One day in Zurich: the best things for your itinerary

Share post

As Switzerland’s largest city, there’s no end of things to see and do in Zurich. It’s a beautiful city, with a chocolate box old town, a crystal-clear river that runs through the historic centre, and a glacial lake surrounded by mountain peaks. There’s also a generous helping of museums and other attractions to keep you occupied.

But if you only have one day in Zurich – perhaps you’re visiting en route to other places in Switzerland or on a layover – you might be wondering what to prioritise. If so, read on to discover some of the top things to do in Zurich in a day.

My one-day itinerary includes the main attractions in Zurich. I’ve also included some information on how to get to Zurich, how to get around, and where to eat.

And if you have more than one day in Zurich and are considering other places to visit, there are some suggestions at the end of this post.

My itinerary includes options for:

• Exploring Zurich’s historic old town that straddles the Limmat River
• Cruising around Lake Zürich
• Strolling around Zurichhorn Park and popping into the tranquil Chinese Garden
• Visiting a museum
• Sampling Swiss chocolate in the Lindt Home of Chocolate
• Taking a dip in a thermal rooftop spa pool
• Eating out in one of the city’s large selection of restaurants

This post contains affiliate links

Where is Zurich?

Zurich is located in the north of the country.

It is just over 120 km from the capital of Switzerland, Bern, around 75 km from Basel, and around 275 km from Geneva.

Zurich is also well-located for anyone interested in hopping over the border to visit some of Switzerland’s neighbouring countries. It is only 24 km from the German border, and around 80 km from Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein.

How to get to Zurich

Zurich is one of the main airport hubs in the country, along with Geneva and Basel. If you’re flying into Zurich airport, the best way to get to the city centre is by train. This will take you to the main train station (Zürich Hauptbahnhof) in less than 15 minutes.

The city is also well connected by rail. Trains run directly from the other major cities. Bern and Basel are both approximately an hour away, whereas Geneva is almost three hours away.

You can also get to the mountains by train and connect to some of the famous panoramic trains (for example, the Bernina Express, connecting in Chur).

The Swiss Travel Pass

If you plan to use Zurich as a base for sightseeing, or combine a day here with sightseeing in other places, consider purchasing the Swiss Travel Pass.

The Swiss Travel Pass gives you unlimited travel by train, boat, and bus, as well as free entry to over 500 museums.

Given that travelling around Switzerland is not cheap, if you plan to do a lot of this, the pass offers good value for money. Check out the cost of individual trips in advance and see whether it would save you money.

It’s particularly beneficial if you intend to experience any of the ‘panorama’ trains in Switzerland (e.g. the Bernina Express, Glacier Express, and GoldenPass Line) or for mountain trips, where you can get discounts of up to 50% on trains and cable cars.

You can find out more here.

How to get around Zurich

On foot

If you only have one day in Zurich, you can get around on foot.

Many of the sights and areas on my itinerary are within walking distance, and some parts of the old town are pedestrianised.

By public transport

If you prefer to use public transport, or if you want to add to your itinerary some of the things that are a little further away from the centre, you’ll find the city has an efficient public transportation system. It consists of trains, trams, buses, and boats.

The Zurich Transport Association (ZVV) covers all transportation and its website offers downloadable maps and timetables. Tickets can be purchased for varying durations. They allow you to hop on and off different modes of transport, including the ferry boats that cruise across the lake.

If you plan to do a lot of this, you can also buy a Zurich Card. It provides unlimited travel (second class) for specified periods, as well as extra discounts for sightseeing.

Organised tours

You can also sightsee for the day by booking an organised tour. The benefits of this are that you ensure you don’t miss the main sights and are often accompanied by a tour guide who can fill you in on interesting facts about the city.

There are plenty of walking tours you can book – for example, this 2 hour tour of the old town.

Or you could book this tour. It combines a sightseeing bus tour and a walk of the old town, with a short cruise on Lake Zurich.

One day in Zurich

The following itinerary focuses on Zurich city centre, as many of the attractions are here. However, there are options for the afternoon, depending on whether you’re a museum lover, a chocoholic, or in need of some rest and relaxation in a thermal spa bath.

It covers a full day, so start early if you can!

A one-day Zurich itinerary

Below is an itinerary for one day in Zurich. Depending on how much time you have, you may want to adjust some of the timings, and you can substitute certain elements for others.

Below you will find more information on this itinerary.

