Zurich in winter. Zurich: winter travel ideas. Experience the magic of Christmas on Bahnhofstrasse

Zurich (Switzerland) - the most detailed information about the city with photos. The main attractions of Zurich with descriptions, guides and maps.

City of Zurich (Switzerland)

Zurich - The largest city Switzerland and the capital of the German-speaking canton of the same name. Located in the north-eastern part of the country in a picturesque area on the shores of Lake Zurich. Zurich - economic and Cultural Center Switzerland, as well as one of the largest financial centers in Europe. But it is not boring city banks and headquarters. Zurich is a fascinating place with interesting sights, a well-preserved old town with medieval and Renaissance buildings, and many museums and galleries.

Zurich is one of the most expensive cities in the world, but at the same time one of the best in terms of quality of life. The city is known for its cleanliness, neatness and liberal atmosphere, which, at one time, attracted such historical figures as Lenin, Buchner, Jung, Mann. Zurich is suitable for all tourists: history lovers can walk around the old town and explore ancient sights, culture lovers can visit numerous museums and art galleries, party lovers can stroll through clubs, bars and restaurants.

Geography and climate

Zurich is located in the northern part of Lake Zurich at the source of the Limmat river, which crosses the historical center. The city is located in a valley between the Uetliberg and Zurichberg mountains, 30 km north of the Alps. That's why Zurich is sometimes called the "gateway to the Alps."


The climate is temperate continental with warm but rainy summers. Winters are cool with light frosts and unstable snow cover.

Practical information

  1. The population is more than 400 thousand people. Agglomeration - more than 1 million.
  2. Area - 87.93 km2.
  3. Language - German. The most common dialect is Züridüütsch. English and French languages are also widespread.
  4. The currency is Swiss franc.
  5. Time - UTC +1, in summer +2.
  6. Visa - Schengen.
  7. The most popular shopping areas: Bahnhofstrasse - one of the most exclusive and expensive shopping streets in the world, which runs from the main station to the lake, Niederdorf - clothing and shoe stores, Löwenstrasse - chains of supermarkets and inexpensive shops.
  8. Do not buy Swiss watches in supermarkets or other similar stores. A real Swiss watch cannot cost 8-10 francs. It is better to make such purchases in branded stores. Best inexpensive brands: Swatch, Mondaine. Among the more expensive ones, it is worth paying attention to Tissot.
  9. Frey and Lindt are leaders in the Swiss chocolate market and offer high quality at competitive prices.
  10. We recommend purchasing traditional Swiss goods from Schweizer Heimatwerk.
  11. Popular traditional food: fondue (fondue), raclette (similar to fondue, only cheese served with potatoes and pickles), chnöpfli (soft egg noodles with meat), würste (grilled sausages), rösti with meat (grated potatoes, tastes like hash browns) , zürigeschnätzlets (veal in wine sauce).
  12. The most popular traditional products are cheese, chocolate and candies, ham and sausage.

Story

In ancient times, on the site of Zurich there was a Celtic settlement, which in the 1st century BC. was conquered by the Roman Empire. The Romans built a customs post here between Raetia and Belgica and called it Turicum. The first mention of the city dates back to 929.


From the 13th to the 17th centuries, Zurich was an imperial city within the Holy Roman Empire. In 1351 he became a member of the Swiss Confederation. In the 16th century, Zurich became one of the centers of the Reformation, led by Ulrich Zwingli.


From the 16th to the 18th century, Zurich reached its greatest prosperity. In 1648 it changed its status from an imperial city to the status of a republic. In 1847, the first Swiss railway connected Zurich and Basel. In March 1945, it was mistakenly bombed by the Americans.

How to get there

Zurich is the largest and most important transport node Switzerland. The city has the largest and busiest airport in the country. There are regular trains from the airport to the center of Zurich. The main railway station (Hauptbahnhof) is generally the largest in the world. The station receives almost 3,000 trains per day and has a passenger traffic of 350,000 to 500,000 people daily. It is not surprising that Zurich is easily accessible from almost any major city in Europe by plane, train, bus or car.


Attractions

The old town of Zurich has the medieval charm of old streets, ancient buildings and churches, as well as the brilliance of monumental architecture from the 19th and 20th centuries. Zurich Altstadt is located on east coast the Limmat River and has a diverse architecture: from medieval Gothic to modern architectural styles.


In the Middle Ages, Zurich was surrounded by a fortress wall. The old city walls have not survived to this day. The old town is home to all of Zurich's most famous historical sites, making it the center of attraction for all visitors to this wonderful city.


