Must-Dos in the Little Big City
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Home to historic churches, world-renowned museums, and a beautiful lake, Zurich is the perfect spot for your next vacation. Navigating the city as a visitor is easy due to its walkability and vast public transportation system. As an added bonus, there’s over 1,200 fountains in the city that provide drinking water free of charge.
Here’s a bucket list to make sure you experience all that Zurich has to offer!
Swiss National Museum
The Swiss National Museum is a great first stop in Zurich! The museum is made up of four entities with the most popular one being the National Museum Zurich. Here, visitors can get introduced to all things Switzerland and walk through exhibits focusing on culture, artwork, and craftsmanship. Tickets for adults are 10 francs.
FIFA Museum
Whether you’re a die hard soccer fan or just enjoy watching the occasional game, the FIFA Museum is a wonderful addition to your Zurich bucket list. The museum has three floors of exhibits ranging from learning about the history of football to viewing FIFA trophies. Make sure to look for your national team’s jersey in the rainbow exhibit!
Grossmünster Church
With its towers soaring over the skyline, Grossmünster Church is one of Zurich’s most iconic attractions. The church holds great significance in Switzerland’s history, as the Swiss-German Reformation was initiated there. Inside, visitors can see the crypt, stained glass windows, bronze doors, and gothic style paintings. Admission is free, but if you want to climb the towers, it’s 5 francs for adults.
Fraumünster Church
Another beautiful church to visit while in Zurich is Fraumünster Church. The church was founded in 853 by Louis the German and built on the remains of a former abbey. The most prominent features of Fraumünster are the stained glass windows designed by Marc Chagall and Augusto Giacometti as well as the organ, which has over 5,700 pipes. Admission hours vary by season; more information can be found here.
Take a boat tour on Lake Zurich
Getting out onto Lake Zurich is a must-have experience for your Zurich bucket list! Being on the water provides a beautiful view of the city as well as the snow-covered mountains in the background. Tour lengths range from 55 minutes to over 3 hours. Ticket prices and departure times can be found here.
Ride the Adliswil-Felsenegg Cable Car
If you’re looking for the best viewpoint in Zurich, you need to check out the Adliswil-Felsenegg Cable Car! It takes you up to the top of Felsenegg in about 5 minutes, where you can find lookouts, a restaurant, and multiple hiking trails. The cable car is only a 15 minute train ride away from the historic center of Zurich; take the S4 train and exit at Adliswil to get there.
Have a meal at Haus Hiltl
Zurich is home to quite a few famous restaurants and Haus Hiltl is one of the best. Recognized by Guinness as the world’s oldest continuously run vegetarian restaurant, Haus Hiltl has been serving up delicious meals since 1898. Even if you’re more of a meat and potatoes person, you should still stop by and try their famous European and Indian-inspired dishes. The restaurant primarily runs on a buffet system where the price of your meal is determined by the weight of your food.
Try some Swiss Chocolate
What’s a trip to Switzerland without trying some of their famous chocolate? Max Chocolatier, Confiserie Sprüngli, and Confiserie Teucher are some of the best places to get authentic chocolate in Zurich. Visitors can also check out the Lindt Home of Chocolate Museum.
If you have more time…
…consider a day trip to Liechtenstein! Nestled between Switzerland and Austria, Liechtenstein is a 25 kilometer-long principality that is famous for its small villages and castles. In the capital of Vaduz, visitors can check out Vaduz Castle, the Liechtenstein National Museum, and the Cellars of the Prince of Liechtenstein. And if you like, you can stop by the tourist office to get a souvenir passport stamp!
Disclaimer: All information presented in this post was accurate at the time of our trip. Attractions, availability, circumstances, operating hours, prices, etc. are subject to change and this post may not reflect the most up-to-date information. Readers are advised to do their due diligence in researching the location prior to travel. Hyperlink content may be out-of-date and is not sponsored by or affiliated with Scenic Sites unless otherwise noted.
Visited June 2018 | Posted August 2022
