This Zurich winter itinerary is proof that Switzerland is the most magical at this time of year ❄️
I didn’t know much about Zurich aside from being the gateway to the rest of Switzerland. But after spending a week there, I can firmly declare it as one of the most underrated cities to visit in Europe — especially in the wintertime.
The typical 2-day layover is not enough time to explore it… Plus, the surrounding snow-dusted mountains and Christmas markets add an extra charm to the already historic city.
This Zurich winter itinerary will explore the best the region has to offer. Expect renowned museums, mulled wine at Christmas markets, and even trips out to the mountains 🏂❄️
Getting around Zurich
Public transport: Zurich is well-connected by trams, buses, and trains. Single journey tickets can be purchased at ticket machines in train and tram stations, while bus fares can be paid to the driver.
Ride-hailing: While expensive, Uber and Bolt are reliable ride-hailing apps for late nights out.
On foot: Zurich is a walkable city with many attractions close to each other.
Save money when you explore Zurich by getting the Zürich Card! Enjoy unlimited travel on all forms of public transportation like trams, buses, trains, boats, funiculars, and cable cars. Plus, enjoy additional discounts on museums, tours, and restaurants. Valid up to 72 hours.
Day 1: Arrive in Zurich
Getting from Zurich Airport to Zurich HB: ~12min train ride
While Zurich is the cultural and social epicentre of Switzerland, it’s also known for being the financial hub of Europe! Backdropped by snow-capped mountains, the city is a blend of modernity and the old.
Fun fact: Zurich is endearingly known as the ‘Fountain City’ as there are over 1,200 public drinking water fountains. Remember to bring a bottle for unlimited fresh Swiss water!
Take the iconic funicular to see Einstein’s locker in ETH Zürich
Our first stop was the UBS Polybahn, a historic funicular that has been running since 1889, up to Polyterasse Station. This distinct red cabin has become of great significance as it ferries students to ETH Zürich in just two minutes.
It’s one of the best universities in Switzerland, and is known for its engineering and science programmes.
We were blown away by the grand architecture and scale of the university’s main building! It’s nothing like the modern campuses in Singapore, with tall arched ceilings and historic artworks lining the walls. The school is free for visitors as long as they do not disrupt the students.
But what many don’t know is that Albert Einstein is an alumnus who taught theoretical physics during the early 1910s!
Tucked by a quiet study corner on the F-floor are a row of innocuous wooden lockers. Hidden in plain sight, we almost missed Einstein’s old locker if it weren’t for the tiny portrait of him on the door.
Inside are photographs from his youth and his biography. Don’t forget to open the drawers for a musical surprise!
The university is located right in front of the Polyterasse, one of the best lookout points in Zurich. We recommend visiting before 11AM to beat the tourist crowds — we had the entire terrace to ourselves, and the panoramic view was just unbeatable.
Cost: CHF1.20 (~S$1.90) (Free with the Zurich Card)
Opening hours: 6:30AM – 9PM (Mon – Fri), 7:30AM – 9PM (Sat), 9AM – 9PM (Sun)
How to get there: 6min walk from Zurich HB train station to Central Polybahn station (Google Maps)
Go on an Old Town Walking Tour
In my opinion, the best way to learn about a new city quickly is to explore it on foot, which was why we signed up for an Old Town Walking Tour via Zürich Tourism.
This 2-hour tour took us through the winding cobblestone streets of Zurich’s Old Town, which flanks both sides of the Limmat River.
Our guide provided anecdotes on the history and heritage of the town, where picturesque old buildings and churches have been preserved for centuries. We were surprised by how lively this area of Zurich is, with many cafes, restaurants and retail boutiques today.
We passed by some landmarks, including: Bahnhofstrasse Shopping Street, Lindenhof Lookout Point, and Augustinergasse Medieval Lane — but our favourite spot was the secret garden within the grounds of the Grossmünster Church! It’s a quiet little sanctuary in one of the most popular streets in the city 🍃
Cost: CHF25/pax (~S$39.50) for a join-in public tour
Activity timings: Varies
Meeting point: In front of the Tourist Information at Zurich HB train station (Google Maps)
*Pro-tip: Get 50% off the Zurich Old Town Walking tour when you book with the Zürich Card.