Bahnhofstrasse is the main street of Zurich. This busy pedestrian thoroughfare runs from the main railway station to Bürkliplatz on the shores of Lake Zurich. Bahnhofstrasse is considered one of the most attractive shopping streets in Europe, with many expensive shops and 19th-20th century architecture.


Fraumünster is one of ancient churches Zurich, located on the Limmat promenade in the old town. The church was founded in 853 by Emperor Ludwig. Modern building is a beautiful three-level columned basilica of the 13th-15th centuries with a Gothic nave, Romanesque altar and early Gothic transept. Also here you can see fragments of a crypt from the time of an ancient abbey of the 9th century. Interesting features of Fraumünster: beautiful stained glass windows and altar.


Church of St. Petra is the oldest parish church in Zurich, founded in the 9th century. Original structure ancient building still visible under the altar. The current building is Gothic, has an early 13th-century Romanesque choir and a Baroque nave with three aisles and galleries. Most interesting feature Church of St. Petra is a giant clock on the tower, which is the largest in Europe (dial diameter 8.7 m).


Grossmünster is Zurich's largest religious building, an imposing Romanesque basilica built between the 11th and 13th centuries. In the 16th century, the church became one of the centers of the Reformation. The most interesting feature of its architecture are the twin towers. The upper levels of the towers were completed at the end of the 15th century.


Old houses along the Limmat river

Along the Limmat riverfront are several elegant old guild houses with luxurious interiors reflecting the wealth of the guilds that ruled Zurich until 1789. The town hall is also located here, which hangs over the river and is supported by the arches of the bridge. It was built between 1694 and 1698 in the late Renaissance style.


Lindenhof is the oldest part of Zurich, located between Bahnhofstrasse and the left bank of the Limmat river. It was here that the Romans built their fortified settlement. Later, Charlemagne built a royal residence here. These ancient structures have not survived to this day. Now there is a park with stunning views of the Old city.


Other attractions and interesting places in Zurich


Niederdorf is an area of ​​the old town that is a pedestrian zone. Part of this area is the Neumarkt (New Market), founded in the 12th century as a suburb of medieval Zurich.

Church of St. Augustine is a 12th-century medieval church built in the western part of the old town. After the Reformation, the church was converted into a coin minting workshop. In 1841, the building was returned to its status as a religious building.


Augustinskaya street

Augustinergasse is one of the most beautiful historical streets in Zurich.


The Water Church (Wasserkirche) is a late Gothic church completed in the 15th century. According to legend, it was built in the place where the Christian martyrs Felix and Regula were executed by the Romans.


Liebfraukirchen was built in 1893 in the style of an early Christian basilica. The tower resembles a Romanesque bell tower.


Schanzengraben is an idyllic promenade in the center of Zurich. In this place you can enjoy a quiet and peaceful walk.

Things to do in Zurich:

  • Boat cruise on the Limmat River through the old town.
  • Climb Mount Utliberg (871 m) and enjoy impressive views of Zurich and the lake.
  • Cruise on picturesque Lake Zurich. The ships depart from Bürkliplatz.
  • Visit to the Museum of Fine Arts - important collections of Flemish painting, Italian Baroque and Venetian Settecento.
  • View the collections of the Swiss National Museum - more than 800,000 historical and cultural exhibits from antiquity to the 20th century.
  • Visit Zurich Zoo - more than 360 species of animals.

The climate is normal for seasonal travel. The weather in Zurich varies from month to month, because... it is very far from the equator. average annual temperature environment during the day +15.0°C, and at night +4.8°C. It is a popular city to travel to in Switzerland. Below is the climate and weather in Zurich in winter, spring, summer and autumn.

The best months to travel

High season in Zurich is August, July, June with excellent weather +23.0°C...+24.7°C. During this period, this popular city receives the least amount of rain, approximately 6 days per month, with 50.3 to 71.3 mm of precipitation falling. The number of clear days is from 18 to 21 days. The monthly climate and temperature in Zurich are calculated based on recent years.



Air temperature in Zurich by month

The warmest weather in Zurich by month and in Switzerland in general is in August, July, June up to 24.7°C. At the same time, the lowest ambient air temperatures are observed in December, January, February, up to 1.8°C. For lovers of night walks, the readings range from -1.8°C to 10.5°C.

