The Ultimate Zurich Itinerary for 3 Days: Best Activities

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Yulia, the founder of this website, in a red dress and sunglasses sits by a river with a panoramic view of a European cityscape in the background.

In the mood for a Swiss city break? Then let’s start this Zurich itinerary for 3 days and learn more about the biggest city in the country.

I visited Zurich recently and loved its calm atmosphere, fun attractions and incredible views! To help you plan your trip I made this itinerary where I included which attractions to visit each day and also some fab restaurants and cafes that I tried.

At the end, you’ll also find a short section with some hotels and tips on how to get around Zurich.

I recommend booking your hotels in Zurich in advance as you might score some better prices!

Quick Picks for Your Stay

A large historic cathedral with twin towers stands by a river, surrounded by traditional buildings and a stone bridge under a clear blue sky.

Here’s a quick overview of the itinerary for each day that you can quickly check if you don’t have time to read in detail:

Day 1: Exploring Zurich’s Old Town
Day 2: Visiting Museums & more attractions in the city
Day 3: Optional day trip or staying in Zurich to see more places

And here are the best hotels in the city and an average cost of how much you’d have to pay during your holiday:

Cost: from US$400 if traveling on a tight budget & around US$850 for mid-range travelers, as for luxury, you can go over that and beyond
Best luxury hotel: Widder Hotel
Best value for money: Ruby Mimi Hotel Zurich
Best affordable accommodation: citizenM Zürich

Day 1: Explore Zurich’s Old Town

Here’s a map of how your first day in Zurich will look like:

Drink some coffee, put your best shoes on and let’s start this plan for your first day in Zurich!

Altstadt (Old Town) is the best place to start your Swiss adventures! All the attractions here are set within walking distance of each other so you’ll easily get from one place to the other.

I’ve also ordered them in such a way that you won’t waste any time, so if you follow this route you won’t have to rush! Even better, you’ll also find some time to grab some coffee or chocolate and of course a yummy dinner.

Choosing a hotel here means you’ll be just a short walk away from everything, which is convenient if you have only 3 days. I’ve included some hotel options below, near the end of the post, so make sure to check them out.

1. Go on a walk around the neighborhood

People walk on a cobblestone street near historic buildings and a church tower in a European city. Traffic signs are visible on the right.

Walking around the neighborhood will feel as if you’ve time-traveled! The historic buildings, cobblestone streets, and small boutique shops that sell everything from chocolate to vintage items will make you want to spend hours here!

You’ll also get to admire some stunning views, thanks to the area’s location on River Limmat! Definitely stop to admire the sights of the city and river on the famous Münsterbrücke Bridge (map) or Quaibrücke Bridge (map), which connects the 2 sides of the neighborhoods.

As in most cities, the Old Town is packed with lots of attractions (and I’ll talk about the main ones just below), but also with lots of restaurants and bars.

If you’re a vegetarian you should definitely head to the Hiltl restaurant (map) set here in the Old Town. This is one of the oldest vegetarian restaurants in the world! And for those of you who’d like to try some traditional Swiss food keep reading since I included a super nice restaurant further down.

Altstadt is also home to the train station (map), so if you’re coming by train or maybe you want to stay a bit longer and take some day trips, it’ll be convenient to stay in this area or close to it.

2. Admire all the art at Kunsthaus Zürich Museum

Exterior of Kunsthaus Zürich with a large poster for a Matisse exhibition. Several cars are parked or driving by in the foreground.

Visiting Kunsthaus Zürich Museum was one of my favorite things to do in Zurich!

Set in the Old Town, this museum is home to countless art pieces from paintings by Marc Chagall and Dali (plus many others) to sculptures by Brancusi.

It’s a pretty big museum where you might end up spending up to 2h (or even more if you like taking your time and admiring everything in detail).

PRICE: US$29

3. Walk to Grossmünster Cathedral

Exterior view of a historic cathedral with two tall towers under a clear blue sky.

Located only a 10 min walk away from the museum, the Grossmünster cathedral is a unique piece of architecture that you can visit for free.

The church is visible from afar thanks to its twin towers, which you can climb if you want. But for this, you will have to pay around US$6 to climb the 187 steps, but it’s definitely worth it for those incredible views from high above!

