Zurich is one of Switzerland's major cities and the country's international banking and financial centre! Situated on the northern shore of the lake of the same name, it is a destination that offers so many things to do and see, all in a truly unique natural setting! Art, history and culture, but also business and technological innovation: Zurich is all this and much more!
If you are in Switzerland and have the chance to stop over in this incredible city, we absolutely recommend that you don't miss out, even if you only have one day to spare. Here are our tips for planning a day trip to Zurich.
SEE ALSO: What to see in Zurich
Zürich Day Trip
This itinerary covers the main sights of Zürich, excluding museums and attractions that would take too long to visit.
The itinerary starts with Zurich's must-see: the Altstadt, divided in half by the famous Bahnhofstrasse street! Halfway down the street take the side street Augustinergasse to reach the wonderful St. Peter's Church. Then enjoy a stroll through the old town until you reach the Fraumünster, another important city church.
After lunch, visit two more churches, the large Grossmünster and the small, adjacent Wasserkirche. Stroll along the lakeside promenade until you reach Sechseläutenplatz, where the Opernhaus Zürich is located. Take a photo and head back towards the centre, stopping first in the Niederdorf district, then in the Lindenhof district, from where you can watch the sunset!
If you're wondering where to stay during this exciting adventure, the Park Hyatt Zurich - City Center Luxury offers a wonderful experience and is conveniently located. Alternatively, you can look more at tophotels.com for other hotel and resort options within Zürich.
In the evening, if you manage to stop for dinner in the city, we recommend staying in the Atlstadt, which is full of clubs and the centre of the evening nightlife!
Morning: Altstad and Bahnhofstrasse (free), Augustinergasse and St Peter's Church (free), Fraumünster (CHF 5.00/€4.50)
Afternoon: Grossmünster (free), Wasserkirche (free), Sechseläutenplatz and Opernhaus Zürich (exterior free), Niederdorf (free), Lindenhof (free)
Evening: Altstadt (free)
Distance travelled: 2.7 km
Where to eat: Lunch at Restaurant Zeughauskeller, Bahnhofstrasse 28A (Get directions) / Dinner at Restaurant Schipfe 16, Schipfe 16 (Get directions)
Below we will go through the 7 main stops on our itinerary in detail.
1 - Altstad and Bahnhofstrasse
If you arrive in Zurich by train, your route will start at Zürich HB, the city's main station. This is where Bahnhofstrasse, Zürich' s shopping street full of high-fashion boutiques and shopping centres, starts. Walk down it to Paradeplatz, the square where some of the country's most important banks are located!
Strolling along Bahnhofstrasse you will also be able to take in the Altstadt, Zurich's old town, characterised by narrow streets, old buildings, antique shops and colourful squares! In the evenings, this becomes the hub of nightlife!
Start yourday at Confiserie Sprüngli: this place is one of the most famous in the whole of Zurich! Here you can start your day with a great coffee and delicious pastries, from traditional chocolate to macaroons. Prices are rather high, but average for the Swiss cost of living. Get directions
2 - Augustinergasse and St. Peter's Church
Walking down Bahnhofstrasse, at some point you will come across Augustinergasse, one of its side streets. Take it and be amazed by its beauty: it is one of the most famous streets in Zurich, lined with many colourful houses and several flags on the facades!
Walk down Augustinergasse to St Peter's Church, the oldest medieval structure in the city. It is one of the most characteristic churches in Zurich and your attention will certainly be caught by the Clock Tower, whose clock has a diameter of about 8 m, representing one of the largest clock faces in Europe! Be sure to visit it inside as well, the visit will take very little time!
Visiting info: open daily 8am-6pm. Tours are restricted during religious celebrations and festivities. Free admission.
Takea photo in Augustinergasse: due to its colourful little houses and many cute cafés, this street is one of the most photographed places in all of Zurich, and also one of the most Instagrammable!
3 - Fraumünster
From St Peter's Church, stroll through the city streets until you reach one of the city's most important churches, the Fraumünster!
The church, dating back to the 11th century, owes its name to the women's convent that once stood here. It is Gothic-Romantic in style, and easily visible from all parts of the city because of its green-roofed steeple. But the real treasure is inside: wonderful stained glass windows by artists such as Marc Chagall and Augusto Giacometti!
