Zurich, Switzerland Travel Guide: What to See, Do & Eat in 48 Hours
Zurich has a reputation for being all about banks, luxury watches and sky-high prices. But spend a couple of days here, and you'll discover a city with a beautiful lake, a charming Old Town and one of Europe's most impressive waterfalls just a short train ride away. It's also an easy city to explore on foot, making it ideal for a short city break.
I spent two days exploring Zurich as part of my Switzerland trip, combining sightseeing with museum visits, chocolate tasting and a memorable excursion to Rhine Falls. From wandering through the historic streets to enjoying the lake views, I experienced a little bit of everything the city has to offer.
In this guide, I'll share how I spent my two days in Zurich, including the main attractions, my favourite experiences, where we ate, what to expect from the prices and practical tips to help you plan your own visit. I'll also highlight the spots worth having your camera ready for, so you can make the most of a short stay in this part of Switzerland.
📍 Getting Around Zurich
The Old Town and lakefront are easy to explore on foot, while Zurich's trams, buses, trains and lake boats make getting around the city convenient. We barely used the trams during our visit, as most of the places we wanted to see around the Old Town were within walking distance. However, if you get tired or want to travel further across the city, the tram network is an excellent option. Just remember to purchase a valid ticket before boarding, as public transport isn't free unless your accommodation provides a Zurich Card or another valid travel pass.
Top Tip: Bring a reusable water bottle and refill it along the way rather than spending money on bottled water. It's a simple way to save money in an otherwise expensive city! Zurich is home to around 1,200 public drinking fountains, making it easy to refill your water bottle as you explore the city. You'll find them dotted throughout the streets, parks and public spaces, with clean, fresh drinking water available from most fountains.
Day 1: Zurich
After checking in at MEININGER Hotel, we dropped off our bags and headed straight to Zurich's Old Town to begin exploring and make the most of our time in the city. As accommodation in Zurich can be quite expensive, we found MEININGER to be a reasonably priced option, with a convenient location for visiting both the Old Town and the museum area. It was a practical choice for a short stay, especially as we wanted to spend most of our time out exploring rather than in the hotel.
🚋 Ride the UBS Polybahn
We started our Zurich adventure with a short ride on the UBS Polybahn, the charming little red funicular that takes you from Central up to the Polyterrasse, where you can enjoy lovely views across the city. It's a fun and convenient way to get a different perspective of Zurich without much effort. We found the station a little confusing at first, as there was no ticket officer, just a ticket machine where we had to purchase our tickets for CHF 1.20 per person. The ride itself is very short, lasting just a couple of minutes, and the funicular runs every few minutes before returning down to its original starting point.
My tip: Check your ticket options before travelling, as the Polybahn may be covered by certain valid Zurich public transport tickets. Once you reach the top, take a little time to enjoy the views from the Polyterrasse before continuing your walk around the city.
📸 Photo tip: The terrace at the top has a great view back over the Old Town and the Limmat.
🛍️ Stroll Down Bahnhofstrasse
Think of Bahnhofstrasse as Zurich's answer to Bond Street in London. One of the world's most famous shopping streets, it's lined with luxury boutiques, designer brands and high-end watch shops, making it a great place to browse even if you're not planning to buy anything.
I visited in the afternoon, when the street was lively, with cafés buzzing and shoppers popping in and out of the stores. What I didn't expect was the irresistible smell of chocolate drifting from the chocolate shops as I walked past! It added a lovely touch to the experience and made the stroll even more enjoyable.
If you enjoy shopping, people-watching and soaking up the atmosphere of a city, Bahnhofstrasse is definitely worth a visit. Even if luxury shopping isn't your thing, it's a pleasant street to explore while discovering central Zurich.
🌇 Lindenhof Viewpoint
Lindenhof is a peaceful hilltop square offering beautiful, free views across Zurich's rooftops and the Limmat River, with trams gliding through the city below. After a full day of sightseeing, the walk up can feel a little steep, but the views make it worthwhile.
