There are plenty of things to do in Zurich. The city is home to diverse museums, food festivals, countless events, and exciting nightlife. If you need relaxation, the surrounding Swiss mountains can offer a pleasant rest in less than one hour.
In this article, we will give you a list of the most beautiful and interesting things to do in Zurich and the places to visit.
Let’s explore them:
- Zurich city tour
- Mount Titlis tour
- Rhine Falls Tour from Zurich
- Limmat-Schifffahrt Boat Trip
- Discover the Kunsthaus Collection
- Discover Lindt Home of Chocolate
- Visit Zurich Toy Museum
- Visit Swiss Science Center Technorama
- A train ride to visit the surrounding area
- Visit Dübendorf Aviation Museum
- Visit Alpamare
- Soak in Thermal Baths & Spa Zurich
- Cycling in Zurich and the region
Zürich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zürich. Nestled in an Alpine setting in the north end of Lake Zurich, this cosmopolitan city by the water mixes modern buildings with picturesque nature scenery.
The shores of Lake Zurich are embellished with green spaces, surrounded by modern parks that extend up to the slopes of Zürichberg.
It is regarded as one of the top cities in terms of quality of life, which is not surprising since it has a status of the world’s wealthiest metropolis.
Many people come to this amazing city by airplane. You will need transportation from the airport to your hotel. Why not choose a limo?
Read why you should hire a limo airport transfer.
With location, beauty, nature, and modern life, Zurich has so much to offer.
1. Things to do in Zurich – City tour
The best way to get to know Zurich is to take one of the many interesting tours of the city. It is the f
Whether on foot, in a limousine, with an electric bicycle, or by the bus, you’ll experience the city’s spirit and enjoy it.
Public guided tours, group tours, and private tours can be booked at the Tourist Information at Zurich Main Train Station.
If you have a Zurich card, you can have a 50% discount on various public city walks and tours. You can also book your tour directly from Zurich Tourism.
City tour through Zurich by bus is a classical tour that includes many places to visit in Zurich: Lake Zurich, Old Town, the Dolder vantage point, Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich Opera House, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH, Zurich University, Kunsthaus, and Zürichberg. We reccomend it as one of our favorite things to do in Zurich.
You can start with the National Museum, then visit the Bahnhofstrasse, one of the most expensive streets and a perfect place for shopaholics.
The next can be Zurich’s famous financial district and the Zurich Opera House, home to the Zurich Opera since the late 1800s.
After making outstanding photos at Lake Zurich, you can board the Dolderbahn, a cog-wheel railway that will take you to Zurichberg district, to enjoy its 5-star hotel and many other magnificent mansions.
Take your time to feast your eyes on this dreamlike scenery, then you can continue with the university quarter. There, you should visit the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Albert Einstein’s faculty and field of work, and of course, Zurich’s art museum.
To feel its medieval spirit, your next stop would be Zurich’s Old Town (Altstadt). See the patriarchal guild houses – the famous St. Peter church with Europe’s largest clock-face and praise the majestic Chagall windows on the Fraumünster.
End your tour with a drive back on Limmatquai to Sihlquai, to soak up the scenery.
2. Mount Titlis tour from Zurich
Panorama of beauty and sublimity
Mount Titlis tour deserves to be on your bucket list! The amazement starts as soon as you board the coach! The Swiss Alps guarantees a lifetime experience with the majestic scenery.
From Zurich, the passengers will travel through the lake shores and outstanding Swiss countryside to Lucerne.
There, a shortstop in the Old Town is included, with an option to visit landmarks like the Lion Monument. Then, the tour becomes more exhilarating on the Engleberg, where you can climb with cable cars, including the highlight of the Mount Titlis – the Rotair revolving cable car. There you will have the chance to enjoy the magnificent views covered in snow all year round.
Whatever is the reason of your visit, you can always find the time for the Mount Titlis tour in your schedule. At an altitude of 3 000 meters above the sea-level, this tour with so many things to do in Zurich is imperative, and the views you face will take your breath away.
There you can take a walk over the highest suspension bridge in Europe – the Cliff Walk, or have an adventure in the Glacier Cave.
Even in summer, you can visit Glacier Park for snow tubing. If the weather is good, you can ride the Ice Flyer, an exciting chairlift that will present you with the ice crevasses from the closest perspectives.
For sun-gazers, terraces with the finest restaurants are ideal stops for lunch. The play of light in the Swiss Alps will make your ride memorable in both ways, it is up to you to decide what was more enjoyable, ascending, or descending.
