The Ultimate Zurich Travel Guide -

This Zurich Travel Guide covers everything you need to know for your next trip to Zurich including where to stay, what to pack, where to eat & drink, where to shop, and what to do!

Zurich, Switzerland, effortlessly blends modernity with old-world charm, making it a must-visit destination for any traveler. Known for its stunning lakeside views, historic architecture, and a welcoming atmosphere, the city is incredibly easy to access from all over Europe, thanks to its well-connected transport network. Zurich’s central train station serves as a hub for international trains, connecting visitors to the city and beyond with ease. The city is also renowned for its incredible food scene, from Michelin-starred restaurants to quaint eateries offering authentic Swiss delights. After a satisfying meal, cozy cafes tucked away in the city’s charming streets offer the perfect spot to relax and soak in Zurich’s unique blend of urban sophistication and cozy, small-town feel.

For context of our travel itinerary, we flew directly from JFK and stayed in Zurich for two days, including a day trip to Bern, Switzerland’s beautiful capital, the second day. Following Zurich we headed on to Innsbruck for a day, then 5 nights in Mayrhofen, Austria to ski, and finished with 2 nights in St. Anton, Austria!

In a Rush? Zurich Faves At a Glance

🏨 Hotels: Where we stayed and liked (budget friendly), boutique hotel I want to stay at if we return, or my top pick for an unforgettable luxury stay!
🍵 Cafes: Must try The Matcha Club and Marktlücke, a cute cafe and shop with canal views.
🥑 Brunch: Must try Kafi Dihei, a cozy brunch spot with indoor & outdoor seating along with breakfast at the Library at B2 Hotel with over 33K books and hanging beer bottle chandeliers.
🍽️ Unforgettable Dinner: A highlight of our trip was dinner at Michelin Guide restaurant: Bauernschänke
🧖‍♀️🍫 Must Do Activities: Book a relaxing morning or evening at the Hürlimannbad & Spa or tickets to the popular Lindt Home of Chocolate Museum. Make sure to also wander through the famous and colorful Augustinergasse medieval street!
🚆Top Day Trips: Check out my guide for a day trip to Bern – just an hour away and a beautiful trip well worth making! Or, book this stunning day trip to Grindelwald & Interlaken by bus and train.

Where to Stay in Zurich, Switzerland

The Dolder Grand: Beautiful, grand, historic hotel with sweeping views overlooking the city and lake. They have some of the best spa facilities in the world, ice skating rink in the winter, complimentary bikes, car, gym, a Michelin restaurant, and more! The only con is the location is further out of the city but they provide a free shuttle service to the city center. (8.9 Booking/4.7 Google Reviews)

B2 Hotel Zurich: 4-Star Hotel located further south of Old Town, with the most gorgeous library cafe and access to the Hürlimannbad & Spa (additional charge). The location is the only downside as it’s less walkable to restaurants and shops, but the space is gorgeous and relaxing. (9.0 Booking/4.7 Google Reviews)

Seidenhof: Boutique, 4-star hotel located in Old Town Zurich and close to the train station. The rooms are super cute with breakfast included. I would love to stay here if we return to Zurich! (9.1 Booking/4.4 Google Reviews)

We had a great experience at this hotel due to the perfect centrality to every activity we had planned during our two days in Zurich and had great reviews. The hotel was nothing fancy, but checked the box in location, was quiet, comfortable, and great service at the front desk. (8.4 Booking/4.4 Google Reviews)

Hotel City Zürich: Another great affordable option close to the train station and Old Town. (8.6 Booking/4.2 Google Reviews)

Zurich, Switzerland Packing Inspo

Linking some fave warm outfit inspo finds for those cold winter months in Zurich! The heat tech layers are a game changer for staying warm. Included a couple of swimsuit options for the spa. Also linking some of my travel essentials in the bottom row including: digital camera, airpods, sleep mask, suitcase, and weekender bag.

Best Cafes/Brunch in Zurich

There are so many cozy cafes and brunch spots to try in Zurich (starring* the spots we tried)! Note we missed the brunch window our first day in Zurich as by the time we landed, settled into the hotel, wrapped up a couple of work tasks, and made it to the brunch spots, ALL of the kitchens were closed and typically close by 2-3P depending on day. We then just nibbled on some snacks and coffee and did a cafe hop through The Matcha Club, Bros Beans and Beats, and Kafi Dihei.

The Matcha Club* – Crisp, white sleek cafe with a variety of specialty and classic matcha drinks. You can also get coffee there if not a matcha person.
Bros Beans and Beats* – Cozy cafe with a variety of coffee/matcha drinks, snacks, and pastries.
B2 Hotel Library* – Beautiful cafe library located in the B2 Hotel with over 33,000 books and beer-bottle chandeliers. The matcha was OK, but everything else hit the spot, especially the breakfast tower! Great spot to combine with a morning or afternoon at the Hürlimannbad & Spa Zürich.
Kafi Dihei* – A must try brunch spot in Zurich (my top pick). We were so bummed to miss the brunch window because everything looks incredible here! The interior is a cozy, antique vibe and we split an apple pastry which was to die for. Also a great summer spot with patio dining.
Marktlucke – Another spot I’m dying to try if we return to Zurich! Beautiful cafe & store to grab a coffee and pastry while admiring the canal views.
Yuma – A cute, Asian fusion restaurant with a weekend brunch option (linked here).
Lous Restaurant – American comfort style brunch with items like waffles, pancakes, avocado toast, etc. Have both indoor and outdoor seating for when the weather is nice!
Hikari – Japanese vegan brunch spot (Sat/Sun only) serving gorgeous plates such as pistachio matcha soufflé pancakes, yogurt granola bowls, and berry french toast.
Roots – vegan cafe with a variety of yummy breakfast options including acai bowls, chia pudding, toasts, waffles, and more!
Drei Stuben – Swiss, upscale restaurant offering a creative, savory weekend brunch menu linked here.
Café Rumi – highly reviewed and popular cute spot for a cozy breakfast! It’s further south of the city, so would be a good spot to pair with the Lindt Museum.
Babu’s Bakery & Coffee – great cozy spot for coffee, a pastry, or brunch!
Bar Butter – great spot for coffee, pastries, and wine.

