Zurich holidays
A compact, orderly lakeside city that pairs a walkable old town with quick access to water and mountains.
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20°C SeptemberBest Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep2–3 nights
At a glance
- short city breaks
- lake and mountain access
- orderly, easy travel
Trip cost
- Return flight
- ≈€255
- Stay
- ≈€868
- Food & local
- ≈€213
Includes the return fare from Paphos. An estimate, not a quote — each booking happens separately with its supplier. How we work this out.
Prices shown on this page are indicative estimates in euros, not quotes. Every booking happens separately with its own supplier, at that supplier's own live price. How we work this out.
Stays
Stays in Zurich
From €107/night · Typical €242 · 158 stays · 4-night stay assumed
- Best 3-starExceptional 1BR flat - Sun 3Zürich · 3.2 km from the centre€276 a night (opens in a new tab)
See more 3-star options
- Best 4-starHorizon Home Bahnhofstrasse, Löwenstrasse PenthouseZürich · 4.2 km from the centre€1134 a night (opens in a new tab)
See more 4-star options
- Best 5-starMandarin Oriental Savoy, ZurichZürich Switzerland · 4.6 km from the centre€1026 a night (opens in a new tab)
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- CheapestStudio next to Sihlcity!Zürich Switzerland · 6.3 km from the centre€107 a night (opens in a new tab)
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Map
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Getting to Zurich
- AirportZurich Airport (ZRH)
- Transfer optionsTrain, taxi
Zurich Airport is 10 km from the city centre. Trains reach Zürich HB in about 10 minutes, running every 5–10 minutes for most of the day; taxis also serve the airport.
We haven’t found enough fresh fares for these dates yet.
Check flights on Aviasales (opens in a new tab)Areas of Zurich
A few places people base themselves, and who each tends to suit.
- Altstadt (Old Town)Best for first-time visitors who want to be among the guild houses and narrow lanes on both banks of the Limmat, close to the main sights.
- NiederdorfSuited to travellers wanting restaurants and evening life within the old town, livelier and noisier than the west bank.
- Zürich-WestGood for visitors prioritising a former industrial district turned creative scene, with galleries, clubs and converted factory spaces.
- SeefeldA quieter, more residential choice along the lake, suited to travellers who want easy access to the promenade and swimming spots over nightlife.
Zurich weather by month
Zurich is warmest in August, when daily highs average 26°C, and coolest in January at 5°C. November is the wettest month at about 134 mm, February the driest at 57 mm. Taking warmth and rainfall together, June, July, August, September score best for a trip.
- Best overall
- June · July · August · September
- Hottest
- August · 26°C
- Wettest
- November · 134mm
- January: average daily high 5°C, 76mm rainfall.
- February: average daily high 8°C, 57mm rainfall.
- March: average daily high 12°C, 87mm rainfall.
- April: average daily high 13°C, 126mm rainfall.
- May: average daily high 19°C, 124mm rainfall.
- June: average daily high 24°C, 111mm rainfall. Good month for weather.
- July: average daily high 26°C, 113mm rainfall. Good month for weather.
- August: average daily high 26°C, 106mm rainfall. Good month for weather.
- September: average daily high 20°C, 110mm rainfall. Good month for weather.
- October: average daily high 17°C, 95mm rainfall.
- November: average daily high 9°C, 134mm rainfall.
- December: average daily high 5°C, 124mm rainfall.
How these figures are worked out
Monthly averages — ERA5 reanalysis, 2022–2024, a three-year average, not a standard 30-year climate normal or a forecast. Gold months are the best weather fit: each month scores on how close its average daily high sits to about 27 °C, with heavy rainfall counting against it, and months far outside that range are not ranked at all.
What each season is like
- Spring
- Mild and fresh, with the lake promenade and parks coming back to life before summer crowds.
- Summer
- Warm with long daylight hours, lake swimming and open-air events, the liveliest season in the city.
- Autumn
- Crisp and often clear, with good visibility toward the Alps on good days, cooling into damp, grey stretches later on.
- Winter
- Cold with occasional snow; Christmas markets add atmosphere, though short daylight hours limit outdoor time.
What’s on in Zurich
See all events in Zurich on Wanderistan (opens in a new tab)
Nearby and alternative destinations
Nearby — reachable overland
- Munich~240km straight-line
More from the UK
Good to know about Zurich
Why go
- Lake Zurich and the old town sit side by side, so water, café terraces and historic streets are all within the same short walk.
- Switzerland's rail network makes Zurich an easy, uncomplicated base for Alpine day trips.
- A compact centre and reliable public transport make the city simple to cover in a short stay.
Worth knowing
- Switzerland's cost of living makes Zurich an expensive short break, from meals to public transport.
- The city centre is quiet in the evenings compared to bigger European capitals, with nightlife limited to a few districts.
- Alpine views from the city depend on clear weather and are not guaranteed even in summer.