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Major city · Switzerland

ZurichZürich

Give Zurich 1–2 nights: old town, lake and museums on foot, then leave for the Alps. Two nights only if you add a day trip.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
CHF
Best months
May–Sep; Dec for Christmas markets
avoid Nov (grey, wet); late Jul–Aug afternoon heat
Airport
ZRH
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Central Europe ↗Six of the nine countries here — Austria, Switzerland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia — charge a time-based motorway vignette, mostly digital and linked to the number plate; buy it before the first motorway past the border, because cameras, not toll booths, do the checking.
  • Central Europe ↗Temporary police checks at internal Schengen borders are common in this region in 2026 (Germany, Austria, Poland, Slovenia among others — check): keep your passport on you on every cross-border train, bus and road even though there is no fixed control post.
  • Switzerland ↗Switzerland is in the Schengen area but not the EU: check entry rules, the EU Entry/Exit System and any travel authorisation requirement for your passport on official sources.
  • Switzerland ↗Switzerland is outside the EU customs area: allowances on meat, alcohol and tobacco are strict and checked at borders.
  • Switzerland ↗Motorways need a vignette (sticker or e-vignette) before you drive on them.

Zurich is Switzerland's largest city and its main air gateway, on the Limmat where Lake Zurich begins. The old town, lakefront and main museums sit within a 20-minute walk of the main station, so most trips use it as a one- or two-night bookend before the mountains. It is expensive but easy: trams and trains run to the minute, and English works everywhere.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Zurich, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCHF 4–6
  • Sit-down mealRestaurant main courseCHF 25–45
  • Beerdraught / supermarket canCHF 6–9CHF 2–3
  • Metro or bus rideSingle tram or bus ride, zone 110CHF 4.60 (check)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekCHF 15–30
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry (Kunsthaus, Landesmuseum)CHF 15–25 (check)
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personCHF 45
  • Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per roomCHF 240
  • High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per roomCHF 450

A day, not counting the bed: Budget CHF 90 · Mid CHF 170 · High CHF 320

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Old town (Altstadt) and BahnhofstrasseLake Zurich swimming and boat tripsKunsthaus and the LandesmuseumSwiss banking and ETH Zurich
Airports
ZRH Zurich Airport (Kloten) (Train to Zurich HB about 10 min, every 10–15 min; single about CHF 6.80 (check))

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Zurich: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

4°C

−1°C

10 rd

Feb

5°C

−1°C

9 rd

Mar

10°C

2°C

11 rd

Apr

15°C

5°C

11 rd

May

19°C

9°C

12 rd

Jun

22°C

13°C

12 rd

Jul

24°C

14°C

12 rd

Aug

24°C

14°C

11 rd

Sep

19°C

11°C

10 rd

Oct

14°C

7°C

10 rd

Nov

8°C

3°C

10 rd

Dec

4°C

−1°C

11 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

ZVV trams, buses, S-Bahn and boats share one zone ticket; zone 110 covers the city. Buy in the SBB or ZVV app before boarding — spot checks carry a CHF 100 fine. A 24-hour zone 110 ticket costs the same as two single rides; the ZVV 9-UhrPass is cheaper if you start after 09:00 (not needed at weekends). The centre is walkable: HB to the lake is about 15 minutes on foot.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Rapperswil

go

Door to door: About 2 h by boat

ZSG lake boat from Bürkliplatz, about 2 h; S-Bahn back in about 40 min

Castle and medieval lanes at the south end of the lake; boat one way, train back.

Uetliberg

go

Door to door: About 40 min

S10 S-Bahn from HB to Uetliberg, about 25 min, then a short walk

Ridge-top view over the city and lake; the planet trail runs along the top.

Winterthur

go

Door to door: About 30 min

S-Bahn or IC from HB, 20–30 min

Old town and a dense cluster of art museums; zone 120 costs double.

Baden

go

Door to door: About 30 min

S-Bahn or IR from HB, about 15–25 min

Thermal baths and a compact old town on the Limmat.

