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When you think of Switzerland, you probably automatically picture quaint little villages surrounded by green pastures and the Alps. That is definitely accurate. However, if you are wanting to mix up your Swiss vacation with some city life amongst all that nature, you might want to consider spending some time in Switzerland’s largest city! In our opinion, Zürich is totally worth visiting. We’ve put together the ultimate 3-day Zürich itinerary with all the best things to do, including a special tourist map we created just for you! (We may have even thrown a day trip in there.) If you are traveling from the U.S. or another country, you will more than likely be flying into Zürich Airport. So why not check out the city?
We are Sandro & Juli! Sandro is a Swiss native and Juli was born and raised in California. We LOVE to travel – especially to Sandro’s home country. We are often asked by friends and acquaintances where to visit in Switzerland, so we decided to dedicate a place where our knowledge of all things Switzerland can live. We are always adding to our travels, so follow along as we share all our best tips, hidden gems, travel guides and everything in-between.
Happy travels!
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The Insider’s Map of
Zürich, Switzerland
Have easy access to all the places mentioned below on your phone and at your fingertips.
This is your travel day. You are most likely going to fly in to Zürich Airport from wherever you are coming from. Hopefully you arrive during the second half of the day so you can make your way to your hotel, grab some dinner and hit the hay!
*Check out our 15 Insider Tips For Your Trip To Switzerland to know what to expect for your travels!
Our favorite area in Zürich is Old Town aka Altstadt, so we highly recommend you stay there. The location is wonderful – situated on both sides of the Limmat River and close to shopping, churches, museums, you name it. It’s just so charming with its narrow cobblestone streets and medieval architecture.
Hotel Helmhaus: $$
We really liked staying at this little boutique hotel. It is a great location, the rooms are updated and comfortable, and they serve complimentary breakfast! The prices are also reasonable, so it doesn’t feel like you are completely breaking the bank.
Sorell Hotel St. Peter: $$$
Also in an excellent location. The rooms are modern and spacious. It is tastefully decorated with a boutique feel.
Storchen Zürich: $$$$
Definitely the more boujee of the three hotels, and in the best way. This hotel is located right on the Limmat River and the rooms are beautifully decorated.
If you are interested in staying in a different area, we break down the best places to stay in Zürich in our Zürich travel guide!
You will be tired from your travels, so go ahead and grab some dinner near your hotel! There are plenty of great options within walking distance in Old Town.
*We’ve listed our favorite restaurants in one spot if you need suggestions for dinners during your stay! Go to the bottom of this article for our restaurant suggestions.
You will be probably be a bit jet lagged, so your first day will be low key. Luckily, there are a bunch of great things to do without completely wearing yourself out your first full day in the city.
This is a great way to kick off the day. We walked over and hopped on a big ferry that took us around the lake. We ate some snacks and relaxed while seeing Zürich from the water.
There are numerous options for sightseeing from the lake. We ended up getting off the ferry in the town of Rapperswil. After walking around the town for a bit, we took the train back to Zürich!
One of the famous churches in Zürich, often recognized by it’s twin towers. You’re welcome to visit for free or you can take a guided tour for a fee. We just wanted to see it so we popped in and walked around on our own.
Lindenhof Hill is an elevated park and public square with views of the Limmat River and Old Town. It’s a historical site and there are still some Roman and medieval wall remnants! It’s a lovely spot to bring a sandwich and look out at the beautiful city.
Regardless if you are staying in the Old Town area or not, you must spend a little time here! The cobblestone streets are filled with tons of cute little shops, restaurants, and cafés. One of our favorite things to do is walk around this area and grab a cappuccino.
Restaurant suggestions here.
Lucerne (aka Luzern) is a perfect day trip from Zürich because it is easy to get to and you can get a solid taste of the city in just one day without feeling like you need more time. Lucerne is not far from Zürich at all – only about 52 km (about 33 miles). In our opinion, Lucerne is a must-see place in Switzerland. It is chock-full of history, has incredible architecture, and of course, beautiful scenery – what more could you want?
We also have a whole article dedicated to Lucerne (The Insider’s Guide To Lucerne), but the following is what we recommend for a day trip.
You will take a train from Zürich to Lucerne. First of all, try to leave somewhat early in the morning so you can enjoy your time in Lucerne and not feel rushed while you’re there. (Leaving around 9am is perfect).
You will leave from the Zürich HB (Hauptbahnhof) train station. It is an easy 50-minute non-stop train ride to Lucerne! The other great thing, is that the Lucerne train station is in the center of the city, so you can just hop off the train and start exploring!