PRICE: Free to go inside/ US$6 to climb up the towers

4. Try some Swiss chocolate at Max Chocolatier

author of the post stands holding a coffee cup and a small blue shopping bag, looking upwards with a smile. Behind them is a stone relief of three seated figures.

When I was in Zurich, one of my main goals was to try some authentic Swiss chocolate and luckily I found one of the cutest shops, right here in the Old Town.

Max Chocolatier (map), which is located a 6 min walk away from the cathedral, is a super small chocolate shop where people line up to get their hands on the mouth-watering products! That’s what I did as well and I didn’t regret it!

The chocolate was delicious and you can also buy some amazing souvenirs like small boxes with chocolate pralines.

Make sure you also try their hot chocolate! It’s creamy and absolutely delicious.

5. Visit the Natural History Museum of the University of Zurich

Entrance of Universität Zürich with a seated statue in front, banners on both sides, and a historic building facade in the background.

If you’re traveling with your family or if you’re interested in learning more about the world of animals then a visit to the Natural History Museum of the University of Zurich is a must!

It takes around 15 min to get to the Museum from Max Chocolatier and you can visit it for free.

They have a permanent exhibition, some special exhibitions and fun interactive activities that I think everyone will love, from kids to adults. I’d recommend checking their website as they have much more information there about these activities.

There’s also a cinema where they showcase short movies about animals!

PRICE: Free

6. Grab dinner at Zeughauskeller restaurant

Exterior view of Zeughauskeller, a historical restaurant with illuminated signage and flags by the entrance, located in a building with arched windows and wooden doors.

If you’re dying to try some dishes from famous Swiss cuisine then I found just the place for you!

Zeughauskeller (map) is a rustic Swiss restaurant that’s housed in a 15th century building and which serves traditional food and local beer!

Located in the Old Town, the restaurant is perfect for lunch or dinner!

If you’re visiting during the high season (June to August), I’d recommend booking a table as it might get pretty busy! You can do so on their website.

Day 2: Visit more attractions

Here’s how your second day in Zurich will look:

Start your Day 2 with some delicious coffee and baked goods and from there you can head to the city center to do some shopping. Afterwards, jump on a bus tour and river cruise on Lake Zurich, and see Chagall’s iconic windows in a church.

You’ll then end your day with a scenic sunset in one of the best spots to catch the sunset in Zurich!

Curious? Then let’s check out all the details:

1. Enjoy coffee & baked goods at Collective Bakery

People stand outside Collective Bakery, with several interacting at the counter. A person rides a bike past. Buildings and a street sign are visible. — photo credit: @collectivebakery

If you like treating yourself to some delicious baked goods and coffee while on holiday, just like me, then you definitely need to check out this place!

Although a bit far from the center, around a 25 min journey by public transport and 10 min by car (you can totally Uber there), Collective Bakery (map) is definitely worth it!

They serve some of the most delicious baked products that I’ve had! Croissants, pain au chocolat, cinnamon rolls, muffins and many others!

Their coffee is pretty good as well, and goes perfectly with all their products. They also have a brunch menu with proper food, so if you’re super hungry, you can also eat.

2. Go shopping on Bahnhofstrasse street

People sitting at outdoor tables of a café on a sunny day. Glass windows reflect city buildings, and a Swiss flag is visible.

Alright, now that you’ve had your coffee you’ll be just ready to do a bit of shopping!

There’s no better place to do that in Zurich than Bahnhofstrasse street (map) which is set in the Old Town area.

Known as one of the world’s most expensive and exclusive shopping avenues, Bahnhofstrasse is packed with high-brand stores from Chanel, Burberry to some high-street brands like H&M and Zara.

You’ll also find some watch stores, cafes and restaurants. If you’re interested in learning more about watch-making and clocks you should definitely check out the Uhrenmuseum Beyer Zürich which is set right on this street.

3. Relax on a cruise on Lake Zurich

A passenger ferry is docked at a pier on a lake, with people boarding. The scene includes surrounding hills and a clear blue sky.

Lay back and admire the amazing views of this city while on a bus ride around Zurich and a lake cruise!

I found this amazing tour that lasts 1h and costs US$37 (but make sure you pick the option with the cruise as there’s one without it as well).