Number of rainy days and precipitation

The rainiest periods are August, July, June when bad weather 7 days, up to 71.3 mm of precipitation falls. For those who do not like humidity, we recommend November, March, February during this period it rains only 2 days on average each month and the monthly precipitation rate is 23.5mm.



Rest comfort rating

The climate and weather rating in Zurich is calculated by month, taking into account average temperature air, amount of rain and other indicators. Over the year in Zurich, the score ranges from 3.0 in February to 5.0 in August, out of five possible.

Climate summary

Month Temperature
air during the day
Temperature
air at night
Sunny
days
Rainy days
(precipitation)
January +5.5°C +0.2°C 9 4 days (46.1mm)
February +7.6°C +0.2°C 10 3 days (29.1mm)
March +13°C +1.8°C 18 2 days (23.5mm)
April +16.2°C +3.8°C 15 5 days (38.7mm)
May +19.3°C +5.5°C 14 5 days (68.7mm)
June +24.7°C +9.5°C 18 7 days (61.5mm)
July +24°C +10.5°C 18 6 days (71.3mm)
August +23°C +10.2°C 21 6 days (50.3mm)
September +19.5°C +7.8°C 15 5 days (61.3mm)
October +14.7°C +7°C 17 4 days (48.4mm)
November +10.2°C +2.8°C 18 2 days (34.5mm)
December +1.8°C -1.8°C 13 5 days (60.3mm)

Number of sunny days

Largest quantity sunny days are observed in March, July, August when there are 21 clear days. These months have excellent weather in Zurich for walks and excursions. The least sun is in January, February, December when the minimum number of clear days is: 9.

Zurich has many faces, and this holiday season invites you not only to plunge into the purest waters of the lake, feeding the swans, but also to enjoy walks, shopping and restaurants with organic cuisine.

The best place to stay is the luxurious Park Hyatt Zurich, ideal for a romantic weekend (we recommend the Park Corner Suite), time with family (specify the age of the children when booking, and the hotel will take care of the comfort of little guests) or celebrating with a noisy group (note the new Presidential Suite with private sauna and fireplace). On the eve of the main night of the year, head for lunch to the Conelli Circus Christmas Show, which has been creating a festive atmosphere in the city for over 25 years (until January 1). After such a spectacular performance, your children will begin to stretch and practice acrobatic tricks with even greater zeal - all you have to do is make sure that not a single piece of furniture in the room is damaged. If in the pre-holiday bustle you haven’t planned where you will spend New Year's Eve, just go down to the ONYX Bar at the hotel. The selection of cocktails will surprise even the most experienced, the main thing is to have time to choose and make that very cherished wish from the entire list for 2019. At 00:20, colorful fireworks will begin; just leave the bar to admire it.

Morning joggers can go to the embankment: a breathtaking view of the lake and mountains will speed up their usual pace. On Tuesdays and Fridays from 6 am there is a market on Bürkliplatz, 5 minutes from the hotel, where you can buy seasonal flowers for your loved one as a gift for your morning coffee or glass of champagne. A breakfast to suit all tastes will be served at the hotel's restaurant upon your return. The chef also took care of lovers of a healthy lifestyle: smoothies with superfoods (ideal companions on the morning of January 1), gluten-free baked goods or pudding with chia seeds - everything is on the special menu.

A walk through the old town will be perfectly complemented by shopping at the Nook children's store, a cup of aromatic coffee at the cozy Schober confectionery (the courtyard is conducive to leisurely gatherings with loved ones even in winter!) and lunch at the Italian Cantinetta Antinori. After a portion of delicious pasta, do not rush to grab dessert, but go wander through the streets, on one of which there is a store with the most delicious chocolate - Max Chocolatier. If you are a vegetarian who loves not just a tasty, but also a beautiful meal, go for lunch to the Hiltl restaurant next to the famous Jelmoli shopping center, where the range and presentation of dishes amaze even the most notorious meat eaters.

After a busy day of shopping (the famous street is located two minutes from the hotel), order a gourmet dinner at the Parkhuus restaurant Hotel Park Hyatt Zurich from a special New Year's menu. Dishes made from selected organic ingredients are perfectly complemented by a sample from our own wine collection.

What to do

If your young talents do not like to sit still and the beauty of a European city has not touched their young hearts, be sure to go to Jucker Farm - a place where seasonal vegetables and fruits are collected in the warm season, and in winter they hold master classes for everyone and introduce them to winter products. Another main place in winter in Zurich is rightfully considered the open-air historical skating rink Dolder Ice Rink. Mulled wine and dynamic music will lift your spirits and help you work up an appetite.

What to bring

The best souvenir from Switzerland, while another response to sanctions limits their availability in their homeland, will be a selection of local cheeses (excellent choices at Chäs-Vreneli, Tritt Käse Markthalle and Jelmoli). For those who like to bring home foreign vitamins and healthy food products, we recommend checking out the MÜLLER Reformhaus chain; one of the stores is located two minutes from the Park Hyatt Zurich hotel. Life hack: here you will find the entire range of King Soba organic pasta, so beloved all over the world, the supply of which has not yet been established in Moscow.

What to plan

If you are one of those who like to plan their trips in advance, then we recommend adding a visit to the Züri Fäscht festival on July 5-7, 2019 to your calendar. Fans from all over the world come every 3 (!) years to taste local delicacies and dance along the banks of the Limmat River and Lake Zurich to the beat of musical fireworks. When planning your summer walk route, arrange a surprise for your loved ones - lunch in the fresh air under the gentle sun in picturesque places Zurich. Notify the hotel concierge in advance about your intention to have a picnic - there are plenty of places for this pleasure in the business capital of Switzerland. You will have a lunch prepared from seasonal local products, which the chef personally selects from nearby farms, and a bottle of champagne and lemonade will be carefully packed. The cozy and beautiful Villa Patumbah is perfect for excursions and walks, unless you decide to stay in the wonderful Chinese Garden, which is located by the lake not far from the Villa. After a leisurely meal, rent bikes and ride along the boardwalk in the glow of the sunset. A must stop is the gelateria Gelati am See. We strongly recommend that you take care of a scoop of ice cream for yourself: it would be naive to think that your children will share with you the most delicious ice cream in the area.

Gourmet Guide:

Breakfast/brunch:

  • Babu's Bakery
  • Sprüngli Paradeplatz
  • Brasserie Schiller
  • Cafe des Amis
  • Salon

For a cup of coffee:

  • La Stanza (Best cappuccino in town!)
  • Raymond Bar
  • Milchbar
  • The Bank
  • Atelier Bar
  • La Rôtisserie (Storchen Hotel)

Well, let's continue walking around winter Switzerland)))

We spent only a few hours in Zurich on December 4th. Therefore, a post from the category “What can you see in one day”)))

Seven hours for a transfer is quite a long time. And more or less regularly we use such transfers to our advantage when going into the city. True, more often than not there is more time, so I resisted a little - I didn’t want to explore Zurich at a vigorous gallop. But the advantage was that the airport is only a fifteen-minute drive from the center. Trains (in our case commuter trains) run remarkably regularly, literally with the precision of a Swiss watch :-)) Therefore, at 11 am we already went out to the square in front of Zurich Central Station with a green Alfred Escher , founder of the Swiss railways.


I mentioned that the main bazaar was right at the station. But we didn’t see him because our train arrived at the lower platform (there are also upper ones))), so we immediately found ourselves in underground passages, very similar to ours in Moscow, when Sobyanin had not yet overcome the “underground” trade. And most of the shops are not the cheapest)))


And this is just such a fountain)))


Most tourists who come to Zurich - especially by train - will go straight to Bahnhofstrasse (just Zheleznodorozhnaya Street)))), but in its 1.5 km it has the most expensive shops and five-star hotels. Decent people shop here.


But I’m so not into shopping:((that my respectability extended only to a pretzel bought on the “golden” street of Zurich. I just wanted to eat))) And I adore pretzels!


So we immediately turned from Bahnhofstrasse into the Old Town.


Altstadt It is a must in every European city. A sort of “sacred cow” where nothing can be altered, where crowds of tourists are hanging around from morning to morning, where living is expensive and inconvenient, but terribly prestigious...

I don’t know if I would like everyone passing by to stare at my cute little balcony))))


But it’s nice to live in a house with its own store)))


This part of the Old Town is traditionally pedestrian, only residents enter.


Many streets are decorated with illumination. It was a pity that we couldn’t stay until the evening. Surely it looks beautiful. But even without this small areas with diverging streets are good. IN different places fountains with drinking water, various statues and bright flower beds.


I kept tormented by thoughts about whether it was worth drinking water from the gushing stream. I mean, is it really drinkable? Exactly. The local people drank. Then we kissed ourselves)))


The natural border of the pedestrian area is the Limmat River.