Visiting info: open daily 10am-5pm, Sun from 1pm. Visits are restricted during celebrations and religious festivities. Single admission CHF 5.00/€4.50.
Not to be missed at Christmas: during the month of December, the Weihnachtsmarkt Münsterhof takes place on the square between the Fraumünster and the Stadthaus Zürich, a wonderful market with stalls selling handicrafts, souvenirs and local specialities!
4 - Grossmünster and Wasserkirche
After lunch, cross the Münsterbrücke, one of Zurich's most beautiful and famous bridges, to reach the Grossmünster, Zurich's old cathedral, dedicated to Saints Felix and Regula, patrons of the city (March to October 10am-6pm, November to February 10am-5pm; free). It was built in 1100 and it was here, in 1500, that the Swiss-German Prostestant Reformation began. The church is easily recognisable by its tall towers and on one of them, on the Karlsturm to be precise, you can even climb up to the viewing terrace to admire the city from above!
Right next to the cathedral is the small Wasserkirche, located on the bank of the Limmat river (in fact, Wasser means water in German). It is really small and the visit will take you about ten minutes (Tue-Sun 14:00-17:00, Mon closed; free). Inside, however, stop to admire the large stained glass windows of the choir, also by Augusto Giacometti.
Stop toadmire the view from the Limmatquai: the Wasserkirche is located right along the Limmatquai, the city's beautiful riverfront full of shops and monuments. Stop for a moment to admire the view and then continue along the route!
5 - Sechseläutenplatz and Opernhaus Zürich
Head south and, with a short walk of a few minutes along the Limmatquai, you will reach Sechseläutenplatz, a large square where events and Christmas markets take place, directly overlooking Lake Zurich!
But the big star here is the Opera House, orOpernhaus Zürich, which over the centuries has specialised in opera, operetta and ballet. The façade is imposing and harmonious - it will immediately catch your eye! In fact, it is the smallest of the international opera houses! Unfortunately, the interior cannot be visited, except on the occasion of performances and events, but it still deserves a photo from the outside!
An evening at the theatre: if you particularly love opera and ballet and have the opportunity to stay in town in the evening, leaving the next morning, then take a look at the events calendar, so you can also admire this gem from the inside! Info and costs on the official website
6 - Niederdorf
Then retrace your steps, walk the entire length of Limmatquai, pass by the Grossmünster and Wasserkirche again, leave the imposing Rathaus, the city's late 17th-century town hall, behind you, and finally reach Niederdorf, one of the most atmospheric neighbourhoods in Zurich! The entire walk from Sechseläutenplatz takes about 15 minutes.
In this wonderful district, you will find yourself strolling between medieval buildings and narrow streets full of street artists, in a mix of attractions, gastronomy and shopping! Completely pedestrianised, here you can have a coffee in one of the many cafés, sit on the benches or take lots of photos with the colourful buildings in the background!
Have acoffee at Patisserie 1842 im Haus Conditorei Schober: this is one of Zurich's historic patisseries, with a beautifully furnished interior. Accompany your coffee with a good cake, maybe a slice of strudel, it's really good here! Get directions
7 - Lindenhof
Photo by Roland zh. By now, the day is coming to an end, so cross the Limmat river again, this time along the Rathausbrücke, and reach the Lindenhof district, a wonderful hilly district! A pleasant walk from Niederdorf takes just 5 minutes.
This charming district stands on the remains of a Roman castle! It is a very quiet area, ideal for a bit of relaxation. In fact, it will not be difficult to meet a few locals admiring the view, reading a book sitting on a bench or playing with their children! The right place to end this wonderful day in Zurich!
Come here at sunset: One of the best times to visit this hill is definitely sunset! From here you can admire a splendid panorama, made even more fascinating by the sun setting behind the horizon!
Activities and alternative route ideas
If you love museums, there are many in the city! Starting with the famous Kunsthaus Zürich (CHF 16.00 (€14.80)), a museum of ancient, modern and contemporary art. If you want to learn about Swiss history, you can instead visit the Schweizerisches Nationalmuseum (CHF 10.00/€9.30). Architecture lovers, on the other hand, should not miss the Pavillon Le Corbusier (CHF10.00/€9.30), a museum designed by and dedicated to the Swiss architect Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, better known as Le Corbusier.