InfoMySwissAlps.com includes display ads, non-commercial links, and commercial links to Stay22 and other trusted partners.

How can I make the best of Zurich in 2 days?

Short summary – read this first

A traveler named Hussain is planning a family trip to Zurich for two days in early August. He seeks advice on how to optimally spend their time, specifically looking to visit the Rhine Falls, hike Mount Uetliberg, and explore the downtown highlights while considering the varying ages of family members.

Key takeaways:
  • Take the tram up to Mount Uetliberg instead of hiking to save time for other activities.
  • Plan a stroll through downtown Zurich, including Bahnhofstrasse and Lindenhof, and consider a boat trip on Lake Zurich for a nice break.
  • If the weather is nice, dedicate a full day to exploring the city without adding too many activities, but check museums only if skies are cloudy.
  • Check local timetables to help coordinate your visits and avoid rushing between attractions.
  • Consider visiting the National Museum if you’re looking for an interesting indoor activity, but note it might not be budget-friendly.
➤ Need some help planning your Switzerland trip? See how it works
InfoAI-generated summary. Details may be outdated. Check with our travel experts to be 100% sure.
  • Anonymous
    Inactive
    83570 posts
    21 July 2015 at 23:54:43 #807602

    Hello! We’re a family of 7, (my parents and us siblings aged 17, 16, 10, 8 and 2), and we’d be visiting Switzerland through a travel agency. The rest of our trip is set up by them expect 2 days in zurich, August 4 and 7 to be specific, when we’re to spend the day at our leisure. We’d be staying at Hotel Leoneck and we were hoping we could visit the Rhine falls one of these days and also hike upon mount utielberg; and the other day, see all the city highlights around downtown zurich (old town, Bahnhofstrasse, some budget-friendly museum (suggestions plz!) Giacometti murels at the police headquarters and just shop around the city.) I really need some advice on whether I’m plunging in too many things in 1 day, and where else I should consider visiting (considering my family age variations) and take the most of this beautiful city! All advices and suggestions are welcome and more like needed! I’d be grateful if someone could help me prepare a plan like the best sequence to see the places and star place should be visited when..? Maybe a path for the day so the destinations just follow one after the other! I’d be grateful if someone could do that cz I really wish to make this ultra special for my family!

    🇨🇭 The official SBB tourist webshop
    ✓ Discounts for passholders ✓ Instant mobile e-Ticket ✓ Free cancellation option
    🎁 Promotion: Buy your pass and get a free CHF 100 itinerary review! See details ►
    Swiss Travel Pass Unlimited travel

    Swiss Travel Pass

    Unlimited train, bus, & boat travel across Switzerland.

    Mountain excursions With discounts

    Mountain excursions

    Official e-Tickets with pass holder discounts. Skip the ticket counter.

    Regional passes Unlimited travel

    Regional passes

    Unlimited travel in the Berner Oberland, Jungfrau Region or Lucerne Region.

  • Annika
    Moderator
    7369 posts
    Reply 1 of 3 • 23 July 2015 at 6:15:50 #844643

    Hi Hussain!

    You’ve listed quite some plans for two days only. I think you’ll manage to do most of them, if you don’t mind having quite full days. You don’t want to hike up to the Uetliberg, by the way; that would take too much time, especially if you want to combine this with a visit to the Rhine Falls the same day. Simply take the tram up to the Uetliberg and enjoy the views. The timetable will help you plan such trips in detail.

    In downtown Zurich, you can make a nice stroll including the Bahnhofstrasse, the Augustinerstrasse and the Lindenhof which offers really nice views. Don’t forget the Burkliplatz along lake Zurich. And if it’s hot or family members get tired, a boat trip over Lake Zurich is a nice break. If weather is nice, you can easily spend a day on just these activities. Personally I’d only add a museum if skies aren’t that clear. A list of museums can be found here. Personally, I really enjoyed the National Museum right next to the main railway station, but that’s not one of the cheaper museums.

    Further tips are at our Zurich page.

    ---
    I can personally help you plan your Switzerland trip. View the options

    Swiss Rail Pass Promotion

    ➤ Buy a rail pass and get a free Expert Itinerary Review. Works for all travel dates, 1st and 2nd class. See how it works

    User
    Inactive
    83570 posts
    Reply 2 of 3 • 23 July 2015 at 8:10:26 #844644

    Thank you so much Annika! I really appreciate all your help here! I’ve complied my further queries on my other post so it’s easier for you to reply once 🙂 I’m very grateful to you!

    User
    Inactive
    83570 posts
    Reply 3 of 3 • 24 July 2015 at 14:11:06 #844645

    Hussain-

    I have walked on Uetliberg many times. Before the fancy new addition to the hotel was built, I used to stay up there at Uto Kulm hotel. Those days it was cheap. A 20 minute ride + a bit of a walk up the hill from the Zürich main station, in the countryside,great views. You can see their viewing tower and a TV tower up on top of the ridge above Zürich. The hotel and restaurant are about a 10 minute walk up hill from the end station at Uetliberg. Not cheap any more; views are still great. Last time I was there, the restaurant was quite good, no longer in the low price range.

    My favorite walk up there is perhaps a bit long for your time constraints, but I’ll mention it. You can do it partway and turn around. Walk from Uetliberg station to Felsenegg (to the south) approximately 6 km. Good trail, modest up and downs, good views. At Felsenegg is a “self service” coin operated cable car (Luftseilbahn) that goes down ro Adliswill train station every 25 minutes. (Take a variety of Swiss coins for the ticket machine.) Trains from there back to Zürich run every 10 or 15 minutes for a 23 minute trip.

    There is a restaurant at Felsenegg just south of the lift station – about 150 meters.

    The start of that walk brings you to a really nice restaurant in about 500-600 meters from the Uetliberg station, to a cluster of buildings at Uto Staffel. It is to the left of the trail, and is a bit down hill from the station, but sits in a saddle in the ridge, so that you have great views down on both sides of the ridge. On a clear day, the views over Zürich are fantastic.

  • The thread ‘How can I make the best of Zurich in 2 days?’ is closed to new replies.

About MySwissAlps

We’re Arno & Annika: passionate, frequent Switzerland travelers. We help you plan your trip, or we plan it for you. MySwissAlps was founded in 2002.

Want us to plan your trip?

The easiest way to plan your trip is to let us handle the itinerary design and bookings for you. We design a unique, independent journey based on your wishes.

Just need some help planning your trip?

Ask your questions to us personally or to the forum. Or see how we plan Swiss holidays for real travelers, and discover how to avoid mistakes.