Zurich in 2 days

Trip at a glance

Your first day

Add your first day to see each day's date, weather, sunset and closing days.

Day 1: Old Town churches and the Swiss National Museum

Chagall windows and Reformation towers in the morning, Swiss history after lunch, then dinner in the Old Town lanes.

Check the weekday. Grossmünster is closed on Tuesdays. Swiss National Museum is closed on Mondays.

1
9:00 AMLindenhofStart on this quiet square above the Limmat for the classic view over the Old Town and the Grossmünster.About 1 hour here
Free to visit
Walk about 6 min
2
10:00 AMFraumünsterOpens at 10 AM, Sundays at noon. See Chagall's choir windows and the crypt museum; tickets are sold on site only.About 45 min here
Entry: CHF 5 (about $6) · Pay at the door
Official fees: Reformierte Kirche ZürichLast verified Nov 4, 2026
Walk about 5 min
3
10:45 AMOptionalGrossmünsterClosed Tuesdays; Sundays from noon. The church is free; the Karlsturm tower currently opens Friday to Sunday only.About 1 hour here
Karlsturm tower: CHF 5 (about $6) · Church free; tower ticket
Official fees: Reformierte Kirche ZürichLast verified Nov 4, 2026
Walk about 8 min
4
12:00 PMZeughauskellerOpens at 11:30 AM. Try Zürcher Geschnetzeltes at the long tables of the old arsenal; book ahead for groups.About 1 hour 15 min here
Pay as you go
Walk about 12 min
5
1:30 PMSwiss National MuseumClosed Mondays; swap in the Kunsthaus or a lake walk that day. Allow about 2 hours for Swiss history.About 2 hours 30 min here
Entry: CHF 13 (about $16) · Buy at the desk or online
Official fees: Swiss National MuseumLast verified Nov 4, 2026
Tram or walk to Bürkliplatz, about 20 min
6
4:15 PMOptionalLake promenade at BürkliplatzWalk the lakeside promenade from the Bürkliplatz terrace toward the China Garden as the light softens.About 2 hours here
Free to visit
Walk about 15 min
7
6:30 PMNiederdorfPick a restaurant in the car-free Old Town lanes, which get livelier as the evening goes on.
Pay as you go

Before you go

Book these aheadLindt Home of Chocolate, Kilchberg (day 2): timed tickets, or tickets that often sell out.
Plan around closing daysMany Zurich museums close on Mondays, the Grossmünster on Tuesdays and the Im Viadukt market hall on Sundays.
Book timed tickets earlyReserve Jungfraujoch seats, mandatory May to October, and Lindt Home of Chocolate time slots online before you travel.
Pay in Swiss francsSwitzerland uses the Swiss franc, not the euro. Cards work widely, but keep some cash for small church tickets sold on site.
Allow time at bordersThe EU Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors entering and leaving the Schengen area, so passport control can take longer.

Where to stay for this plan

Stay in the Old Town or near the main station: both days start within walking distance or one short train ride.

Hotels in Zurich

Map and live prices from Stay22 and its booking partners. TravPa earns a commission if you book; your price stays the same.

Plan last checked Nov 4, 2026. Check individual fee sources before you go. TravPa earns a commission when you book through a partner; your price stays the same.