Bonus: Check out the many Christmas Markets in Zurich
Zurich’s Singing Christmas Tree is one of the most unique Christmas attractions in Switzerland, where free performances are held every night until Christmas.
Some say there’s ‘nothing to do’ in Europe after shops close in the early evening — but that’s not the case during the winter season. We ended our days exploring many Christmas markets in the city, which run from late November to Christmas Day.
Aside from souvenir shopping, they are a great place for dinner and drinks. Some dishes you can’t miss are the Swiss sausages, hot chocolate and mulled wine (which we had plenty of).
My favourite markets are Zurich’s “Wienachtsdorf” at Sechseläutenplatz and Illuminarium.
The former is one of the largest markets in the city and is backdropped by the Opera House. It looks straight out of a Christmas fairytale with many beautifully-decorated huts and a variety of international cuisine.
Whereas the latter is an artistic winter wonderland that looks a little similar to Singapore’s Christmas Wonderland. Located inside the inner courtyard of the National Museum, it has dazzling light shows, food carts, and even ticketed digital art shows.
Entrance fee: Free
Event period: 20 Nov 2025 – 23 Dec 2025
Location: Varies
Day 2: Day trip to Einsiedeln
Train from Zurich HB to Einsiedeln HB: ~50mins via train
Photo credit: Zürich Tourism
Just an hour by train from Zurich is the charming town of Einsiedeln. We wanted to take a lesser-known day trip only locals know about, so this town’s history, nature views, and rich culture caught our interest.
As Einsiedeln lies outside of the ‘free’ Zürich Card transport zone, we bought our train tickets (from CHF11.40/one-way) on the SBB Mobile app.
Milchmanufaktur Einsiedeln
What’s a trip to Switzerland, aka the land of cheese, without some cheese-tasting?
Our first stop in Einsiedeln was Milchmanufaktur Einsiedeln, a dairy factory that specialises in alpine cheese, yoghurt and milk. After a quick brunch at their restaurant, it was time for a backstage tour of their factory.
The tour kicked off with a tasting of the different cheeses they manufacture, from soft to hard cheese (which coincidentally is the youngest to oldest aged cheese) 🧀
But our favourite part was the yoghurt-tasting where we could sample over 10 flavours!
This is the ‘treasury’ — the most valuable room on the premises 💰
After suiting up in protective gear (for hygiene purposes), we visited different rooms to see how cheese is made. It was quite cool to see every stage of the fermentation process happening in real time!
While visiting the restaurant and cheese shop is free, backstage tours (CHF19/adult) are held daily with a minimum of five paying visitors.
*Pro-tip: Collect and stamp a Swiss Cheese Passport at the cashier before you leave. The passport booklet is free, and Milchmanufaktur Einsiedeln is one of the four participating cheese factories! Collect all the stamps to get a free gift 🌝
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: 8AM – 6PM
Address: Alpstrasse 6, 8840 Einsiedeln, Switzerland
How to get there: 15min walk from Einsiedeln Train Station (Google Maps)
Einsiedeln Abbey
Photo credit: Zürich Tourism
Nothing could’ve prepared me for the scale of Einsiedeln Abbey.
Stepping into the cathedral immediately took my breath away, with colourful paintings, sculptures and gold adorning the walls inside. It’s one of the most beautiful Baroque cathedrals I’ve ever been to, and photos do not give it justice.
The Abbey is over a thousand years old, with sprawling grounds comprising a cathedral, an active monastery, a library, a winery, a vineyard and a horse stable. It’s no wonder it attracts both non-believers and pilgrims alike.
Don’t miss the free daily 4:30PM service where the monks sing in front of the Black Madonna statue in the cathedral. It’s a tradition that has been preserved across time, and wonderful to bear witness and appreciate!
After visiting the cathedral, we checked out the lesser-known horse stable, open to the public! These horses have been bred for over a thousand years, and they’re adorable.
*Pro-tip: Avoid visiting on weekends as it gets very crowded.
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: 6AM – 9PM (Mon – Sat), 7AM – 9PM (Sun)
Address: Kloster, 8840 Einsiedeln, Switzerland
How to get there: ~20min walk from Milchmanufaktur Einsiedeln (Google Maps)
Catch the sunset from Hl. Benedikt
We stumbled upon a trail near the horse stable, which led to a panoramic lookout. It ended up being a 10-minute hike on a gravel path along St. Benediktweg, but the view was so worth it!