The tour includes an open-bus ride around the city’s main sights including parks, squares and museums, an audio-guide and a boat cruise on Lake Zurich. This is a great opportunity to see the entire city and also to enjoy a tranquil boat ride.

PRICE: US$37

4. See the stained glass windows by Chagall at Fraumünster Church

Skyline of a city featuring a tall church spire, surrounded by historic buildings with a hilly backdrop under a clear sky.

You can’t leave the city without a visit to the beautiful Fraumünster Church!

Located in the Old Town, this church is known for its stained glass windows made by Marc Chagall!

Three tall, narrow stained glass windows with abstract designs in blue, green, and yellow tones, set in a dimly lit arched space.

The windows are incredible and you can spend so much time admiring the colors and intricate details! Of course the interior architecture of the church is also pretty amazing!

When I went I was lucky enough to catch a short live concert with someone playing the pipe organ, it was incredible!

Double check their website, before you visit as they may have something on, otherwise it’s possible that you’ll accidentally just catch someone rehearsing when you’ll go there!

PRICE: US$6

5. Enjoy the views from Lindenhof

Aerial view of Zurich with old buildings, a river, and flying birds under a clear blue sky.

Set within Altstadt, Lindenhof is like a small area where you’ll find a hilltop and a public square (map).

This whole place used to be a Roman settlement, a really long time ago but nowadays people gather here to just relax, play some outdoor chess and admire the stunning views!

If you can, come here right before sunset so that you can enjoy an even more dramatic sight! This spot (map) is a great place where you can sit and get a panoramic view of the city and the Lake too!

Day 3: Optional day trip or exploring Zurich

Here’s how your third and final day in Zurich will look like:

Since this is your last day I wanted to offer you 2 different options and let you pick whatever you resonate with the most.

The first one includes a day trip to Grindelwald and Interlanken where you can see more of the country’s natural beauty.

Or the other option would be to stay in the city and explore more of it. There are some more incredible things to see here, including a super old church, a botanical garden and a chocolate museum (yep you hear that right)!

Alternatively, you can turn your 3 day Zurich itinerary into a 4 day Zurich itinerary and do both!

Let’s check each option in more detail so that you can make your decision:

1. Day Trip to Grindelwald & Interlaken or stay in Zurich

Quaint riverside scene in Interlaken with traditional Swiss houses, blooming flowers, and a covered wooden bridge, set against a backdrop of misty mountains

Those of you who want to see more of the country, will love this day trip from Zurich to Grindelwald & Interlaken that costs US$123.

You’ll start your day by leaving Zurich on a coach and going to Interlaken first, where you’ll have free time to explore around! The journey to Interlanken is super scenic so make sure you grab a window seat and keep an eye on the road to admire the stunning views.

From there you’ll go on the bus again to Grindelwald, which is also known as the “Glacier City” where you’ll also explore around.

From Grindelwald you’ll take the train (tickets included in the tour price) to Interlaken so that you can admire the amazing scenery. Once there you can go shopping or take the funicular to Interlaken’s Harder Kulm mountain and then get back to Zurich by bus.

NOTE: The tour will last the whole day so make sure you take that into account! If that’s too much for you (especially if you’re leaving Zurich the next day) then maybe consider option number 2 that I’ll talk about just below.

PRICE: US$123

2. Explore more of Zurich

Riverside area with a wooden walkway and huts, surrounded by trees. People are strolling along the path on a sunny day.

If you prefer to spend your last day in Zurich then buckle up because we’ve got some more amazing things to see!

Start your morning with a cup of specialty coffee at Le café enSoie by Vicafe (map) in the Old Town!

From there you can walk for 2 min and you’ll reach another famous spot: St. Peter’s Church (map) which is the oldest church in the city, dating back to the 10th century.

A tall clock tower with a sharp spire against a cloudy sky, surrounded by buildings and green foliage.

St. Peter’s Church has Europe’s biggest clock and it also has 5 bells dating to the 1800s!

From St. Peter you can either walk for 30 min or take the tram for 20 min to reach our next point on the itinerary: Zurich’s Botanical Garden (map) which is part of the city’s University!

This is a great spot for all plant lovers or for those who want to enjoy some time in nature. While here you’ll get to explore the 3 glass-domes which are filled with all sorts of plants and flowers and walk around a cute pond!

