Zurich holidays

How to reach Zurich

• Flight time: Flights to Zurich from London and other major UK airports take around 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours.

• Transfer time: From Zurich Airport, 11km northeast in Kloten, trains from the airport’s subterranean station take around 10 minutes to reach Zurich Hauptbahnhof (central station).

• Price: The cost of a single train ticket is around CHF 6.80. Taxis from the airport take about 20 minutes, costing roughly CHF 50–70.

Best time to visit Zurich

This will depend on what you want to do during your Zurich holidays; some events are seasonal, and the weather may also play a part in your decision.

• April to June: Temperatures start to warm up nicely from 10°C in April to 20°C in June, the perfect time for city walks and absorbing Zurich’s parks and lakes. You can expect around 8–10 hours of sunshine a day and occasional rainfall, around 60–90mm.

• July to August: Although it’s the most expensive time to visit, this is a great time for the city’s festivals and outdoor activities. Temperatures range between 18°C to 25°C, with long sunny days (up to 12 hours of sunshine) and occasional rain showers.

• September to November: Autumnal weather cools from 15°C in September to 5°C in November, with around 5–8 hours of sunshine and moderate rainfall, from 60mm to 90mm.

• December to March: Temperatures plummet (between -2°C and 5°C) and the snowy season begins, while the city looks fantastic with its festive face on. Expect 3–5 hours of sunshine and around 40–70mm of rain.

Practical information

• Spoken languages: The main language spoken in Zurich is Swiss German, but English is widely understood.

• Local habits and customs: The Swiss are known for their punctuality and politeness, so being on time and respectful of local manners will go a long way. It’s not customary to tip; if you’re impressed by the service, round up your bill to the nearest franc.

• Health and safety: Zurich is considered a very safe city. Tap water is safe to drink, and medical care is excellent. Carrying a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is recommended for medical treatment.

• Currency: Switzerland uses the Swiss Franc (CHF). Credit cards are widely accepted, and ATMs are plentiful.

• Getting around: Although most sites can be covered on foot, the tram and bus system is easy to use, with all tickets valid on trams, buses, “S-Bahn” city trains and some boats. Tickets are available from machines at any stop: either the green button (24hr; CHF 8.60); blue button (1hr; CHF 4.30); or yellow button (short one-way hop; CHF 2.80).

• Electricity and plug types: Switzerland uses Type J plugs, with a standard voltage of 230V. UK travellers will need an adaptor.

• Time zone: Switzerland operates on Central European Time (CET), which is 1 hour ahead of GMT.

• Required travel documentation: UK travellers do not need a visa for stays up to 90 days. You’ll just need your passport.

Local dishes in Zurich

Traditional Zürich cuisine is rich and heavy with meat, epitomised in the city’s trademark dish Züri Gschnätzlets.

Some typical dishes

• Zürcher Geschnetzeltes: Diced veal in a creamy mushroom sauce, generally served alongside Rösti, shredded potato formed into a large patty and fried golden brown on both sides.

• Raclette: A large half-round of cheese is held in front of a fire, and as it melts it’s scraped (raclé) onto a plate, and served with boiled potatoes, pearl onions and pickles.

Meat dishes

• Saucisson Vaudois: This pork and beef Vaud sausage is famous for its delicately smoked flavour, served boiled or steamed alongside papet vaudois, a purée of potatoes and leeks.

• Cordon Bleu: A Swiss take on this dish typically features a breaded and fried veal or pork cutlet stuffed with ham and cheese.

Fish and seafood dishes

• Perch (Egli): The city’s lakeside setting ensures that fresh fish plays a prominent role in the local cuisine; king of the lake is perch, which is either fried or grilled and served with potatoes and veg.

Sweets and desserts

• Luxemburgerli: Cream-filled pastry bites that are truly drool-worthy; the place to come for these is Sprüngli, one of the country’s most renowned confectioners.

• Chocolate: The country has a long tradition of confectioners producing hand-filled luxury chocolates for special occasions, such as chocolate-covered chestnuts in autumn and chocolate bears at Christmas.

Local drinks

• Swiss wine: Switzerland’s wine industry is modest, but a couple of regions produce some impressive vintages, most notably Lavaux.

• Kirsch: The country’s most famous distilled spirit or liquor, this is a cherry spirit from Zug and around Lake Lucerne.

• Swiss beer: Beer (Bier, bière, birra) on draught (vom Fass, à la pression, alla pressione) comes as a flavourful lager-type brew, always served with a large head of foam.

Best things to do in Zurich

With a quaint old town, the flagship Kunsthaus, world-class restaurants and a dynamic alternative bar and club scene in the post-industrial spaces of Zürich West, this financial city is also a very attractive cosmopolitan destination.

Viewpoints and panoramas

• Uetliberg Mountain: Join the locals on this steep-sided ridge rising above the city, with stunning views and wooded walking trails.

• Paradeplatz: A tram-packed square offering some of the best people-watching in the city.

The best districts

• Bahnhofstrasse: One of the most prestigious shopping streets in Europe and a fascinating counterpoint to the quaintness of the Niederdorf alleys, this is where all of Zürich comes to walk, snack and shop.