The sky turned paddlepop pastel, and we could see the entire valley, mountains, abbey and the town — without any crowds.
We stopped midway to take pictures, but if you continue on the trail, you’ll reach a lookout point with a statue of Saint Benedict!
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: 24hrs
Address: St. Benediktweg 1, 8840 Einsiedeln, Switzerland
How to get there: ~10min walk from Einsiedeln Monastery horse stable (Google Maps)
Bonus: Einsiedeln Christmas Market
If you’re visiting Zurich during the holiday season, don’t miss the annual Einsiedeln Christmas Market. Located in the square right in front of the abbey, it’s the epitome of a traditional and authentic Christmas Market. Plus, we noticed that most of the visitors were locals or Swiss tourists!
Instead of international cuisine, food huts serve traditional Swiss delicacies like raclette cheese, gingerbread cookies and apple fritters (Öpfelchüechli)!
There was a wide array of retail huts, selling anything from handmade Christmas decorations, to scarves made of alpaca wool. And there were also live performances in front of the chapel, which added to the Christmas magic.
The market stretches out through the town and all the way to Einsiedeln train station, so set aside some time to explore before heading back to Zurich.
Entrance fee: Free
Event period: 28 Nov 2025 – 8 Dec 2025
Opening hours: Varies
Address: Klosterpl., 8840 Einsiedeln, Switzerland
How to get there: 1min walk from Einsiedeln Abbey (Google Maps)
Day 3: Explore Zurich City
Hürlimannbad & Spa Zurich
Day 3 began with wearing our swimsuits in 0°C weather on a rooftop thermal pool 🥶
We spent our morning at Hürlimannbad & Spa Zurich, a luxurious spa and bath house in Zurich’s Enge neighbourhood. Located inside a former brewery, the indoor thermal baths are towered by century-old stone archways.
But their star attraction is a rooftop pool which offers panoramic views of Zurich. The water was warm, and it’s easy to lose track of time while admiring the city from above.
Fun fact: The Aqui water is drawn directly from the spring underneath the Hürlimann complex!
From bubble jets to the Roman-Irish spa ritual, it’s easy to spend the entire day relaxing in the mineral-rich waters straight from Zurich’s Aqui (hot spring). There are also spa treatments for an additional cost.
*Pro-tip: Get 10% off entry into Hürlimannbad & Spa Zurich with the Zürich Card.
Entrance fee: CHF42/pax (~S$67/pax) (10% off with the Zürich Card)
Opening hours: 9AM – 10PM
Address: Brandschenkestrasse 150, 8002 Zürich, Switzerland
How to get there: Walk 8mins from Hotel Rössli Zürich to Paradeplatz Tram stop, and ride the 13 Tram to Enge/Bederstr Tram stop. From there, walk 7mins (Google Maps)
B2 Hotel Wine Library
After our pamper session, we headed next door to have coffee at the Library in B2 Hotel. This cafe is covered in floor-to-ceiling bookshelves — straight out of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast ✨
We couldn’t believe that this was a hotel lobby and ended up having a little photoshoot.
We ordered a flat white (CHF6) and a B2 Ice Tea (CHF6.50) to drink while reading one of the many books they have in their collection, though most of them were not in English 😅
The cafe also serves mains if you’re looking for a heavier meal!
Opening hours: 6AM – 12AM
Address: Brandschenkestrasse 152, 8002 Zürich, Switzerland
How to get there: 3min walk from Hürlimannbad & Spa (Google Maps)
Zoo Zürich
When we learnt that Zoo Zürich holds a Penguin Parade during the winter, we had to add it to our Zurich winter itinerary 🐧
We made it just in time for the 1:30PM parade, where resident king penguins go for a walk. They were like celebrities, while we were the paparazzi 😂
It was cool to see their little feet pattering on the ground up close.
*Note: The parade only happens when the temperature is below 10°C!
The goats in the petting zoo can decide if they’re in the mood for socialising by entering the enclosure, and this cutie came up to us for pets!
Aside from the penguins, the zoo has over 365 species of animals like hyenas, spectacled bears, gorillas, oryxes, elephants, giraffes and orangutans!
My favourite part was seeing the animals in large open enclosures where they had plenty of space to roam around. Specifically, I enjoyed the giant Masoala Rainforest, where tropical plants are also conserved.
