Things to do in Zurich
Zurich is Switzerland's gleaming financial capital set on a stunning lake ringed by Alps, and while it has a reputation for expense, savvy travelers find free museums, cheap supermarket food, and a world-class public transit system that stretch every dollar surprisingly far.
Why go to Zurich
Old Town (Altstadt)
Wander cobblestone lanes, medieval guild houses, and two soaring Romanesque cathedrals for free.
Swiss National Museum (Landesmuseum)
A fairy-tale castle packed with 5,000 years of Swiss history, culture, and art right next to the main station.
Lake Zurich Promenade & Swimming
Free public bathing spots (Badis) along the crystal-clear lake are the city's beloved summer institution.
Kunsthaus Zürich
One of Europe's finest art museums, holding Monet, Picasso, Munch, and the world's largest Giacometti collection.
Uetliberg Mountain
A 20-minute train ride delivers panoramic views of the lake, city, and Alps from Zurich's own backyard mountain.
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Good to know in Zurich
- Buy a 24-hour ZVV transit pass (~$9) or use your hotel's free guest card (Zürich Card) which covers all trams, buses, and S-Bahn within the city zone.
- Tipping is not obligatory in Switzerland-rounding up the bill by a franc or two is perfectly polite and locals rarely tip more than 5%.
- Zurich's tap water is glacier-fed and among the purest in the world-carry a reusable bottle and never pay for bottled water.
- The Swiss National Museum and Museum Rietberg both offer free entry on the first Sunday of each month; Kunsthaus is free for under-16s year-round.
Trip essentials
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