There are many beautiful and significant buildings along its banks. For example, the town hall. The building is actually part of the bridge, you can swim under it.



They write that if externally the town hall is a restrained baroque, then inside the decoration is very magnificent and looks more like a palace.


Visible to the right of the pink building St. Peter's Church .

From the network: A 9th-century temple with an ancient tower clock with a 4-meter minute hand and a dial diameter of about 9 meters.

On the left is the green tower Fraumünster.

From the network: According to surviving documents, the temple was built in the 9th century under Louis II for his daughter Hildegard, who preferred monasticism to worldly life. For a long time there was a church convent, where representatives of noble families were tonsured.

Until the mid-20th century, the Fraumünster Church fell into decay, but in the 60s. was restored. The artist M. Chagall worked on the stained glass windows.

There is a monument next to the church Hans Waldmann , mayor of Zurich and military leader as far back as the 15th century...


And one more angle on Fraumünster- from another dominant city Grossmunster.


But the “pink building” itself should not be ignored)))) The name speaks for itself - “Storchen”, i.e. "Stork". And they say that this hotel has stood in this place for 650 years)).


Two equal-sized towers are visible from many parts of the city - this is Grossmünster.

From the network: The temple was built in a gloomy Romanesque style. It is believed that its history began in the 9th century and is associated with the name of Emperor Charlemagne. His horse fell to its knees in front of the grave of the Christian martyrs Felix and Regula, who fled from Roman persecution. The brother and sister were executed and buried on the hill where the Grossmünster was later built.

We went to this church. You are not allowed to take photos inside. And okay - the interior is quite ascetic. Much has been greatly updated, and as a result the feeling of antiquity is lost.

For example, such gates are very modern and clearly installed recently)).





From Grossmunster we went deeper into another part of the Old City, beyond the Limmat.


This side is perhaps less old. But the same fountains in small squares, cute houses, small shops...



An unrealistic number of second-hand bookstores per capita, certainly not cheap. But they are so cute - I love old books...


There are dog bags everywhere here. But they don’t forget about people - there are also dry closets everywhere. They are probably trying to escape the tourists wandering around in all corners. And rightly so.


This is an even less historical part of the city, although it also looks nice)))))


In search of where to eat, we returned back and ended up on the shore Lake Zurich .

Well, really, then Zurich must be))).

The day was so different. Either grey-gloomy, even with rain, or bright sun and blue sky))) And +12, which is gratifying for Russians in December :-))



You can take a boat ride on the lake. And there will be an opportunity, let's go for a ride.


For some reason, I didn’t take pictures at all on the embankment of Lake Zurich. I was just looking at the daily life of the people of Zurich. Lots of people running, walking with children, playing with dogs. Even on lawns. And nowhere are there any prohibitions in the style of the house manager from “The Diamond Arm”)))

I watched the seagulls... But not about the birds now - there are so many.

Only the “green boy” with someone’s head remained in the photo. I think David? Why was the head cut off?


AND Opera theatre. I really liked it!


A very beautiful, light building. True, the perimeter embedded (as is fashionable these days) is not unambiguous for me modern sculptures. Like an unidentified boy. On the other hand, today’s creators also need to leave a mark somewhere...


A river flows out of Lake Zurich Limmat. Which is good in itself.



It’s also very pleasant to walk along its embankments...




On the left is the building National Swiss Museum . It is located just behind the central station. And the plans were to visit it due to its proximity.


But the weather was conducive to the walk))) Which made me very happy. Although the reviews about the museum are good, it is large and would take a lot of time. And we wouldn’t be able to get around and see so much. So next time too))


There is a small park behind the museum. Again, people are walking. And we walked. The sound of falling water was heard all the time. I kept wondering, a waterfall or something, or a dam...

It turned out, indeed, a dam)) This is the quiet and calm Limmat flowing down...


And on the other side of the arrow, the flow from the mountains seethes Zil.


And also, Limmat and Zil mix their multi-colored waters.


We timed it well. On right train made it in time. People wrote in the reviews: be careful, otherwise, if you take the wrong train, you may end up in Lausanne, or even Paris. It worked out. We climbed to the second floor of the train and watched the sunset over Zurich. There were no more cute antique pictures here. There were many office buildings with glass walls, and thousands of people could be seen sitting in these large "beehives"...

Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland, whose history dates back about 11 centuries. It is located in a picturesque landscape on the shores of Lake Zurich, surrounded by forested Alpine mountains. Tourists coming to Zurich will be able to see the sights in just one day - although tourist sites There are quite a few here, but they are not far from each other. In this article we have reviewed the most interesting attractions in Zurich.

Hauptbahnhof central station



The first attraction that visitors to Zurich usually get acquainted with is the Hauptbahnhof central train station. Not only intercity trains arrive here, but also the train coming from the airport. You can get there in 10 minutes, paying 7 francs for a ticket.



Monument to Alfred Escher

The Hauptbahnhof station is striking in its scale - it is one of the largest in Europe. The two-story station building is decorated with columns and sculptures; in front of the entrance stands a monument to Alfred Escher, the founder of the railways and the Credit Bank of Switzerland. The famous Bahnhofstrasse street, leading to Lake Zurich, begins right from this monument.

If you are interested in what to see in Zurich in 1 day, you can start exploring the city right from the station and the surrounding streets, where many of the attractions are located: the National Museum of Switzerland, Pestalozzi Park, St. Peter's Church with the famous nine-meter clock on the tower, Paradeplatz .



St. Peter's Church

From the station all these objects are located within walking distance. And if you want to use city transport, the airport ticket is valid for 1 hour from the date of purchase and can be used to travel around the city. The most convenient way to get acquainted with the city is to have a map of Zurich with attractions in Russian, which is presented on our website.

On Sundays and in the evening, shops and pharmacies in Switzerland are closed, so the station supermarket, which is open every day until 22.00, is very useful.



Bahnhofstrasse, leading from the central station to Lake Zurich, is the main tourist thoroughfare in Zurich, but this attraction in the photo, as a rule, does not make much of an impression. After all, the main thing in it is not the beauty of the architecture, but the invisible spirit of wealth and luxury that reigns here. To appreciate the charm of this street, you need to visit it.



Bahnhofstrasse is one of the richest streets in the world; here are the largest banks in Switzerland, jewelry stores, five-star hotels and boutiques of the world's most expensive brands of clothing, shoes, and accessories. Shopping here is not budget-friendly, but no one is prohibited from going into stores just to look at the assortment and ask the price.



Globus shopping center

Not far from the Hauptbahnhof train station near Bahnhofstrasse there is a large shopping mall Globus, occupying 6 floors huge complex. It works 9.00-20.00, every day except Sunday. Its prices are higher than in other stores, but during the sales season, purchases can be profitable.

At the end of Bahnhofstrasse, tourists will have a pleasant opportunity to look at beautiful view Lake Zurich.

District Niederdorf


Niederdorf Street also starts from the Hauptbahnhof central station, leading to the historical district, which attracts tourists with the unique flavor of the old town. If you're in Zurich in transit and don't know what to see in one day, then go to Niederdorf, you can't go wrong. Narrow streets with ancient architecture, small squares with fountains, antique and souvenir shops, bookstores will envelop you in the atmosphere medieval Europe. This is one of the main attractions of Zurich, the very must have, without which an acquaintance with Switzerland will be incomplete.


Niederdorf has many cafes and restaurants with different cuisines; tourist life here does not subside even in the evening. Most cafes here are open until 23.00, some establishments are open until midnight.

A lot of hotels of different price categories allow tourists to get a comfortable overnight stay in the very heart of the old city.

Find out PRICES or book any accommodation using this form

By historical center The Limmat River flows through the city, originating in Lake Zurich. On both its banks there is the Limmatquai pedestrian promenade, one of the main tourist arteries of Zurich. It starts near the train station and leads to the Lake Zurich embankment.





Gallery Helmhaus

Walking along Limmatquai, you can see many attractions: the majestic ancient Grossmusser Cathedral, business card of which there are two tall towers, Water Church, Helmhaus gallery. On the right bank stands the 17th-century Town Hall, built in the Baroque style. Historic mansions, pavements, cathedrals, immerse you in the atmosphere of the old city. By pedestrian bridges you can walk from one bank to the other, visiting numerous shops and relaxing on the benches of cozy squares. To cover all the sights of Zurich, it is advisable to have a photo of them with a description.



Cafe Odeon

The embankment has many colorful cafes and bars, the most famous of which is the Odeon cafe, located near the lake. The hundred-year history of this legendary establishment is associated with many great artists, scientists and politicians; Erich Maria Remarque, Stefan Zweig, Arturo Toscanini, Einstein, Ulyanov-Lenin and others have been here.