Entrance fee: From CHF31/pax (~S$49/pax) (10% off with the Zürich Card)
Opening hours: Varies
Address: Zürichbergstrasse 221, 8044 Zürich, Switzerland
How to get there: From B2 Hotel, take a 24min tram ride from Bahnhof Enge/Bederstr tram stop to the Zoo tram stop (Google Maps)
Dolder Open-Air Ice Rink
Built in 1930, the Dolder Open-Air Ice Rink is one of the largest in Europe, making it the perfect place to live out our Ice Princess dreams. Open only during the winter, with people of all ages skating around a giant Christmas tree to holiday tunes.
The ice skate rentals are CHF8, and I was excited to learn that it’s the white lace-up figure skating boots instead of the usual black and bulky rental skates ⛸️
But while we looked the part, our skill level was nothing close to the professional skaters practising in the rink beside us 😅
The night ended with a Gstaad fondue dinner inside a cosy gondola cabin overlooking the ice rink.
We reserved the Gondola Fondue Package for two (CHF115), which comes with Gstaad moitié moitié fondue, bread, potatoes, water and a bottle of Swiss white wine. Moitié moitié translates to half-and-half, as the fondue is made up of Gruyère and Vacherin cheese!
The inside of the gondola cabin was decked out in Christmas decor, pillows, and blankets to give it a nostalgic ambience. While we weren’t in the mountains, it still got chilly inside — but the delicious fondue and wine made up for it 🚡
Entrance fee: CHF8/pax (~S$13/pax) (50% off with the Zürich Card)
Event period: Early Oct 2025 – Early Mar 2026 (depending on weather conditions)
Opening hours: 9AM – 10:30PM (Mon – Sat), 9AM – 5:45PM (Sun)
Address: Adlisbergstrasse 36, 8044 Zürich, Switzerland
How to get there: 21min walk from Zoo Zürich. Alternatively, take a 4min Uber car ride (Google Maps)
*Note: The rink is closed on Wednesdays from 5.30PM– 7PM due to training sessions.
Day 4: Day trip to Jungfraujoch
Train from Zurich to Jungfraujoch: ~3.5hrs
Photo credit: Jungfrau
No trip to Switzerland is complete without going to the Jungfrau region to visit Jungfraujoch, the Top of Europe. At 3,454m above sea level, it’s covered in snow all year round 🏔️
You can self-explore the region, but booking a guided tour to Jungfraujoch from Zurich is a more convenient alternative.
The 11.5-hour tour begins in Zurich, with a stop in Interlaken, a quaint town set against the backdrop of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau mountains. Then ride a scenic cog railway from Lauterbrunnen up to the highest train station in Europe!
The Sphinx observation deck has the best views of the Aletsch Glacier!
Jungfraujoch is a UNESCO World Heritage Site — home to a snow park, zipline, restaurants, a 108 metre-high observatory and more. The mountain views at the top are otherworldly, but be prepared for the infamous fog caused by high altitude 😅
Photo credit: @jungfraujochtopofeurope
There’s also an indoor Ice Palace to check out with intricate ice sculptures… even the hallway is made of ice! Before you leave, mail a postcard from the highest post office in Europe. Talk about a memorable souvenir!
Photo credit: Zürich Tourism
Finally, board the Eiger Express cable car and descend towards Grindelwald. In the winter, the alpine valley is completely blanketed by powder fresh snow, so it’ll feel like being in a snowglobe ❄️
Our coach back to Zurich waited for us at the end of the ride.
Cost: CHF279/pax (~S$440)
Tour timing: 8:30AM – 8PM (Apr 2025 – Mar 2026)
Meeting point: Zurich Bus Station (Google Maps)
Day 5: Visit famous museums
Lindt Home of Chocolate
Did we really go to Zurich if we didn’t visit the Lindt Home of Chocolate?
The museum is like Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory brought to life — with chocolates of every flavour to try, behind-the-scenes tours of chocolate production, and even a giant chocolate fountain 🍫
We did the self-guided audio tour, which took us through many interactive exhibits featuring the history of chocolate and the almost 200-year history of Lindt.
My favourite room was the chocolate fountain tasting room!
