One of the things we love most about Zurich is that you do not need to leave the city to have a great weekend.
In summer, the city can feel almost Mediterranean. In winter, you can ski in the morning and be back in Zurich for dinner. Spring and autumn bring hiking, cycling, festivals, museums and plenty of local traditions.
For expats and families, this is one of the things that makes Zurich special: there is always something to do.
Here is our Zurich social calendar:
SUMMER
Our favourite season. No vacation needed. Long evenings, warm days and the lake at the centre of everything:
Water & Sports: Swimming in Lake Zurich, the Limmat or a Badi, lake crossing, Limmatschwimmen, stand-up paddling and SUP races, Urban Surf, wakeboarding, kayaking, sailing, rowing, dinghy boat rides, motorboat rental, pump foiling, windsurfing, paragliding, cycling, running, volleyball, football, basketball, rollerblading, skateboarding and wild-water rafting.
Social & Culture: Open air cinemas, concerts, day raves, street food festivals, markets, district festivals, salsa at Bellevue, Rundfunk, Pride, Caliente, Zurich Openair, Seenachtsfest, Dörflifest and Scientifica.
Day Trips & Experiences: Hiking, Tough Mudder, Art Basel and mountain day trips.
Swiss Summer: August 1st celebrations, farm brunches, smaller local fairs and sometimes fireworks.
With Dogs: Stand up paddling with dogs, dog swimming at the end of the summer season.
AUTUMN
Zurich can be foggy in autumn, but this is also when the city becomes particularly interesting culturally and gastronomically:
Nature & Outdoors: Forest walks, hiking, cycling and camping or glamping, including at Fischers Fritz.
Culture & Events: Theater Spektakel, Lange Nacht der Museen, 24h Opernhaus, Zurich Film Festival, Halloween and Oktoberfest.
Food & Local Life: Metzgete, wild game season, Jucker Farm, autumn markets and moules-frites season.
WINTER
Winter in Zurich means snow, lights, Christmas markets, sports and plenty of reasons to meet friends:
Winter Sports: Skiing eg at Brunni Alpthal (40 min drive), ice skating including disco skating at Dolder, sledging on Uetliberg, tobogganing, snowshoeing and winter hiking.
Christmas & Family: Christmas markets, fondue and raclette tents, Märlitram, Illuminarium, circus performances and Pink Rabbit dinner shows.
Events & Traditions: Räbeliechtliumzug, Zürcher Silvesterlauf, Samichlausschwimmen, New Year's Eve light installations and fireworks over the lake and Expovina wine boats.
SPRING
The first rays of sunshine are back and Zurich starts moving outdoors again:
Sports & Outdoors: Cycling, hiking, jogging, boat rides, kayaking and mini golf.
Water & Relaxation: Sauna boats, pedal boats and picnics along the river.
Culture & Traditions: Sechseläuten and its fair, markets and Crimi dinner boat rides.
Spring in the City: After work drinks at Rimini and La Stanza, rose fountains, parks and cherry blossom watching.
ALL YEAR ROUND
And then there are the activities that do not depend on the weather.
Sports & Wellness: Tennis, padel, pickleball, Jiu-jitsu and other martial arts, pilates inc 24 hour options, yoga including hot yoga and kids' yoga, jogging, hiking, indoor swimming, Alpamare, spas eg Hürlimannbad with its rooftop pool overlooking Zurich, day/hotel spas or Panorama Hotel Spa and indoor flying in Wintherthur.
Kids & Family: Coding, chess, VR, laser tag, children's concerts, pizza courses, Knies Kinderzoo, Zoo Zurich and even sleeping at the zoo.
Culture & Entertainment: Cinema, Kunsthaus (free on Wednesdays), Lindt Chocolate Museum, FIFA Museum, science museums, concerts for adults, babies and children, theatre, opera, museums, exhibitions and conventions such as Giardina.
Food & Social: Brunches, Cat Café, Dog cafes such as Ritchies or Dogue, restaurants, food festivals, wine events and pizza courses.
Something Different: Casino and Zurich Airport.
Why we love it
The best thing about Zurich is not any individual activity. It is how easily they fit into everyday life:
You can run along the lake or river before work, swim lunch or after work, play padel on Wednesday, hike on Saturday and ski on Sunday.
You can have an international career and family without giving up an active, social life.
And when you move to Zurich with SwissNest, you get our local knowledge for free.
We can tell you which Badis are best, where to play padel, what to do with the kids, which events are worth knowing about and all the little things that help Zurich feel like home.
Planning your move to Zurich?
Discuss your plans with us, Anna and Andy, the co-founders of SwissNest Relocation.:
