Zurich
Updated October 19, 2026
Also known as: Zürich, Turicum, Züri
Main Landmarks in Zurich
History
Zurich lies in northern Switzerland, at the northern end of Lake Zurich, where the Limmat River flows out of the lake, with the Uetliberg hill to the west and the Zürichberg to the east. The area was settled by prehistoric lake dwellers, whose pile dwellings around the lake are listed by UNESCO. The Romans founded a customs post called Turicum on the Lindenhof hill in the 1st century BC. In the 9th century, King Louis the German founded the Fraumünster abbey, and the town grew around it. In 1218 Zurich became a free imperial city, and in 1336 a revolution by the guilds, led by Rudolf Brun, gave the craftsmen's guilds political power, which they held until 1798. In 1351 Zurich joined the Swiss Confederation. In 1519 Huldrych Zwingli, the priest of the Grossmünster, began the Swiss Reformation, and Zurich became a centre of Protestantism. In the 19th century, the city grew into an industrial and financial centre, with the founding of Credit Suisse in 1856, the Federal Institute of Technology, ETH, in 1855, and the railway station. Albert Einstein studied and taught at ETH. In 1916 the Dada art movement was founded at the Cabaret Voltaire. In the 20th century, Zurich became one of the world's leading financial centres. Today about 440,000 people live in the city and about 1.5 million in the metropolitan area.
Culture
Zurich is Switzerland's largest and most international city, known for its high quality of life, banking, insurance, technology and creative industries, with a culture that combines Swiss precision and order with a surprising openness and nightlife. Its residents, Zürcher, speak Swiss German, but about a third of the population is foreign, and English is widely spoken. The city has a strong Protestant heritage, from Zwingli's Reformation, which shaped its work ethic and simplicity, but it is also a centre of art and avant-garde culture: the Dada movement was founded here in 1916, and the Kunsthaus, the Rietberg Museum and many galleries display art from around the world. The guilds still play a ceremonial role, especially at Sechseläuten, the spring festival in April, when the guild members parade in historic costumes and burn the Böögg, a snowman effigy, whose head exploding predicts the summer weather. Zurich has a lively nightlife, with clubs, bars and the Street Parade, one of the world's largest techno parades, each August. Swimming in the lake and the Limmat is a summer tradition, with historic bathing places, Badis, some of which become bars at night. Locals enjoy the lakeside, the Uetliberg and the many parks, and Zurich is known for its excellent public transport and its clean, safe streets. The food scene ranges from traditional Swiss to international.
Climate
Spring
2–19°C
March to May is changeable, with temperatures rising from about 10°C in March to 18–19°C in May, blossoming trees along …
Summer
13–25°C
June to August is warm, with days of about 23–26°C, occasional heatwaves above 30°C and thunderstorms. It is the season …
Autumn
3–19°C
September to November brings mild days of about 19°C in September, falling to about 7°C in November, colourful trees on …
Winter
-2–4°C
December to February is cold and often grey, with days of about 2–5°C, fog over the lake and occasional snow. Christmas …
Fun Facts
A snowman that predicts the summer
At Sechseläuten, Zurich's spring festival in April, a snowman effigy called the Böögg, filled with fireworks, is burned …
The largest clock face in Europe
The clock face on the tower of St Peter's Church, Zurich's oldest parish church, has a diameter of about 8.7 m, making i…
Stained glass by Chagall
The Fraumünster church, founded in 853 as an abbey for noblewomen, has five stained glass windows by the Russian-French …
The birthplace of Dada
In 1916, during the First World War, artists and writers, such as Hugo Ball, Tristan Tzara, Hans Arp and Emmy Hennings, …
Fountains with drinking water
Zurich has about 1,200 public fountains, more than almost any other city in the world, and the water in almost all of th…
A tradition of swimming in the city
Zurich has about 40 public swimming places, called Badis, on the lake and the Limmat River, some from the 19th century, …
Local Cuisine in Zurich
Practical Travel Information
Transport & Accessibility
International Transport
Zurich Airport, ZRH, about 10 km north of the city centre, is Switzerland's largest airport and the hub of Swiss International Air Lines, with flights worldwide. Trains connect the airport with Zurich main station in about 10–15 minutes. Zurich Hauptbahnhof is one of the busiest railway stations in Europe, with trains to all Swiss cities, Germany, Austria, Italy and France, such as Milan in about 3.5 hours, Munich in about 3.5 hours and Paris by TGV Lyria in about four hours.
Local Transport
Zurich's public transport, ZVV, includes trams, buses, S-Bahn trains, lake boats and the Uetliberg railway, all on one ticket. A one-hour ticket costs about CHF 4–5, and a 24-hour city ticket about CHF 9. The Zürich Card, about CHF 29 for 24 hours, includes transport, museum discounts and the airport train. The city centre is compact and walkable. Bicycles can be borrowed through Züri Velo. Taxis and Uber are expensive. Check timetables in advance, especially on public holidays. Allow extra time at peak hours.