While there were no Oompa-Loompas, we did get to sample different chocolates, and even take home some iconic Lindor pieces. But that didn’t stop us from raiding the gift store, with prices much cheaper than in Singapore 🤓
Entrance fee: CHF17/adult (20% off with the Zürich Card)
Opening hours: 10AM – 7PM
Address: Schokoladenplatz 1, 8802 Kilchberg, Switzerland
How to get there: Walk 7min from Hotel Rössli to the Bürkliplatz bus stop. From there, take Bus 165 for 12mins to Kilchberg ZH, Lindt & Sprüngli bus stop (Google Maps)
Kunsthaus Zürich
I may have teared up when I saw Van Gogh’s Wheat Field with Cypresses, which is on loan to the Kunsthaus.
Since we were museum-hopping, we headed over to the Kunsthaus next — Switzerland’s largest art museum. Split into two buildings, we ended up spending almost 4 hours exploring the different galleries.
Their extensive collection dates back to the Middle Ages, but my favourite was the Impressionist collection, which featured artists like Van Gogh, Renoir, and Gauguin. There’s even a huge painting of Monet’s waterlilies!
Entrance fee: CHF31/pax (~S$49) (Free with the Zürich Card)
Opening hours: 10AM – 6PM
Address: Heimpl. 1/5, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
How to get there: From Kilchberg ZH, Lindt & Sprüngli bus stop, take Bus 165 for 13mins to Bürkliplatz. From there, take a 4min tram ride to the Kunsthaus tram stop (Google Maps)
Swiss National Museum
Our last museum of the day was the Swiss National Museum, commonly known as the Landesmuseum.
It houses tons of artefacts showcasing the cultural history of Switzerland, and the country’s origins. I liked the costume exhibit because it looked straight out of a period drama!
If you’re visiting during the Christmas season, come back at night as the museum’s courtyard is transformed into the Illuminarium Christmas Market.
Entrance fee: CHF13/pax (~S$20.50) (Free with the Zürich Card)
Opening hours: 10AM – 5PM (Tues – Sun), 10AM – 7PM (Thu), closed on Mon
Address: Museumstrasse 2, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
How to get there: 4min tram ride from the Kunsthaus (Google Maps)
Catch the sunset from Uetliberg
What better way to end the day than at the top of Zurich? At 870m, Uetliberg is Zurich’s very own mountain, overlooking the entire city, Lake Zurich and the Swiss Alps.
For those who want an even higher view, you can pay CHF2 to climb up the 70m steel tower, Aussichtsturm Uetliberg. But we chose not to after the 12-minute hike from the train station 😮💨
*Note: There are a few hiking trails for those who want to take the scenic route instead of taking the train up.
Aside from the observation deck, there’s also a hotel, curling rink and a restaurant at the summit. It turns into a winter wonderland when the sunsets and fairy lights turn on.
While we were there too early in the season, there are day and night toboggan runs in Uetliberg when there’s enough snow 🛷
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: 24hrs
How to get there: 20min train from Zurich HB train station to Uetliberg station. From there, walk 12min to the peak (Google Maps)
*Note: The Zurich Uetlibergbahn track between Triemli and Uetliberg is undergoing renovations until 5 Oct 2025. In the meantime, you can take the bus services instead.
Day 6 – 7: Embrace the Swiss Alps at Flumserberg
Train from Zurich to Unterterzen: ~1hr
Gondola from Unterterzen to Tannenboden: ~20mins
To end our winter adventure, we wanted to experience snow, so we headed out to Flumserberg.
Overlooking the Churfirsten mountain range, this holiday mountain resort is ~1.5 hours from Zurich, best known for skiing, snowboarding, and winter hikes!
There are two ways to get to Tanneboden, the town at the very top of Flumserberg.
The most convenient route is by gondola, which takes ~20 minutes from Unterterzen Railway Station. But if the gondolas are closed due to strong winds, you can take a ~40-minute bus ride from Sargans Railway Station.
*Pro-tip: We recommend leaving your bulky luggage in Zurich because Tannenboden is hilly with no flag-down taxis.
Hike the Madils-rundweg Trail
Look how stunning the Churfirsten mountain range is!
After dropping off our bags at our hotel, we set off for the Madils-Rundweg Trail/Madils Circular Walk, which begins outside Restaurant Sennästube.
This short 1.6km loop is a leisurely walking trail on flat snow, and you don’t need snowshoes either.