Once at the top, you'll find benches where you can sit and take in the scenery, a drinking fountain to refill your water bottle and a small swing area for children. We visited during a corporate event, which added a lively atmosphere to the otherwise tranquil setting. It's a lovely spot to pause, enjoy the views and capture some photographs without spending a penny.
🏛️ Explore Zurich Old Town (Altstadt)
Zurich's Old Town (Altstadt) is one of the prettiest parts of the city, with charming cobbled lanes, colourful facades and cosy cafés lining both sides of the Limmat River. It's a lovely area to explore on foot, with plenty of picturesque corners to stop for photos along the way.
I'd recommend spending some time wandering along the riverbanks and through the narrow streets rather than following a strict route. The area is relatively compact, so you don't need to set aside too much time here. A relaxed stroll is enough to soak up the atmosphere and appreciate Zurich's historic charm.
Day 2: Rhine Falls & Museums
Day two began with a visit to two museums, as it was raining throughout the morning. We started at the Lindt Home of Chocolate, where I'd recommend booking your tickets at least two weeks in advance, as popular time slots can sell out quickly. Entry to the museum is only permitted at your allocated time slot. We spent just over an hour exploring the museum, with plenty of chocolate tasting along the way, but that deserves a post of its own!
Next, we headed to the FIFA Museum, which was great fun, with plenty of interactive activities to try, football games to play and fascinating exhibits showcasing the history of the FIFA World Cup. It's a great option for a rainy morning, even if you're not a huge football fan.
By the afternoon, the rain had finally cleared, so we caught a train from Zurich to Rhine Falls, one of the highlights of our trip. We spent the rest of the day admiring the spectacular waterfall from different viewpoints and enjoying a boat ride that took us incredibly close to the thundering water. Seeing the falls up close was an unforgettable experience and the perfect way to end our second day in Zurich.
🍫 Lindt Home of Chocolate
First up was the Lindt Home of Chocolate in Kilchberg, a must-visit for chocolate lovers! The museum features an impressive giant chocolate fountain and takes you through the history of chocolate, from its origins to the chocolate-making process we know today. One of the best parts is that your entry ticket includes chocolate tastings, giving you the chance to sample different varieties throughout the experience. And yes, you can even take as much chocolate home as you can manage to collect at the tasting stations!
We paid CHF 34 per person (approximately £30) for our tickets. As our hotel was closer to the museum than the Old Town, we took the tram from near our hotel, and the journey took around 25 minutes. It was a lovely way to spend a rainy morning in Zurich, especially if you have a sweet tooth. Just remember to book your tickets in advance, as popular time slots can sell out quickly!
⚽ FIFA Museum
Next, we visited the FIFA Museum, which turned out to be a lot of fun, with plenty of interactive activities to try, including football games and exhibits showcasing the history of the FIFA World Cup. It's a great option for a rainy morning, and you don't need to be a die-hard football fan to enjoy it!
We paid £23 per person, booking our tickets through Klook. I'll be sharing a separate post with more details and photos of our experience, so stay tuned!
💦 Rhine Falls
By the afternoon, the weather had improved, so we headed to Rhine Falls (Rheinfall), Europe's largest plain waterfall by volume of water. We took the train from Zurich Central, and the journey took just under an hour, making it an easy half-day trip from the city. You can conveniently purchase your train tickets through the SBB Mobile app on your phone.
The journey was straightforward, and Rhine Falls was well worth the trip. As soon as we arrived, we were greeted by the incredible sight and sound of water thundering over the rocks, creating a spectacular display surrounded by beautiful Swiss scenery.
There are several viewpoints where you can admire the falls from different angles, take photographs and appreciate the sheer power of the rushing water. Whether you prefer panoramic views from the riverbanks or getting closer to the action, there are plenty of ways to experience this natural wonder. For me, it was one of the highlights of our Zurich trip and well worth setting aside a few hours to visit.
Our Rhine Falls Adventure
However, one of my favourite moments was the boat ride that took us incredibly close to the waterfall. There are several boat trips to choose from at Rhine Falls. Including 15-minute and 30-minute tours that take you around the falls. Offering different perspectives of this incredible natural wonder. It's worth checking what's available before your visit so you can choose the experience that best suits your time and preferences.
