How to Spend a Cosy Weekend in Zürich, Switzerland
Last Updated on 22nd December 2025 by Sophie Nadeau
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Nestled between sparkling lakes and snow-dusted peaks, Zürich is Switzerland’s largest city, where nature, culture, and city life blend seamlessly. A true delight to the senses, it’s a place that offers delicious food, sweeping vistas, and plenty of sights to keep you entertained. In this guide, I’ll be taking you through how to spend a perfect cosy winter weekend in Zürich, as well as exploring hidden gems and the Christmas markets!
Contents
Day 1: Exploring Zürich’s Old Town (Altstadt) & Christmas markets
Zürich’s Old Town is divided by the Limmat River, creating two distinct neighbourhoods to explore: Old Town (Altstadt), which is known for its charming medieval streets, historic buildings, and river views. Then there’s Zürich-West, known for its trendy, revitalised industrial area, filled with shops, bars, and eateries.
Like most cities in Europe, Zürich has a delightful old town which is mainly pedestrianised and filled with shops, boutiques, bars, and other attractions. Spend a little time exploring this area to get a feel for the city before heading to the main sights.
UBS Polybahn
The best way to get an understanding of Zürich’s size and layout is by soaking up the city from above. The UBS Polybahn is a 130-year-old bright red funicular that runs from the central station to the Polyterrasse. It runs frequently (every 2-5 minutes) and costs just CHF 1.20 for a single ticket.
Ride to the top, and you’ll be greeted by stunning views overlooking Zürich’s Old Town. The ride takes around 90 seconds, and if you stand at the front, you’ll get the best photo opportunities. From here, you’ll soon understand why Zürich is often described as a “small big city” or a “compact metropolis.”
Dörfli (Niederdorf)
The name “Dörfli,” meaning “little village,” is the affectionate term locals use for the Niederdorf neighbourhood on the eastern side of the river. This area is a small maze of cobbled streets, historic fountains, old churches, boutique shops, and bars. Much of the charm in this area is best experienced by going down the little side streets and looking at the small courtyards.
A notable fountain worth taking a stop at is that of Stüssibrunnen. Tucked away in a quiet corner, the Stüssibrunnen fountain pays homage to Rudolf Stüssi, who served as mayor of Zurich during the Old Zürich War (1440-1446).
Augustinergasse
This is one of Zürich’s prettiest streets to stroll along. When wandering along this charming medieval lane, be sure to look up at the historic bay windows that were once used as spy posts to keep an eye on the neighbourhood.
The street is named after a former nearby Augustinian convent, which was once on the site, and today it’s completely pedestrianised. During the festive season, you can walk under a canopy of stars that light up the cobbled lane.
Grossmünster
Grossmünster is an iconic church that dates back to the 12th century and played a pivotal role in Swiss history as it was the starting point of the Swiss Reformation. Entry to the main church area and crypt is free; however, if you pay a small fee of CHF 5, you can climb to the 187 wooden steps that take you to the top of the Grossmünster.
Sprüngli
Stop for lunch in one of Zürich’s most famous café-salons, which first opened its doors in 1859. With its warm, inviting atmosphere, vintage wooden furniture, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, it’s the perfect spot to relax and recharge before exploring more.
While in Switzerland, I highly recommend getting a cosy cup of hot chocolate! After all, the Swiss are renowned for their high-quality chocolate, boasting some of the best in the world.
Lindenhof
After lunch, you’ll want to explore the western side of the city, where historical charm meets sweeping views of the river and skyline. Around 15 BCE, Zürich was established as a Roman customs post called Turicum. At that time, a Roman castle would have stood here. Today, this area is known as Lindenhof, a public park that boasts incredible views of the river and the surrounding city.
For one of the best views, I recommend going to Rathaus Brücke, which means the ‘town hall bridge’. From here, you can see the mountains, Lake Zürich, the Grossmünster, and many other of Zurich’s top sites.
If you want to enjoy a particularly nice golden hour stroll alongside the river, then you can walk along Schipfe – there are even covered passage areas, which are very helpful when it snows!
Fraümunster Church
The Fraümunster church has a history that dates back over 1,170 years old, founded in 853 AD. Fraümunster is translated into English as “Women’s Minster,” and this church was built on the remains of a former abbey. Today, the star of this ecclesiastical building is the stunning stained glass windows created by Marc Chagall when he was already in his 80s!
