Zurich · Switzerland

Zurich as a first stop in Switzerland

The main station, the Limmat, the old town, the Badis and Zürichberg give a good first impression of Switzerland in just a few hours.

Zurich at dusk with the Limmat river, old town and church towers

Orientation

Do not treat Zurich only as a transfer point

Many travellers treat Zurich only as an airport or a railway station. That is too narrow: for a first impression of Switzerland, half a day or a full day can be worth it.

Arrival

Train, airport and long distance coach

Main station

Zurich main station is very convenient for the old town, Limmatquai and a first walk along the river.

Long distance coach

If arriving by long distance coach, check the exact stop location first. It may not be where a first time visitor would expect it.

Hotel

In Zurich, hotel location matters a lot. Hotels are expensive, and long walks with luggage become annoying quickly.

City

Limmatquai, the Limmat and the old town

Limmatquai

A good first walk: Limmatquai, bridges, the old town and churches are all close together.

More than Bahnhofstrasse

Bahnhofstrasse is famous, but the Limmat, bridges and small streets often show more character.

Zürichberg

For an easy walk with views of the city and lake, Zürichberg is a good choice.

Photos · City views

Zurich in photos

Zurich at dusk with the Limmat, old town and Grossmünster
The Limmat, old town and church towers at dusk. It works well as the hero image because Zurich is immediately visible as a river city.
Zurich Rathaus, Limmat river and Grossmünster
Rathaus, the Limmat and Grossmünster. This area gives first time visitors more of Zurich than Bahnhofstrasse alone.
Lake Zurich with the Alps in the background
Lake Zurich with the Alps in the background. In good weather, Zurich is not only a city stop but also a lake and mountain introduction.

Summer

Badis and river swimming

Badi culture

The Badis, Zurich’s public bathing areas by the lake or river, are a big part of summer in the city.

Limmat

Swim in the Limmat only where it is allowed and clearly intended. Currents, boats and exit points matter.

For visitors

Do not just jump in anywhere. Use official Badis or clearly marked access points.

Arrival from China

Flights from China: always check the current schedule

Flight schedules change. Travellers should not assume that every major Chinese city has a direct Zurich connection. Before booking, check the airport, airline, date, baggage rules and any transfer.

Shanghai as a logical gateway

For travellers from Shanghai and eastern China, Zurich is a logical Swiss gateway when a direct or well timed connection is available.

SWISS and partner airlines

Travellers booking through SWISS, the Lufthansa Group or Chinese airlines should compare both directions. Prices, baggage rules, transfers and arrival times can differ a lot.

Onward travel

From Zurich, Basel, Bern, Säntis, Jungfraujoch or southern Germany can be added naturally.

Sources

Check the details

City and transport

Always check official sources for timetables, city transport and flight connections. Flight schedules change.

Zurich TourismSBB timetableZurich AirportSWISS