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The 9 best ways to discover Zurich

Are you visiting Zurich for the first time and don't know exactly where to start? Or have you been there several times before but want to explore the city a bit more thoroughly? Then there's good news for you.

Zurich is very easy to explore on foot, as many interesting places are within walking distance of each other. But the city is big and has a lot to offer. You can't get everywhere in a short time on foot. Fortunately, Zurich has a very dense bus and streetcar network. However, with public transport you risk missing beautiful and hidden places.

That's why we're going to introduce you to nine special ways to get to know Zürich. It doesn't matter if you prefer a relaxing tuk-tuk ride or if you want to be more active. You can also whiz through the city on an e-scooter or learn interesting facts during a guided city tour. In Zurich, everything is possible.

With the E-Scooter through Zurich

You've probably seen them in many other cities. The environmentally friendly e-scooters are a real hit in Europe at the moment. There's a reason for that, of course. The electrically driven scooter is quiet and lets you discover the city without any effort. With up to 20 km/h you can reach the most beautiful corners of a city and its surroundings. It is a lot of fun and practical as a means of transportation.

In Zurich, you'll find international providers like Trier, Bolt and Lime. Simply download the app, register, and off you go. Most of the time you pay a small price to unlock it, and then a few centimes per kilometer. Some companies also offer daily, weekly or even monthly subscriptions.

To explore Zurich even better, you can also book an e-scooter tour. The guided tour lasts about 2 hours and takes you to the most beautiful corners of the city.

Practical Information: To ride e-scooters in Switzerland, you must be at least 14 years old. It is most suitable in spring and summer. When it rains, it can get slippery and is not recommended.

E-Scooter Tour ZürichE-Scooter Tour Zürich (Foto: HB Adventure)
E-Scooter Tour ZürichE-Scooter Tour Zürich (Foto: HB Adventure)

With the Segway through Zurich

An alternative to the somewhat fast e-scooter is the Segway. On the self-balancing stand-up scooter you glide through the lively city. But don't worry, riding the Segway is not difficult. After a short introduction and some practice, you will ride through the streets of Zurich like an experienced Segway pro.

A guided Segway tour lasts about 2.5 hours. With an experienced guide you can ride through the varied neighborhoods of Switzerland's largest city. You will discover charming little streets, the Limmat and Lake Zurich.

With the Segway you can discover much more in a short time than would be possible on foot.

Swiss Activities offer:

Practical Information: To ride Segway, you must be at least 16 years old and have a valid driving license. Similar to the e-scooter, spring and summer are best. The tour will only take place when the weather is suitable.

Segway Tour ZürichSegway Tour Zürich (Foto: HB Adventure)
Segway Tour ZürichSegway Tour Zürich (Foto: HB Adventure)

Through Zurich by bike

The city of Zurich and its surroundings can also be discovered particularly well on two wheels. How about a short trip along the shores of Lake Zurich? By bike, even longer distances can be covered without any problems.

The various bike rental stations and bike sharing systems are practical. You can quickly and easily rent a temporary bike for a short trip.

At "Züri rollt" you can rent bikes for free for a deposit of 20 CHF. E-bikes are also available for 20 CHF. In this case, we advise you to reserve the e-bike in advance.

Züri Velo also has a large selection of bikes with Publibike. With the app, you can unlock one of the many rental bikes at the touch of a button and whiz through the city.

Zurich also offers interesting e-bike tours. Ride through the city with a guide without any effort. You are sure not to miss anything and discover the most beautiful corners of the city.

E-Bike Tour ZürichE-Bike Tour Zürich (Foto: Zürich Tourismus)
E-Bike Tour ZürichE-Bike Tour Zürich (Foto: Zürich Tourismus)

With the E-Tuk Tuk through Zurich

With an environmentally friendly, electronic tuk tuk you can experience the Asian street feeling in the middle of Zurich. You can either rent a tuk tuk on your own or join a tour. On the tour, your local driver is also your guide, who tells you exciting facts about the city. A tour lasts about an hour and takes you through the old town and the university district.

You can also combine your E-Tuk Tuk tour with a culinary activity. Fancy some real Swiss chocolate? Besides the classic sights, your guide will take you to three different chocolatiers to taste Swiss chocolate creations. Prefer something more savory? Then a tuk tuk tour with a delicious fondue or burger is just right for you.

