Zurich: Lake Views, Old Town Alleys and Serious Chocolate
Zurich is often reduced to "expensive banking city," but that misses the point entirely — this is a place where people jump into a glacier-fed lake on their lunch break and where medieval guildhalls now serve some of the best food in the country. Compact, walkable and startlingly clean, it rewards slow wandering more than a checklist of sights. Beneath the tidy surface is a city with real edge: Zurich West's industrial-turned-nightlife district and a long tradition of political protest and countercultural art.
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✈ Plan Your Trip →Top Sights
Grossmünster
The twin-towered Romanesque church where Zwingli launched the Swiss Reformation; climb the tower for one of the best views over the Limmat and rooftops.
Fraumünster
Famous mainly for its five stained-glass windows designed by Marc Chagall in the 1970s, glowing blue and red inside a quiet Gothic choir.
Bahnhofstrasse
One of the world's priciest shopping streets, lined with discreet bank vaults beneath the pavement as much as with boutiques.
Lake Zurich promenade
Walk or cycle from Bürkliplatz toward Zollikon; in summer, locals swim right off the piers and take the historic steamboats across the water.
Kunsthaus Zürich
One of Switzerland's top art museums, with major Munch, Chagall and Giacometti holdings inside an expanded, architecturally striking building.
Niederdorf (Old Town)
A tangle of narrow medieval lanes on the Limmat's east bank, packed with small bars, guildhalls-turned-restaurants and independent shops.
Uetliberg
Zurich's own local mountain, reachable by a short train ride, with a ridge walk offering panoramic views over the lake and, on clear days, the Alps.
A Sample Day
What to Eat
Zurich's food scene leans hearty and dairy-rich, shaped by both German-Swiss tradition and the city's long-standing wealth.
Late May to September for lake swimming and outdoor terraces, or December for the Christmas markets around the Old Town; winters are grey and can be damp rather than snowy in the city itself.
The city is small enough to walk end to end, but trams and the S-Bahn run frequently and punctually; a single ZVV ticket covers trams, buses, boats and trains within the city zone.
Skip the paid lake cruises and instead take one of the ZVV public ferry lines across Lake Zurich — same views, covered by your regular transit ticket.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zurich as expensive as people say?+
Yes, especially for food and hotels — expect to pay considerably more than in most European capitals — but public transit, museums and many parks are efficient and good value, and tap water is free and excellent everywhere.
Can you actually swim in Lake Zurich?+
Yes, locals swim in the lake and the Limmat river all summer; free public bathing spots called 'Badis' dot the shoreline, some with diving platforms and snack kiosks.
How many days do you need in Zurich?+
Two full days cover the Old Town, lake and main museums comfortably; add a third day for a side trip up Uetliberg or out to nearby towns like Rapperswil.
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