Explore the old town of Zurich and visit the Grossmünster

Zurich’s old town encompasses the narrow streets in the two districts that straddle both sides of the River Limmat which flows through the heart of the city.

I’d suggest spending a bit of time wandering around this area to start your day. On the east side of the river, there’s Niederdorf, a long pedestrianised street which runs parallel to the Limmatquai along the waterfront. It’s lined with bars, restaurants, and shops, with small cobblestone streets branching off of it. You can wander all the way up to Bellevueplatz and the start of the lake.

The Grossmunster Church

On this side of the river, at the junction with Kirchgasse is the protestant church, the Grossmunster, with its distinctive twin towers. When you visit, make sure you stand outside the front and look down. You get an impressive view from here of the nearby Fraumunster church on the opposite side of the river.

And for those with a good head for heights, you can also pay to go up to the viewing deck outside one of the spires (a small entrance fee of 5 Swiss Francs). I did this on my last trip to Zurich.

Despite feeling a little out of breath by the time I reached the top (unfortunately there is no lift), I thought it was worth the effort.

The Rathaus

Sitting partly over the water on this side of the river, you can also see another historic building: the 17th-century Rathaus (Town Hall). It’s largely Renaissance in style, and now houses the city’s Parliament.

You’ll also find steps down to the river along this stretch (in the summer months, we have a tradition of dipping our toes in the water here!).

Cruise Lake Zurich or sail along the river and visit Zurichhorn Park

Cruise Lake Zurich

Lake Zurich is the fifth largest lake in Switzerland and sits not far from the old town in Zurich.

If you fancy hopping onto a boat to see some of the lakeside scenery, there are several types of cruises to choose. These set off from Zurich Burkliplatz, which is not far from the Grossmunster across the Quaibrucke bridge.

The cruises vary in length, but with just one day in Zurich, you’ll probably need to opt for either the ‘mini lake cruise’ (around 1 hour) or the ‘short lake cruise’ (1.5 hours). Although neither goes that far into the lake, it is a perfect way to sit back and look at the city from a boat, as well as into the distance at the mountain scenery. It’s also a relaxing way to spend some time.

If you have a Zurich Card, this will cover the mini or short cruise.

The mini cruise sails just a short way into the lake and runs every 60 minutes. The short cruise goes further up and runs every 30 minutes. Note that there are fewer sailings outside of the summer months, so check the timetable in advance.

You can also book cruises as part of city tours. So, if you’d prefer to sightsee by bus, you could book this tour, which combines the two and also includes a walking tour.

Stroll around Zurichhorn Park and visit the Chinese Garden

An alternative to taking a cruise on the lake is to visit Zurichhorn Park. This is not far from the old town and is a popular green space that sits on the banks of Lake Zurich. It’s a wonderfully relaxing spot, whatever the weather, and another way to see some of the lakeside.

When you’re in the park, you can stroll through the leafy surroundings in the fresh air, see the intriguing sculptures dotted throughout the grounds, and grab a coffee.

You can also pop into the Chinese Garden, which is within the park. It’s a small but captivating and tranquil place, especially if you’re after some peace and quiet after the hustle and bustle of the old town. There’s a small lake in the middle and several colourful temples.

Getting to Zurichhorn

If you fancy a trip out to Zurichhorn, there are several options to get here. A pleasant way is to take the short boat ride along the Limmat and up into the lake. Disembark at the Zurichhorn stop. Doing it this way means you’ll get to see some of the historic buildings lining the river during your journey.

You can catch boats near to the main train station, by the National Museum. The whole journey takes around 25 minutes (one way). The river cruise is included as part of the Zurich Card. However, note that it operates only between April and October.

You could also catch the 912 or 916 bus to the Chinagarten stop, or the number 2 or 4 tram to Hoschgasse or Frohlichstrasse. If you’d prefer to walk, this will take around 20 to 30 minutes from the end of the old town.

Visit the Fraumunster, St. Peter’s Church and the Lindenhof

After lunch, you should explore some of the old town on the west side of the river.

The Fraumunster

By the Munsterbrucke bridge, opposite the Grossmunster, is the Fraumünster Church. With its tall thin green spire, you can’t fail to miss this beautiful church. The church takes its name from the women who lived here, (‘frau’ meaning married woman in German), and is definitely worth a visit.

The Zuerich.com website, in particular, notes the church’s beautiful stained glass windows, and so I stopped by on my last visit.

I can vouch for the fact that they are, indeed, beautiful, sitting under an elegant, vaulted ceiling with stars painted onto it.

