Destination Travel Guide

Travel to Zurich, Switzerland

Cultural Capital of Switzerland

About Zurich

Getting to Zurich
Things to do
Where to stay
When to Visit
Zurich Weather
Currency & Language

Zurich Travel Guide & Information

Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of Zurich. Set beneath snow-clad peaks on the shores of a glittering lake, a holiday in Zurich is sure to leave you spellbound, not only with its attention to detail and cleanliness, but the sheer beauty and scenic setting is breathtaking. Widely known as the “Cultural Capital of Switzerland”, Zurich is the main commercial and cultural center of Switzerland.

Travel to Zurich, one of the most beautiful of all the European cities. Flights to Zurich are an opportunity to explore cobble stone streets, wander through museums, explore flea markets and dine on free gifts from the many chocolate factories. With hundreds of new restaurants, bars and clubs and sightseeing, as well as outdoor activities, Zurich has become more vibrant and trendy.

Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and, as mentioned, a major contemporary art and shopping destination. Important artworks are displayed in the Kunsthaus and the Rietberg Museum. Those who consider shopping an art can hone their skills meandering along Bahnhofstrasse and Niederdorf. You can dine on Swiss or international cuisine, Zurich many fine eating and drinking establishments, suitable for everyone's taste. Whether you choose to combine culture with nature on your vacation, the picturesque setting makes Zurich a perfect destination getaway.

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Getting to Zurich

Map of Zurich

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Things to do in Zurich

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Museums:

As expected, Zurich, a premier travel destination, has a wealth of excellent museums highlighting the city's rich cultural and glorious past.

Swiss National Museum: The National Museum of Zurich contains Switzerland’s largest collection of objects. Its exhibition date back to the origins of Zurich and present day, including gothic art, chivalry and a comprehensive collection of wooden sculptures, panel paintings and carvings.

Kunsthaus Zurich: Houses one of the most important art museums in Switzerland and Europe, a varied collection of European painting from the Renaissance period to present day, along with sculpture, drawings and prints. The museum specializes in German medieval paintings and wood and stone sculpture, as well as paintings by local artists. It features the works of the noted Swiss artists, Henry Fuseli and Alberto Giacometti.

Rietberg Museum: Located in the former Wesenbrock villa, the museum houses the precious exhibits collected by Baron von der Heydt: sculptures and paintings from the Far East, Africa and Oceania, engravings from Japan, objects d'art from the Near East, Tibet and pre-Columbian America as well as Swiss masks. The "Museum Rietberg" hosts a vast collection of pieces from Asia, Africa, America and Oceania regions.

Must See:

Zurich is home to fine architecture, beautiful gardens and sprawling parks that are well worth a visit.

Fraumunster: The blue spire of Fraumunster is the most graceful. It is best known for housing magnificent stained glass windows by Marc Chagall. The Fraumunster abbey of Zurich was founded in the year 853 by Louis the German for his daughter, Hildegard. The abbey includes 5 large stained glass windows, also designed by artist Marc Chagall. Each has a dominant color and depicts a story.

Bahnhofstrasse: This famous pedestrian street offers the best in world-class shopping, from Swiss chocolate, to a Swiss Rolex and everything in between. Bahnhofsstrasse is famous for being one of the most exclusive and expensive shopping streets in the world. The area runs from the Zurich Main train station "Hauptbahnhof" right down to the lake.

Street Parade: The Street Parade is the second most attended technoparade in Europe. Comparable to Berlin's Parade, the Street Parade is one of the largest techno parties in the world and the largest annual event in Zurich. The parade takes place along one side of Lake Zurich, and normally occurs on the second Saturday in August. After the Street Parade, there are outdoor parties along the route until midnight and more.

Where to Stay in Zurich:

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There are numerous hotels in Zurich to choose from, cheap hotels, 4-Star Hotels Under $99, 5 –star luxurious hotels, budget hostels and more.

Kreis 1: Altstadt, Oberdorf & Niederdorf - Zurich's Kreis 1 encompasses Switzerland's most expensive shopping center, the Bahnhofstrasse, the Old Town, the entertainment district of Niederdorf and the banking and financial pulse of the city. In addition to all these things, there are also affordable and luxurious hotel options just outside the city center.

Kreis 2: Enge, Wollishofen & Leimbach -- Located on the western shore of Lake Zurich, the second district is comprised of the Wollishofen, Enge and Leimbach quarters. The area is a tourist draw due to its lakefront location, historic castles and lots of sightseeing opportunities. The famous Street Parade at Mythenquai draws countless locals and travelers to this splendid city each year. The proximity to the city center and the availability of cheap hotels, as well as the variety of youth hostels make Kreis 2 a hotspot for tourists and locals alike.

Passport & Visa Requirements

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For US Citizens:
As per the latest information available to Zurich, the city is a part of the Schengen Agreement. U.S. citizens may enter Zurich for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes without a visa.

* If you are traveling for any other purpose, you may need to obtain a visa.
* Your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the period of stay.
* The 90-day period begins when you enter any of the Schengen group of countries.

For Canadian Citizens:
A tourist visa is not required for stays of less than 90 days within a 6-month period.

* A Canadian passport is required for Canadians intending to visit Zurich.
* The passport must be valid for at least three months beyond the date of the expected departure from the country.

This requirement applies to all travelers, regardless of age, including children.

We recommend that you check out the latest travel alerts, various airlines baggage policies and travel safety tips, so that you do not miss out on any of the fun while visiting Zurich.

*Kindly note that we take the utmost care in providing you with correct information at all times. However, the passport and visa regulations are subject to change and we strongly urge you to check the requirements directly with the US passport office and, or the Canadian Passport Office before traveling.

When to visit Zurich

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Depending on whether you’re traveling to Zurich for outdoor winter activities or summer activities, Zurich is a year-round destination. Spring, summer and autumn are all good times to search for Zurich flights and visit, as temperatures are comfortable; unless you’re traveling for skiing and other winter activities.

The best time to travel to Zurich for a vacation is during the height of summer, in July and August, when the best weather is experienced.

Budget travelers can choose to travel to Zurich during off-peak seasons for cheaper flights and hotels.

Best time to go

High season: June to September

Low season: November to early April

Zurich Weather

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Zurich has a humid continental climate with four distinct seasons. The temperatures are affected by winds off of the Atlantic Ocean. Winters are cold, while summers tend to be hot and sunny.

* Summers are warm, while winters are cold.
* Spring and autumn are generally cool to mild. Also, precipitation is abundant throughout the year.

Currency and Language:

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Currency:
* The official currency is the Swiss Franc or CHF.
* Banks offer the best exchange rates for traveler’s checks and foreign currency. Be sure to contact your bank and let them know your dates of travel. Find out what the cost of cash withdraws are locally.

Languages:
* The official language is German.
* However, English is spoken by many locals.

Travel Phrases to Get Around:

Hello		Guten Tag
My name is..		Mein Name ist ...
Thank you		Danke