Safety & Health
Personal Safety
Zurich is one of the safest cities in the world, with very low crime. Normal precautions apply against pickpocketing in crowded areas, such as the main station and during events, such as the Street Parade. Some areas, such as the Langstrasse district, are lively at night, with bars and clubs, but generally safe. When swimming in the lake or the Limmat, follow the rules and be careful of currents and boats. In an emergency, call 112 or 117 for police.
Medical Services
Zurich has excellent hospitals, such as the University Hospital Zurich, the Triemli Hospital and private clinics, such as the Hirslanden Klinik, with English-speaking doctors. Medical care is very expensive, so travel insurance is essential. EU citizens can use the European Health Insurance Card. Pharmacies, Apotheke, are common, and the Bellevue Apotheke is open 24 hours. Tap and fountain water is safe to drink. Call 144 for an ambulance. Carry your insurance details and any personal medicines. Keep a small first-aid kit for day trips.
Budget & Costs
Travel Costs
Zurich is very expensive. A hostel bed costs about CHF 45–70, a mid-range hotel CHF 180–300 and a luxury hotel from CHF 450 per night. A takeaway lunch costs about CHF 12–20, and a restaurant dinner CHF 40–80. A coffee costs about CHF 5–6, and a beer CHF 7–10. Museums cost about CHF 10–26, and a 24-hour transport ticket CHF 9. A mid-range traveller should budget about CHF 250–400 per day. Prices rise noticeably in the high season. Card payments are widely accepted in tourist areas.
Budget Tips
Eat at supermarket restaurants, such as Migros and Coop, or buy food at supermarkets for picnics by the lake. Drink water from the city's fountains. Buy a Zürich Card or a 24-hour ticket. Visit free sights, such as the old town, the Grossmünster, the lakeside and the Lindenhof. Swim at free Badis in summer. Visit the Kunsthaus on Wednesdays, when the collection is free. Stay in a hostel or outside the centre. Walking is free and often the best way to explore.
Culture & Traditions
Social Norms
Zurich residents are polite, reserved and value punctuality, privacy and order. Greet with Grüezi when entering shops, and shake hands when meeting. Be on time for appointments. Respect quiet hours, usually from 22:00, and on Sundays avoid noise. Separate rubbish for recycling. Tipping is not required, as service is included, but rounding up is appreciated. Do not cross the street on a red light, even when there is no traffic. A few words of the local language are always appreciated.
Cultural Activities
Attend Sechseläuten in April, with guild parades and the burning of the Böögg. Join the Street Parade in August. Watch the Knabenschiessen shooting festival in September. Visit the Kunsthaus and the Rietberg Museum. Attend a performance at the Zurich Opera House. Explore the Cabaret Voltaire. Swim in the Limmat. Visit the Christmas markets. Attend the Zurich Film Festival in autumn. Visit the FIFA Museum. Check local listings for free events during your stay. Ask your hotel about seasonal festivals. Try a Sternen Grill bratwurst.
Unique Experiences in Zurich
Swim in the Limmat River in summer at the Letten river bath or the Männerbad, floating with the current past the city, as locals do after work, then have a drink at a Badi bar in the evening. Entry is free or about CHF 8. Swim only if you are a confident swimmer, and follow the rules.
Watch the burning of the Böögg at Sechseläuten in April, when the city's guilds parade in historic costumes around a giant bonfire, and the time it takes for the snowman's head to explode predicts the summer weather. It is free. Arrive early on Sechseläutenplatz for a good view.
Take the S10 train to the Uetliberg, Zurich's local mountain, climb the viewing tower for views over the city, the lake and the Alps, then walk the Planetenweg to Felsenegg and take the cable car down to Adliswil. It is covered by the ZVV pass. Go on a clear day, often above the winter fog.
See the stained glass windows by Marc Chagall in the Fraumünster, then cross the Limmat to the Grossmünster, where Zwingli started the Reformation, and climb its tower for views over the old town and the lake. Tickets cost about CHF 5 each. Visit in the morning, when the light through the windows is strongest.
Take a day trip to the Rhine Falls, the largest waterfall in Europe by volume, about 50 minutes by train from Zurich, taking a boat to the rock in the middle of the falls and visiting Laufen Castle. Boat trips cost about CHF 10–20. Visit in summer, when the water flow is strongest.
Travel Recommendations for Zurich
Buy a Zürich Card or a ZVV day ticket, which covers trams, buses, trains, lake boats and the Uetliberg railway, and incl…
Save money by eating at supermarket restaurants, such as Migros and Coop, or having picnics by the lake, and drink water…
Swim in the lake and the Limmat at the city's Badis in summer, as locals do, at free or cheap bathing places, such as th…
Use Zurich as a base for day trips by train to Lucerne, about 45 minutes, the Rhine Falls, about 50 minutes, Rapperswil,…
Visit during Sechseläuten in April, the Street Parade in August or the Christmas markets in December for special events,…