Top 10 Things to See & Do in Zürich, Switzerland

In this blog, we'll show you the top 10 things to see & do in Zürich, Switzerland, along with tips we used to make our trip easier and cheaper!

Most people don’t come to Switzerland for the big cities, but it’s DEFINITELY worth spending a day or two exploring Zürich or using it as a base for day trips.

You’ll likely fly into Zurich Airport (ZRH), since it offers the most international flight options, so you might as well stay awhile!

Zürich shines as one of the cleanest and most charming cities in the world, where pristine streets, crystal-clear waterways, and immaculately maintained parks reflect Swiss precision and civic pride.

The city’s historic Old Town, with its narrow lanes, elegant architectural façades, and riverside cafés, exudes a timeless charm that blends effortlessly with modern vibrancy.

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GETTING AROUND SWITZERLAND

The best way to save money while exploring Switzerland is by picking a travel pass that matches your itinerary. It might take a little research and planning upfront, but the savings are absolutely worth it. Don’t worry, we’ve done the hard part for you. Let us help you choose the perfect pass for your trip!

Swiss Travel Pass - We HIGHLY recommend this pass if you plan on visiting multiple regions on your trip. While you can purchase individual train and public transit tickets in Switzerland, the cost can add up quickly. Switzerland offers travel pass options that cover trains and public transit, eliminating the need to purchase individual tickets.

We've used the Swiss Travel Pass for our trips to Switzerland! You'll want this pass if you plan to visit multiple regions of the country on your trip. You can purchase a 3, 4, 6, 8, and 15-day pass, which will allow you to hop on trains between regions without having to book tickets in advance (aside from a few trains, which require pre-booked seats).

With this pass, you'll have access to:

• Public transit

• Boats

• Some premium cableways and funiculars (Stoos, Rigi, Stanserhorn)

• Over 500 museums

• A percentage off the larger mountain excursions and cableways like Pilatus, Jungfrau and Harder Kulm

• Family pass options (If you're traveling with a child between the ages of 6-up to their 16th birthday, you can request a family card so your child rides free when you're with them)

  
  

Half Fare Card - The Swiss Half Fare Card is a great option if you prefer to avoid high upfront costs and want more flexibility with your planning. The pass is valid for one month from your selected start date, making it ideal for long-term travelers.

Once you purchase this card, you'll get 50% off all trains, buses, boats, and most mountain railways throughout the country.

With this pass, you have to book tickets in advance, and you'll have to show both your Half-Fare card and purchased ticket during ticket inspection.

GETTING TO ZÜRICH

Take the train from Zurich Airport to Zurich HB. You can purchase your tickets online, at the SBB ticket counter, OR use your Swiss Travel Pass (without needing to book a ticket). For the Swiss Travel Pass, you'll show your pass QR code to the person checking tickets on the train (this will work the same for most transport you take with the Swiss Travel Pass)!

The displays at the airport will show you which track the next train to the city will arrive on. There are around 177 trains per day, and the ride is about 11 minutes.

Once you arrive at Zurich HB, you can store your bags in the self-service luggage deposit! These lockers are in MOST stations in Switzerland. You can check which stations have lockers HERE!

You can use card or Apple Pay to pay for the luggage storage and can leave your belongings for up to 96 hours!

WHERE TO STAY

Staying near Zürich HB (Main Station) puts you right in the heart of the city with unbeatable access to trains, trams, and buses—perfect for day trips and exploring Zürich. Plus, you're within walking distance to shops, restaurants, and the charming Old Town, making it a super convenient and lively home base.

Budget: Hotel Montana Zürich (Highly rated breakfast available)

Mid-Range: Sorell Hotel Rütli (Breakfast included)

Luxury: Hotel Adler Zürich (Breakfast available)

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Here are the top 10 things we recommend seeing and doing while in Zürich, Switzerland - we hope you love this list as much as we do!

1) Lindt Home of Chocolate

Lindt Home of Chocolate is a must-visit museum in Switzerland. It takes you through the history of the delicacy, the big names in chocolate, and the impact it's made on Swiss culture. You'll also learn how different types of Swiss chocolates are made - but the best part is all the FREE CHOCOLATE you'll get! Plan to leave with at least 10 different types of truffles in your pockets.

Be sure to book your tickets well in advance—this is not only the most popular museum in Zürich, but one of the top attractions in all of Switzerland! Sometimes you're able to get day-of tickets upon arrival, but I wouldn't rely on that as an option.

You'll take a 13-minute direct train from Zurich HB to Kilchberg, which is where the Lindt Chocolate Museum is located!

Once off the train, you'll walk about 10 minutes to the museum! There will be signs pointing you in the correct direction.

The total commute time is about 25 minutes! And, the trains to and from the museum are included with the Swiss Travel Pass!

If the Lindt Home of Chocolate museum is sold out on GetYourGuide and the official website, try getting tickets HERE!

2) Guided Walking Tour

We always kick off a trip with a guided walking tour! It’s our favorite way to dive into the history, culture, and hidden stories you’d never hear otherwise. The guides are usually locals who are super passionate about their city—and they always have the best recommendations for local food, museums, cafes, and even spots to avoid. Highly recommend starting your adventure this way!

We walked through the charming Old Town (Altstadt) and learned unique stories about Grossmünster and Fraumünster churches. Our local guide even pointed out hidden details like medieval guild houses, secret courtyards, and where to find the best view over the Limmat River!

We’ve included the option for both group and private walking tours so you can choose the experience that suits you best!

3) Rhine Falls

From Zürich, you can take a 40-minute, direct train from Zürich HB to Rhine Falls, the most powerful waterfalls in all of Europe!

Steph grew up near Niagara Falls, so she didn’t think these falls would impress her, but they totally took her by surprise!

Once you arrive, you can wander along the paths with views of the falls and the mighty rock in the center of it all, or take a boat ride to get up close to the natural wonders.

We recommend the boat ride because it forces you to feel how powerful these falls actually are. It's also a great way to cool off on a hot day with a nice mist!

If you don't want to take a boat ride, walk across the bridge to the southern bank of the falls! Pay 5 CHF to take the glass lift to the viewing platform to see the falls up close!

All trains to and from Rhine Falls are included in the Swiss Travel Pass!

4) Schaffhausen

Take the train from Zurich HB to Schaffhausen, a small Swiss town near the German border. Walk through the old town, hit up a farmers market (if it's on), and grab a coffee from Kaffee Kollektiv.

We love Schaffhausen because it's definitely not a tourist town. You can get the feel of real Swiss life by walking these streets! It feels like the Old Town of Zürich, without the crowds!

We recommend visiting Schaffhausen in tandem with your trip to Rhine Falls!

Option 1: Take the direct train from Zürich HB to Schaffhausen (45 minutes), explore Schaffhausen, then walk down the Rhine River to Rhine Falls (you can also take the train from Schaffhausen back to Rhine Falls).

Option 2: Take the direct train from Zurich HB to Rhine Falls (40 minutes), explore Rhine Falls, walk (or take the train) up the river to Schaffhausen and have lunch or dinner there. Then take the 45-minute train from Schaffhausen back to Zürich!

All trains to and from Schaffhausen are included in the Swiss Travel Pass!

5) Mount Titlis

Mount Titlis is a stunning alpine peak in central Switzerland, known for its dramatic glaciers and year-round snow. You can reach the summit via the world’s first rotating cable car, which offers 360° views of the surrounding mountains. At the top, don’t miss the Titlis Cliff Walk—Europe’s highest suspension bridge—for a thrilling, panoramic experience.

We recommend this guided day trip from Zürich if you wish to visit Mount Titlis and see the charming city of Lucerne! This day trip is about 10 hours, but worth every second for how much you get to see and do.

You'll meet your guide at the starting point in Zürich, then drive about 45 minutes through the Swiss countryside, past the village of Engelberg, till you arrive in Lucerne!

You'll have about 2 hours to explore Lucerne, laying eyes on the Chapel Bridge, the Old Town squares, and take a luxurious walk along Lake Lucerne.

From there, you'll meet back up with the group and head to Mount Titlis. This part of the excursion includes:

• Cable car

• Ice cave

• Ice Flyer chairlift

• Snow tubing (if open)

• Free-time

At the end of the day, your guide will drive you back to Zürich by bus!