• Niederdorf: Across the River Limmat from the station, the narrow lanes of medieval Niederdorf stretch south. Its waterfront is lined with fine Baroque Zunfthäuser (guildhalls), whose arcaded lower storeys, fronting the quayside, now house chic restaurants.

• Züri-West: The alternative district of Züri-West is home to Frau Gerold’s Garten, a community-run food market, beer garden and collection of hip bars and shops amid shipping containers and flowerbeds made from reclaimed railway sleepers.

Museums

• Kunsthaus: Switzerland’s best gallery, the Kunsthaus’s wide-ranging collection includes Gothic paintings, Venetian and Flemish masters, some stunning international 20th-century art, plus works by some of Switzerland’s greatest artists such as Fuseli and Klee.

• Pavillon Le Corbusier: The Swiss architect’s last building, commissioned in 1960 by Heidi Weber, this colourful pavilion contains a collection of Corbusier’s drawings, paintings and books.

• Swiss National Museum: Enjoy outstanding displays on Swiss history and culture in this mock Gothic castle with a modern wing.

Parks and gardens

• Zurich Botanical Garden: A couple of blocks inland from the Zürichhorn is the pleasant, open Botanischer Garten, a riot of colour in spring and summer. The site is home to 9000 plant species, a pond, three tropical plant houses and a café, making for a relaxing place to while away an hour or so.

• Park zur Katz: Once the city’s botanical garden, it still boasts an octagonal glasshouse, as well as an arboretum and a medieval medicinal herb garden.

Historical monuments

• Grossmünster Church: No trip to Zürich is complete without a visit to its iconic “Great Minster”, from where Zwingli preached the Reformation.

• Fraumünster Church: This beautiful church, originally a convent for women (hence the “Frau” in the name) is notable for a breathtaking series of stained-glass windows by Marc Chagall and Augusto Giacometti.

Day trips in the area

• Lake Zürich: Take to the water and leave urban life behind on a short boat trip to the “City of Roses”, Rapperswil.

• Uetliberg: One of the best short trips out of the city is to the hill of Uetliberg, a 20-minute train ride away and a favoured getaway for the locals to do a spot of sledding (winter) or picnicking (summer).

• Lucerne: Exquisite Old Town plus breathtaking lake-and-mountains scenery. Either get the train back or take a boat from Lucerne to Flüelen then a train from Flüelen to Zürich.

• Rhine Falls: The largest waterfall in Europe, Rhine Falls is an easy day trip from Zurich; take a boat trip to get up close to the falls or enjoy the views from several nearby viewing platforms.

Activities for families in Zurich

There’s certainly no shortage of terrific family-friendly activities in Zurich.

• Tram rides: Zurich’s trams are great. Enjoy views of the old town and the Limmat River on the 4 or the 15, while number 7 takes you down one side of the lake – take the 2 or 4 for the other side – and the 10 offers a scenic ride all the way to the airport.

• Tram Museum: Continue the tram theme with a visit to the superb tram museum, home to original carriages from 1897 onwards. A special museum tram runs to the venue every last weekend of the month, and there are special family Sundays with handicraft activities.

• Aquariums and zoos: One of the most well-regarded zoos in Europe, Zurich Zoo is home to over 350 species of animals; in the Masoala Rainforest Hall, you can explore a tropical environment and see animals like lemurs and birds up close.

Free things to do in Zurich

Zurich has a justifiable reputation for being very expensive, but there are still plenty of things you can do for free, making your holidays to Zurich as budget-friendly as possible.

• Lake and river swimming: This is a Zürich obsession and you can join in too. Favoured bathing spots include Seebad Enge for lake swimming with mountain views; the 250m-long beach at Strandbad Mythenquai; and the women-only Frauenbad am Stadthausquai.

• Free events: Zürich’s biggest party is August’s massive Street Parade, a tumultuous long weekend of floats, costumes, dancing in the streets and general hedonism. Zürich’s February Fasnacht (Carnival) is another boisterous affair, great fun if you happen to be in the city.

• Free bike hire: The Züri-Rollt scheme is a free bike rental scheme to help unemployed people get back to work. There are pick-up points around the city: the main one is between the train station and the Landesmuseum, just off Museumstrasse. Just leave your passport and pay a deposit; various machines are available free of charge, from speedy multi-geared bikes to city bikes with child seats.

Nature and outdoor activities in Zurich

Zurich’s natural setting between the lake and mountains makes it an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts.

• Hiking: Zurich is a gateway to some fantastic hiking trails. While Uetliberg mountain is a local favourite, for more adventurous hikers, the trails around Lake Zurich or nearby mountains such as the Rigi or Pilatus provide opportunities for longer excursions.

• Cycling: Zurich is a bike-friendly city with plenty of cycling paths. The station has the usual paid bike-rental facilities, but you can also take advantage of the efficient PubliBike bike-sharing system (city bikes and e-bikes for adults only) which is available 24/7 in many locations across the city.

• Watersports: During the warmer months, Lake Zurich is the place to head for a spot of stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking or sailing.