The Best Things to Do in Zurich, a Switzerland Stop-over No More

19.09.2023 - 16:03 / cntraveler.com

Switzerland’s largest city may not (yet) draw the crowds of its other Western European counterparts, but it has more than enough of its share of panache to lure travelers and keep them engaged, entertained, and edified. The eminently walkable city, in spite of streets that zig and zag, is also increasingly bike-friendly. To wit: in 2024, Zurich will host Cycle Week, the national biking festival, and serve as the location for the annual Road and Para-Cycling Road World Championships. But you don’t need to ride competitively to enjoy Zurich’s myriad charms—gorgeous waterfront location, historic Old Town, sophisticated shopping, and artsy neighborhoods among them.

Best savored slowly over the course of a couple of days with a loose itinerary, the Swiss city’s Biennial returns this October to bring over 200 works of art from 50 artists. Works will be on display at the Kunsthalle Zurich, but if you miss the event, consider a spring venture when the city is in its full, glorious magnolia- and cherry-blossom bloom. Come summer, the lakefront buzzes with swimmers, sun bathers, and people watchers, cementing Zurich’s year-round appeal.

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Thanks to direct flights from the US, Zurich has largely functioned as a stopover en route to the country’s Alpine skiing villages—but the city is worth a stop on its own.

For many travelers to Switzerland, Zurich—thanks to direct flights from the US—has largely functioned as a stopover en route to the country’s Alpine villages for world-class skiing and legendary aprés. But Zurich also shines all on its own. A self-guided walking tour in Old Town, part of which is pedestrian-only, is an opportunity to get a feel for the city beyond its reputation as one of the world’s banking centers. The Limmat River runs through Old Town, where historic squares are nestled in with shops like Le Creuset, Max Chocolatier, and locally-owned retail boutiques. Panoramic views reward visitors making the 187 step climb to the top of Grossmunster, a cathedral said to have been built on the graves of the city’s patron saints.

After walking or cycling through Zurich, make another climb up to one of the city’s highest points where a day pass to the The Dolder Grand’s Spa provides the perfect respite for tired feet. The plunge pool circuit is a godsend in the warmer months, and not just for its euphoric-inducing properties. Book a treatment—the organic urban skin facial or a custom massage—or just have a spa lunch before checking out the meditation room, hidden like a speakeasy at the end of a winding path.

Opportunities for art fixes