The renowned artist’s design depicts biblical scenes and themes of love, peace, and joy, while the rose window (which was added later on in the southern transept) features vibrant colours and symbolic imagery of the apostles and heavenly light.
If you head downstairs into the crypt, there’s a small museum displaying the remains of Fraümunster Abbey. And you can even learn about the 1200-year history of the church.
Christmas markets
In the evening, I suggest exploring some of what Zürich has to offer come the festive season. Read our Zürich Christmas guide for more information. You may well want to explore the Christmas markets and attractions over two nights, as there’s quite a lot to see – but I’ll note the highlights to see below:
The singing Christmas tree
Perhaps one of the most unique festive things to see in the city is that of the singing Christmas tree…which is literally as described! This is one of the city’s most magical and communal attractions to see come the Advent season, as choirs from across the region fill the city with festive cheer, singing Christmas carols from their towering perch.
Zürcher Wienachtsdorf
Set against the elegant Opernhaus (opera house), this cosy Christmas village has 100+ glowing stalls. Twinkling lights, festive treats, and handcrafted gifts make it feel like a holiday movie come to life.
Polarzauber at Zürich Main Station
Head to Zürich’s main train station for more markets and festive delights! The city’s central hub transforms into a polar winter wonderland filled with twinkling illuminations, cinnamon-spiced aromas, and over 100 market stalls.
The giant lindt tree
Inside Zürich’s main train station, you’ll also find an extravagant chocolate Christmas tree decked out in no other than Switzerland’s favourite chocolate – Lindt!
Illuminarium
Come Christmastime, the Swiss National Museum hosts an impressive light installation show. As night falls, the museum’s courtyard transforms into a twinkling wonderland of lights, seasonal treats, and joyful cheer.
Lucy Lights
The most magical of Christmas lights in the city come in the form of the Lucy lights. Stretching from Bahnhofplatz to Bürkliplatz, Lucy’s Christmas lights illuminate Zürich’s main shopping street.
Christmas Market Dörfli in the Niederdorf
A tiny world of its own, Zurich’s oldest Christmas market is held in the heart of the Niederdorf quarter of the old town. Here you’ll find all kinds of independent artisans and foodie shops lying in the shadow of the impressive Grossmünster.
Fondue for dinner
Gooey, rich, and simply delicious. No trip to Zurich would be complete without indulging in a traditional Swiss cheese fondue. For the best fondue experience, stay within the festive markets and head to Frau Gerolds Garten. Mrs Gerold’s Garden can be found in Zürich’s Industriequartier, and it is self-described as “like being at grandma’s house.”
There’s nothing like ending your first day with the ultimate Swiss dinner: fondue, raclette, mulled wine, and some winter magic!
Day 2: Lakeside strolls & mountaintops
One of the best aspects of Switzerland is undoubtedly its beautiful landscape and wildlife. You can experience both lakeside life as well as time on the mountain, and around Zürich lake itself are many attractions worth visiting.
Lindt Home of Chocolate
Start by visiting the largest Swiss chocolate museum in Switzerland, and the most iconic chocolate of the country! The museum has been open for around 5 years and is definitely the most popular attraction in the city. Home to the world’s largest chocolate fountain: a 9-metre-tall marvel holding 1.5 tonnes of flowing chocolate from a giant whisk… It’s no wonder people travel from far and wide to visit.
The museum is very interactive, and you can learn all about the history and production of chocolate. It also offers plenty of opportunity for tasting (as any good chocolate museum should!) There are three chocolate fountains, a dark chocolate tasting, and a Lindt truffle tasting to indulge in.
Sukkulenten-Sammlung Zürich
If you’re a plant lover, you’ll be happy to learn that along Lake Zürich is one of the world’s most important collections of succulents. Home to over 4,500 varieties from 78 different families, it’s a gloriously green delight to see!
Most of the rooms are divided into sections where each succulent came from the world, which makes it very satisfying to explore. The greenhouses are open every day of the week, and it’s completely free to visit. You’ll see descriptions in both German and English.
The Bagel Shop
Stop for a quick bite to eat at The Bagel Shop, a cute café that specialises in authentic sourdough bagels. They serve both savoury and sweet options – I highly recommend the blueberry and cream cheese for a sweet treat!
