Meer van Zürich

June to September is the best time for swimming, boats and lakeside cafés. Spring and autumn are mild and good for walks and wine. Winter is cold and often grey, but the old towns and Christmas markets are pleasant.

• Zürichsee is the lake itself, with beaches, harbours and promenades.
• Old Town Zurich is the historic centre of Zurich, on both sides of the river.
• Grossmünster Church is the twin-towered church in the old town.
• Fraumünster Church is a church known for its stained glass.
• Kunsthaus is one of Switzerland's main art museums.
• Landesmuseum shows Swiss history in a castle-like building.
• Lindenhof is a quiet terrace above the river with city views.
• Seepromenade (Quaianlagen) is a lakeside path with parks and swimming spots.
• Parkanlage Zürihorn is a park on a point in the lake.
• Sukkulenten-Sammlung Zürich holds a large collection of cacti and succulents.
• Volière is an aviary with many birds.
• Kloster Einsiedeln is a large baroque abbey and pilgrimage site south of the lake.
• Kloster Fahr is a convent on the river west of Zurich.
• Burgruine Wulp is a castle ruin above the lake.

• Swim in the lake at a public beach or lido in summer.
• Take a boat trip from Zurich to Rapperswil.
• Walk or cycle the shore path.
• Visit the museums and churches of the old town.
• Taste wine in the vineyards on the hills.
• See the abbey at Einsiedeln.

• Rapperswil-Jona is a medieval town with a castle at the south-east end of the lake.
• Winterthur has good museums and is about 20 minutes from Zurich by train.
• Einsiedeln is a pilgrimage town with a large abbey.
• Lake boats stop at many small towns, such as Meilen, Stäfa and Männedorf.

• Rapperswil-Jona is the main town at the upper end of the lake.
• Winterthur is the nearest city in the same canton.

• By air: Zurich Airport is about 15 minutes from the city by train.
• By train: Zurich Hauptbahnhof is the main hub for all of Switzerland. Check times on SBB.
• Lake towns are on commuter lines on both shores.

• Trains run along both shores. They are frequent and fast.
• Lake boats connect the towns, from Zurich to Rapperswil, in summer.
• In Zurich, trams, buses and boats share one ticket system.
• Cycling paths follow the shore.

• A car is not needed for Zurich, which has good public transport.
• Roads along the lake are busy at rush hour.
• Parking in Zurich is limited and costly. Use car parks at the edge.

Try lake fish, such as perch, and Zürcher Geschnetzeltes, which is sliced veal in a cream sauce. Vineyards on the shore produce white and red wine. Many lakeside restaurants have terraces.

People speak Swiss German. English is widely understood.

• The area is very safe.
• Lake water is cold in spring. Swim only in marked areas.
• Tap water is safe to drink.
• Zurich is expensive, so plan your budget.

People have lived on the lake since prehistoric times. Stilt houses stood on its shore, and some are now part of a World Heritage site. Zurich became a free imperial city in the Middle Ages and a centre of the Reformation in the 16th century.

Today the lake region is a mix of a major banking city and quiet lakeside towns.

Quick practical facts for Switzerland at a glance: