Best things to do in Zurich, including free and rainy-day options

Zurich rewards a short, unhurried visit rather than a checklist. The old town (Altstadt) on both banks of the Limmat, the lakefront and the view from Uetliberg cover the essentials in a day. Add a museum or two if the weather turns, and use the lake boats as transport rather than a separate excursion.

Stay 1–2 nights if Zurich is your arrival or departure city; give it 2–3 if you want a full lake day and a museum afternoon. If you have longer in Switzerland, Zurich works best as a bookend to a Lucerne or Jungfrau trip.

Prices are 2026 estimates in Swiss francs. Many Zurich attractions are free to enter, with charges only for special exhibitions or rides.

Old town and churches. Start at Bahnhofstrasse and walk into the Altstadt. Grossmünster and Fraumünster sit on opposite banks of the Limmat; both charge a small entry fee for the church itself and more for the Chagall windows at Fraumünster (check current prices). Lindenhof, the small hill above the river, is free and gives the classic view over the rooftops.

Lake and river. The lakefront promenades run from Bellevue to Zürichhorn, with lawns, cafés and the Chinese Garden. In summer, the Seebäder (lake baths) and the river baths on the Limmat are where locals go; some are free, others charge a few francs. The Limmat is clean enough to swim in and is a short walk from the old town.

Uetliberg. The local hill, reached by S-Bahn from Zurich HB, gives a panorama over the city, lake and, on clear days, the Alps. You can walk up from the city in about two hours, or ride and walk down. The summit is free; you pay only the train fare.

Museums. Kunsthaus Zürich is the main art museum, with a strong collection and temporary shows. The Swiss National Museum (Landesmuseum) next to the station covers Swiss history and is a good rainy-day stop. The FIFA Museum and the Zoo are further out and better for families with time to spare.

Day trips. Baden, 20 minutes by train, has thermal baths and a small old town. Zug, about 25 minutes away, is a lakeside town with a compact centre. Both are easy half-day trips if you have already covered Zurich's core.

Zurich is expensive by most standards, but the free options are genuinely good: the old town, the lakefront and the Uetliberg walk cost nothing. Budget CHF 20–40 per person for a museum and a boat ride, plus transport. A 24-hour ZVV pass is worth it if you plan more than two rides; otherwise walk. Food and drink add the most: a casual lunch is CHF 15–25 and a café coffee CHF 4–6 (2026 estimates).

Zurich is compact; most of the old town and lakefront is walkable, so you may not need a transport pass at all on day one. Trams and S-Bahn are frequent and run late. Sunday is quiet: many shops close, but museums, restaurants and transport run as normal.

Book popular museums and any boat with a fixed departure in advance in summer. Carry a light rain jacket year-round; weather changes quickly. If you are arriving by plane, the airport is about 10–15 minutes by train from the centre — see the airport transfer page for details.