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    Zurich Region

    Switzerland

    Zurich Region

    Region

    The Zurich Region in northern Switzerland stretches from Lake Zurich to the High Rhine.

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    7. Zurich Region
    The Zurich Region in northern Switzerland stretches from Lake Zurich to the High Rhine. It is home to the country's largest city, featuring its most important airport and largest train station, as well as the Rhine Falls, whose left bank belongs to the Canton of Zurich.For many travelers, Switzerland begins here: From Zurich, you can reach Lucerne, Bern, and the Alps quickly by train.
    The Zurich region stretches from Lake Zurich to the Upper Rhine. Zurich itself, with its airport and main station, is the country's most important arrival point; a dense S-Bahn network connects the city with its surroundings. To the north, you can reach the Rhine Falls by S-Bahn, whose left bank, with Laufen Castle, belongs to the Canton of Zurich. For day trips to Lucerne, Bern, or the Alps, the region is a good starting point.
    Zurich

    Place 1 of 2

    Zurich

    Zürich, Switzerland's largest city, lies at the northern end of Lake Zurich, where the Limmat flows from the lake.

    With around 434,000 inhabitants, Zurich is Switzerland's largest city, its agglomeration numbering about 1.45 million people. Most attractions are located in and around the Old Town on both sides of the Limmat and can be reached on foot or by short tram rides.

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    Rheinfall
    Kabelleger / David Gubler / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Place 2 of 2

    Rheinfall

    The Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen in northern Switzerland is considered, by volume of water, Europe's largest waterfall. Over a width of around 150 meters, the Rhine plunges 23 meters into the depths.

    The Rhine Falls near Neuhausen, downstream from Schaffhausen, is considered Europe's most voluminous waterfall. Spanning around 150 meters wide, the Rhine plunges a good 20 meters, with the spectacle most impressive in early summer after the snowmelt.

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    Sights in Zurich Region

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Old Town Stein am Rhein
    Attraction

    Old Town Stein am Rhein

    The little town on the Rhine is known for its painted facades: Frescoes on late Gothic and early Baroque townhouses around the Market Square and on the 16th-century Town Hall tell entire picture stories. At the Untertor, you enter the Old Town.
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    Munot and Rose Garden
    Garden

    Munot and Rose Garden

    The circular fortress, built 1564-1589, is Schaffhausen's landmark, a short walk from the station above the old town. The Munotwächterin still lives in the tower, manually ringing the bell at 9 PM daily. Next to the entrance is the Munot Rose Garden.
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    Food and Drink in the Zurich Region

    Zurich Sliced Veal

    Veal strips in cream sauce with mushrooms, classically served with Rösti.

    Tirggel

    Thin, hard honey biscuit with embossed pictures, a Zurich Christmas specialty.

    Luxemburgerli

    Small, airy macarons from Confiserie Sprüngli, a popular souvenir from Zurich.

    Culture in the Zurich Region

    In the 16th century, under Huldrych Zwingli, Zurich was a center of the Reformation, and Protestant sobriety still shapes the city today. At the same time, with Kunsthaus, Opernhaus, and Schauspielhaus, it is the country's largest cultural center.FestivalsAt the spring festival Sechseläuten in April, guilds march through the city, concluding with the burning of the Böögg, a cotton and explosives snowman, on Sechseläutenplatz. In August, hundreds of thousands dance by the lake at the Street Parade.

    Exploring the Zurich Region

    Zurich's S-Bahn network connects the city with the entire canton, and one fare covers train, tram, bus, and boat. From the airport, the Main Station is about ten minutes by train. On Lake Zurich, scheduled boats run; the Rhine Falls are under an hour away by S-Bahn.

    Round trips through this region

    Grand Rail Tour: Lakes, Passes, and Glaciers

    This round trip connects Switzerland's most famous destinations almost exclusively by train, bus, and boat. From Zurich, it's to Lake Lucerne and Lucerne, and through the Gotthard to Italian-speaking Lugano. With the Bernina Express Bus, you travel over Lake Como to Tirano, and from there on the Bernina Express over the Berninapass to Upper Engadine and St. Moritz. The Glacier Express takes you in approximately eight hours over 291 bridges and through 91 tunnels to Zermatt, beneath the Matterhorn. Via Valais, you reach the Bernese Oberland with Jungfraujoch and Lauterbrunnen Valley, before the journey ends in the federal city of Bern.

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    Nearby

    Zurich

    Zurich

    Zürich, Switzerland's largest city, lies at the northern end of Lake Zurich, where the Limmat flows from the lake. Its medieval Old Town on both sides of the river, lakeside promenades, and a wide array of museums make it a great starting point for any Swiss journey.On the right bank, you'll find the Grossmünster and the Rathaus; on the left, the Fraumünster with Marc Chagall's stained-glass windows, and St. Peter's Church with Europe's largest clock face. Bahnhofstrasse leads from the Hauptbahnhof, the country's largest railway station, to the lake. For a panorama of the city, lake, and, on clear days, the Alps, take the train from Hauptbahnhof up the 870-meter-high Uetliberg.
    Zurich Oldtown

    Zurich Oldtown

    The Old Town lies on both sides of the Limmat, between Hauptbahnhof and Lake Zurich. Left of the river are Lindenhof, St. Peter and Fraumünster; on the right, Niederdorf with its narrow lanes, bars and guild houses around Grossmünster. The largest part is pedestrian zone and can be easily explored in one day.
    Zurich West

    Zurich West

    The former industrial quarter in Kreis 5 has transformed into the city's entertainment and creative district. Old factory halls and the arches of the railway viaduct are home to shops, bars, clubs, and event venues such as the MAAG Halle and Zentralwäscherei. In summer, people meet at Frau Gerolds Garten by the tracks.
    Seefeld

    Seefeld

    The residential district on the right bank of Lake Zurich stretches from Bellevue to Zürichhorn. Along the lakeside promenade are parks, lidos, and sunbathing lawns, which are well-visited on summer evenings. From the city center, you can reach Seefeld on foot or by tram.
    Rheinfall

    Rheinfall

    The Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen in northern Switzerland is considered, by volume of water, Europe's largest waterfall. Over a width of around 150 meters, the Rhine plunges 23 meters into the depths. From Zurich, you can reach it by S-Bahn.The right bank belongs to Neuhausen am Rheinfall, Canton Schaffhausen; the left, with Laufen Castle, to Canton Zurich. From the castle, a panoramic path leads to platforms Belvedere, Känzeli, and Fischetz directly over the water, with a panoramic lift for return. Boats run from the north bank into the basin and to the middle rock. The Rhine Falls itself is freely accessible year-round; Laufen Castle and its platforms require admission.