Zurich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich.
It is in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich. As of the end of 2025, the municipality had a population of 440,935, while the urban area was home to 1.45 million people (2020), and the Zurich metropolitan area had a total population of 2.1 million (2020). Zurich is a hub for railways, roads, and air traffic. Both Zurich Airport and Zurich's main railway station are the largest and busiest in the country.
Getting to Zurich
- 01Zurich Airport
- 02Bus station at Sihlquai
The inter-city bus station is two blocks away from the main train station, near the confluence of the Sihl and Limmat and serves mainly international routes by Flixbus and BlaBlaCar.
Worth seeing
Most of the interesting sights are in the old town around the river and lakefront.
- 01Bahnhofstrasse
One of the busiest and best-known shopping streets in the world.
- 02Lindenhof
A beautiful view of the city and one time location of a Roman fort.
- 03Lake Promenade
Especially during summer, the lake is a beautiful place to spend the evening or the weekend.
- 04Grossmünster
Old Romanesque church, symbol of reformed Zurich, where reformer Huldrych Zwingli was appointed the people's priest in 1519.
- 05Fraumünster
Old Gothic church (former convent) with window paintings made by Marc Chagall.
- 06Schanzengraben
A small canal that used to be part of the city fortifications between Limmat and Sihl.
Things to do
Take the
- 01Polybahn
A 19th-century funicular, up the steep hill for a fine view.
- 02Oberer/Unterer Letten
If you go to Zurich during summer take your swimwear with you.
- 03Limmat
Offers views of the old town and Lake Zurich.
- 04Uetliberg
You can hike up, or take a train from the "SZU" part of the main station on the S10, which takes about 20 minutes from Zurich HB.
- 05Caliente Festival
Try all types of Latin American food and listen to samba, merengue & co.
- 06Zürcher Theater Spektakel
161, 165, and Theater-Spektakel-Bus: stop Landiwiese),.
Where to eat
The quintessential Zürich dish is Zürcher Geschnetzeltes (Swiss-German: Zürigschnätzlets), sliced veal in a cream and wine sauce. Various kinds of grilled wurst (sausages) are also popular.
- 01Rheinfelder Bierhalle
Niederdorfstrasse 76 (at the beginning of the Niederdorf, near Central),.
- 02Pizzeria Molino
Limmatquai 16,.
- 03Zurich Fried Chicken
Niederdorfstrasse 41.
- 04Baba's
- 05Sternen Grill
Zurich's most famous sausage stand near Bellevue tram stop.
Getting around Zurich the local way
- Go nextA bit further away, but also worth a day trip: Appenzell — As close to the stereotypical image of Switzerland with wooden farm houses and traditional clothes as it gets.
From Wikivoyage: Zurich, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: SISHION (CC BY-SA 3.0), Wikimedia Commons.
