Zurich holidays
This well-heeled capital of finance has a grown-up side, but that doesn’t mean Zurich doesn’t like to fold down its pinstripes and have some fun. Not only does this city sparkle with skyscrapers, its revamped industrial areas add serious shine to an alter ego that embraces creativity with arms wide open.
Our cheapest holidays to Zurich
Clockwork efficiency and creative clout
Zurich’s pristine streets and orderly denizens can feel a little too sensible. Once you discover wild swimming, skiing, a massive calendar of festivals, a colossal chocolate museum, and a revamped red-light district boasting bars and clubs with kudos, you’ll see that this city loves to play. Book your flight to Zurich today.
Carefully selected Zurich city breaks
Best hotels in Zurich for all types of travellers
Make your stay in Zurich extra special at the Chedi Andermatt. This handsome lodging set in Urseren Wall combines Alpine opulence with Asian serenity.
Located right in the centre of Zurich and just minutes from pristine Lake Zurich is the luxurious Park Hyatt Zurich, which comes complete with two-storey wine cellar.
Perfect for a city break is one of the relatively cheap places to stay in Zurich, the Krone Unterstrass Zurich. It’s ideal for train, tram and airport journeys and located near the Limmat River.
Zurich holiday FAQs
- Listen to the roar of Europe’s largest waterfall in picturesque Schaffhausen. An easy day out, Rhine Falls sits 39 miles from Zurich. This marvel was created when grand tectonic forces shoved it into a new riverbed – during the Ice Age. Stand on a rock beneath the flow to get up close and personal to this mighty spectacle. There are also viewing platforms above the falls, accessible via a panoramic glass lift.
- When it comes to Switzerland ski resorts, you’re spoilt for choice. Just two hours from Zurich and you can reach one of the best ski areas in the world, Grindelwald – with 224 kilometres of pistes to explore alongside views of the Eiger. If you want some family-focused skiing near Zurich, Atzmannig or Amden are great for beginners, while freestylers might prefer Mythen. Perhaps, best of all, you can relax with leisurely apres-ski activities after a thrilling day on the slopes. Hot tub, anyone?
- Mount Titlis takes some beating. Just a 90-minute drive or a train and bus journey will bring you 3,000 metres above sea level. This powdery paradise offers something for all abilities, as well as an extended ski season through to May, thanks to its glacier. You’ll also find the world’s first revolving cable car and one of Europe’s highest suspension bridges – stretching 3,041 m into the sky.
- Sweet dreams are made of this – lots and lots of chocolate. Set by the shimmering lake, you’ll find the magical Lindt Home of Chocolate factory in Zurich, one of the world’s biggest chocolate museums. Not only does it have a 500 m2 chocolate shop, it also houses a nine-metre-tall chocolate fountain – with 1,400kg of real chocolate running through it. It may be tempting to touch, but you can get hands-on here with workshops and tours on chocolate-making heritage.
- Head out for a night of revelry. Once a red-light district, District 5 is now full of boundary-breaking eateries, hipster hangouts and trendy bars. Caliente! celebrates the best of Latin America with booming music, fabulous food and plenty of punch in the first week of July. If you prefer to dance to a new beat, then head to Street Parade Zurich for the world’s largest techno party. Interestingly, Zurich’s techno scene has earned it a spot on the UNSECO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
- If you’re a fan of the coffee bean, then head to Niederdorf on the bank of the Limmat River for some of the best brews. As it forms part of the old town, you can expect to sip your coffee around characterful cobbled alleyways and artisan shops – a popular place to sip cold (fermented) brews, too. For gourmet coffee among the fashion-conscious, visit the long-standing Cabaret Voltaire. Its walls are crammed with artworks, and it’s famed as the birthplace of the avant-garde Dadaism art movement.
- Art lovers will get their fill of modern art with museums like Kunsthaus Zurich – or the Rote Fabrikis arts complex, housed in a graffitied former silk mill with live music and DJs. Theatres are aplenty, such as Schauspielhaus Zurich and Theater Neumarkt – and while it’s not quite Cannes, Zurich also hosts its own international film festival in autumn. If you’re here in June, see the traditional side of Zurich through its folk festival – don’t miss the yodellers.
- Old Town Zurich is wonderfully inviting, with cosy cafes and bespoke shops plus you can easily amble to a few attractions from here. If your main mission is to imbibe the spectacular scenery around here, the best place to stay in Zurich is just outside of the city.
- Alstadt Zurich is the city’s historic heartland, which runs both sides of the scenic Limmat River. Feast your eyes on guild houses and historic squares, cobbled streets and ancient churches. You can get lost in the Old Town’s quirky shops and cosy bars. If you’re feeling fit, head up one of the Grossmunster Church’s twin towers to take in views of the whole city below. For the perfect stay, head to the Hotel Adler Zurich, which sits on a cobblestoned street in the heart of the Old Town. Its Swiss Chuchi restaurant serves national specialties, such as fondue.
- Known as Zurich’s ‘own mountain’, Uetilberg towers over the rooftops, giving you a panoramic vista of the city, its lake and the Alps around. It’s best to visit here after November when the summit sits above the blanket of fog that can cover the city. Come winter, its wonderous hiking and biking trails become fun-filled sledding runs. Uetliberg Zurich is a destination for all seasons.
- Take in some breathtaking views from Felsenegg in Zurich canton, a vantage point over that’s more than 800 metres high. You can see Lake Zurich and the mountains in the background – over a sky-high meal at Panorama Restaurant, if you like. It can be reached from Adliswil, just outside Zurich city, by taking the cable car that whisks you up in around five minutes. You can also traverse the surrounding hills.
- Zurich city breaks are delightful for a dash of culture. The city’s many museums and art galleries lend it an air of sophistication, and its parks provide a breath of fresh air. Relax on Lake Zurich’s promenade or hang out on the built-up banks of the Limmat River.
- Winter is a wonderful time to visit, whether you desire Switzerland ski holidays or want to spend Christmas in Zurich. Zurich at Christmas is magical, with multiple markets – including the indoor Christkindlimarkt at Zurich Main Station and the merry Zürich Weihnachtsdorf.
- Why not add skiing near Zurich to your festive plans? You can reach the white powdery slopes of Atzmannig, Amden and Rigi in less than an hour by car – or 90 minutes by public transport. If skiing is not your thing, you’ve got the option to whiz downhill in a toboggan.
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1. Vacation Sale offers can be booked online at ba.com or through the British Airways call centre from January 6, 2026 and January 22, 2026 at 23:59 EST.
2. Vacation sale offers are valid on travel between January 6, 2026 and September 30, 2026. All travel must be completed by September 30, 2026. For travel from all British Airways operating airports in the US.
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