When you finish your tour, the coach will be waiting for you at the base station in Engelberg. Then you can return to Zurich transformed and overwhelmed with Swiss beauty.
3. Rhine Falls Tour from Zurich
Take the Rhine Falls Tour from Zurich and discover the spectacular Rhine Falls, Europe’s biggest waterfall that was created about 15 000 years ago, by the movement of the Earth’s crust. Your tour can be enriched with the visit of the medieval town of Stein am Rhein.
The white water of the Rhine Falls tumble from a height of 23 meters across a 150-meter-wide rock ledge. The riverbanks are embellished with walking and biking trails.
The journey starts with picturesque scenery of charming villages, nestled close to the German border. It is one of things to do in Zurich that we love, eventhough it is not located in the city.
Then be prepared to feel the medieval spirit of the Castle Laufen. Admire the views from the lift and witness how 700 000 liters of water per second plunge across a width of 150 meters into the basin below.
The Belvedere panoramic trail will take you to the panoramic platform just above the falls, where you can hear and feel the rumbling water. If you are visiting during the summer, you can take a boat ride near the falls.
See the Schaffhausen and its famous Munot Fortress, then continue through the charming countryside to the medieval town of Stein am Rhein.
Get to know the old town and its well-preserved buildings. These stone-made houses never cease to fascinate the visitors with their stunning frescoes.
The most distinctive house is the White Eagle, with the oldest Renaissance mural painting in Switzerland. Spent some time in leisure and return to Zurich happy and satisfied.
4. Limmat-Schifffahrt Boat Trip
The flatboats with glass roofs are one of the best things to do in Zurich, offering the different experience of the city, with the views of the Old Town and Lake Zurich. These panoramic boats can accommodate up to 51 passengers. Many visitors have these boat rides at the top of their list of things to do in Zurich.
Over the Zurich’s Town Hall, the Lindenhof, and the Grossmünster church, a Limmat River Cruise passes from the National Museum, up the river to Lake Zurich, and turns back again.
Some boats got their names after Zurich’s saints, like “Felix” and “Regula”, while “Turicum” has the ancient Roman name.
The river cruise is available between April and October. It takes approximately 25 minutes to get from the National Museum to the Zürichhorn, while the whole trip lasts less than one hour.
It is important to mention that boats are not convenient for wheelchairs.
The Landesmuseum station, where the tour begins, can be crowded so check in advance the time of leave and appear on time.
Would you like a dinner cruise on the lake? Check Dreamboats of ZSG, leaving from Bürkliplatz, and enjoy their barbecue.
5. Discover the Kunsthaus Zurich’s Collection
Spend an artsy day at Kunsthaus in Zurich and enjoy the guided tours of the highlights or individual collection areas. This is one of things to do in Zurich that is perfect for art lovers.
Choose the topic and discover more about the Old Masters, Swiss artists, Impressionism, Expressionism, Classical Modernism, or contemporary art.
The museum presents the largest Munch collection outside of Norway, big names like Picasso, Monet, and Chagall, and the main representatives of Expressionism.
If you love contemporary art, you can see works of Swiss artists like Pipilotti Rist and Peter Fischli/David Weiss. You can also see Pop Art from Warhol and Hamilton before video installations.
Fans of art and architecture are excited about the new extension of the Kunsthaus Zurich.
With the imagination of British architect David Chipperfield, this clear geometric concept combined with light is scheduled to open in 2021.
New spaces for the public are located in the extensive central hall. The hall can also be used for concerts.
Don’t miss to visit Kunsthaus Restaurant, a café, and a Museum shop, if you’d like a souvenir of your visit.
There you can find exhibition catalogs, art books and posters, and fashionable accessories. You can also discover the art education program, available to all age levels.
6. Things to do in Zurich – Discover Lindt Home of Chocolate
Switzerland is famous for many things, including beautiful mountain scenery, clocks, and of course, chocolate.
The building of Lindt’s Home of Chocolate was founded in 2013, and it is the highlight of the Swiss chocolate history.
The modern design for this multifunctional building was created by architects Christ & Gantenbein.
It differs from the historical Lindt & Sprüngli factory building from 1899. But, with its modern design, it fits into the surroundings in Kilchberg.
This project has one goal – to become the most important Swiss business location for chocolate in a long term.
Also, they will continue doing the work of the former company founders, who made Swiss chocolate famous worldwide and an important part of national identity.
Lindt’s Home of Chocolate is the owner of the world’s largest Lindt chocolate shop, a Lindt café, and a Lindt Chocolateria that offers chocolate courses.