It costs 5 Swiss Francs to go inside.

St. Peter’s Church

A stone’s throw from the Fraumunster is St. Peter’s Church. This is Zurich’s oldest parish church and is famed for having Europe’s largest church clock face.

Covering the width of one side of the bell tower, it measures 8.7 metres in diameter.

The Lindenhof

St. Peter’s Church is just another a short walk from the next spot which is worth visiting briefly. This is the Lindenhof hill, a small and compact outdoor open space which was once the site of a Roman fort.

From this vantage point, you get wonderful views back over to part of the old town and the Limmat River.

Museums, spas or chocolate!

At this point in your day, you’ll probably need to choose just one, possibly two things, to focus on. Unfortunately, with just one day in Zurich, it’s impossible to cram everything in.

Depending on which you choose, you may need to hop on some public transport to get there. So consider in advance whether it would be worth purchasing the Zurich Card, which also gives you discounts on some museums.

Zurich museums

If you’re a museum lover, there’s no shortage of options to choose from. Below are some suggestions. Again, check whether you get free entry to these if you have purchased the Zurich Card.

The Swiss National Museum (the Landesmuseum Zurich): housing historical and cultural art works and artefacts spanning different centuries, The Swiss National Museum is located next to Zurich’s main railway station. It is the country’s most visited museum.

The Fifa World Cup Museum: dedicated to the history of football, the Fifa Museum is kitted out with a wealth of fascinating football facts, and features interactive sections that are particularly engaging for children. Travel to Bahnhof Enge and walk the short distance to the museum.

The Rietberg Museum: an important art museum, the Rietberg displays works from Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Oceania. It has “23,000 objects and 37,000 ethnographic photographs in its collection”. It is situated on Gablerstrasse 15, near Enge station.

The Kunsthaus Zurich: The Kunsthaus Zürich contains one of the largest art collections in the country, with an estimated 4,000 works of arts and sculpture dating back to the 13th century. The collection includes the Middle Ages, Swiss painters, Impressionism, contemporary art and Classical Modernism. The Kunsthaus is just off Ramistrasse.

The Zurich Tram Museum: A museum dedicated to trams. It offers an immersive experience: “Climb aboard the museum vehicles, view a tram from below and take a ride on the “Cobralino” children’s tram”. It is on Forchstrasse 260, in District 8.

The Wow Museum: Billing itself as the “room for illusions”, in the Wow Museum “nothing is as it seems….A museum has never been so much fun!”. It is situated not far from the main railway station.

Take a dip in a thermal spa

I’m a bit of a fan of spas, so I’ve made sure I squeezed in a visit to one of the top ones in the city on several occasions. I’ve particularly enjoyed it when I’ve visited in the winter and been able to immerse myself in the warm and relaxing thermal baths.

I do this in the Hurlimannbad and Spa, a spa that is housed on the renovated site of Zurich’s old Hürlimann brewery (this produced the wonderfully named Santa Claus or Samichlaus beer). It’s just a 5 to 10-minute walk from Enge station and not far from the main sights in Zurich. So if you wanted to, it would be possible to spend some short time during your visit.

In addition to a fabulous rooftop thermal pool with panoramic views of the city, the spa offers other experiences to try.

If you book the Irish-Roman circuit, this takes you through a series of pools and wellness rooms. The cheaper and quicker dip in the indoor beer vat, followed by a trip up to the outdoor pool, is also a great experience.

Try Swiss chocolate

Switzerland is famous for its chocolate, so you should definitely try some when you’re in the city. There are plenty of chocolate shops that you can pop into, including the Sprungli, Laderach, and Tuescher confiseries.

Or if you have time, you could stop off to try some. Sprungli is not just a chocolate shop; it also has a café and restaurant on-site. It’s a good choice if you’re around the Bahnhofstrasse area, and need of some sugar. I tried this and it was divine!

The Lindt Home of Chocolate

For the more dedicated chocoholics among you, a popular attraction in Zurich is to head out to the Lindt Home of Chocolate. This boasts Switzerland’s largest chocolate museum and largest chocolate shop, and there’s a huge chocolate fountain inside to greet you when you arrive. It is apparently over 9 metres high, holds 1,400 kg of chocolate, and flows with the aid of 94 metres of pipe!

Inside the Lindt Chocolate Factory, you can learn about the history of cocoa and chocolate, how Switzerland became (in the words of the museum) the ‘capital of chocolate’, and how it is made. You can also sample some!