Although there are several boat tours to choose from. We wanted to get even closer to the falls and enjoy a more adventurous experience. So, we opted for the yellow boat, known as the Rock Experience Tour. This takes you towards the rock in the middle of the Rhine Falls, where you can climb up for incredible views of the cascading water.
Experiencing the power of the rushing water from such a short distance was thrilling. It offered a completely different perspective compared with viewing the falls from the riverbanks. The tour cost CHF 22.50 per person (approximately £20). It felt well worth it for such a unique experience.
We spent the rest of the evening enjoying the scenery, taking photos and exploring the surrounding area at a relaxed pace. If you're visiting Zurich. I'd definitely recommend setting aside at least half a day for Rhine Falls. It's an excellent excursion for couples, families and anyone who wants to experience a different side of Switzerland beyond the city.
Tips and Photography
Top Tip: Check the boat operating times before visiting, as services can vary depending on the season and weather conditions. If possible, visit when the weather is clear so you can enjoy the views and make the most of the outdoor experience.
🍽️ Food & Budget Tips
Zurich is expensive, so keep the cost down. I'll recommend eating out at a restaurant just once, and other times go to the supermarket.
- Eat out once a day and use Coop and Migros for the rest.
- Refill your water bottle at the public fountains.
- Walk where you can. Most city sights are close together.
- Mix free and paid attractions. Lindenhof, the lakefront and Bahnhofstrasse cost nothing, so you can spend on Rhine Falls, FIFA and the Lindt Museum.
As mentioned earlier, eating out in Zurich can be expensive. We quickly realised how much it could add to our travel budget. We decided to eat out just once for lunch and keep things simple in the evenings. Picking up sandwiches, pasta or light snacks from supermarkets instead. This was an easy way to save money without spending too much on food during our trip.
Restaurants
- Saravan Bhavan
- 3 Men's Kebab
- New Bombay Zurich
Saravanaa Bhavan, even a dosa cost around £18. Nearly three times what you'd typically pay in the UK! We found 3 Men's Kebab to be a more reasonably priced option. At the Indian restaurant, given how expensive everything was. We decided to keep things simple and order just a couple of dishes rather than a full meal.
At Bombay Zurich, we ordered a non-vegetarian thali for £38 and a mutton biryani for £25. Although the food was tasty, the portions were relatively small for the price. Making the overall meal incredibly expensive. Dining out in Zurich can be costly, but we found the prices here particularly steep for what we received.
3 Men's Kebab was the most reasonably priced of the three restaurants we tried, plus the food was filling too. It had a fun, quirky vibe. More like a trendy kebab shop, with arcade games inside and a small, straightforward menu to choose from. Here we ordered a pizza and a wrap filled with beef and chicken. Making it a satisfying option without spending quite as much as we did at the other restaurants.
Final Thoughts
Zurich is the kind of city where some of the best moments come from simply walking around. Stopping for good food and soaking up the beautiful lake views. I'd say two days is enough to explore the main highlights. Especially if you include the Rhine Falls and Lindt Home of Chocolate in your itinerary.
One thing I regret is not visiting Lauterbrunnen during our trip. We had an extra day in Zurich that would have been better spent exploring Lauterbrunnen. If you have the time. I'd definitely consider adding it to your itinerary, as the Swiss mountain scenery is something special.
That said, Zurich is an incredibly expensive city. I found that a couple of days were more than enough for sightseeing. Having previously visited Geneva, I felt the two cities had some similarities. Although Geneva seemed a little less busy compared to Zurich.
Overall, my personal highlights were the Rhine Falls and the Lindt Home of Chocolate. Beyond these experiences, I didn't find Zurich had as many standout attractions as I'd hoped. However, if you're visiting Switzerland for the first time. It's still worth spending a day or two exploring the city. Before heading off to discover the stunning lakes, mountains and villages that make Switzerland so special.
Have you been to Zurich? Let me know your favourite spot in the comments!
Loved this guide? Check out my posts on Geneva, Interlaken and Grindelwald.