For this trail, we followed the pink markers. We ended up taking almost 2 hours to complete it because we kept stopping to take pictures. Being cold is a mindset 😎
Luckily enough, we had the entire place to ourselves! And watching the sunset behind the Rocky Mountains made our experience more magical.
*Note: If you’re looking to take on something more challenging, Flumserberg has many other trails, with some ticketed.
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: 24hrs
Starting point: Parkplatz outside Restaurant Sennästube. Follow the pink trail markers.
How to get there: 12min walk from Hotel Tannenboden (Google Maps)
Learn exciting winter sports
No Zurich winter itinerary is complete without a day at the slopes.
As there aren’t any ski resorts in Zurich city itself, we turned to Flumserberg Resort, which has 65km worth of easy, medium and difficult slopes to choose from.
But if you’re a newbie like us, they have a bunny hill for beginners 🏂 We booked a private 1-hour beginner snowboarding class (CHF105) with Flumserberg Swiss Ski and Snowboard School, which had many students who were children 😅
Our instructor, Rudy, demonstrated the moves with a teddy bear!
After renting our equipment at the nearby INTERSPORT Network, we met up with our instructor.
Snowboarding was so fun, even though we kept falling. We recommend booking at least 3 hours of lessons — or spending more days on the slopes — as we were nowhere close to being ready for the ski lifts.
The school also offers join-in group courses for adults from CHF50 for a half-day course. However, they are only held on Mondays and require a minimum of four participants per class, so plan accordingly.
*Note: Rental equipment and ski passes are not included. Absolute beginners don’t need a ski pass for the start of the course as you’ll stay in the beginner area at the foot of the slope.
Cost: From CHF50/pax
Opening hours: 8:30AM – 12:15PM, 1PM – 5PM
Meeting point: SSSF Sammelplatz 4, the brown shed in front of Tannenboden gondola lift station.
How to get there: 15min walk from Hotel Tannenboden (Google Maps)
Have lunch at Bergrestaurant Chrüz
After class, we headed up to Flumserberg Chrüz Station to grab lunch at Bergrestaurant Chrüz. This rustic and charming mountain hut is a popular rest stop in the middle of the slopes, serving up hot meals for skiers.
*Note: You will need a day ticket to ride the ski lift up to the restaurant.
We recommend ordering the Spaghetti Bolognese (CHF21.50) and Gerstenstuppe (CHF12), a surprisingly savoury Swiss barley soup which felt comforting on a cold day. I also indulged in a small bottle of red wine (CHF10.50) — in the spirit of Aprés-ski 🫢
The restaurant opens its sun terrace for outdoor seating during the warmer months, which has an unobstructed panoramic view of the mountain range.
After our meal, we said goodbye to the mountains and headed down to catch our train to Zurich’s airport. Headed back to the tropics with a week’s worth of winter magic memories ❄️
Opening hours: 9AM – 5PM, closed on Tue
Address: Molseralpstrasse 9, 8898 Flumserberg, Switzerland
How to get there: Take the ski lift to Flumserberg Chrüz Stop. From there, follow the pink trail markers for 3min to Bergrestaurant Chrüz (Google Maps)
Bonus: Go sledging
Photo credit: Zürich Tourism
While we were at Flumserberg too early in the season to go sledging, it’s a popular winter activity for all ages when the snow is thick enough.
Don’t miss the 3km long sledge run from Prodalp to Tannenheim, where you can zip past the winter wonderland on wooden sledges, Mario Kart-style 😎 There’s also nighttime sledging on select days in-season.
Entrance fee: From CHF19/pax
Opening hours: Varies
Start point: Beside Bergrestaurant Prodalp
How to get there: 8min bus from Tannenboden stop to Tannenheim stop. From there, take the gondola to Prodalp station and walk 3min to Bergrestaurant Prodalp (Google Maps)
Where to stay in Zurich
Days 1–6: Hotel Rössli Zürich
We mostly based ourselves at Hotel Rössli Zürich, a charming boutique hotel nestled in the city centre and part of the Old Town.
Our rooms were comfortable; I appreciated that they had a Dyson fan for ventilation, as most hotels in Europe do not have air-conditioning during the winter!
