Zürich doesn’t flaunt itself the way some cities do. It doesn’t rush to impress. Instead, it reveals itself slowly—through quiet corners, surprising details, and experiences that don’t exist anywhere else. This isn’t about grand monuments or flashy attractions. It’s about what happens when you step off the usual track and notice the things that only Zürich has to offer.
10 Things to Do in Zürich: Unique Experiences
Swim in the River Right in the Middle of the City
Zürich's rivers aren't just scenic—they’re swimmable. Every summer, locals head to the Limmat and plunge into the clean, cold water that flows right through the city. Flussbad Oberer Letten and Unterer Letten are two of the best spots. There’s something quietly thrilling about swimming in a river while trams rattle past and church bells echo in the distance. It feels like the city is pausing for a moment to let you enjoy it fully.
Ride a Funicular to a Neighborhood
Zürich doesn’t do hills the hard way. It builds funiculars. There are four of them, and the most loved might be the Polybahn. This little red train carries people from the bustling Central Square up to ETH Zürich, the university perched on a hill. The ride is short, steep, and strangely satisfying. And once you’re at the top, there’s a wide terrace with a view over rooftops and the distant Alps.
Watch a Movie in an Outdoor Pool
At the Frauenbad Stadthausquai, a floating cinema appears each summer. You sit back in a deck chair on the wooden deck of a women-only swimming pool, watch the sun go down over the river, and then a film starts on a screen stretched across the water. It’s not just about the movie—it’s about being wrapped in that calm Zürich air, hearing the soft clinking of glasses and the quiet ripple of the Limmat behind you.
Visit a Museum Inside a Police Station
You won’t find this one by accident. It’s hidden behind the old city’s quiet façades, and you’ll need to book a tour. But once inside the Zürich Police Headquarters, you’ll see a ceiling that rivals many of Europe’s finest museums. Augusto Giacometti’s painted entrance hall is a surprise of deep reds and golds—somewhere between a chapel and an art installation. It's unexpected and deeply beautiful, and it’s not open to the public without notice.
Experience a Silent Disco on a Boat
You won’t hear it until you’re right next to it—a boat slowly moving along Lake Zürich with people dancing in complete silence. Everyone wears headphones, and there are usually a few DJs to choose from. You switch channels, change the beat, and look out over the water to see the lights of the city flickering back. It’s strange and personal, and at times, it feels like you’re the only one dancing even though you’re surrounded by others.
Try a 100-Year-Old Recipe at a Legendary Chocolate Shop.
Sprüngli isn’t just a chocolatier. It’s an institution. Locals grow up with it. Tourists find it by following their noses. But the real treat is the Luxemburgerli—tiny, delicate macarons that melt in your mouth. They’ve been making them since the 1950s, and the recipe hasn’t changed much. The texture, the subtle sweetness, the fact that you can buy a small box and eat them slowly on a walk through Bahnhofstrasse—it’s a Zürich moment that doesn’t translate elsewhere.
Stand Inside a Church That’s Also an Art Installation
Fraumünster Church is known for its stained-glass windows by Marc Chagall and Augusto Giacometti, but calling it just a church misses the point. Inside, the light hits the glass at the right time of day and turns the walls into a slow-moving painting. Tour guides speak in hushed tones, but you don’t need much explanation. You stand there, let the colors fall across your face, and realize you’re inside something made to be felt more than understood.
Get Lost in a Sunday Flea Market Beneath a Viaduct
The Viadukt area in Zürich West takes what used to be a railway bridge and turns it into a space filled with shops, design studios, and one of the city’s best flea markets. On Sundays, people come here not just to browse but to chat, pick up odd antiques, and eat slow brunches nearby. The arches feel permanent and industrial, but the mood is casual and warm. It’s not about finding something specific. It’s about enjoying the search.
Order Rösti at a Restaurant Where Albert Einstein Once Ate
Haus Hiltl isn’t just vegetarian—it’s the oldest vegetarian restaurant in the world. Open since 1898, it once served Albert Einstein, and it still fills up every lunchtime with students, workers, and tourists alike. Their take on rösti—a Swiss potato dish—is light and full of flavor, and eating it here feels like you're part of a long, thoughtful tradition. This isn't food that's trying to impress. It's food that's been refined over time.
Take the Slowest Public Train in the City for the Best View
The S10 isn't fast, and it doesn't need to be. This commuter train leaves Zürich, HB, and climbs slowly to the top of Uetliberg. It’s not a tourist attraction. It’s just a ride that locals take to hike, run, or breathe for a while. But from the top, on a clear day, you see the city, the lake, and the mountains all in one sweep. You don’t need a guide. You just need to stop, take in the quiet, and feel how Zürich stretches out in every direction, calm and present.
Closing Thoughts
Zürich doesn’t chase your attention. It doesn’t rush to entertain you. What it offers instead are experiences that are subtle, precise, and deeply local. The things on this list don’t try to be exclusive—they just happen to be the kind of details that exist only here. So if you’re walking through Zürich and you start to feel like the city is showing you small, private parts of itself—believe it. It probably is.
