Zurich Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Zürich tours, the lakeside old town and Bahnhofstrasse, a lake cruise, Lindt chocolate, and spectacular Swiss Alps day trips to Jungfraujoch, Lucerne and Mt Titlis, the Rhine Falls and Interlaken. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Zürich and Switzerland itinerary.
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Explore Zurich by interest
Whatever brings you to Zurich — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Jungfraujoch
The “Top of Europe”.
ExploreLucerne & Mt Titlis
Lakeside town and glacier.
ExploreOld Town & Lake
Niederdorf and Bahnhofstrasse.
ExploreRhine Falls
Europe’s biggest waterfall.
ExploreChocolate & food
Lindt chocolate and Swiss fare.
ExploreLake cruises
Sailing Lake Zürich.
ExploreLiechtenstein
Four countries in a day.
ExploreDay trips
Alps, lakes and waterfalls.
ExploreTop attractions in Zurich
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Jungfraujoch
The “Top of Europe”.
Lucerne
The lakeside old town.
Mt Titlis
Glacier and revolving gondola.
Rhine Falls
Europe’s biggest waterfall.
Old Town
Niederdorf and the Grossmünster.
Bahnhofstrasse
The elegant shopping street.
Lindt Chocolate
The Home of Chocolate.
Lake Zürich
Scenic lake cruises.
Zürich in 1 day
- 1Old town & Grossmünster
- 2Bahnhofstrasse
- 3Lake cruise
- 4Lindt chocolate
Zürich in 2 days
- 1Day 1: Old town & lake
- 2Day 2: Lucerne & Mt Titlis
- 3Lake town & glacier
- 4Fondue evenings
Zürich in 3 days
- 1Day 1: Old town & lake
- 2Day 2: Lucerne & Mt Titlis
- 3Day 3: Jungfraujoch or Rhine Falls
- 4Swiss icons
Zürich with kids
- 1Lindt chocolate fountain
- 2Lake boat & cable car
- 3Mt Titlis snow
- 4Rhine Falls boat
2.5 hrs awayJungfraujoch
The “Top of Europe”.
1 hr awayLucerne & Mt Titlis
Lakeside town and glacier.
45 min awayRhine Falls
Europe’s biggest waterfall.
2 hrs awayInterlaken
Between two lakes and the Alps.
1.5 hrs awayLiechtenstein
Four countries in a day.
1.5 hrs awayBlack Forest
Germany’s wooded hills.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Zurich visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
Late spring and summer (May–September) bring warm days, lake cruises and the best access to Alpine day trips — the prime time to visit.
Spring (Apr–Jun)
Mild, blooming days ideal for the old town and lakeside, with the high Alps still snow-capped.
Summer (Jul–Aug)
Warm and lively, perfect for lake swimming, cruises and Alpine day trips to the Jungfrau and Lucerne.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Golden days and clear mountain views make autumn lovely for the city and the Alps.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Cold and often grey in the city but magical with Christmas markets, and the Alps and Mt Titlis are in full snow.
Clear-day Alps
For Jungfraujoch and mountain views, pick a clear day; check forecasts, as summits can be cloudy.
One day
Enough for the old town, lake and Lindt chocolate.
Two days
Add Lucerne and Mt Titlis.
Three days
The sweet spot: the city, Lucerne, and Jungfraujoch or the Rhine Falls.
Four to five days
Add Interlaken, Liechtenstein and more Alpine trips.
A week or more
Use Zürich as a base to tour Switzerland by scenic train.
Travelling with kids
Mix chocolate, a lake boat and snow on Mt Titlis at a gentle pace.
On foot
Zürich’s old town, Bahnhofstrasse and lakeside are compact and best explored on foot.
Trams & buses
An excellent tram and bus network covers the city; a ZürichCARD includes transport and discounts.
Lake & river boats
Boats cruise Lake Zürich and the Limmat river for scenic city views.
Scenic trains
Switzerland’s famous trains link Zürich to Lucerne, Interlaken and the Alps — punctual and panoramic.
Day-trip transport
Tours and trains reach Jungfraujoch, Lucerne, Mt Titlis and the Rhine Falls with ease.
From the airport
Zürich Airport is about 10–15 minutes from the centre by frequent direct trains.
Book Alpine trips ahead
Popular Jungfraujoch, Lucerne and Interlaken day trips sell out — book well ahead, especially in summer.
Swiss francs
Switzerland uses the Swiss franc (not the euro), and Zürich is expensive; cards are accepted everywhere, some places take euros.
ZürichCARD
The ZürichCARD covers public transport, a lake cruise and museum discounts — good value for sightseers.
Try chocolate & fondue
Sample Swiss chocolate at the Lindt Home of Chocolate and enjoy fondue or Zürcher Geschnetzeltes in the old town.
Use the scenic trains
Switzerland’s punctual, panoramic trains make independent Alpine day trips easy and beautiful.
Pick clear days for peaks
Save Jungfraujoch and Mt Titlis for clear days, and book flexible tickets where possible.
Jungfraujoch tours
Popular “Top of Europe” day trips fill up — book ahead.
Lucerne & Titlis
Lucerne and Mt Titlis tours are busy — reserve early.
Rhine Falls tours
Rhine Falls and Stein am Rhein trips fill up in summer — pre-book.
Chocolate & food tours
Lindt and food tours have limited places — book ahead.
Lake cruises
Combined lake-cruise city tours are busy — reserve early.
Summer & Christmas
Summer and the Christmas markets are busy — plan ahead.
Jungfraujoch tours
Around €180–260 for a Jungfraujoch “Top of Europe” day trip.
Lucerne & Titlis
About €120–180 for a Lucerne and Mt Titlis day trip.
Rhine Falls tours
Roughly €60–100 for a Rhine Falls half-day trip.
City & chocolate tours
Around €30–70 for a walking, cruise or chocolate tour.
Lindt chocolate
About €15–30 for Lindt Home of Chocolate entry.
How to save
Use a ZürichCARD, walk the old town, and take scenic trains for independent, better-value Alpine day trips.
Zurich through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Mild days for the old town and lake.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Blooming and quieter; Alps still snowy.
- Best for
- Lake swimming and Alpine day trips.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Peak season; book Jungfraujoch ahead.
- Best for
- Golden days and clear mountain views.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Lovely for the city and the Alps.
- Best for
- Christmas markets and snowy peaks.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Cold in the city; Alps in full snow.