected a sleek financial hub and found instead a genuinely beautiful, walkable city with a buzzing food scene, incredible museums, and the kind of lakeside setting that makes you want to stay an extra week.

The Altstadt (Old Town) is the obvious starting point — cobblestone lanes, guild houses, the twin-towered Grossmünster, and the elegant Fraumünster church with its Marc Chagall stained glass windows. But the real pleasure of Zurich is just wandering. Cross the Limmat River, duck into the Niederdorf quarter for lunch, then make your way down to the lake for the afternoon.

Lake Zurich is the city’s living room. In summer, locals jump in at the public baths — the Frauenbad and Männerbad are historic Victorian lidos right on the water. The lake promenade is perfect for a long walk or bike ride, and on clear days the Alps shimmer in the distance.

For art and culture, the Kunsthaus Zürich is one of the finest art museums in Europe, with an outstanding collection of modern and contemporary work. Zurich is also the ideal base for day trips. The Rhine Falls is 45 minutes by train. Lucerne is an hour. The Swiss rail system makes everything absurdly easy.

Eat well here. Try Kronenhalle for old-school Zurich grandeur, or explore the excellent spots in the Langstrasse district. And make sure to try Zürcher Geschnetzeltes — the classic veal dish that’s as Zurich as it gets.