You can make the greatest chocolate together with a real LINDT Master Chocolatier and learn all about your favorite treat.
At the entrance is a 9 meters tall chocolate fountain, the largest in the world. There you will find the best chocolates, pralines, and a whole range of other delicious treats.
When you are considering things to do in Zurich, Lindt Home of Chocolate should be on your list.
Lindt Home of Chocolate, with its highly developed transportation net in Zurich, is about to become an exciting day-trip destination for chocolate fans all over the world.
All you need to know about Swiss chocolate.
7. Visit Zurich Toy Museum
Visiting Zurich Toy Museum is one of the most interesting things to do in Zurich. It is located in the oldest part of Zurich, in one of the corners of the Old Town.
300 years old toy collections will take you on a nostalgic journey, where you can have an insight into how our great-grandparents’ childhood looked like.
In the museum, you will find the private collection of the toy dealer Franz Carl Weber and his family.
The old doll’s houses will tell you how a domestic life looked back in the past, from the early 18th to the 20th century. You will also notice how dolls’ clothes have changed with the latest fashions.
The old train sets and steam engines manifest how technology has influenced the nursery. The miniature bulky vehicles that are exposed in the museum cannot be seen on the roads today.
The museum has a play corner for the children, and some special toys can be bought in the museum shop.
It justifiably described itself as “small yet refined”. If you have extra time while visiting Zurich, you will not regret discovering the toy museum.
8. Visit Swiss Science Center Technorama
Technorama is one of the largest science centers in Europe.
The first museum’s slogan “do not touch” has been replaced by “try it”, which means that your participation is expected.
Various experiments are presented to both children and adults with an opportunity to discover natural phenomena at first hand.
Visitors can observe frost patterns form, witness demonstrations that include electricity and gas, or the “Mindscapes” exhibition that shows that we cannot fully rely on our senses.
Technorama is divided into 12 sections, some of them are Mindscapes, Light and Sight, Current and Magnets, Mathemagic, and Mechanicum.
Over 500 discovery stations are available to visitors of all ages to find something to keep their hands busy. There are also numerous workshops related to Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Most of the exhibits are also explained in English, French, Italian, and German.
The “Spiegeleien” is a special experiment that uses mirror images from science and art, while the Adventure Rooms dare you to solve distinctive puzzles.
With the Winterthur Museum Pass, you can visit this and many other museums. The price includes travel on the museum bus and local public transportation.
To get there, you can take a train to Winterthur from Zurich’s main train station, and then take the bus N°5 to Technorama, or you can hire a limousine.
9. A train ride to visit the surrounding area
There are plenty of things to do in Zurich to fill your day. With its perfect location, Zurich is also the perfect base for exploring the surrounding areas.
Here, we will list just some out of many day trips from Zurich that you can take by train:
- A train ride from Zurich to Chur
- one hour’s train ride from Zurich to Stein am Rhein
- Steam Train Ride to the Sihl Forest
A train ride from Zurich to Chur will bring sensations that you truly are in Switzerland. As soon as your train leaves the tunnel, the sky will open up to portray scenery that will leave you speechless.
You’ll get Switzerland from Heidi books and movies – steeple chapels on rocky cliffs and vast green meadows with white peaks.
You can also take one hour’s train ride from Zurich to Stein am Rhein, and arrive directly into medieval Switzerland.
Of course, timber buildings from the main streets are now in a better condition than they used to be in the past. Colorful frescoes are displayed in the buildings around the main square – Rathausplatz.
We already mentioned this medieval town in the Rhine Falls tour, it is up to you what transport will you use. Anyway, dedicating a day trip to this destination won’t be a mistake.
Steam Train Ride to the Sihl Forest will take the visitors to the wilderness of the Sihl forest, away from the crowds and noise of a big city.
On this nostalgic journey, there are many things to do, like visiting the wilderness park (Wildnispark Sihlwald) or a guided tour through the depot of the Zurich Train Museum.
For elevated comfort and luxury hire a limousine to take you to these places.
10. Visit Dübendorf Aviation Museum
Also known as “Flieger Flab Museum”, the Aviation Museum in Dübendorf was opened in 1972. It traces the history of military aviation in Switzerland, from its beginnings to the present. We love this museum. This is why we chose to put it in our list of things to do in Zurich.
There are over 40 aircraft and helicopters that manifest how technology has changed over time. You can draw a parallel between the wooden biplane and the interceptors flying at sonic speed.
If you want to go on a nostalgic journey, sit in the cockpit of a Pilatus P-3 flight simulator or a Boeing-737, and recall how adventurous flying once was.