Zurich Food Tours

Where to Eat Dinner in Zurich

La Muña (Michelin Guide)*: This Michelin-starred restaurant offers a blend of Japanese and Peruvian flavors, with a focus on fresh, high-quality ingredients, creating a unique and sophisticated dining experience. The space feels like you stepped into a cozy, luxurious cabin and our fave dishes included the sashimi, crispy rice, and wasabi dessert!
Bauernschänke (Michelin Guide)*: A charming, rustic Michelin-starred restaurant that combines Swiss cuisine with modern twists, Bauernschänke offers a cozy atmosphere and a seasonally inspired menu that highlights local ingredients and flavors. We adored our meal here and our favorite dishes were the milk bread, duck, and truffle cookie dulce de leche dessert. 🤤
Barranco (Michelin Guide): A modern Peruvian restaurant located in Zurich’s Kreis 4, Barranco is known for its vibrant flavors and contemporary takes on traditional Peruvian dishes. The outdoor patio makes it a perfect spot for summer dining, offering a relaxed yet chic ambiance.
Kronenhalle: A Zurich institution, Kronenhalle is a legendary restaurant known for its classic Swiss cuisine and elegant atmosphere. It boasts a rich history and impressive art collection, making it an unforgettable spot for a refined dining experience.
Brera: A romantic Italian restaurant, Brera brings the flavors of Milan to Zurich with its modern and refined menu, featuring fresh pasta, risotto, and a carefully curated selection of wines in a relaxed yet sophisticated setting.
Beke: Seasonal restaurant with a focus on Swiss products and ingredients. They prioritize a down to earth environment with more affordable prices for the quality of the food. Plus as of now, they have all 5 star reviews on Google!
Didi’s Frieden (Michelin Guide): A cozy spot with a fun vibe, featuring unique wine glass chandeliers. They offer a set menu in the evening with three, four, or five courses, including dishes like sea bass on spaghetti alla chitarra or octopus in saffron sauce. There’s also a daily set menu at lunch and a well-curated wine list. In the summer, you can enjoy dining on their spacious terrace.

Where to Drink in Zurich

Kashmere – cozy record bar with great cocktails and music!
Bar am Wasser (walk in only)
Widder Bar (no reservations accepted) Old school vibes with red leather seats and cocktails made from the best ingredients from over 650 whiskies and 1,200 spirits. They have live music and are famous for legendary jazz performances.
Raygrodski Bar – cute and casual cocktail bar with indoor and outdoor seating with a variety of creative, specialty cocktails and light bites.
Bar Lupo wine, cocktails, and pasta bar. No reservations accepted.
Cinchona Bar

Where to Shop in Zurich

Freitag
Soeder
Motel a Miio – adorable ceramics and candles
Marktlücke

What to do in Zurich

Hürlimannbad & Spa* – Cozy spa with a Roman Irish ritual that we did which was so relaxing and takes 2 hours to rotate through all of the stations.

Old Town* – Most famous part of Zurich with a ton of shopping! Make sure to also wander through the famous and colorful Augustinergasse medieval street! We made the mistake of not allocating enough time to explore this specific street after spending the morning at the spa and rushing to make our train to Bern!
Kunsthaus – largest art museum in Switzerland!
Kleiner Hafner – UNESCO World Heritage Sight where you can see swans floating in lake
Grossmünster – protestant church in Zurich and one of the four major churches in the city.
Lindt Home of Chocolate Museum – book a tour to explore the chocolate museum! Note this is a bit further out of the city so a great excursion if you have more time in Zurich.
Uetliberg – If more time take a 30 minute train to the top of Zurich viewpoint. They also turn it into a cozy winter wonderland in the winter with food stalls, ice curling, hot chocolate, and more!
Day trip to Bern – Just an hour train ride out of the city and so worth the visit!
Day trip to Grindelwald & Interlaken – we did not do this but could be another fun day trip you can book here if you have some extra days in Zurich. These are two cities high on my bucket list to visit in Switzerland.

Book a Zurich City Tour:

Another great option in Zurich is to book a guided tour to learn more about the city and history. Linking some top tour picks below!

I hope this Zurich guide helps you enjoy your visit! We loved exploring the cozy restaurants, cafes, spas, and more! I wouldn’t say this was my favorite European city we’ve been to but we found some great spots to explore that were a blast to visit and would absolutely return to Zurich again as a starting point for a Swiss or Austrian adventure. After Zurich, we headed on to a day in Innsbruck followed by 5 nights in Mayrhofen Austria, and 2 days in St. Anton, Austria.

I’m always an email or DM if you have any Zurich travel questions!