The Batter’s Hometown Base

Zürich is one of Europe’s underrated cities, with a quiet charm that truly comes alive in spring and summer. Surrounded by Lake Zürich and the Limmat River, it’s perfect for a summer city break — you can easily cool off with a spontaneous swim, for free, right in the middle of the city.

While December brings a cozy winter mood with Christmas markets and lights, the colder months between January and March tend to be damp, quiet, and not ideal for exploring. Zürich isn’t the most budget-friendly city — a cappuccino can cost CHF 6–8 — (€ 6.50-8.50) and during winter, much of social life happens indoors, so it’s good to plan your budget accordingly. In contrast, summer invites you to grab a bottle of wine and just chill by the lake or river, just like the locals.

Dining out is popular, especially Thursday to Saturday locals eat around 8 PM, so reservations are highly recommended. Thursdays are the new weekends in Zürich — bars and restaurants are packed and buzzing. While the current club scene is quieter, there are many great bars open until 2 AM and a vibrant food culture shaped by a diverse, international population.

The city is very walkable and also kinda bike-friendly, with easy rentals like for e.g Lime bike available. Public transport is very reliable.

Find Free Bicycle Rental Here

Locals, while reserved, are kind — just don’t be afraid to make the first move if you want to start a conversation.

Visiting from April to September or in December will show you Zürich at its best!

A Little note:

Since we’re locals, we’ve only included places we genuinely love — spots where people from Zürich actually go to eat and hang out. That means you won’t find the typical tourist hotspots in this guide. Some places might be beautiful but are packed with tourists or expats, and while there’s nothing wrong with that, you probably know the feeling from your own city — those aren’t the places you usually visit either. If you're curious, feel free to ask your hotel for anything not listed here that might still be worth checking out!

Helpful Tips

Hotel or Airbnb?

Hotels in Zürich tend to be pricey, and while Airbnb can be a good alternative, options are limited and often not very well styled. To find a beautiful place with good value in the city, it’s best to book early — this applies to both hotels and Airbnbs.

Adapter needed?

In Switzerland, type C and F sockets are used. These are the same types as in Germany and Austria (with two round pins). If you're coming from a country with a different plug type (e.g. the USA, UK, or Australia), you’ll need a suitable travel adapter.

Currency

Swiss Francs (CHF)

A few places, especially in the city center, are cashless — but in general, both card and cash are widely accepted.

Tipping yes or no?

Tipping is not expected in Switzerland, but it is appreciated for excellent service. Around 10% is normal

Is public transportation recommended?

Yes, public transportation is highly recommended! Few other countries in the world offer trains and trams as clean and punctual as in Switzerland.

In general, the country is very well connected by train, making it easy to explore. You can find your train ticket below.

Train Ticket Switzerland

If you only need a ticket for the city of Zürich, you can book it below. Zürich is in “Zone 110” — just get a day pass to use all public transport within the city.

Zürich Public Transport Ticket

Getting from the Airport to the City

Almost every train from the airport goes directly to Zürich city (about every 7 minutes) and takes just 10 minutes. With such frequent, fast connections, a taxi or Uber is only worth it in special cases like heavy luggage — otherwise, they’re expensive (around €30–70).

Little Tip:

The main station you’ll want to get off at is “Zürich HB”, which stands for Zürich Hauptbahnhof — it's the central station and a great starting point to reach most hotels. However, if you’ve booked a place in a more urban or industrial area, “Zürich Hardbrücke” might actually be closer. Best to double-check your hotel location on the map.

Our Favorite

Restaurants

Cafés & Bars

Shopping

Hotels

Photo taken at Kioks – they serve an excellent dry martini!

Hotels

Signau HOUSE & GARDEN

A beautiful, intimate boutique hotel tucked a bit further back in the city — perfect if you're looking for peace and quiet. The service is super friendly, and the experience is truly special. They even have a private in-house cinema, offering dinner & movie nights starting in fall. Just ask at the reception!

WIDDER HOTEL

On the pricier side, but a beautifully designed hotel right in the heart of the city — unbeatable location and a fantastic in-house bar that even we locals love to visit!

25 Hours Hotel Langstrasse

The hotel is within walking distance of the main train station and located in a slightly more urban neighborhood. You'll find some great bars and restaurants just around the corner!

Baur Au Lac

A five-star hotel of the highest class, located in the heart of the city—within walking distance of everything you need. It offers excellent service and is run by the most charming hotel manager in the city… or maybe even in all of Switzerland ;)

Zum Guten Glück

A super tasty restaurant especially for breakfast with in-house guesthouse with very clean and nicely styled rooms for a budget friendly alternative in a very expensive city

Restaurants

This part will be a bit longer than our usual travel guides and is divided into three categories – Upscale Moments, Affordable by Local Standards, and Takeaways – simply because there are so many great places to share in our own city!