Zurich: a 3-day plan and the best time to go

The best time to go

The most comfortable months for walking about are July and September: mild days and less rain. The warmest month is July, at about 74°F (23°C) in the afternoon. The wettest is August.

1. Jan36°94 mm
2. Feb39°74 mm
3. Mar48°92 mm
4. Apr57°91 mm
5. May64°141 mm
6. Jun71°139 mm
7. Jul74°144 mm
8. Aug73°146 mm
9. Sep65°103 mm
10. Oct57°101 mm
11. Nov46°87 mm
12. Dec38°102 mm

Bars show the typical night-time low to daytime high; the numbers are daytime highs in °F and rain in millimetres for the month. Averages for 2001–2020 from NASA POWER, so a given year can be warmer, colder or wetter.

Three days in Zurich

Written with AI from public facts about Zurich, then checked by Sureno's rules. Opening times and prices change: check them before you go.

Day 1 Old Town and river

Morning

Zurich Old Town

Altstadt

Wander the lanes around the Limmat at an easy pace and pause at a café.

Afternoon

Grossmünster

Altstadt

See Zurich’s landmark church and enjoy the riverfront setting.

Evening

Niederdorf dinner

Niederdorf

Choose a nearby restaurant for a relaxed meal among the old-town lanes.

Day 2 Lake and gardens

Morning

Lake Zurich boat trip

Bürkliplatz

Take a lake cruise for broad views of the city and surrounding hills.

Afternoon

Chinese Garden

Seefeld

Stroll the peaceful garden paths and rest by the water.

Evening

Seefeld restaurant

Seefeld

Have dinner in this pleasant lakeside neighbourhood.

Day 3 City views and farewell

Morning

Lindenhof

Visit this leafy hilltop square for a calm pause and views over the old town.

Afternoon

Uetliberg viewpoint

Uetliberg

Take the train up for wide views across Zurich and the lake; check conditions before setting out.

Evening

Zurich HB dinner

Hauptbahnhof

Choose a meal near the main station for a convenient final evening.

What to eat

• Try Zürcher Geschnetzeltes, a Zurich-style veal dish often served with rösti.
• Look for Swiss cheese, bread and seasonal pastries at cafés or markets.

Getting there

• Fly into Zurich (ZRH).
• From New York: about 8 h 6 min in the air, non-stop (a straight-line estimate; real routes take longer).
• From Los Angeles: about 11 h 53 min in the air, non-stop (a straight-line estimate; real routes take longer).
• From London: about 1 h 36 min in the air, non-stop (a straight-line estimate; real routes take longer).
• Zurich’s trams, buses, trains and boats make it easy to get around without a car. Zurich Hauptbahnhof is the main rail hub, and the airport is linked to the city by train. Check current routes and accessibility before travel.
• Check official Swiss entry rules for your nationality before travel.
• For the Uetliberg outing, check the forecast and route conditions; allow extra time for hills and uneven paths.

Plan the flight from your city

Where to stay

• AltstadtYou can reach many central sights on foot, though some lanes are steep or cobbled.
• HauptbahnhofStaying near the main station makes rail connections and airport transfers convenient.
• SeefeldThis lakeside area offers a quieter base with tram links to the centre.

The official Zurich tourism siteWhere to sleep, on Wikivoyage

About Zurich

Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich. As of the end of 2025, the municipality had a population of 440,935, while the urban area was home to 1.45 million people (2020), and the Zurich metropolitan area had a total population of 2.1 million (2020). Zurich is a hub for railways, roads, and air traffic. Both Zurich Airport and Zurich's main railway station are the largest and busiest in the country.

From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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