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The Limmat river and the old town of Zurich

No. 55 Top 100 City Destinations 2025

Zurich

Switzerland

Switzerland's largest city: a lakeside old town, fine art, river swimming and Alpine views.

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Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Zurich is No. 55 in Euromonitor International's Top 100 City Destinations Index 2025. Switzerland's largest city sits at the northern end of Lake Zurich, where the Limmat river flows out, with views of the Alps on clear days.

Its compact old town has churches, guildhouses and lanes on both sides of the river. The city is known for its art museums and banks, and in summer for swimming in the lake and river.

Lake Zurich from the city's lakeshore
Lake Zurich from the city's lakeshore. Photo: Jules Verne Times Two, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Best time to go

June to September is the best time, with warm days for lake and river swimming in the traditional bathing houses.

December brings Christmas markets; winter is cold but convenient for trips to the ski resorts.

Top sights

  • 1

    Grossmünster

    The twin-towered Romanesque church is a city symbol; climb a tower for views over the old town.

  • 2

    Fraumünster

    Famous for its stained-glass windows by Marc Chagall.

  • 3

    Old town

    Wander the lanes of the Niederdorf and up to the Lindenhof, a leafy square above the river.

  • 4

    Kunsthaus Zürich

    One of Switzerland's leading art museums, extended by David Chipperfield in 2021.

  • 5

    Swiss National Museum

    Swiss history and culture in a castle-like building beside the main station.

  • 6

    Lake Zurich

    Lake cruises leave from Bürkliplatz, and the shore has promenades and swimming spots.

  • 7

    Uetliberg

    The city's own mountain, reached by train, with walking trails and views of the lake and Alps.

Getting there

Zurich Airport (ZRH) is about 10 km north of the city. Trains reach Zürich HB, the main station, in 10 to 15 minutes.

Zürich HB has frequent trains from across Switzerland and from Germany, Austria, Italy and France.

Getting around

Trams, buses, S-Bahn trains and lake boats are run under the ZVV network, and a single ticket covers them all.

The old town is compact and best explored on foot.

Practical tips

Currency
Swiss franc (CHF). Cards are accepted almost everywhere. Prices are high.
Language
German (Swiss German is spoken locally). English is widely spoken.
Safety
Zurich is very safe. The emergency number is 112.
Visa & entry
Switzerland is in the Schengen Area. Many visitors, including citizens of the US, Canada, the UK and Australia, can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) now records non-EU travellers' entries and exits at the border, and the ETIAS travel authorisation is due to follow. Check the official EU site travel-europe.europa.eu and your own government's travel advice before you go.
Power
230 V, 50 Hz; plug type J (type C plugs also fit).

Official information: Zürich Tourism (official tourism website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

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