Zurich

Day 1: Old Town, Bahnhofstrasse and the lake Settle into Zurich’s historic core and its grand shopping boulevard. You’ll weave from medieval alleys to lakeside lawns, balancing culture, retail therapy and easy waterside strolling.

• Morning: Meander up to Lindenhof for views over the Limmat, then drift through Niederdorf’s lanes and Augustinergasse. Drop by Schwarzenbach Kolonialwaren for coffee and tea, and remember the local etiquette: say “Grüezi” when you enter shops and “Uf Wiederluege” when you leave.
• Midday: Work your way down Bahnhofstrasse (lower section first) for accessible brands, then towards Paradeplatz for watch and jewellery icons. Grab lunch in the Globus food hall; save room for Luxemburgerli at Confiserie Sprüngli on Paradeplatz. Note: the former Jelmoli on Bahnhofstrasse is closed and under redevelopment.
• Afternoon: Stroll the Utoquai promenade to Zürichhorn; pause at the Heureka sculpture and, from March–October, the China Garden (seasonal hours). In summer, swim at a lakeside Badi (e.g., Tiefenbrunnen); in cooler months, warm up with coffee and people‑watch by the water.
• Evening: Dine in Seefeld’s refined neighbourhood restaurants or back in the Old Town. If visiting in late November–December, enjoy the Christmas lights on Bahnhofstrasse (Lucy) and browse the festive markets after dark.

Day 2: Zurich West design scene and post‑industrial parks Today spotlights the city’s creative streak: rail‑arch markets, upcycled design and bold contemporary parks. It’s perfect for design lovers and anyone keen to see how Zurich reimagines industrial heritage as green space.

• Morning: Breakfast at Im Viadukt’s Markthalle, then browse the boutiques tucked into the viaduct arches. Pop over to the FREITAG flagship (shipping‑container tower) and climb to the rooftop for district views.
• Midday: Linger at Wipkingerpark on the Limmat; in summer, join locals for a dip at Flussbad Oberer Letten (strong current—plan entry/exit points and use a Wickelfisch dry bag). In cooler weather, cosy up in a nearby café along the river.
• Afternoon: Ride the tram to Oerlikon for the award‑winning MFO‑Park—a vertical, plant‑clad steel “park house”. If you prefer wider landscapes, detour to Irchelpark for ponds, meadows and easy jogging paths.
• Evening: Return via Langstrasse for a relaxed dinner amid independent eateries and bars. Tip: Zurich service is professional but reserved; no haggling, and bring a reusable bag if you pick up supplies en route.

Day 3: Villa gardens, hidden green corridors and Uetliberg Spend a slower, nature‑first day among gracious 19th‑century parks and the city’s forested “mountain”. This plan is Sunday‑friendly when most shops (except at the airport and main station) are closed.

• Morning: Wander Belvoirpark’s lawns and ponds, then the rolling landscape of Rieterpark; the Rietberg Museum sits within the grounds if you fancy art with your greenery. Late spring brings glorious iris and daylily blooms at Belvoirpark.
• Midday: Follow the sunken Schanzengraben moat‑path to the Alter Botanischer Garten for a tranquil picnic (supermarkets are close by). Water from public fountains is safe to drink—refill your bottle as you go.
• Afternoon: Take the S10 up to Uetliberg for panoramic city‑and‑Alps views. Hike the ridge trail or, in winter, bring a sledge; in autumn, the foliage is superb and you can often rise above the “sea of fog”.
• Evening: Settle back in the Old Town for a relaxed dinner or a glass of Swiss wine. If you’ve made significant purchases during your stay, remember VAT refunds for non‑residents (ask for tax‑free forms and validate them at the airport before check‑in); during Advent, select Sunday openings may apply.

By Air

• Zurich Airport (ZRH), Kloten: Switzerland’s busiest airport with its own rail station (Zürich Flughafen) under the terminal.
  • Train to Zürich HB: 10–12 minutes (departures every 5–10 minutes).
  • Tram 10 to city centre: 25–35 minutes.
  • Taxi/ride-hail: roughly 20–30 minutes, traffic dependent.
• Nearby alternatives (typical total journey times to Zürich HB):
  • EuroAirport Basel–Mulhouse–Freiburg (EAP/BSL/MLH): 1 h 20–1 h 40 (bus to Basel SBB, then train).
  • Geneva (GVA): 2 h 40–3 h (direct IC train).
  • Milan Malpensa (MXP): 3 h 30–4 h 15 (Malpensa Express + EuroCity/IC via Lugano/Milan).
  • Friedrichshafen (FDH): 2–2 h 30 (bus + ferry to Romanshorn + train).
  • Memmingen (FMM): 3–4 h (coach/train combinations).

By Train

• Main hub: Zürich HB (Zürich Hauptbahnhof). Secondary hubs: Zürich Oerlikon; Zürich Flughafen (airport).
• Key domestic direct times:
  • Basel SBB ~55 min; Bern ~1 h; Lucerne ~45–50 min; St. Gallen ~1–1 h 10; Lausanne ~2 h 10; Geneva ~2 h 45–3 h; Lugano ~1 h 55–2 h 10; Chur ~1 h 15–1 h 30; Interlaken ~2 h.
• Key international direct times:
  • Paris (Gare de Lyon) ~4 h 05–4 h 30 (TGV Lyria).
  • Milan (Centrale) ~3 h 17–3 h 30 (EuroCity via Gotthard Base Tunnel).
  • Munich (Hbf) ~3 h 30–4 h.
  • Frankfurt (Main) ~3 h 50–4 h 10 (ICE).
  • Vienna (Hbf) ~7 h 40–8 h (Railjet; some direct, others 1 change).
  • Stuttgart ~2 h 50–3 h 15 (usually 1 change).
• Night trains (seasonal/weekly variations): Nightjet services to Amsterdam, Berlin, Hamburg, Vienna and beyond (some with portions/changes).

By Coach/Bus

• Long-distance coaches use Zürich Bus Terminal (Sihlquai), next to Zürich HB.
• Typical direct/one-change journey times:
  • Munich 4–5 h; Milan 4–5 h; Stuttgart 3 h 30–4 h 30; Innsbruck ~3 h 30–4 h; Paris 9–10 h.
• Major operators include FlixBus and BlaBlaCar Bus. Border checks can add delays on cross-border routes.

By Car

• Motorways A1, A3 and A4 converge on Zurich.
• Approximate driving times in normal conditions:
  • Basel ~1 h; Bern ~1 h 30; Geneva ~2 h 45–3 h; Lugano ~2–2 h 30; Milan ~3–3 h 30; Munich ~3 h 30–4 h.
• Swiss motorway vignette (annual) required; available as a physical sticker or e‑vignette. Parking in the centre is limited and expensive—consider P+R and use public transport for the last leg.