View of a green-blue river running from a lake through the centre of a city. A few small boats are travelling on the river. Trees, building and church towers can be seen on both river banks. There is a lively beer garden with parasols on the left bank at the front. Boats and landings can be seen on the front right bank.
View of a green-blue river running from a lake through the centre of a city. A few small boats are travelling on the river. Trees, building and church towers can be seen on both river banks. There is a lively beer garden with parasols on the left bank at the front. Boats and landings can be seen on the front right bank.

Zurich – Cultural City on the Water

Published: 29 August 2024, 12:30

Zurich is top of the rankings of the most liveable cities. And with good reason. The Swiss city at the northern end of Lake Zurich wonderfully combines an urban and trendy lifestyle with relaxation in nature. The Swiss mountains are less than an hour away and Zurich’s cultural programme is extensive thanks to its abundance of events, concerts, museums and galleries.

Whether on Lake Zurich or in the heart of the city on the rivers Limmat and Sihl: Zurich can look back on a bathing culture steeped in tradition. No fewer than 40 “Badis” (public baths) invite visitors to cool off in the summer.

There is an incredible amount to discover in the city on the Limmat: the old town boasts historic buildings, picturesque alleyways, pretty fountains and the impressive Grossmünster church. The world-famous windows by Marc Chagall can be seen in the Fraumünster church. You’ll never be bored!

Numbers, data, facts

  • Time difference: none
  • Population: 447,000
  • Official language: German
  • Currency: Swiss Franc (CHF)

This is Zurich

View of a bank built up with elegant, white buildings on a turquoise body of water. Green trees can be seen in between and behind the buildings. On the left of the picture, a church tower rises above the buildings. The sky is blue with a few clouds.
Zurich is one of the world’s chief financial centres where skyscrapers are sought for in vain; instead, you’ll find a cosy, small-town flair with lots of water and nature. © Lumixera/stock.adobe.com
View of a distinctive, bright building, illuminated yellow in the centre and surrounded by other buildings. There is a large square in front of it with people sitting on the ground or on chairs scattered or in groups. It is early dusk.
Opera, theatre and an abundance of museums, galleries and open-air events: Zurich is one of the great European cities of culture. © Bogdan Lazar/stock.adobe.com
View of a massive stone building with large windows. The upper windows are bricked up with stone images. To the right is a small, modern extension with a glazed front. To the left of the main building is an old side wing.
The Kunsthaus is an absolute must for art fans. Here you can immerse yourself in the world of the Old Masters and Impressionists and discover renowned Swiss art. © sforzza/stock.adobe.com
View of three bicycles parked on a railing; behind the railing is a river. Several town houses in different colours and an impressive church with two high towers can be seen on the opposite side of the river.
Zurich’s landmark: the Grossmünster with its two towers is a Protestant church in the old town. One of the towers offers great views as far as the Alps. © efesenko/stock.adobe.com
View of two pointed church towers, each with two gilded clock faces with hands. In the background is a lake with an expansive shoreline and a snow-covered mountain panorama behind it.
The second important landmark is the Fraumünster church. The former convent is famous for its stained glass windows by Marc Chagall and Augusto Giacometti. © Silvan/stock.adobe.com
View from above over a forest and a district with lots of flat buildings by a long lake. In the foreground there is a higher viewpoint with some people and a mountain panorama in the background on the other side of the lake.
The Uetliberg offers the best views of the 42-kilometre-long Lake Zurich. Locals call the 871-metre-high local mountain “Üezgi”. © marako85/stock.adobe.com
View of a blue-green river, on the banks of which there are trees and an outdoor swimming pool with a jetty on the right of the picture, and a promenade on the left of the picture. A tower block, several smaller buildings and a crane can be seen at the back of the picture.
A refreshing dip: the Oberer Letten “Badi” is one of the most beautiful bathing spots in the centre of Zurich. Here you can drift in the Limmat over a 400-metre stretch. © Waldteufel/stock.adobe.com
Image of a deserted terrace from which there is a view of a lake and its illuminated shore with buildings on the other side at dusk. A green sculpture of a boy with an eagle stands on a stone at the right of the terrace.
A lovely view: the Bürkliterrasse, which not only offers a magnificent view of Lake Zurich and the Alps, but is also a place to stay and relax. © paulgsell/stock.adobe.com
View of an almost deserted old town alleyway, with four-storey buildings with light-coloured fronts on both sides. Straight ahead is a red building and behind it a church tower with a clock face on its front. A small shop with a display of fruit and vegetables can be seen on the right of the picture. Lanterns light the street.
Village flair in the city: narrow alleyways, beautiful courtyards and small shops characterise the face of the “Dörfli” (Niederdorf), which is part of Zurich’s old town. © Bogdan Lazar/stock.adobe.com
View of a street with wide footpaths on which few people are walking. In the centre of the picture are tram tracks upon which a blue and white tram is travelling. A Swiss flag with a white cross on a red background hangs above the tracks. A pavement café with white parasols can be seen on the left.
World-famous shopping paradise: Bahnhofsstraße is lined with luxurious designer brands next to trendy labels in boutiques and department stores © aldorado/stock.adobe.com