Hot Tip: Trains are leaving for Lucerne all day. Make sure you choose the non-stop option when getting your tickets to avoid a transfer!
You can check the train schedule here.
You might recognize this bridge from photos of the city, as it is an iconic landmark in Lucerne. Be sure to frolic across this famous wooden footbridge over the River Reuss and snap a pic or two! (Chances are, you will also see this bridge if you decide to do a guided tour).
Since you only have one day here, in our opinion, a guided tour is the best way to get the most out of your visit to Lucerne. They offer a bunch of different options – they even have tours that are partly walking and partly on a boat, so you can experience both!
You can do a 1.5 hour walking tour for only CHF 20 and hit all the major landmarks.
If you’d rather go out into the countryside for some nice views we recommend heading up to Bürgenstock mountain. It’s about a 45-minute boat ride from Lucerne, followed by a 6-minute cable car ride to get up to the peak. From there you can enjoy incredible views across Lake Lucerne!
At some point during your adventures, you will surely be hungry. We suggest grabbing some lunch at Mill’Feuille. It has delicious food and is located right on the river – lunch with a view!
If you feel satisfied with your visit and that you have fully experienced the magic of Lucerne, hop on the train for your short trip back from Lucerne to Zürich. Once you’re back, pick a place to unwind and enjoy a delicious dinner!
This is your last day in Zürich, so it will be filled with sightseeing and culture!
Start your day at our favorite café in Zürich! It would be a shame to not at least see this place while you’re in town. Even if you’re not a breakfast person, you can grab a coffee or hot chocolate and take in the charming and historic surroundings. It was originally opened as a confectionery shop in 1842. The building is from the 13th century and consists of four floors of incredibly decorated rooms. It’s seriously very cool.
The Bahnhofstrasse is a very famous shopping area in Zürich. It is the city’s main downtown street and also one of the most expensive shopping streets in the world! Obviously, you don’t have to purchase anything, but it is definitely worth a visit and a fun place to walk around and window shop.
Fraumünster Church is the city’s oldest church and a prominent landmark in Zürich. It is located on the west bank of the Limmat River and is recognizable by its tall green steeple.
You are free to visit the church on your own for just CHF 5, or you can opt for a guided tour.
More info here.
You probably won’t have time to do both, (unless you opt out of one of the other activities).
Swiss National Museum:
We suggest visiting The Swiss National Museum. It is essentially three museums in one. The collections showcase the history of Switzerland from its beginnings all the way up to present day. It’s cool because part of the museum is a medieval castle, and the other part is super modern.
Zürich Opera House:
You should definitely try to see a show here. Otherwise, you can take a guided tour. They have a 60-minute tour where you get to see a bit of the “behind the scenes”, such as the dress-making department, wardrobe and props, etc.
Pick a place to relax and reminisce on your Swiss adventures!
Mère Catherine
Neumarkt
Milch Bar
IGNIV Zürich by Andreas Caminada (located in Marktgasse Hotel)
Hot Tip: We highly suggest you figure out your restaurant choices ahead of time and make reservations. Zürich is a very popular and busy city and places book out!
There you have it! Our 3-day itinerary for Zürich, Switzerland!
Just a note: You can adjust the itinerary however you’d like. For example, If you don’t want to squeeze in a day trip, there are plenty of other fun things to do in Zürich, which we tell you all about in our Insider’s Guide to Zürich. Or, if you only have 2 days in Zürich, you can just drop the day trip and do the other stuff! This itinerary is what we personally feel are must-do activities. This can also be done at the end of your trip If you are exploring other parts of Switzerland and will be flying home out of Zürich Airport, why not spend the last 3 days seeing the city?
Happy travels!
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We are Sandro & Juli! Sandro is a Swiss native and Juli was born and raised in California. We LOVE to travel - especially to Sandro's home country. We are often asked by friends and acquaintances where to visit in Switzerland, so we decided to dedicate a place where our knowledge of all things Switzerland can live. We are always adding to our travels, so follow along as we share all our best tips, hidden gems, travel guides and everything in-between.
Happy travels!
We are Sandro & Juli! Sandro is a Swiss native and Juli was born and raised in California. We LOVE to travel - especially to Sandro's home country. We are often asked by friends and acquaintances where to visit in Switzerland, so we decided to dedicate a place where our knowledge of all things Switzerland can live. We are always adding to our travels, so follow along as we share all our best tips, hidden gems, travel guides and everything in-between.
Happy travels!
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