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A hillside view over the Limmat river shows old-town rooftops, a church spire, and green hills beyond.
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ZurichTravel Guide

Switzerland4 stories

Switzerland's largest city is far more than banks: a spired old town on a glass-clear river, lake swimming in summer, and a post-industrial west full of galleries.

Is Zurich right for you?

When to come

June to September for lake life; December for festive lights

Around 24°C by day in July, 4°C in January — recorded at the local weather station.

What it costs

Expensive. Part of the reason to come is what you can book when you arrive.

What we've planned, and who for

No hour-by-hour route here yet — the guides below cover it by subject instead.

Zurich is inWorth the splurgeDeepest in Europe
When to go
January: around 4 degrees by day, -1 at night, 63 millimetres of rain, some rain.
February: around 5 degrees by day, -1 at night, 60 millimetres of rain, some rain.
March: around 10 degrees by day, 2 at night, 71 millimetres of rain, some rain.
April: around 15 degrees by day, 5 at night, 80 millimetres of rain, wet.
May: around 19 degrees by day, 9 at night, 128 millimetres of rain, wet.
June: around 22 degrees by day, 13 at night, 128 millimetres of rain, wet. We recommend this month.
July: around 24 degrees by day, 14 at night, 126 millimetres of rain, wet. We recommend this month.
August: around 24 degrees by day, 14 at night, 119 millimetres of rain, wet. We recommend this month.
September: around 19 degrees by day, 11 at night, 87 millimetres of rain, wet. We recommend this month.
October: around 14 degrees by day, 7 at night, 85 millimetres of rain, wet.
November: around 8 degrees by day, 3 at night, 76 millimetres of rain, some rain.
December: around 4 degrees by day, 0 at night, 83 millimetres of rain, wet. We recommend this month.
Cold to hot, by dayDry to wetWhen we would go

June to September for lake life; December for festive lights

Average daily highs, recorded at Zurich Fluntern (556 m elev.), 1991-2020 normals.

Where this comes from

NOAA / MeteoSwiss (en.wikipedia Zurich weather box)

Budget level

Luxury

Typical cost profile for visitors

Combine it with
  • Lucerne40 km

    an easy day trip · both good in June, July, August · a different price level (mixed)

  • Strasbourg, France150 km

    a short hop — comfortable overland · both good in June, September, December · a different price level (mid)

  • Zermatt160 km

    a short hop — comfortable overland · both good in July, August, September

  • Lake Como, Italy160 km

    a short hop — comfortable overland · both good in June, September

Plan itWhere to stay in Zurichad · Booking.comTours and tickets
On the map

Finding Zurich

Open in Google Maps Larger map
The stories

Reading Zurich

Aerial view down the Limmat as it runs through Zurich's old town, the twin towers of the Grossmuenster and other church spires on both banks and the snow-capped Alps on the horizon.
01
The List

The Most Photogenic Corners of Zurich, Ranked

Zurich's looks are badly underrated: eight corners of old town, river and lake, ranked, with the light, the order and the logistics to shoot them all in one weekend.

Switzerland · 13 min
The green-glass Prime Tower rising over Zurich-West at sunset, the setting sun mirrored in its facade and the old railway viaduct, rail yards and low workshop roofs of the former factory quarter spread out below
02
Hidden Gems

The Zurich Neighborhoods Most Visitors Never See

Most visitors trace the same Zurich triangle and leave believing the clichés about a banking city; the Zurich locals love is five neighbourhoods and one tram ride away.

Switzerland · 12 min
Zurich's neoclassical Opera House at dusk, its columned facade and winged rooftop statues pale against a violet sky while the foyer windows glow gold and a small crowd gathers on the steps before a performance
03
Stays

Basing Yourself in Zurich: The First-Timer's Neighborhood Guide

Old town for romance, Bahnhofstrasse for grandeur, Zurich-West for edge — a first-timer's guide to choosing a neighbourhood in a city where every tram ride is short and every bed is expensive.

Switzerland · 11 min
Zurich's Limmat riverfront under a blue sky, with boats moored at a jetty and the twin towers of the Grossmünster and old-town spires in the background
04
Destinations

Zurich for First-Timers: The Complete Guide

A medieval old town, a swimmable lake, Chagall windows, and the best-run transit on earth — how to crack Switzerland's biggest city.

Switzerland · 2 min
In pictures

Zurich, framed

A rain-slicked cobbled lane in Zurich's Old Town hung with Swiss and Zurich cantonal flags, wooden restaurant benches outside red and green painted houses.
Photo: Mael GOUYET / Unsplash
Boats moored along the quay where the Limmat meets Lake Zurich, below the twin towers of the Grossmuenster.
Photo: Claudio Schwarz / Unsplash
Altstadt and the three great churches, Zurich
Photo: Henrique Ferreira / Unsplash
Altstadt, Zurich
Photo: Patrick Federi / Unsplash
Our picks

What we'd do in Zurich

See and do

Where to stay

Before you go

Practical essentials for Switzerland

Money

Swiss franc (CHF)

Language

German, French, Italian and Romansh are official - German in Zurich and Lucerne, French in Geneva; English is widely spoken.

Power

Type C/J, 230V 50Hz

Getting around

SBB runs an integrated rail, bus and boat network; visitors usually buy a Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card and use the SBB Mobile app.

Tipping

Service has been included in listed prices since 1974; round up the bill if you want to, but nothing more is expected.

Tap water

Tap water is safe to drink, including from most public fountains.

Driving

Right-hand side; a valid national licence is accepted for a visit, with an International Driving Permit recommended if yours is not in Latin script.

Emergency

112; also 117 police, 144 ambulance, 118 fire, 1414 air rescue

Country-level guidance, checked against official sources. Currency, fares and entry rules change — confirm anything time-critical before you travel.

Keep exploring

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