aerial view of city buildings during daytime

Zurich

Zurich pairs a medieval old town on the Limmat river with a lakefront promenade, major art museums and views of the Alps from the Uetliberg.

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Zurich is Switzerland's largest city and the capital of the canton of Zurich, on the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich. The old town, Altstadt, sits on both banks of the Limmat river, where most of the historic churches are clustered. Grossmünster is where Huldrych Zwingli started the Swiss Reformation in 1519, and Fraumünster has color windows by Marc Chagall. Bahnhofstrasse runs from the main station to the lake and is lined with some of the city's most expensive shops.

Zurich Airport lies about 8 km north of the centre and has an underground railway station. One ticket covers trains, S-Bahn, trams, buses and boats. English is widely used, so most visitors can get by without German. Zurich ranks third among the world's most expensive cities, behind Hong Kong and Tokyo, so plan your budget around transport and where you stay. July is the warmest month, with average highs of about 24 °C, while January brings frost and snow. Two to three days covers the old town, a few museums and the lakefront. A longer stay leaves room for the Uetliberg, a hill west of the city with views of the lake and the Alps, reached by train from the main station.

Zurich in five

Take the train from the airportFrequent trains run from Zurich Airport to Zurich HB in about 12 minutes, so a taxi gains little.
Weigh the Swiss Travel PassIt covers trains, city transport and many boats nationwide. Whether it pays depends on how far you travel.Is the Swiss Travel Pass worth it?
Swim in the lake and river in summerPublic lake and river baths open in the warm months, and locals swim in the Limmat and the lake at lunch.
Refill at the public fountainsFountains across the city supply drinking water, so carry a bottle instead of buying water in one of Europe's priciest cities.

Things to do in Zurich

See all attractions in Zurich

Landmark · ZurichLindenhof point d'eau

Museum · ZurichKunsthausBook tickets in advance, as recommended by the museum.

a river running through a city surrounded by tall buildings

Church · ZurichGrossmünsterVisit early or on a weekday if you want to avoid busy viewing times.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to ZurichPut the places you like in Zurich on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Zurich (ZRH), about 12 min by train
Getting there: Trains from Basel in about 1 hour, from Milan in about 3.5
Getting around: Trams, S-Bahn and walking
Best base: Old Town or near Zurich HB
Time needed: 1–2 days

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days
Festival

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain14 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh4°Low-2°Cold, grey
FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh8°Low0°Cold
MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh11°Low1°Spring
AprilRain12 rainy daysHigh15°Low4°Mild, showers
MayRain16 rainy daysHigh18°Low8°Blossom
JuneRain16 rainy daysHigh24°Low13°Lake season
JulyRain15 rainy daysHigh25°Low14°Swimming
AugustRain13 rainy daysHigh25°Low14°Swimming
SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh21°Low11°Warm, clear
OctoberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh16°Low7°Autumn
NovemberRain13 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh8°Low2°Fog, cold
DecemberRain14 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh5°Low0°Christmas markets

Average daily high and low in Zurich, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Festivals: Apr Sechseläuten · Aug Street Parade

Right now in Zurich

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 4°
Humidity: 75%
Wind: 8 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Canton of Zürich

09:47 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

Today8°3°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
Tue8°5°3%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 3%.
Wed8°4°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu7°3°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 7°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
Fri6°4°4%Friday: Fog. High 6°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 4%.
Sat10°2°9%Saturday: Rain. High 10°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 9%.
Sun10°6°30%Sunday: Rain. High 10°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 30%.

Updated 06:52 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.8245 CHF

Amount

Converted to

CHF · Swiss Franc

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Zurich

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Every year

Feb–MarCarnival of BaselBasel, a day trip
Feb–MarLucerne carnivalLucerne, a day trip
Feb–MarCarnival in BernBern, a day trip
Feb–MarChienbäseBasel, a day trip
Mar–AprFumettoLucerne, a day trip
AprSechseläutenZurich
JulGurtenfestivalBern, a day trip
Aug–SepLucerne FestivalLucerne, a day trip

Day trips by train

Before you go to Zurich

Swiss Travel Pass or day ticketsLucerne and Bern runs add up quicklyRead the guide

Zurich walks and Rhine Falls tripsOld town tours and boat daysCompare day trips

eSIM for ZurichAirport arrival with the SBB app readyRead the guide

Insurance for ZurichExpensive clinics and rail delaysRead the guide

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Rules for Zurich, checked

Check whether you need a visa for Switzerland and the entry rules for your passport at sem.admin.ch before you book.Source
Dial 112 for any emergency in Switzerland, or 117 for police and 144 for an ambulance.
Buy a ticket before you board a tram, bus, train or boat, since inspectors check tickets.
Declare cash and goods above the legal limit at the border customs. Check the current limit with Swiss Customs (BAZG) before you travel.Source

Plan around Zurich

All of Switzerland

Rail passes, regions, money and entry rules

Read the guide Lucerne

Chapel Bridge and the lake, about 45 minutes away

Read the guide Basel

Rhine city with art museums, about an hour west by train

Read the guide Interlaken and the Jungfrau

Alpine base about 2 hours south by train

Read the guide Konstanz

Lake Constance on the German side, close by rail

Read the guide Swiss Travel Pass

When it pays for Zurich-based trips

Read the guide Canton of Zürich

Rhine Falls, Winterthur and Uetliberg

Read the guide

Zurich FAQ

Is the Swiss Travel Pass worth it for Zurich?

Only if you are traveling around Switzerland. For a city stay alone, a Zurich day ticket usually costs less.

How many days do you need in Zurich?

One to two days covers the old town, the lake and a museum. Many travelers use it as a base for trips to Lucerne and the Rhine Falls.

Can you swim in Lake Zurich?

Yes. Public baths open in summer, and the lake and the Limmat are clean enough for everyday swimming.

Is Zurich worth visiting?

For one or two days, yes: a car-free old town, a swimmable lake and top museums. Its bigger value is as a rail hub, with Lucerne, Bern and the Alps within easy reach.

Zurich, Geneva or Lucerne for a first Swiss trip?

Lucerne gives the classic lake-and-mountain postcard in a small town, Zurich the best rail links and city life, Geneva French-speaking Switzerland and Chamonix. Many first trips fly into Zurich and move on by train.