Top Ten Attractions In Zürich, Switzerland

Zürich is the blueprint of Swiss perfection with Alpine backdrop and love of good living.

Zürich is the blueprint of Swiss perfection with its banking muscle, Alpine backdrop and love of good living. Located on a picturesque river Limmat and lake Zurich whose water you can drink, the biggest city in Switzerland remains the country’s financial engine, but it’s also surprisingly vibrant and trendy.  Ulrich Zwingli came to proselytize. James Joyce came to write Ulysses. Bankers came to make money. Dadaists met at Zürich’s Cabaret Voltaire to change/ruin art, depending on your position.

• An interactive map of top sights in Zürich, Switzerland

Zürich boasts of Dadaism, more than 100 art galleries, several renowned museums, and world-famous architecture, both old and new. But for those who aren’t art enthusiasts, Zürich also offers a number of active pursuits that range from swimming in clean Lake Zürich (in the warm months) to hiking through nearby Uetliberg, and touring the nearby waterfalls at Rhine Falls, too. Travelers should also check out the nightlife in Zürich West, as well as the haute-couture shopping along Bahnhofstrasse.  Zürich is a city that chooses to meander coolly through life at an unhurried pace. The wealthiest city in Europe, Zurich consistently ranks up there with the likes of Vienna, Vancouver, Auckland and other Swiss gems like Geneva and Bern in the ever-elusive “best places to live in the world” index. Tour the city and these ten must-see attractions to find out why.

Altstadt features a variety of boutiques, restaurants and some of Zurich's main attractions

• Altstadt (old town)

The Altstadt’s historic lanes attract a lively crowd with a mix of fine boutiques, restaurants, pubs, jazz bars and pavement cafés. Winding cobblestone alleys run by the Lindenhoff square (check out the giant chess set), the Fraumunster church and the nearby Bahnhofstrasse shopping street. Alstadt is also home to several of Zürich’s acclaimed museums — such as the Museum Rietberg, the Swiss National Museum and the Kunsthaus Zürich.

Bahnhofstrasse is Switzerland's answer to the Champs-Elysées in Paris and Fifth Ave in New York

• Bahnhofstrasse

One of Zürich’s must-dos is a stroll along the sleek storefronts of the Bahnhofstrasse – reputedly the most expensive street in the world. The two biggest Swiss banks, the UBS and the Credit Suisse Group, have their headquarters here. Window-shopping and people-watching along the way, from Zürich Hauptbahnhof to the Lake Zürich, you’ll find all kinds of high-end shops to strike your fancy: Tiffany & Co, Prada, Cartier, as well as numerous Switzerland-specific shops, including the Confiserie Sprüngli chocolate shop and the Gübelin AG jewelry and watch store.

Fraumünster is best known for its graceful blue spire and Marc Chagall's stained-glass windows

• Fraumünster (Church of Our Lady)

Of all the church spires that pierce Zürich’s skyline, the slender, blue spire of Fraumünster (Minster of Our Lady) is the most graceful. And it is best known for housing magnificent stained glass windows by Marc Chagall.

The small Fraumünster is recognizable by its an elegant clocktower topped with a slender blue spire. It stands on the left bank overlooking the lovely Münsterhof square, which was once a pig market. A splendid view of the church can be had from the tower of the Grossmünster across the Münsterbrücke.

The main attraction of the Fraumünster is the set of five stained-glass windows designed by Marc Chagall in 1970. Best seen in bright morning light, the windows are 10 meters high and each has its own color theme. Chagall may have used the colors symbolically, with blue and green representing the earth and red and yellow representing the heavens.

A boat ride on Lake Zürich is a lovely way to see the city

• Zürichsee (Lake Zurich) and Lake Promenade

Backing lower Lake Zurich is a tangle of promenades, parks and gardens, collectively known as Lake Promenade, which make for a picturesque place to spend an afternoon. And in warm weather, the lake is peppered with boats, and the banks are filled with picnickers and sun-bathers. If you’re a jogger, the area is also one of local Zürichers’ favorite places to pound the ground. Cruises on one of Europe’s most beautiful lakes last 1 1/2 to 4 hours. Boats depart from Bürkliplatz, the lake end of Bahnhofstrasse.

Take a train ride to Üetliberg for the fabulous view of the Zurich skyline and scenic hiking trails

• Üetliberg

If the day is sunny, you can take a 20 minute ride on an electric S10 train from Zürich Hauptbahnhof (main train station) to this parklike hill Uetliberg. At 840m (2,755-ft.) above sea level and just a 10-minute walk from the station, Uetliberg affords a sweeping panorama of the city and the surrounding Alps. You’ll also find a restaurant, a playground for the kiddos and numerous hiking trails. And if that isn’t enough, you can meander the Planetenweg (planet walk), an eight-mile walk along a scaled-down model of the solar system — from the sun to Pluto. It’s best to take a picnic.

