Things to Do in Zuerich

A quiet elevated square with Roman ruins underneath, offering one of the best free views over the Old Town, the Limmat river, and the Grossmünster. Locals play chess on the stone tables.

🕐 Open 24 hours

💡 Come at sunset for the least crowds and the best light for photography. Bring a coffee from a nearby kiosk.

The historic cobblestone quarter of the Old Town, lined with craft shops, chocolate stores, and street musicians. It's free to wander and soak in the Renaissance architecture and hidden courtyards.

🕐 Open 24 hours (shops vary)

💡 Head to the side alley Münstergasse for the best chocolate deals (try Läderach or Sprüngli) and fewer tourists than the main strip.

One of Europe's most important art museums, with works from the Middle Ages to contemporary. The free collection is impressive, especially the Swiss art and the extensive Edvard Munch holdings.

🕐 Tue–Wed, Fri–Sun: 10:00–18:00; Thu: 10:00–20:00

💡 The permanent collection is free for all visitors on Wednesdays. Otherwise it's CHF 23 – but Wednesday is your day.

A calm, well-kept garden with a dozen greenhouses featuring plants from different climate zones. The alpine garden and the tropical house are the highlights. Good for a quiet picnic.

🕐 Outdoor: daily 08:00–19:00; Greenhouses: daily 10:00–17:00

💡 Greenhouses close at 17:00 in winter; the outdoor gardens stay open later. Avoid Sunday afternoons when families fill the lawns.

Switzerland's largest history museum, housed in a fairy-tale castle-like building. The permanent exhibition on Swiss history is compelling, and the archaeological collection includes Neolithic lake-dwelling artefacts.

🕐 Tue–Sun: 10:00–17:00; Thu: 10:00–19:00

💡 Free entry every first Sunday of the month. Otherwise standard ticket is CHF 13. The museum's rooftop café has a good view of the Hauptbahnhof and the Alps.