Grossmunster Cathedral

Walking along the Limmat River embankment, you can visit one of the main attractions of Switzerland - the Grossmunster Cathedral. Its two majestic towers rise above the city and give everyone the opportunity to look at its surroundings from a bird's eye view.





Construction of Grossmunster began more than 900 years ago. According to legend, its founder was Charlemagne, who indicated the site of the future shrine where his horse fell to its knees in front of the burials of the patron saints of Zurich. At first, the cathedral belonged to a monastery for a long time, and from the 16th century it became a citadel of the Protestant Reformation.



Now Grossmunster is an active Protestant church, and there is a museum of the Reformation.

  • Open to the public on weekdays from 10.00 to 17.00 in the period November-February, and from 10.00 to 18.00 in March-October.
  • The duration of the excursion is 1 hour, its program includes a climb to the 50-meter tower, inspection of the Romanesque crypt and capitals, church choirs, bronze doors.
  • The cost of the excursion for a group of 20-25 people is 200 francs.
  • Climbing the tower - 5 CHF.

On the lake embankment, the building of the Zurich Opera attracts attention. This opera house was built at the beginning of the twentieth century, and by the 70s it fell into disrepair. At first they wanted to demolish the old theater and build a new building, but then it was decided to restore it. After restoration in the 80s the building opera house appeared as we see it now - made in the neoclassical style, faced with light stone, with columns and busts of great poets and composers.


On the square in front of Opernhaus Zurich there are many benches where citizens and visitors of the city like to relax, enjoying the views of the lake and beautiful architecture.

The rich interior decoration of the Zurich Opera is not inferior in beauty to the best theaters in Europe. The hall, designed in the Rococo style, seats 1,200 people.


On the stage of the Opernhaus Zurich you can watch performances by many famous opera and ballet artists from Switzerland and other countries. The performance schedule and ticket prices can be found at the theater box office and on the website www.opernhaus.ch.

Note! 50 km north of Zurich is the town of Schaffhausen and the Rhine Falls, the deepest in the country. Find out how to get to it and visiting features at.

Uetliberg Mountain

If you look at Zurich and its attractions on the map, you will notice that this city is located between two mountains - Zurichberg in the east and Uetliberg in the west. On one of these mountains, Whitleyburg, was installed observation tower, thanks to which this place has become one of the most popular attractions in Zurich. The opportunity to look down on the city, the lake and the snow-capped peaks of the Alps attracts many tourists here.





When going to Uetliberg Mountain, you should keep in mind that it is always colder at the top of the mountain than in the city, and strong winds are possible. This will provide a respite from the summer heat, but in cooler weather you may need to wear layers when climbing Uetliberg Mountain. Therefore, it is recommended to stock up on warm

    clothes, take a hat.
  • You can get to Uetliberg Mountain from Hauptbahnhof central station by train S10 in a third of an hour, trains run daily at intervals of 30 minutes, a round trip ticket will cost CHF16.8. WITH final stop Trains to the top will require a 10-minute uphill climb or take a taxi.
  • Opening hours of the central station: Mon-Sat 8:00-20:30, Sun 8:30-18:30.



In addition to viewing the opening panorama on Mount Whitleyburg, you can walk along a 6-kilometer walking route, ride a paraglider, and have a picnic with a barbecue in a specially equipped place. There is also a hotel and a restaurant with an open area, open from 8.00 to 24.00.

Experienced tourists advise not to climb Uetliberg Mountain in the early sunny morning, because at this time, when trying to photograph the city, the sun will shine into the lens. It is better to postpone visiting this attraction until the middle and second half of the day.

Did you know? Mount Pilatus is one of the most visited in Switzerland, and you definitely won’t be bored here. See what you can see and do at the attraction at.

Compare accommodation prices using this form



If you need to see Zurich and its attractions in one day, then you may not have enough time to visit Mount Whitleyberg. But there are other ways to see and photograph the beautiful panoramas of Zurich, for example - visit observation deck Lindenhof.

The observation deck is located in a green recreation area on top of a hill in the center of Zurich. Translated from German, Lindenhof means “Linden Yard”; this name appeared due to the abundance of linden trees in this park. On fine days it is always crowded here; numerous benches are constantly occupied by vacationers local residents and visitors.



The attention of tourists is attracted by an ancient fountain with a statue of a warrior maiden, the building of the Masonic lodge and the platform from which beautiful view to the old town and the Limmat river embankment. The fountain was erected in honor of the brave women of Zurich, who at the beginning of the 14th century dressed in men's clothing and joined the army of the city's defenders. The sight of such a large army scared off the invaders, and they retreated.

