Photo: Ricardo Gomez Angel / Unsplash
About Zurich
Zurich is Switzerland's largest city. The old town lies on both banks of the River Limmat and reaches south to the lake. Zurich's shopping avenue, the Bahnhofstrasse, runs through it, with fashion, watch and jewellery shops. The city has 12 districts, called "Kreis". In Zürich-West, a former industrial quarter, clubs, cultural venues and universities cluster around the Prime Tower. In summer, people swim in the Limmat at the Oberer and Unterer Letten river lidos. District 3, Wiedikon, lies below the Uetliberg, the city's own mountain. Travel time from the main station to the Uetliberg is 31 minutes. Until 12 December 2026, the SZU station at the main station is closed for construction. The trains to the Uetliberg start at Zürich Selnau. The Zürich Card covers public transport in the city and region for 24 or 72 hours, including boats and cable cars. On Sundays and public holidays, shops are closed except at the main station, the airport and petrol stations.
Highlights
Lindenhof — site of a Roman fort in the 4th century, with a view over the old town, the Limmat and the university; always open Grossmünster — 187 steps up the Karlsturm to a view over the old town and the lake; admission to the tower is charged Fraumünster — stained-glass windows by Marc Chagall in the chancel and by Augusto Giacometti in the north transept Kunsthaus Zürich — the largest Munch collection outside Norway, in the original building and David Chipperfield's 2021 extension; closed on Mondays Landesmuseum (Swiss National Museum) — Swiss history next to the main station; the "Simply Zurich" exhibition upstairs is free Planet Trail — an easy two-hour walk from the Uetliberg to the Felsenegg on a scale model of the solar system; each metre stands for a million kilometres
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Practical Info
Entry rules depend on your nationality. Check before you travel: State Secretariat for Migration SEM
Swiss franc (CHF), divided into 100 Rappen. Many shops and restaurants also take euros, at a poor rate, and give change in francs. Cards are accepted almost everywhere: Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Maestro are the most common, and Apple Pay and Google Pay work too.
Tipping isn't required in Switzerland. In many restaurants it's customary to leave a tip or round up the bill.
Zurich's city police advise keeping valuables in inside pockets and carrying bags closed in front of you in crowds. Hold your wallet in your hand while paying. Emergency numbers: police 117, fire 118, ambulance 144; the European emergency number 112 also works.
Switzerland's three mobile network operators are Swisscom, Sunrise and Salt. By federal law, a SIM card is only sold after an ID check, so bring your passport or ID card.
German is the official language of the canton of Zurich. Day to day, people speak Zurich dialect (Züritüütsch); "Grüezi" means good day.
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