Zurich
Switzerland · Country profile
Zurich is the largest city of Switzerland, an elegant, orderly metropolis on the great lake and the river of its name, where the old town of the narrow lanes, the twin towers of the Grossmünster and the long quays of the lakefront frame one of the most dazzlingly well-organised cities in the world. The city is the banking and the cultural capital of the country, with the Bahnhofstrasse shopping street, its world-class museums and its famously high quality of life, and the whole Alpine world of the country waits an hour away. The mountain of the Uetliberg and the lakeside villages ring the city, and the trams, the boats and the punctual Swiss machinery hold it all together. Prosperous, beautiful and quietly spectacular, Zurich is the model of how a modern city can be done well.
About Zurich
Zurich is a city in Switzerland. The city's documented population is around 445,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Swiss Franc (CHF) and German, French and Italian are spoken; the dialling code is +41. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Zurich Airport.
The Lake, the Quais and the Old Town of the Limmat
Zurich is a compact, immaculate and superbly organised city, and its centre, the old town on the river with its churches, its lanes and its quays, is a genuinely beautiful walking area. The lakefront, the parks and the mountain of the Uetliberg are the green escapes, and the museums, the galleries and the shopping of the Bahnhofstrasse fill out the culture. It is a gateway as much as a destination, with the alpine train journeys and the lake boats running through the surrounding wonders. The whole city runs with a smooth, punctual, quietly impressive efficiency, and the prices are correspondingly high. It is a city of quality, of the lake views and of the careful, comfortable Swiss life.
The Punctual Trams, the Weather and the Prices of the City
The summer is the season of the lake and the outdoor life, the winter is cold, clear and atmospheric, and the spring and the autumn are the mild in-betweens of the alpine climate. The old town and the lakefront are walkable, and the trams and the boats of the city run the rest with the famous Swiss punctuality. The museums and the main attractions book by the day, and the fine restaurants need the reservations in the season. The Swiss franc is the currency, almost everything is card-friendly and the tipping is modest. The mountain visits and the lake boats depend on the weather, so the flexibility helps. The prices are high, but the quality of every service is correspondingly high as well.
The Museum Mile, the Rooftops and the Day Trips of the Alps
The old town, with the Grossmünster and the Fraumünster with its stained-glass windows, is the essential walk, and the quays of the Limmat and the lakefront promenades give the classic views. The lake boats, run by the public transport network, are the beautiful, legitimate way to see the city and its villages, and the mountain railway of the Uetliberg gives the whole panorama above the lake. The Bahnhofstrasse, the shopping avenue of the world, runs its banks and its boutiques from the station to the lake. The museums of the city, from the Kunsthaus to the national museum, hold the country’s art and history. The day trips, to the falls of the Rhine, the Lucerne and the alpine passes, all run effortlessly from this most orderly of cities.
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- Country
- Switzerland
- Population
- 445,000
- Coordinates
- 47.4647, 8.5492
- Capital
- Bern
- Region
- Europe
- Currency
- Swiss Franc (CHF)
- Languages
- German, French, Italian
- Calling code
- +41
- Country code
- CH
Entry requirements for Switzerland
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Switzerland for tourism.
Getting to Zurich
Airports we list for Zurich:
Other airports in the area:
Cities in Switzerland
Other cities we cover in Switzerland:
Frequently asked questions
Is Zurich the capital of Switzerland?
No — the capital of Switzerland is Bern.
What currency do I need in Zurich?
The local currency is the Swiss Franc (CHF). Languages spoken in Switzerland include German, French and Italian.
What is the dialling code for Switzerland?
The international dialling code for Switzerland is +41.
Which airport should I fly into for Zurich?
Zurich Airport (ZRH) is the airport we list for Zurich.
How far is Zurich from the nearest airport?
Zurich is about 230 km from Geneva Airport.
Do I need a visa to visit Switzerland?
It depends on your passport. Among the origins we track, travellers from Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda and Argentina currently enter Switzerland visa-free for tourism. Use the entry requirements tool to check your own nationality and purpose of travel.
Flying out of Zurich? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.