Uetliberg
In order to reach Uetilberg from the city centre, you’ll need to take the tram. Uetliberg is the local mountain or “home mountain”, and it towers 870 meters above the city. There are lots of hiking trails to be enjoyed nearby, as well as a few cafés and attractions at the top. Of course, the best thing to do above is to soak up the stunning views that overlook the Swiss landscape and beyond.
Atop the mountain, you’ll find Hotel UTO KULM, which offers winter activities and a delightful Christmas market to explore. One of the most popular sports is curling on the ice rink. The top attraction has to be the metallic tower which, after a steep climb, grants you access to some of the best views in Zürich!
Haus Hiltl
For dinner, I recommend heading to Haus Hiltl, which is very special as it holds the Guinness World Record for being the world’s oldest continuously run vegetarian restaurant. You can either dine here by indulging in the buffet style, or opt to dine à la carte.
Day 3: Museums of Zürich
Your third and final day in Zürich will be spent delving into local history and culture, and learning a little more about Switzerland’s rich heritage through some of its museums. If it’s raining during your time at all, you might want to switch the days around and save this day for rainy weather!
The Swiss National Museum
Start your day of museum exploring by going to Switzerland’s most frequently visited museum of cultural history – The Swiss National Museum. Home to plenty of Swiss treasures, you can find historical artefacts, exhibitions and plenty of rich details about life here in Zürich and the rest of the country.
The Swiss National Museum was established in 1898. Its iconic castle-like building was designed by architect Gustav Gul in a historic style combining elements of medieval castles and French Renaissance style.
General admission is around CHF 13. It’s open 10 am – 5 pm every day, except for Thursdays till 7 pm. The museum is closed on Mondays.
Come the festive season, and you’ll see that the Swiss National Museum hosts its very own Christmas exhibition. As of 2025, the exhibition focused on Christmas & Cribs: focusing on the buildings surrounding the holy family: grottos and caves, ruins, different types of stables and barns, houses, churches and a winter forest.
Milchbar
Stop for (yet another) hot cocoa to keep you warm and energised for the day. This charming, popular spot is known for its lovely courtyard and cosy ambience. They serve hot drinks and fresh pastries, and it’s close to some of the city’s busy shopping streets.
FIFA Museum
Football fans will be delighted to discover that there’s a FIFA Museum right in the heart of the city. Opened in 2016, the museum is home to more than a thousand pieces of football-related memorabilia, celebrating the history and global impact of the game.
What I loved most was how interactive the experience felt. It’s not just about reading facts or peering at displays; you’re invited to truly engage with football’s story, with plenty of memorabilia to explore along the way. And to top it all off, the visit ends on a fun note, with the chance to have a kickabout yourself!
Kunsthaus Zürich
Soak up the sights at Switzerland’s largest art museum, home to masterpieces and modern icons. The Kunsthaus Zürich is home to an impressive collection that spans centuries, from medieval masterpieces to striking contemporary works.
Spread across two buildings, the museum offers a thoughtfully curated journey through art history. The historic Moser Building showcases older works, including paintings and sculptures from the Middle Ages through to the 19th century, with a strong emphasis on Swiss artists. Expect to see works by the likes of Alberto Giacometti, alongside important European masters.
In contrast, the Chipperfield Building houses the museum’s modern and contemporary collections, featuring bold, thought-provoking works from the 20th century onwards. There is an underground passageway connecting the two buildings.
Entry to the museum is generally free, with some paid exhibitions throughout the year. It’s open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm, with a late closing at 8 pm on Thursdays. The museum is closed on Mondays.
Dinner at Zunfthaus zur Waag
Nestled among Zürich’s old town, this 17th-century guild house serves Swiss cuisine in a magical setting. If you fancy dining out and spending a little more on a Swiss dinner for your final evening in Zürich, then consider heading to Zunfthaus zur Waag for an opulent experience.
Final thoughts
We personally loved our trip to Zürich! It’s definitely somewhere that gives a cosy winter retreat as opposed to somewhere I would rush to in the summer months. It’s a beautiful and vibrant city with stunning landscapes to match, and I would love to visit again!
The only thing worth mentioning is that Zürich is one of the world’s most expensive cities, so while it makes a fantastic holiday destination, it’s worth budgeting carefully to make the most of your trip.
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