Aside from being a 2-minute walk from Helmhaus tram stop, it’s also located within a 10-minute walk to popular attractions like the Limmat River, Grossmünster and Banhofstrasse. That made it convenient to get around Zurich — and allowed us to sleep in a little longer 😙
Cost: From ~CHF197/night (~S$310) (2 pax for a double room, incl. breakfast)
Address: Rössligasse 7, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
How to get there: From Zurich HB train station, walk 3mins to Central tram stop and take a 3min tram ride to Helmhaus tram stop. From there, walk 2mins to Hotel Rössli Zürich (Google Maps)
Days 6–7: Hotel Tannenboden
We spent a night at Hotel Tannenboden, a mountain lodge overlooking the Churfirsten. The room was spacious and clean, but the best part was their balcony. We couldn’t resist opening the door and letting the fresh mountain air in after arriving — the views are spectacular.
Breakfast is included in the stay, and nothing beats watching the sun rise over the mountain range at their restaurant. Plus, it’s only a ~10-minute walk to the ski slopes!
Cost: From CHF130/night (~S$204) (2 pax for a double room, incl. breakfast)
Address: Flumserbergstrasse 184, 8898 Flumserberg, Switzerland
How to get there: 8min walk from Tannenboden gondola lift station (Google Maps)
Tips on using the Zürich Card
It was hard to say goodbye to Zurich as it was truly one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever visited during the winter! The Christmas markets, old buildings, and mountains made the city look like a fairytale come to life — truly more than just a layover city🎄
I’m already planning on coming back in the warmer months to cross off all the nature hikes it’s known for!
There are two Zürich Card options: 24 hours (CHF29) or 72 hours (CHF56). We recommend purchasing it through the Zürich City Guide app, so you don’t have to worry about misplacing your physical ticket, and immediately board the train from the airport when you arrive.
You can choose when to activate the Card upon purchase. We bought a combination of two Cards for our Zurich winter itinerary:
– 72-hour Zürich Card (Days 1 to 3)
– 24-hour Zürich Card (Day 5)
To use it, simply present the QR code of your Card on the app when asked by a ticket inspector. For physical Zürich Cards, have them validated at a ticket machine before your first journey.
The app also has the full list of attractions, tours, and restaurants where you can use the card.
1) Unlimited use of public transportation
Enjoy free transportation throughout the city of Zurich (Zone 110) and the surrounding regions (Zones 111, 121, 140, 150, 154 and 155), with the Zürich Card. This includes different transportation methods like bus, train, tram, boat, and cableway.
We used it throughout our Zurich winter itinerary: for airport transfers, the Polybahn, Uetliberg Mountain, and even the Dolder cable car.
It made travelling around the city hassle-free and affordable, compared to buying single-journey tickets.
2) Free or discounted entry to select museums, attractions and tours
Enjoy free entry into many Zurich museums, including Kunsthaus Zürich, Swiss National Museum and more! We also managed to score discounts for the Lindt Home of Chocolate and the Old Town Walking Tour.
And if you’re planning to head out of Zurich to iconic Swiss mountains like Jungfraujoch or Mount Titlis, you can enjoy up to 20% off entrance fees 😎
3) Free treats at select restaurants
Did you know that you can score a free aperitif, chocolates, or dessert in participating restaurants with a Zürich Card?
Simply show the staff your valid card and ask for your culinary surprise. This might come in the form of apple pies, wines, drinks and even luxemburgerli (Swiss macarons)!
Get the Zürich Card (24 hours or 72 hours) to enjoy perks like unlimited travel on public transportation (trams, buses, trains, boats, funiculars, and cable cars), free or discounted access to museums & tours, free culinary surprises, and shopping discounts!
If you’re looking for more travel inspiration, take a look at these guides and itineraries:
– Ultimate Zurich Winter Guide for First-timers — 13 Things To Do, See and Eat Besides Christmas Markets
– 5D4N Zurich Itinerary for First-Timers — Exploring Iconic Attractions and Hidden Gems with the Zürich Card
– The Ultimate Guide to Biking in Zurich — Pro-tips, Itinerary, and More
– 14 Best Things to Do in Switzerland for First-timers — Iconic Attractions, Beautiful Viewpoints & More
– Hiking in Switzerland — Stunning Hikes That Aren’t on Most Tourist’s Itineraries
Do you know of any other cool places to check out in Zurich? Let us know in the comments below!
This post is brought to you by Zürich Tourism.