You can get to Lindenhof from St. Peter's Cathedral along the Shüssel alley, which turns into the Pfalz alley. Entrance to the observation deck is free.

You might be interested in: .

Zurich Zoo

Among what you can see in Zurich, the Zurich Zoo occupies a special place. It will take more time to explore it than to get acquainted with other attractions. To walk around the entire territory and observe all the representatives of the fauna, of which more than 375 species are collected here, you need to allocate at least 3-4 hours to visit the zoo, or better yet, a whole day.





Zoo Zurich is one of the largest zoos in Europe, it occupies 15 hectares, animals here live in conditions close to natural. Visitors in their reviews note the spacious, clean enclosures, as well as the well-fed and well-groomed appearance of their inhabitants. Here you can see tigers, lions, elephants, snow leopards, penguins, Galapagos tortoises and many other species.



Of particular interest to visitors is the Mazoala tropical pavilion, where the ecosystem of the Madagascar tropics is artificially recreated. On an area of ​​about 1 hectare, the temperature and humidity characteristic of tropical rainforests are maintained, plants are planted and more than 40 species of inhabitants of the humid tropics are kept - various species of reptiles, amphibians, exotic birds, monkeys. The freedom of these animals is limited only by the walls of the pavilion. Excursionists have a unique opportunity to look at the life of representatives of the fauna of the tropical forest in their natural environment.



Zoo opening hours:

  • 9-18 from March to November,
  • 9-17 from November to February.

The Mazoala pavilion opens an hour later.

  • Ticket price: adults over 21 years old CHF 26, youth 16-20 years old - CHF 21, children 6-15 years old - CHF 12, children under 6 years old admission is free.
  • Address: Zürichbergstrasse 221,8044 Zurich, Switzerland. Travel from the central station by tram number 6 to the terminus.
Swiss National Museum(Swiss National Museum)

Zurich is home to the Swiss National Museum, this attraction is located near Central Station. The building of the Swiss National Museum was built at the end of the 19th century, but resembles medieval fortress with numerous turrets and green courtyards. The extensive exhibition occupies 4 floors - from prehistoric finds of archaeologists to exhibits from the knightly period of Swiss history.



Collections of Swiss furniture, clothing, porcelain, wooden sculptures, knightly armor, coats of arms, and coins are of great interest to visitors. All exhibits are equipped with signs with explanatory texts in several languages. A separate exhibition is dedicated to the history of the development of banking in Switzerland. When visiting the museum, it is recommended to look at its plan in order to better navigate the location of the museum halls.

The Swiss National Museum is located near the train station.

The Kunsthaus is one of the most important attractions in Zurich; there is something to see for those interested in fine arts. Kunsthaus Zurich is located near the Grossmünster Cathedral in a building specially built for it at the beginning of the twentieth century.



The museum's collection includes works of Swiss art from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. A significant part of the collection consists of paintings and graphics by Swiss artists, but there are also works by such European masters as Edvard Munch, Van Gogh, Edouard Manet, Henri Rousseau, Marc Chagall. Kunsthaus Zurich regularly hosts exhibitions of paintings by world-famous artists and photographers.

  • Kunsthaus is open: Wednesdays and Thursdays 10-20, closed on Mondays, other days of the week – 10-18.
  • Ticket price: for adults CHF 23, children under 16 – free, audio guide CHF 3.
  • Address: Winkelwiese 4, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland. You can get there by bus No. 31, trams No. 3, No. 5, No. 8, No. 9.
FIFA World Football Museum

The headquarters of FIFA is located in Zurich, Switzerland, so it is not surprising that the World Football Museum was opened here in 2016. A visit to it will be interesting mainly for football fans. Here, the history of football is reflected in documents and football trophies, exhibits related to significant football events and victories are exhibited - signed balls and T-shirts, photos from the FIFA archives and other memorabilia.


For children there is an interesting interactive part with watching videos, playing simulators, dancing and master classes. The museum building has a cafe, sports bar, bistro, and gift shop.

  • Working hours: Tue-Thu 10-19, Fri-Sun 10-18. Monday is a day off.
  • Ticket price adult - 24 francs, children 7-15 years old - 14, under 6 years old - free.
  • Address: Seestrasse 27, 8002 Zurich, Switzerland.

If you are planning to visit Zurich, the attractions described in this article will make your vacation eventful and interesting.

The schedule and prices on the page are for October 2018.