Things to do in Zurich

Nature · Along both shores

The lake is clean enough to swim in from the centre, with public bathing areas (Badis) dotted along both shores.

Local tip: Frauenbad and Seebad Enge are the classic city swims. In summer, locals swim after work — the Badis serve drinks and stay open into the evening.

Nightlife · West of the river

The former red-light and industrial districts, now the city's bar, club and street-food quarter.

Local tip: Frau Gerolds Garten and the Viadukt arches are where Zurich actually goes out. It's the antidote to the buttoned-up reputation.

Nature · South-west, above the city

The mountain on Zurich's doorstep, reachable by S-Bahn, with a ridge walk and views across the lake to the Alps.

Local tip: Take the S10 up and walk the Planetenweg ridge to Felsenegg, then the cable car down. It's a half-day and costs a transit fare.

Landmark · Old town, both banks

Medieval lanes, the Grossmünster and Fraumünster with their Chagall and Giacometti windows.

Local tip: The Fraumünster's Chagall windows are worth the entry fee; the Grossmünster tower climb gives the better view of the two.

Food · Kreis 5

Markthalle im Viadukt and the surrounding arches — the best casual eating in a city where dining out is otherwise punishing.

Local tip: Lunch menus (Mittagsmenü) across the city are dramatically cheaper than the same restaurant at dinner. This is how locals eat out.

Nature · 40–60 minutes by train

Europe's largest waterfall by volume, plus rolling countryside and lakes within an easy train ride.

Local tip: With a Halbtax card, weekend trips across Switzerland become genuinely cheap. Zurich's real amenity is the rail network radiating from it.