The Alps within close reach

Zurich is often referred to as the gateway to Switzerland. The city on the Limmat is an ideal starting point for discovering the Alpine country with its picturesque villages, deep forests, clear mountain lakes and high peaks. The Swiss infrastructure and transport network are so well developed that excursions to the Alps can be planned and organised individually. A day trip to the Jungfraujoch or Mount Titlis provides impressive experiences at an altitude of more than 3,000 metres. The Rigi, Stanserhorn and Pilatus mountains also promise a magnificent panorama over the peaks of the Bernese Oberland and central Switzerland on a clear day. Those who prefer to stay in the lowlands can visit Europe’s largest waterfall, the spectacular Rhine Falls in Schaffhausen.

Five excursions from Zurich

View of a snow-covered high mountain panorama, behind which the sun is shining. A small turquoise lake can be seen in the foreground surrounded by mountain huts and alpine meadows. To the right is a hiking trail winding its way down into the valley.
The summit of Europe: a day trip to the Jungfraujoch is definitely one of the highlights. A modern cable car takes you up to an altitude of 3,454 metres in 45 minutes. © borisbelenky/stock.adobe.com
View of a round, glass cable car gondola. The symbol of the Swiss flag with a white cross on a red background can be seen on the underside. The gondola is travelling along snow-covered mountains. The sky is bright blue.
360°-view: the Titlis Rotair is the world’s first revolving aerial cableway. It travels up Mount Titlis (3,238 metres), which is ringed by glaciers and is part of the Uri Alps. © Kapi/stock.adobe.com
The picture shows a massive mountain in summer with a green meadow and dense forest in front of it. There is a small hut with a brown wooden roof on the meadow in front of the forest.
Picture-book landscapes: the Stanserhorn (1,897m) is a mountain in the Swiss canton of Nidwalden that can be reached by an open vintage funicular railway. © Dan/stock.adobe.com
View from above of a turquoise lake surrounded by a dense fir forest. Snow-covered mountain peaks can be seen in the background.
Lake Caumasee in Flims is one of the most beautiful lakes in Switzerland. The idyllic bathing lake lies in the heart of the Flims Forest, amid a grand Alpine panorama. © DK Photography/stock.adobe.com
Aerial view of a roaring waterfall, on the right side of which is a castle on a tree-covered hill and a path winding its way to a viewing platform. Above the waterfall is a stone bridge with arches over the river. There is a forest in the background.
A thundering and roaring experience! The masses of water plunge into the depths of the Rhine Falls in Schaffhausen over a width of 150 metres. © Dmitri/stock.adobe.com

Zurich from BER

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Five travel tips for ...

1. The Frauenbad public bath at Stadthauskai

2. The Sandstrand public bath at Mythenquai

3. The historic Utoquai wooden bath with a vintage feel

4. The river bathing facilities at Unterer und Oberer Letten

5. The Tiefenbrunn public bath on Lake Zurich

1. View Cézanne und Manet masterpieces at the Kunsthaus

2. Admire Marc Chagall’s windows at the Fraumünster

3. Go on a journey through the history of Switzerland at the National Museum

4. Stroll through the galleries around the Kunsthaus

5. Discover art in public spaces  

1. Visit the wild animals at the zoo

2. Have a snack while learning something at the Chocolate Museum

3. Jump into the cool water at the Tiefenbrunnen public bath

4. Practise jumps in the Sihlcity skate and bike park

5. Take a hike up the Uetliberg

Picture Source title:
© Sergii Figurnyi/stock.adobe.com

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