The twin towers of Grossmünster are the most iconic landmark in Zürich

• Grossmünster (Great Church)

The twin-towered Grossmünster, located in Kreis (district) 1, was the starting place of the Protestant Reformation in Zürich. Preacher Huldrych Zwingli initiated the movement from this austere church’s pulpit. But the history of Grossmünster, or Gross Monster as English speakers tend to pronounce it, goes back even further  … to Charlemagne, who was said to have founded the church. While you’re there, make sure to check out the Augusto Giacometti stained glass windows and the large, lavish bronze doors.

Open 10am – 5pm (Mon-Sat) – ie one hour after the church opens (closes one hour earlier, Nov-Mar): 12.30pm-4.30pm (Sun). Entrance 2 Swiss Francs.

St Peterskirche, the oldest church in Zürich, boasts the largest clock face in Europe

• St Peterskirche – St. Peter’s Church

Built in the 9th century, St. Peter’s Church, also known as St Peterskirche (St Peters Kirche) is the oldest church in Zürich. It also boasts the largest clock face in Europe with a diameter of 28.5 ft (8.7 m). The minute hand is 12 ft (4 m) long!  From the Middle Ages until 1911, the church tower served as a fire lookout point.The interior consists of a three-aisled Baroque nave and a Romanesque choir, the latter with some faded medieval murals including a glimpse of a saint. Another interesting sight in the St Peterskirche is the name of God in Hebrew above the pulpit, reflecting the Reformation emphasis on the original biblical languages.Free classical music concerts are regularly offered here.

Address: St.-Peter-Hofstatt, 8001 Zürich
Directions:Located near the Fraumunster, St. Peter’s Church is one of the main landmarks on the left bank of the Limmat river. The nearst tram stop is “Rathaus” (line 4, 15).
Website: http://www.st-peter-zh.ch/

The Kunsthaus Zürich houses one of the most important art museums in Europe

• Kunsthaus Zürich (Fine Art Museum)

With a varied and high-quality permanent collection of paintings—medieval, Dutch and Italian Baroque, and Impressionist, the Kunsthaus is possibly Zürich’s best art museum and one of the most important art museums in Europe. Two great exhibits include Rodin’s Gate of Hell, near the entrance, and the Giacometti wing, showing the development of this Swiss-born artist. The collection of modern art includes works by all the greats — Bonnard, Braque, Chagall, Lipschitz, Marini, Matisse, Mondrian, Munch, Picasso, and Rouault. To brighten a rainy day, come see the pictures by Cézanne, Degas, Monet, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Utrillo. And if you’re visiting on a Wednesday, you’ll be pleased to find that the Kunsthaus is free.

Open Wednesday-Friday, 10am-8pm; Saturday/Sunday/Tuesday 10am-6pm (closed Mondays)
Admission charges: 18 Swiss Francs/16 (concessions) includes collection and temporary exhibitions.  www.kunsthaus.ch

Swiss National Museum is the perfect setting for a plunge into the cultural heritage of Switzerland

• Schweizerisches Landesmuseum (Swiss National Museum)

Housed in a 19th-century Neo-Gothic castle right next to Hauptbahnhof (main station), the Swiss National Museum surveys Swiss art, history and culture from as far back as 4th century B.C. Inside you’ll find everything from medieval to religious frescoes, weapons and Swiss clockmaking. There are also ornate historic rooms to wander through, as well as a Zwingli/Swiss Reformation room and a noted prehistotic section. If you like the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, you’ll like this one, too.

The Platzspitz park in front of the Museum is a great spot to escape the heat of the summer and with the tree-lined banks of the Limmat, highlights the stunning colour of the water as it flows out of Zurichsee.

Open Tuesday – Sunday, 10am-5pm (7pm on Thursdays)
Admission: 10 Swiss Francs for adults/8 concessions/Free for U-16s
Address: Museumstrasse 2
www.nationalmuseum.ch

The Rhine Falls in Schaffhausen, Europe's biggest waterfall, are a great excursion from Zurich

• Rhine Falls – Rheinfall

Not exactly Niagara Falls, but just as beautiful and breathtaking! The Rhine Falls are a great excursion from Zurich. Located about 45-minute bus ride outside of Zürich in Schaffhausen, the beauty of Rhine Falls – Europe’s biggest waterfall – is worth the trip. You can also hop on a train; after arriving at the station at Schaffhausen, you can enjoy a 40-minute walk to the falls or take a local train/bus to Neuhausen, which both drop off just a few minutes from the falls. While the Rhine Falls are not known for their height, their width is spectacular. And on a sunny day, the spray from the falls create colorful rainbows all around.

Zurich Travel Tips

How To Save Money in Zurich

• Buy the Zürich Card:  This discount card is worth its price with unlimited travel on public transportation and free entry to dozens of museums.

• Don’t take taxis:  Taxis are very expensive in Zürich, with the meter starting at the equivalent of about $6 USD. Save money by walking instead.

• Visit in the fall or spring:  If you plan your visit to coincide with one of these shoulder seasons, you could find a reduced rate on your hotel room.