6) Lindenhof Hill

Make sure to catch the sunset at Lindenhof Hill - a former Roman site turned beloved city hangout. It offers stunning views over the Limmat River and the rooftops of Zürich, making it a perfect spot to unwind and take it all in.

You can spend hours sitting here and people watching before heading off to happy hour or dinner in the Old Town!

This is a great place to sit for both sunrise and sunset!

7) Uetliberg

The Uetliberg is Zürich's very own mountain, and from the top, visitors get sweeping views of the city, lake, and on a clear day - the Alps!

To reach the top of Uetliberg, take the train (the S10 SZU line) from Zürich HB to the Uetliberg station. From there, it's a short, 10-minute walk up a paved path to the summit.

The Uetliberg railway is unique for many reasons! It's the steepest standard-gauge adhesion railway in Europe, and serves as both a commuter line and a tourist attraction.

You can also hike up the mountain!

• How to get there: Take tram 14 or S10 train to Triemli (the terminus). The S10 is particularly convenient since it connects directly with Zürich HB.

• Trail details: From Triemli, follow the clearly marked Uetliberg Trail uphill through forested paths. It's about 4 km (2.5 miles) with ~400 meters elevation gain, taking 1 to 1.5 hours depending on your pace.

Once at the top, you'll find restaurants, playgrounds, amazing views, and hikes! We recommend the:

Zürich panoramic walk - The trail is about 5.5km. It's open all year, even in winter. The trail starts at the Uetliberg station and ends at the Felsenegg cable car station near Adliswil. From here you can take the train back to Zurich.

All trains to and from Uetliberg are included with the Swiss Travel Pass!

If you'd rather not worry about all the logistics, but still want to visit Uetliberg, we've included some amazing tours you can take from Zürich!

8) Stoos

Visiting the car-free village of Stoos is one of our favorite things we've done in Switzerland! While it includes multiple modes of transportation to get there, it's well worth it for the hiking and views of over 10 different lakes (on a clear day)!

Even if you don't make it up to the popular Stoos Ridge Hike, the hiking in and around the mountain village of Stoos is well worth the trip!

For the Stoos Ridge Hike, you'll need to take an extra chairlift from Stoos up to the ridge of the mountain. The Stoos Ridge Hike is closed for most of the year due to weather, so check the website before you go! It's usually open between June and October.

How to get to Stoos from Zürich:

• Take the train from Zürich to Schwyz

• Line 501 bus from Schwyz to Stoosbahn

• Stoosbahnen funicular up to Stoos - the steepest in the world!

• Klingenstock Chairlift to Stoos Ridge Hike

  
  

The commute to Stoos takes about 1.5 hours one way!

The trains, buses, and stoosbahn funicular are included in the Swiss Travel Pass! The chairlift to the Stoos Ridge Hike is an extra fee.

9) Walk along Lake Zürich

In Switzerland, you should take advantage of strolling along the lakes as often as you can. It's a simple activity, but one that will leave you inspired by the beauty and have you feeling like a local!

The premier promenade for strolling along Lake Zurich lies in the lower lake basin, especially between Bürkliplatz and Zürichhorn on the eastern shore. This stretch, part of the historic Quaianlagen quayside parklands, extends about 3 km along manicured gardens, tree‑lined paths, waterfront benches, cafés, and grassy lawns.

Getting there is simple: from Zürich HB, take tram 11 or tram 8/11 to Bellevue or Bürkliplatz, then begin your walk by the lakeshore.

Public transit to and from this area of Lake Zürich is included with the Swiss Travel Pass!

10) Hot Chocolate at Sprüngli

Sprüngli is one of the most famous names in Swiss chocolate, and a store you can't pass up when in Zürich. Sprüngli has been in business for over 185 years and serves both traditional chocolate and confections with a modern twist!

You HAVE to visit the Sprüngli headquarters, which is located on Paradeplatz! Make sure you get a hot chocolate and something extra sweet to go with it!

Fun fact: The first time I (Steph) went to Switzerland, I had about CHF 100 left and spent all of it on Sprüngli chocolate to take home with me!

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We hope you enjoy your time in Zurich as much as we did! Even if you only have time for Zürich, you can feel as though you've experienced all of Switzerland with these activities!

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us here or on Instagram!