UltimateCity Guide Zurich
Our favourites

The magazine

Stories from Zurich, Switzerland

Every story, long read and guide in the ULTIMATE Zurich City Guide, in one place.

Areas

Zurich by area

From the Old Town to the Zürichberg, each quarter has its own guide: the two banks of the Limmat, the Bahnhofstrasse, the lakeside Seefeld, Zurich West, Enge, Kreis 4, Oerlikon and the green hill of the Dolder.

The colourful façades of the Limmatquai on the right bank of the Old Town, below the Predigerkirche spireArea guideAltstadt & NiederdorfThe Old TownA Zurich tram at dusk under the flags of the BahnhofstrasseArea guideBahnhofstrasse & ParadeplatzThe boulevardThe lakeside promenade on the Utoquai on a summer evening, with swans and the Alps beyondArea guideSeefeld & the lakeThe eastern shoreThe green glass Prime Tower in Zurich West, with the Alps on the horizon in evening lightArea guideZurich WestThe industrial quarter rebornThe Villa Wesendonck of the Museum Rietberg, with its pond and lawns in the RieterparkArea guideEnge & WollishofenThe western shore

By tram

Stay near a tram line: the trams reach every quarter in minutes, and the Zürich Card covers them, the S-Bahn and the lake boats.

  1. Area guideKreis 4 & LangstrasseNightlife and new cooking
  2. Area guideOerlikonThe north and the airport
  3. Area guideZürichberg & the DolderThe green hill

Practical

Plan your trip

The practical things to know before you go: entry and Swiss francs, the airport train, the trams and the Zürich Card, and itineraries for a first visit.

The great arched hall of Zürich Hauptbahnhof, the main railway stationBefore you goZurich essentialsEntry, money, the airport and the Zürich CardA blue-and-white Zurich tram on line 15 at the Helmhaus stopGetting aroundBy tram, train and boatThe ZVV, SBB and the lake shipsThe Limmat flowing into the city from the Quaibrücke: the Fraumünster and St Peter on the left bank, the Grossmünster’s twin towers on the right, under a summer skyItineraryThree days in ZurichThe classic first visitThe turrets and timbered gables of The Dolder Grand on the Zürichberg, in summerLuxury guideLUX LivingThe finest addressesThe Storchen on the Limmat, with the riverside terrace of La Rôtisserie, beside the WeinplatzItineraryThe Gold weekendThe Storchen, IGNIV and La Rôtisserie
  1. ItineraryThe Platinum weekendThe Dolder Grand and two Two-Star tables

Our advice

Arrive by train, travel by tram

Trains run from the airport station to Zürich HB in minutes; from there the trams, S-Bahn and boats of the ZVV cover the city and the lake. Buy a Zürich Card for 24 or 72 hours. Zurich essentials

Day trips

Beyond the city

Lucerne and its mountains, the Rhine Falls, St. Moritz and Basel, all within reach by train from Zürich HB.

The Chapel Bridge and its Water Tower on the Reuss in Lucerne, hung with flowersBeyond the cityLucerne, the Rigi & PilatusThe Chapel Bridge and the mountainsThe Rhine Falls in full spate below Schloss Laufen, with a train crossing the bridgeBeyond the cityThe Rhine FallsEurope’s largest waterfallLake St. Moritz reflecting the mountains of the Engadin in autumnBeyond the citySt. Moritz & the EngadinThe Alpine resort
  1. Beyond the cityBaselThe Minster on the Rhine

Our advice

Climb above the fog

In November, when fog lies on the city, the Uetliberg is often above it: take the S10 (from Selnau until 12 December 2026) for sunshine over a sea of cloud. The Uetliberg

In depth

In depth: Zurich, from the Limmat to Dada

Zurich cuisine, the city on the Limmat, Dada and Chagall, eating, the grand hotels, film, the trams and trains and where to buy: the stories behind the city.

Christmas market stalls lit on a square in Zurich’s Old TownChristmas & New YearChristmas in ZurichThe markets, the Singing Christmas Tree and the fireworksA mute swan on the blue water of Lake ZurichIn depth: nature & wildlifeWild ZurichSwans, beavers and the SihlwaldZürcher Geschnetzeltes, veal in a cream sauce with mushrooms, served with golden RöstiEatZurich CuisineGeschnetzeltes, Rösti, Luxemburgerli and Tirggel

In 2026–27

Several places are being renovated or moved: the Grossmünster until 2029, Honold until mid-2027, and Beyer’s museum until autumn 2027. Check before you go.

  1. FeatureZurich, the classic and the newOld money, new energy, the lake and the table
  2. FeatureZurich on filmThe Zurich Film Festival and the city’s own comedies
  3. The back storyDada, Chagall and Le CorbusierThe museums and the music
  4. The back storyEating in ZurichThe starred tables and the classics
  5. The back storyThe grand hotelsFrom Baur au Lac to the Dolder
  6. The back storyBy tram, train and boatThe ZVV, SBB and the lake

The ULTIMATE letter

Zurich in your inbox

An occasional email with new places, events, area guides and our latest in-depth articles. No spam, ever.