And if you want a more in-depth experience, there are courses available where you can create your own chocolate bars, truffles, or lollipops.

A visit here is extremely popular, so you’re advised to book in advance if you don’t want to miss out.

You can book here.

To reach the Home of Chocolate, you can catch a bus (number 165) or boat from Burkliplatz (if you opt for the latter, it will also involve a 10-minute walk).

Visit a Christmas market

If your one day in Zurich coincides with the festive winter months, there will be several Christmas markets that you could briefly pop to.

The oldest is located in the old town, while another sets up on the concourse in the main train station. This has a 15-metre high Christmas tree. Another will be in front of Zurich Opera House, and there will be a Christmas village (Wienachtsdorf) near the river and lake.

The city also hosts the Werdmühleplatz market off the main shopping street. This has a unique ‘singing Christmas tree’, a tree-shaped stage where choirs entertain with festive hymns.

All these markets run from mid to late November until around Christmas Eve (in 2025, all open on 20th November).

Eating out in Zurich

Where to eat in Zurich will very much depend on what cuisine you’re looking for, your budget (eating out here is not cheap), and how much time you have to travel beyond the old town.

Popular dishes to try include the following.

Rosti: a large fritter-type dish consisting of grated potato that is either baked or fried. It can be served as a side dish or as a main, complete with various different toppings.

Fondue: a pot of hot melted cheese that you dip bread into, this is the ultimate winter warmer if you’re in the city during the cold months. There are variations (e.g. hot oil to dip meat into or sweet chocolate fondues), but it’s the cheese one that is the traditional Swiss dish.

Raclette: a dish named after the cheese that comprises its main ingredient. The cheese is melted at the table and then served with a selection of accompaniments.

Spaetzle: a noodle/pasta type of dish that will appeal to vegetarians as it often comes meat-free and served with cheese or onions (although there are also plenty of recipes that do include meat).

Zurich geschnetzeltes: a dish from Zurich itself, this is veal covered in a white wine cream sauce and served with mushrooms. Rosti often comes with it. Not one for vegetarians, although the vegetarian Haus Hiltl does offer its own non-meat version.

Sausages: I personally think that you can’t have a list of the top things to eat in Zurich without including sausages on it. These dishes are often served with sauerkraut, potatoes (or potato salad) and a gravy.

Where to eat

Given you may only have one day in Zurich, the following suggestions focus on establishments that are fairly central or that I have personally visited.

However, there are lots of other places to choose from. The Zurich tourist site provides a wealth of information on eating out, and you can explore other options there.

Walliser Keller: Located in the old town, Walliser Keller offers a wide selection of different Swiss classics. These include sausages, fish from the Swiss mountains, and fondue (both cheese and meat). It also has “fondue gondolas” outside the restaurant – small two-person gondolas for a romantic evening of fondue.

Zeughauskeller: this is a cheery bierkeller in the city centre that we’ve visited several times. It serves our favourite Swiss food and has a generous selection of sausage dishes to choose from. It’s also a slightly more affordable option for dining in a city where eating out doesn’t tend to be cheap.

Haus Hiltl: The world’s oldest vegetarian restaurant, this eatery does a fantastic Sunday brunch buffet (see my previous post for more details). The choice on offer is extensive, featuring an impressive and eclectic mix of traditional Swiss dishes and more modern gastronomic inventions, alongside local and international cuisine.

Raclette Factory: If you fancy trying out raclette, but are not sure about it, then the Raclette Factory might be for you. You can build your own dish here by selecting your cheese, a side, and a topping. Alternatively, there are more standard raclette dishes.

Lakeside: If you’re in the Zurichhorn area, then you could stay for a meal at Lakeside and enjoy stunning views of the lake. It serves vegetarian, meat and fish dishes.

Ideas for days out from Zurich

Zurich is well-located, and so if you have more than one day, a day trip to other places is possible.

Below are some suggestions for great days out. You can also find out more in my individual posts for some of these destinations, and in my collection of top day trips from Zurich.

The Rhine Falls

At 23 metres high and 150 metres wide, the Rhine Falls is Europe’s biggest waterfall. It’s estimated that during the summer months, the flow of water is around 600,000 litres per second. It’s a stunning attraction worth seeing.

A trip to the Rhine Falls is obviously centred on seeing the waterfall. A top thing is to take a boat trip right up to it and see it from the top of a rock in the middle of the water.

