Zürich is Switzerland's largest city, yet most of what visitors come for sits within a few kilometres of the main station: a medieval old town, a lake you can swim in, and a hill with a view over both. Beyond the city limits, waterfalls, lakeside towns and mountains are all within a day's reach. This guide walks through the highlights and shows where a private chauffeur makes the day easier.

The old town and the Limmat

Start in the Altstadt, on both banks of the Limmat river. The narrow lanes of the Niederdorf on the east bank are lined with small shops, cafés and guild houses, while the west bank climbs to the Lindenhof, a quiet terrace on the site of a Roman fort with a fine view over the rooftops.

Two churches define the skyline. The Grossmünster, with its twin towers, is closely tied to the Swiss Reformation under Huldrych Zwingli, and its tower can be climbed. Across the river, the Fraumünster is known for the stained-glass windows Marc Chagall made in 1970.

By private chauffeur: parts of the old town are pedestrian-only, which makes arriving with luggage awkward. Book a private transfer from Zürich Airport and your chauffeur takes you as close to your hotel as the traffic rules allow, with your bags handled for you.

Bahnhofstrasse and Paradeplatz

Bahnhofstrasse runs from the main station down to the lake, just under a kilometre and a half of some of the best-known shopping in the world. Halfway along, Paradeplatz is where Zürich stops for coffee, and the confectioner Sprüngli on the square is a local institution for its Luxemburgerli macarons. It is a street best walked slowly, and best left to a chauffeur when your hands are full.

Lake Zürich

The lake is the city's living room. A promenade follows the shore from Bürkliplatz, where the lake boats depart, towards the Zürichhorn park on the eastern side. In summer, Zürich's public lido baths and even the Limmat itself are where locals swim. On the western shore, a few kilometres south of the city, the Lindt Home of Chocolate in Kilchberg is a favourite with families.

Make a day of it: a drive along the lake shore is one of the pleasant ways to see the region. With a chauffeur at your disposal by the hour, you decide where to stop, how long to stay, and the car waits for you.

Museums worth the time

The Kunsthaus Zürich is one of the country's leading art museums, with a collection that runs from the old masters to modern art. The Swiss National Museum sits in a castle-like building right beside the main station and tells the story of Switzerland through its objects. For something further afield, the Museum Rietberg, set in a villa and park, is devoted to the art of Asia, Africa and the Americas.

Uetliberg and the Zürich Zoo

Zürich's local mountain, the Uetliberg, rises to around 870 metres above sea level. A suburban train from the main station reaches the foot of the summit in about twenty minutes, and a short walk leads to the lookout. On a clear day you see the lake, the city and, beyond them, the Alps.

On the Zürichberg slope, Zürich Zoo is well known for its Masoala Rainforest hall, an indoor tropical forest that stays warm and green whatever the weather outside.

Day trips from Zürich

Several of Switzerland's best-known sights are close enough for a single day.

Rhine Falls. Often described as Europe's largest plain waterfall, they thunder past Neuhausen near Schaffhausen, less than an hour from the city by road. Boats run out to the rock in the middle of the falls.
Stein am Rhein. A little further along the river, this small medieval town is famous for its painted façades, and it pairs naturally with the falls.
Lucerne. About an hour away, with its covered Chapel Bridge and its lake framed by mountains. From here, Mount Pilatus and the Rigi make excellent mountain excursions.

All of these can be reached by train, but a day built around connections is a different day from one where a car waits for you at each sight. Browse our private tours for routes we already know well, or ask us to plan your own.

When to go

Summer belongs to the lake and the river. Spring and autumn give the Uetliberg its clearest light, and the old town is at its calmest. In December, Christmas markets fill the old town and the area around the main station. Zürich rewards a visit in every season, and the city's best viewpoints, museums and restaurants are all easier to enjoy when you are not worrying about parking or timetables.

Getting here, and getting around

Zürich Airport lies a short way north of the city, and the centre is usually less than half an hour away by road outside rush hour. Whether you arrive for a weekend or a week, a chauffeur meeting you at the airport turns the start of the trip into the easy part. See our fleet to choose the car that suits your group and your luggage.

Plan your visit with us. Request a transfer or book a chauffeur by the hour and we will come back to you with a personal offer, so you know the price before you commit. Not sure what suits you? Tell us what you have in mind.

What to See in Zürich: Sights, Views and Day Trips Worth Your Time