_Practical Information: If you rent a tuk tuk yourself, you need a category B driving license. Depending on the vehicle, a tuk tuk has room for four to six adults

E Tuk Tuk Tour ZürichE Tuk Tuk Tour Zürich (Foto: eTukTuk GmbH)
E Tuk Tuk Tour mit BurgerE Tuk Tuk Tour mit Burger (Foto: eTukTuk GmbH)

Discover Zurich on a boat trip

Discover Zürich from a completely different perspective with a boat trip. The city nestles picturesquely around the Lake Zurich and is perfect for a relaxing boat trip. The river Limmat flows right through the city and is perfect for discovering it from the water at your leisure.

The Lake Zurich Navigation Company offers relaxing boat trips on the lake as well as river tours on the Limmat boat. Depending on your mood, you can choose between a mini - (one-hour) round trip to a large round trip around the upper Lake Zurich.

Bootstour Limmat ZürichBootstour auf der Limmat in Zürich (Foto: MySwitzerland)
Bootstour Limmat ZürichBootstour auf der Limmat in Zürich (Foto: MySwitzerland)

Discover Zurich on a guided city tour

Of course, we can't forget the classic city tour. With a professional guide on the way, you'll discover the most beautiful corners of Zurich's historic Old Town on foot. The practical thing about a guided tour is that your guide can lead you through winding, hidden alleys. You will learn everything about the history and architecture of the vibrant metropolis and can ask as many questions as you like.

In Zurich, there are many different city tours to choose from. Would you like to get to know the old town? The trendy district of Zurich West? Or would you rather focus on the food? Zürich offers everything you can imagine.

Stadtführung Altstadt ZürichStadtführung Zürcher Altstadt (Foto: Zürich Tourismus)
Stadtführung Altstadt ZürichStadtführung Zürcher Altstadt (Foto: Zürich Tourismus)

Discover Zurich on a Free Walking Tour

Meanwhile, the trendy Free Walking Tours can be found all over the world. This is also the case in Zurich. A Free Walking Tour is a city tour that works on a tip basis. A local guide leads you through the city for 2-3 hours and at the end of the tour you decide how much it was worth to you. Of course you can also give nothing, since it is theoretically a free tour. But the guides live on the voluntary contributions and are happy about your support

In Zurich, the Free Walk company offers city tours on various topics. Be it a classic tour through the city center, a street art tour or a chocolate tour; here you will discover Zurich in a whole new way

Practical Information: No registration is necessary for the Free Walking Tours in Zurich. Just be at the right place at the right time and you're ready to go.

Discover Zurich onn a Foxtrail

On the trail of the foxes you discover Zürich on your own in the form of a scavenger hunt. A Foxtrail is the perfect leisure experience for curious families and friends who want to discover a city in a playful way. The scavenger hunt requires team spirit and cleverness. Secret messages and tricky challenges get you from one station to the next

In Zurich you have eight different Foxtrails to choose from. Depending on the level of difficulty, you can choose the perfect trail for your group. As a rule, the scavenger hunt lasts between 2 and 4 hours. All you need are good shoes and a charged cell phone for each group

Practical Information: Foxtrails must be reserved in advance.

Foxtrail ZürichFoxtrail Zürich (Foto: Zürich Tourismus)
Foxtrail ZürichFoxtrail Bahnhofshalle Zürich (Foto: Zürich Tourismus)

With an Escape Game through Zurich

An Escape Game works the same way as an Escape Room, just outdoors. With your group you solve mysterious secrets in the middle of downtown Zurich. You search in groups of 4 to 6 people 3D objects, which contain special clues. You have 2 hours to solve the mystery.

Similar to the Foxtrail you get to know the city in a special way. You will be guided through various posts across the Zwinglistadt. In an Escape Game you can expect an even more detailed story and a little more adrenaline due to the time pressure.

Swiss Activities offer:

Escape Game ZürichEscape Game Zürich (Foto: Outdoor Escape Games)
Escape Game ZürichEscape Game Weihnachtsmarkt (Foto: Outdoor Escape Games)

As you can see, there are numerous possibilities to discover Zurich. We wish you a lot of fun in the biggest city of Switzerland.

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