What Is Zurich Known For? (Wealth, Stunning Nature & More) - SwitzerLanding (2024)

Wondering what some of the most famous attractions in Zurich are? Then you are definitely in the right place because this detailed guide to the top sights in Zurich covers everything the Swiss city is known for around the world!

Wealth, beautiful architecture, and spectacular nature are just some of the things that attract travelers from all over the world to the Swiss metropolis. Keep reading to see all the other things that Zurich is known for!

Lake Zurich

The Zurich lake is undoubtedly one of the most famous things about this Swiss city. You can’t visit Zurich and not at least walk all the way to the lake and enjoy the view – it’s comparable to visiting New York City and just completely ignoring the existence of Central Park.

If you happen to visit the city during the warmer months, you’ll be able to enjoy all sorts of fun water activities. Many locals will lounge on the lake beaches, swim, and even ride kayaks or SUPs on the lake waters. There are plenty of ways to have fun on Lake Zurich, so don’t be afraid to live it up!

Exploring the lake is a bit trickier if you visit during the colder months, but you can always opt for a lake cruise. This lets you explore the city of Zurich from the water, and it’s a unique way of exploring the wonderful lake.

There are plenty of options for boat cruises in Zurich, so it’s really up to how much time you have and the amount of money you’re willing to spend. The best cruises are the ones that also explore the Limmat River, allowing you to see all the most famous Zurich landmarks and attractions from the water. The absolute best cruises will include dinner (usually fondue) and local drinks (usually wine), but this tends to be the longest and priciest option.

Museums & Art Galleries

Switzerland is the definition of a melting pot of different cultures and the various museums of Zurich are a great example of that. The many museums of Zurich will allow you to explore the influence of those cultures, as well as teach about the history of Zurich, the city’s patron saints, the local traditions, and so much more!

The Swiss National Museum is a must for anyone who is genuinely interested in the culture, tradition, and history of Switzerland. Kunsthaus Zurich is a spectacular art museum, the FIFA museum is an absolute gem for all football lovers, and the is amazing if you want to learn about watchmaking.

Don’t miss out on the ETH Zurich museums either – the university park is home to some excellent museums, including the focusTerra, Zoology Museum, the Palaeontological Museum, and the Archaeology Museum.

Head to Zurich West district if you want to see some spectacular modern art. The formerly industrial neighborhood is nowadays a popular cultural district, and it’s home to most museums and art galleries that are entirely dedicated to design and modern art.

Yes, there are indeed a lot of things to do in Zurich!

Nightlife

Zurich is famous for having the best nightlife out of any city in Switzerland, which makes it a great destination for all party-going travelers. Explore the landmarks and cultural attractions during the day, but head to the clubs and bars in the city center at night to really make the most of your time in the Swiss city.

The only caveat is that a night out in Zurich will cost you a small fortune if you want to have a few drinks and something to eat. The average price of a co*cktail in a club in downtown Zurich is around 16CHF, and one way to save some money is to look at which clubs offer free entrance on certain days.

Also, if you’re going to look for suggestions, ask people about clubs and not nightclubs. For most Swiss people, a nightclub is a strip club, so you might get some weird looks.

Shopping

Zurich is a rich city so it makes sense that it’s home to some of the best (luxury) shopping opportunities in Switzerland. Head to Bahnhofstrasse for the absolute best selection of luxury boutiques if you’re in the mood to do some (window) shopping.

Whether you want to pick up designer outfits, a quality Swiss watch, or just a measly $1000 bottle of wine, you will find what you’re looking for in Zurich. Food shopping is also a fabulous experience in the Swiss city, especially if you’re looking to pick up some local delicacies to bring home as souvenirs.

Chocolate and cheese shopping is a special experience in Zurich and something that all foodies should definitely try. Watch shopping in Zurich is also an experience in and of itself, especially if you’re willing to spend a good chunk of money.