Once you’re done there, you’ll definitely need to use public transport or catch an Uber to get to the last attraction of the day: Lindt Home of Chocolate Museum!

To get there from the Garden you’ll need to take the 11 Tram from Hegibachplatz station (map) to Bürkliplatz (map) and from there you’ll need to get off and get on the 165 bus to Kilchberg ZH, Lindt & Sprüngli (map).

Once you get to the museum you can buy a ticket for US$20 to join a tour in which you’ll learn more about the history of chocolate, the company and how chocolate is made!

You can also do a chocolate tasting or join a chocolate course and make your own cacao bars (for that check the website as the prices are different).

From there you can hop again on the bus and get back to Zurich center to prepare for your departure the next day.

⛪ Unique attraction:	Fraumünster Church
🖼️ Top museum:	Kunsthaus Zürich Museum
🤩 Best free activity:	Grossmünster Cathedral
🍽️ Must-try food:	Fondue

5-Day Zurich itinerary

If you’re spending more than 3 days in the city I thought I’d give you 1 more option with things to do for a 5-day Zurich Itinerary:

A historic building with a clock and lush rooftop garden, set against a cloudy sky.

Day 1: Old Town + Kunsthaus Zürich Museum + Grossmünster Catedral + Max Chocolatier + National History Museum + Dinner at Zeughauskeller restaurant
Day 2: Coffee at Collective Bakery + Shopping on Bahnhofstrasse street + Lake Zurich Cruise + Fraumünster Church + Sunset at Lindenhof
Day 3: Coffee at Le café enSoie by Vicafe + St. Peter’s Church + Zurich’s Botanical Garden + Lindt Home of Chocolate Museum
Day 4: Day trip to Grindelwald & Interlaken
Day 5: Take a trip to Küsnacht & visit C.G. Jung House Museum

Where to stay in Zurich

People dining at outdoor tables on a narrow European street surrounded by colorful buildings and flags. A dog sits on the cobblestone pavement near the diners.

Alright! Now that we’ve finished with the itinerary, let’s check out some of the best hotels in Zurich! I’ve only included a short list below, but if you’d like to check more places and areas, have a look at our post on where to stay in Zurich:

Luxury: Widder Hotel – such an amazing hotel housed in a historic building right in Zurich’s Old Town, that is decorated with art by Warhol and Rauschenberg and designer furnishing.
Mid-range: Ruby Mimi Hotel Zurich – this hotel offers rooms with amazing city views, a complimentary breakfast, and a bar.
Budget: citizenM Zürich – a more affordable hotel in the center that has rooms with a flat-screen TV, a restaurant, and free Wi-Fi.

How to get around Zurich

Yulia, the founder of this website, in a red dress stands with a bicycle on a riverfront path, with trees, buildings, and a high-rise visible in the background.

You can easily explore Zurich by tram, on foot or by renting a bike (here’s a website from where you can rent a bike) and joining the high number of locals who mostly use bikes. Alternatively, you can also use Uber.

I don’t really recommend a car in Zurich. If you’re doing a road trip around the whole country (check this Swiss itinerary for some inspo) then you might consider renting one, but other than that I don’t think you’ll need one.

FAQs about Zurich itinerary

A small boat sails on a river with historic buildings and church spires in the background under clear skies.

📅 How many days do you need to see Zurich?

I’d say that 3 days is enough to see Zurich. You can add 1 more if you want to take any day trips!

🚶 Is Zurich a walkable city?

Yes, Zurich is a super walkable city.

💸 Is Zurich very expensive?

Yes, Zurich is expensive but you can totally visit it on a budget!

Final thoughts on this Zurich itinerary

author of the post in a long coat and headscarf stands in front of a store window display on a cobblestone street.

Such a beautiful city!

I hope that you enjoyed this Zurich itinerary for 3 days! I’ve included all the incredible attractions that you shouldn’t miss out on your trip and some amazing restaurants and cafes that I tried while I was there and loved!

Don’t forget to book your hotel in advance! Zurich is a pretty expensive city and the good and affordable hotels always sell out fast.

Have fun visiting Zurich and eating all the yummy Swiss chocolate! If you have any questions about the city don’t hesitate to drop me a comment below, I’ll be happy to help you out!

Happy exploring,

Victoria

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