Historical Things to Do in Zurich

Zurich is a place with something to do for every person and every interest. This compact city is teeming with activities for art lovers, history enthusiasts, foodies, athletes, and shoppers alike.

Many of Zurich's must-see attractions are within walking distance of each other in the quaint Old Town (Altstadt). Grossmünster and Fraumünster-the two medieval churches that are also famous for their modern stained glass windows-are practically across from each other on different sides of the Limmat River. Lindenhof, the starting point of Roman settlement, offers fabulous views across the city's thirteenth century buildings and more modern institutions like the University of Zurich.

You can get a good feel for Zurich and Swiss history at the Swiss National Museum located next to the Main Station (Hauptbahnhof), which on Wednesdays is home to a specialty food market featuring Swiss cheeses, sausages, sweets and other delicacies. From the train station, you can walk the famous Bahnhofstrasse, Switzerland's premiere shopping street, all the way to Paradeplatz, home to the Confiserie Sprüngli Café, which serves some of Zurich's finest hot chocolate, or you could continue towards the lake and stop at the Bürkliplatz Flea Market to peruse antiques and other secondhand goods.

A short walk from Bellevue is Zurich's Kunsthaus, one of Switzerland's foremost art museums. The permanent collection features many major European artists in addition to Swiss artists. You could also go in search of other vistas strolling along Lake Zurich or the Limmat River. Both the lake and river are home to activities like swimming, rowing and other sports.