All the best shops are located in downtown Zurich, from Breitling to Piaget. It’s worth noting that not all the famous watchmaker brands have their own shops in Zurich, but there are plenty of local shops that have been around forever, and they carry all the classic high-end brands.

There is also a huge range of shops inside shopping malls in Zurich as well. A few of them are within 10 minutes of the main station as well. Also keep in mind that most shops are closed on Sundays in Switzerland, with a few shopping areas that are exceptions in Zurich.

The Annual Street Parade

The Annual Street Parade is the largest public event that takes place in Zurich with an estimated million visitors every year. It’s also the largest techno parade in the world, at least since the 2010 Love Parade ended. The chaotic event moved from Germany to Switzerland, it got rebranded, and it’s been thriving ever since.

The annual parade is usually held on the second Saturday of August and it takes place along the northern shore of Lake Zurich. It’s a festival of tolerance, love, and freedom, and every year the parade goers send a different message that promotes tolerance and peace.

The Annual Street Parade isn’t just a modern take on the hippie movement. Famous DJs entertain the parade goers with electronic music and smaller parties are held in about 80 other locations throughout the city. It’s a fabulous event, but also a great way to experience this side of Zurich, which is less about wealth and status.

Banks & Finance

Zurich and Geneva are the largest financial hubs in Switzerland, a country that is famous for its banking system and holds approximately one-quarter of global wealth. Switzerland has some 270 banks, and about a third of those are headquartered in the city of Zurich.

It’s no secret that the city is one of the wealthiest places in the world, and this isn’t evident just from the number of banks in Zurich. The quality of life here is great, and wealth is truly synonymous with the Swiss city.

Everything in Zurich is wildly expensive, but that’s because of the high standard of living in the financial capital. Jobs pay a comfortable living wage, and it’s actually not too hard to find a job that pays well, regardless of your skillset.

That’s also why the standards for employees in Zurich are very high, whether you want to work as a banker or as a bartender.

The Opera House

The Zurich Opera House has housed the Zurich Opera since 1891, and it’s one of the most iconic landmark buildings in the city. It’s situated at Sechseläutenplatz, on the eastern bank of Lake Zurich.

The neo-baroque venue is famous for several things – the impressive architecture, the beautiful interior, and the spectacular performance art that takes place inside. The facade of the buildings includes busts of Mozart, Weber, Wagner, Schiller, Shakespeare, and Goethe, while the neo-rococo interior immediately makes you stop in your tracks.

The opera house and its surroundings are even more popular destinations in the winter months, particularly in December. They get adorned with sparkly Christmas decorations, and the entire place becomes the main hub of Zurich’s Christmas market.

Zürichdeutsch

There’s German, Swiss-German, and then there’s the Zurich-German dialect. The city is located in German-speaking Switzerland and that’s the most commonly spoken language in Zurich. But the residents speak their own dialect, which is as far from the standard German language as it can be.

Even if you’re perfectly fluent in standard German, it will take a little while to figure out the Zurich-German dialect. There’s no designated way of writing the language, so a mixture of Swiss-German and standard German is used. It is predominantly a spoken language and it has been heavily influenced by other languages, as new generations of immigrants settled in Zurich over the decades.

The Italian language has influenced the Zurich-German dialect the most, but so have the languages spoken by ex-Yugoslavian residents who relocated to the city after the dissolution of Yugoslavia.

Zurich-German is perceived as a fast-spoken dialect, but less melodic than other variants. Also, it’s worth noting that there used to be multiple dialects within the canton of Zurich alone, depending on their precise geographical location. They have blended over the years, and now the High-Alemmanic dialect of Zürichdeutsch is the most common dialect in the Swiss city.

If you are in Switzerland today, you will also notice that the English language is creeping into the dialect. Words such as “easy” can be heard among the younger generation.

Uetliberg

Uetliberg is a mountain that overlooks the city of Zurich and it’s the perfect place to visit if you want to escape the city streets. The mountain is easily accessible from the town by train, and it’s a popular hiking destination just outside Zurich. With a plethora of hiking trails just waiting to be explored, this is the best place close to the city for all outdoor adventurers.

Mount Uetliberg also boasts a panoramic observation deck that offers spectacular views of Zurich. There are a couple of restaurants at the summit, where you can enjoy the views while munching on the best Swiss delicacies.

Alternatively, you can pack a picnic to enjoy at the top of the mountain. There are plenty of decent picnic spots atop Uetliberg, and you can still munch on the local delicacies while enjoying the view, and save some money in the process.

Food

Similarly to the language predominantly spoken in the city, the food in Zurich is also heavily influenced by the many immigrants who have settled in the city. The local food in Zurich is a bit more complex than fondue and hot chocolate, although there are plenty of those throughout the city as well.

Because Zurich is so close to the German border, the prevalent cuisine in the city was heavily influenced by German cuisine. The many immigrants that have settled in the city over the past century have also left their mark on the staple foods in Zurich, and you will find plenty of French and Italian-influenced dishes throughout the Zurich restaurants.

Some of the most commonly used ingredients in staple Zurich dishes include butter, cream, meat, potatoes, and mushrooms. If you’re eager to try the best local dishes, don’t miss out on the Zurcher Geschnetzeltes (sliced veal in gravy, Zurich-style) or rosti (delicious shredded fried potatoes), with a side of burli (classic Zurich bread rolls).

Naturally, the city also pays homage to the foods that are predominantly Swiss, so you will be spoiled for choice when it comes to cheese and chocolate-based dishes. Fondue is everywhere in Zurich, but somehow it tastes best if it’s had on a boat that’s cruising on Lake Zurich. I also love the Fribourger Fonduestübli in Staufacher. They know, love and only produce Fondue, so it’s a great place to get your Fondue fix!

Monuments

Some of the most famous landmarks in Switzerland are located in this spectacular Swiss city. Grossmunster and Fraumunster are probably the two most famous attractions in the city, separated by the Limmat River.

The more traditional monuments are also plentiful in Zurich and some of the most famous ones are the Ulrich Zwingli Monument, the Ganymed statue, James Joyce’s Grave, the Flower Clock, and the Lindenhof Fountain. Keep in mind that those are just the most famous monuments and landmarks – there are plenty of other attractions to keep you busy in Zurich if this isn’t enough.

Walking tours are the best way to explore the city, whether you want it to be a guided tour or you prefer to do it yourself. Take your time exploring all the different streets and alleys in the old town, see all the unique buildings, explore all the scenic viewpoints, and don’t forget to take lots of photos!

The Old Town

Zurich’s old town might not be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site like Bern’s is, but that doesn’t make it any less impressive. Old churches, beautiful landmarks, and buildings that date back to the Middle Ages are all scattered throughout Zurich’s old town, and they’re absolutely worth exploring while you’re in the city.

Bahnhofstrasse, Fraumunster, Grossmunster, Lindenhof, Niederedorf, Paradeplatz, and Urania Sternwarte are just some of the most popular landmarks in Zurich old town. There are also the museums, the family-owned restaurants that have been in operation for more than a century, the fabulous family-run watch shops, the art galleries, the restaurants, the buildings, and so much more.

Whether you’re into high-end shopping, historical attractions, architecture, or just culture, Zurich will not disappoint.

Frequently Asked Questions

What food is Zurich known for?

The food Zurich is best known for is the local dish Zürcher Geschnetzeltes. It’s a dish made from slices of veal served in a mushroom, white wine, and cream sauce. Zurich is also the home of Bircher muesli, as it was created here by a local
Doctor Maximilian Bircher-Benner.

Why is Zurich well-known as a tourist spot?

Zurich is well known as a tourist spot because of its stunning location on Lake Zurich with an historic old town right in its center. Along with this, Zurich is also home to world-class museums, universities, and other fantastic attractions.