Lucerne

go

Door to door: About 1 h

IR or IC from HB, about 45–50 min

Lake, chapel bridge and Rigi or Pilatus; a full day, or sleep there instead.

Zug

caution

Door to door: About 40 min

IR from HB, about 25–30 min

Small old town and lake; worth it only if you are already heading that way.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Old town (Altstadt / Niederdorf)

Walk to the lake, Kunsthaus and station; quietest rooms face courtyards.

Around Zurich HB and Bahnhofstrasse

Best for one night with bags: station, tram hub and Sunday shops on the doorstep.

Zurich West (Zürich West)

Former industrial quarter, 10 min by tram from HB; cheaper rooms, bars and clubs.

Seefeld / lakefront

Quiet, pricier; 10–15 min by tram to the centre, best for swimming in summer.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
CHF 90–140 excl. bed
Mid
CHF 150–250 excl. bed
High
CHF 300+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Hotel double room1 × 2 nights × CHF 240CHF 480
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × CHF 170CHF 680
ZRH airport train, both ways2 × CHF 14 · checkCHF 28
ZVV 24-hour zone 110 ticket2 × CHF 9 · checkCHF 18
eSIM, about a week of data2 × CHF 20CHF 40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeCHF 125
Trip total≈ CHF 343 per person per day, bed includedCHF 1,371≈ US$1,800

2026 estimate in francs; flights and rail passes excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeCHF 4–6
Lunch, takeaway or Migros/CoopCHF 10–18
Restaurant main courseCHF 25–45
Beer: draught / supermarket canCHF 6–9 / CHF 2–3
Single tram or bus ride, zone 110CHF 4.60 (check)
Museum entry (Kunsthaus, Landesmuseum)CHF 15–25 (check)
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekCHF 15–30

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

One of Europe's safest big cities; the real risks are pickpockets around HB and Bahnhofstrasse, tram and bike traffic, and cold water in the lake outside summer.
  • Buy and validate your ticket before boarding; inspectors fine CHF 100 on the spot.
  • Most shops and supermarkets close on Sunday — the HB underground mall and station shops stay open.
  • Card and mobile payment are near-universal; keep a little cash for small kiosks.
  • Lake and river swimming is legal and popular: use the marked Badis, not the boat lanes.
  • Cycling on pavements is banned and cyclists are fined for running lights.

Emergency numbers

Police
117
Ambulance
144
Fire
118
European emergency number
112
Rega air rescue
1414

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

ZurichZürich

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Bitte zu däre AdrässeTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police117
  • Ambulance144
  • Fire118
  • European emergency number112

Embassy

The US has a consulate in Zurich; most other countries keep embassies in Bern (check addresses).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • ZRH → Zurich HB, train: about CHF 6.80, about 10 min (check)
  • Zone 110 single / 24-hour ticket: about CHF 4.60 / CHF 9 (check)
  • Taxi HB → Zurich West: CHF 25–35 (check)

Say or show

  • Grüezi — Hello (GRUE-tsi)
  • Merci vielmal — Thank you (MER-si FEEL-mal)
  • Exgüsi — Excuse me / Sorry (ex-GUE-si)
  • Was koschtet das? — How much is it? (vas KOSCH-tet das)
  • Cha ich mit Karte zahle? — Can I pay by card? (kha ikh mit KAR-te TSA-le)
  • Wo isch d Toilette? — Where is the toilet? (vo ish d toy-LET-te)

Swiss German is spoken, not standard German; English is widely understood in the centre.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Zurich. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Sep; Dec for Christmas markets · avoid Nov (grey, wet); late Jul–Aug afternoon heat · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for ZRH: last-train times from Kloten, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: HB and Landesmuseum, Niederdorf and Kunsthaus, Bahnhofstrasse and the lake, Zurich West.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Kunsthaus, Landesmuseum, Grossmünster tower, Uetliberg railway) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Sunday and rain fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Switzerland

Sources