A wide spectrum of real flying machines is exposed, along with the several interactive displays with whom the kids can play. Through windows, you can see the airfield and any planes that might be taking off or landing that day.
Two long halls are dedicated to the exhibitions that show the development of the Swiss Air Force from the beginning, and they display examples of antiaircraft defense systems.
This museum is in Dübendorf, east of Zurich. You can take a train from the Dübendorf train station, then take a 10 min. walk along the main road that will lead you to the museum. For a relaxing trip choose a limo.
11. Visit Alpamare
Also known as the Caribbean on Lake Zurich, Alpamare is the largest water park in Switzerland. It was opened in 1977, high above Lake Zurich.
The park was purchased by Aspro Ocio in 1999 and managed under Alpamare license.
Children and adults can have fun at 12 water slides with a total length of 2,100 meters. All slides are different, so you can choose your favorite.
The Jungle Run slide is the longest enclosed water slide in Europe, where you can race by sliding on the two tracks and measure the time. You can dive into a 6-meter-deep funnel or experience the most adventurous ride through the thrilling tube slide.
The tropical plants in the pool and around the slides will make you feel like you are on a beach holiday.
After the adrenaline pumping, you can relax in the Alpa thermal bath or the sauna, visit the fitness center, or have dinner in one of the splendid restaurants.
There is also an outdoor area for relaxation with magical views of Lake Zurich and the mountains. For children, there is a toddler area with slides, a paddling pool, and a wide variety of water-play features. Visiting Alpamare is probably one of the top 5 things to do in Zurich.
12. Soak in Thermal Baths & Spa Zurich
Bathing at the Thermalbad & Spa Zurich after walking through the city the whole day is unlikely to be something you’ll regret.
The Thermalbad and Spa, meaning thermal baths and spa, offer utter relaxation with valuable minerals in 35 to 41-degree warm water.
Not far from the city, the spa is a perfect place for a short visit. You can get there easily by public transportation.
The spa is on the site of the city’s former Hürlimann brewery which produced 14% alcohol Santa Claus or Samichlaus beer.
There you can experience two types of program:
- The thermal baths
- The Roman-Irish spa circuit
The thermal baths include indoor pools and a rooftop spa. You will get your robe and towel, and be ready to indulge yourself. You will realize that you are swimming in a big beer vat and you will enjoy the historical moment the place has.
The Roman-Irish spa circuit has extra access to a “circuit” of ten stations. These stations are divided into wet zones and dry zones. You will start with the wet zones, while the last two dry zones are perfect for chilling, revitalizing, and marking the end of your program with some water or free tea.
Seize the opportunity to swim in a pool on the top of a roof and feast your eyes on one of the most fascinating cities in the world.
Check out the Thermalbad and spa Zurich here!
13. Cycling in Zurich and Region
If you want to explore Zurich actively, try some out of many beautiful cycling trails. You can choose trails that lead through the urban areas, along the shores of lakes, or through thick forests.
Trails differ in length and levels of difficulty. Every route is marked with a blue logo on a red background bearing a bicycle symbol.
From Zurich, routes lead to Canton of Schwyz, the Rhine Falls near the German border, or the Rapperswil, a magical town of roses. The roads are smooth and the scenery is breathtaking.
If you want an adventure and adrenaline rush, then you should try Mountain biking.
Biking fans can choose between long trails, such as the 65km route between Zurich and Einsiedeln, or exciting short trails on Zurich’s local mountains.
For those who do not fear, some trails will inspire every acrobatic on two wheels. If you want to push yourself you can try isolated trails with brutal climbs. Dare and test your limits, surrounded by picturesque nature.
Limousine service in Zurich
Since there are so many things to do in Zurich, you need to travel from one place to another.
If your list is long, then you need efficient transport that will help you accomplish all the things from the list during the day. In that case, limousine service is a perfect choice.
If you need to be picked up from the airport, you should contact limousine services in Zurich for your airport transfer.
Read about different types of Zurich airport transfers.
With many years of professional experience, limo services in Zurich guarantee you punctuality and safety in your airport transfer. Impeccable services are perfectly familiar with the area, specifically with Zurich Kloten Airport. They also have access to airports and necessary passes.
Hiring a limo is the best choice for sightseeing and all the things to do in Zurich. The chauffeur services in Switzerland are perfectly familiar with Zurich attractions, so they will take you to the right places and save your precious time.
There will be no need to spend your money on parking spots, and you will arrive at your destination quicker. A stress-free ride with a confidential chauffeur is a promise when it comes to Zurich airport transfer or sightseeing in Zurich.