However, there are plenty of other things to do. These include wandering along a trail and onto the viewing platforms that get close to the crashing water, having lunch in one of the restaurants by the water, having a picnic, and visiting the medieval Laufen Castle.

You can find out how to get from Zurich to the Rhine Falls here.

Bern

Bern, Switzerland’s capital, is another excellent place to visit if you’re on a trip to Zurich. There’s lots of things to do in Bern, but as it’s closer in size to a large town, it’s easy to get around these and see everything it has to offer. It’s just under an hour by fast train from Zurich.

The city has a UNESCO World Heritage Site old town featuring medieval buildings. It is also home to various museums, most notably those about Albert Einstein, one of the city’s most famous residents. It also uniquely has a family of bears that live along the Aare River!

Basel

Basel sits on the Rhine River in the northern part of the country, near the borders with both France and Germany. It’s a train journey of around an hour from Zurich.

Regarded as the cultural capital of Switzerland, and being the third-largest city in the country, means there are a variety of things to see and do when you visit. Many of these are centred around the medieval old town.

Top things to do include spending time in the old town, seeing the distinctive Town Hall building, and visiting the Gothic Munster to take in the views from the Pfalz terrace behind. You should also stop by the famous Tinguely Fountain, which has 10 metal figures that ‘dance’ around in the water.

Art lovers will also be in their element as several famous art museums are in the city.

Find out what to do on a day out in Basel here.

The Jungfraujoch

If you’re looking to get out into the mountains and see some of the landscape the country is so famous for, then add a visit to the Jungfraujoch to your list. This is one of the most famous places to visit in Switzerland. It has Europe’s highest train station here, at over 3,400 metres and links to Mount Jungfrau in the Bernese Alps.

From Zurich, it takes a few hours by public transport to reach the Jungfraujoch, and involves a few train changes.

You can, however, book guided tours that will take you there by coach and train. Given its location, these might be the best way of day-tripping to the Jungfraujoch.

Top things to do on a day out to the Jungfraujoch include riding to the ‘top of Europe’ on an amazing cogwheel train, looking out over the Alp’s longest glacier, going hiking, and ziplining between the mountains. You can also buy some chocolate from the highest Lindt shop in the world!

Mount Titlis

If you don’t fancy the long day out needed to visit the Jungfraujoch, you could instead opt to visit the nearer Mount Titlis. This is the highest summit in central Switzerland and a great day trip.

From Zurich, you’ll have to first make your way to Lucerne (just over 40 minutes by fast train). Afterwards, take the train to Engelberg, a journey of around 45 minutes. You can then hop on Engelberg’s aerial cableway for a unique experience in a rotating cable car ride that goes up the mountains. The ride is about half an hour, during which you ascend over 3,000 metres.

You can also book organised tours that take you from Zurich to Mount Titlis: this day tour takes you by coach via Lucerne where you get some free time to sightsee. Once you arrive, there’s a lot to do including going into a glacier cave, walking on Europe’s highest suspension bridge, and flying across the slopes in the ‘Ice Flyer’ chair lift.

Schaffhausen

Nestled along the banks of the Rhine River, Schaffhausen is a charming town to the north of Zurich near the border with Germany. It is less than 40 kilometres from Zurich, a travel time of between 40 minutes and an hour by train from central Zurich.

Schaffhausen is only small, but there is a lot to see here – certainly enough to make it one of your day trips from Zurich. It’s also a good stopping point if you’re planning to visit the Rhine Falls, Europe’s largest waterfall.

My fuller post provides more information.

Lucerne

Lucerne is a beautiful Swiss city on the shores of Lake Lucerne in central Switzerland. It’s just 40 minutes by train from Zurich in the German-speaking part of the country, so it is an easy day trip to take.

Its scenic location makes it a popular place to visit year-round (I’ve written a separate post on 13 of the best things to do in Lucerne in winter if you’re staying at that time of the year).

When you visit, make sure you walk across the famous 14th-century Chapel Bridge, Europe’s oldest covered bridge.

Also stroll around the city’s old medieval streets, see the Italian Renaissance Town Hall and the Jesuit Church, and go around the 13th-century Musegg Wall to enjoy the views from the top of the towers. You can also take a boat ride around the beautiful lake.

One day in Zurich

I hope you enjoy your one day in Zurich, especially if it is your first time in the city.

For more ideas for short breaks and day trips in the UK and Europe, see my website.

Share post