Zurich itinerary: the old town, the lake and easy Swiss day trips
Zurich is expensive, efficient and perfectly placed for day trips. The old town takes a day, the lake and river baths fill a sunny afternoon, and Lucerne or the Rhine Falls are an hour away. This prompt asks your todo.is agent to plan Zurich with the right Swiss rail pass for your trip and a few ways to keep costs down.
The prompt
- Plan a Zurich itinerary for [NUMBER OF DAYS] days, [TRAVEL DATES], for [WHO IS TRAVELLING]. Include the Altstadt on both sides of the Limmat (Lindenhof, Grossmünster, Fraumünster with the Chagall windows, Niederdorf), Bahnhofstrasse, a lake boat trip, Uetliberg for the view and Zürich West. If it's summer, add a river or lake bath (Badi). Add day trips to [DAY TRIPS] with train times. Compare a Swiss Travel Pass, a Half Fare Card and single tickets for our plan and tell me which is cheapest, with links. Our budget style: [BUDGET STYLE]. Suggest where to try fondue or rösti and cheaper lunch options. Email me a PDF. Don't book anything.
What to change
- [NUMBER OF DAYS]: E.g. "3". One or two days for the city, more for day trips.
- [TRAVEL DATES]: E.g. "8 to 11 July". The agent checks the season for lake baths and mountain trips.
- [WHO IS TRAVELLING]: E.g. "couple", "family with 2 kids", "solo, in Zurich for work".
- [DAY TRIPS]: E.g. "Lucerne and Mount Rigi", "Rhine Falls and Stein am Rhein", "Rapperswil".
- [BUDGET STYLE]: E.g. "mid-range", "tight, we'll picnic", or "one splurge dinner".
Example result
- Zurich in 3 days, couple, mid-range
- July · old towns, lakes, views
- Day 1: Altstadt and the lake
- • Morning: walk up to the Lindenhof for the view over the Limmat.
- • Fraumünster for the Chagall stained-glass windows, then St Peter's and its huge clock face.
- • Cross to the Grossmünster and climb its tower.
- • Lunch: picnic from a Coop or Migros by the lake, or rösti in Niederdorf.
- • Afternoon: lake boat trip (short round trips run often in summer).
- • Evening: swim at a lake bath, then dinner in Niederdorf.
- Day 2: Lucerne
- • Train to Lucerne (about 45 minutes to 1 hour).
- • Chapel Bridge, the old town squares and the Lion Monument.
- • Afternoon: boat to Vitznau and the cog railway up Mount Rigi, then down by cable car to Weggis and a boat back.
- • Evening train to Zurich.
- Day 3: Rhine Falls and Zürich West
- • Morning: train to Neuhausen for the Rhine Falls, Europe's largest waterfall by volume. Take the boat to the rock in the middle.
- • Optional: Stein am Rhein, a painted medieval town, 30 minutes further.
- • Afternoon: back to Zurich for the Swiss National Museum or the Kunsthaus.
- • Sunset: train up the Uetliberg for the view over the city, lake and Alps.
- • Evening: Zürich West: Im Viadukt market hall and bars in old railway arches.
- Getting around
- • Trams cover the city. A ZVV day ticket is easy if you're not using a Swiss pass.
- • Trains run on time; check platforms on the SBB app.
- Saving money
- • Tap water and fountain water are safe and free.
- • Supermarket lunches cost a fraction of restaurants.
- • Ask your agent to compare passes for your exact trips; the cheapest one depends on your plan.
- Good to know
- • Many shops close on Sundays; museums usually open.
- • Prices and timetables change; check official sites.
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and fill in your days, dates, group, day trips and budget style.
- Paste it on the Today screen in todo.is, or send it to your agent on WhatsApp or Telegram.
- Your agent compares rail passes and plans each day, then emails you a PDF with the links.
- Reply with changes, like "add Zermatt" or "cheaper dinners", and buy passes and tickets yourself.
Tips for a better result
- Ask your agent to price your trip three ways: Swiss Travel Pass, Half Fare Card and single tickets. The winner changes with how many day trips you take.
- In summer, swim in the Limmat or the lake like locals do. The old wooden baths are part of Zurich life.
- Go up the Uetliberg on a clear evening for the best Alpine views.
- Use the SBB timetable times your agent adds, and ask for a backup plan for a rainy day.
Zurich itinerary: FAQ
- How many days do you need in Zurich? One to two days covers the old town, the lake and a viewpoint. Three or four days lets you add Lucerne, the Rhine Falls or the mountains.
- Is the Swiss Travel Pass worth it for Zurich? It depends on how many trips you take. For several long train and boat trips it can pay off; for a short city stay a Half Fare Card or day tickets may be cheaper.
- When is the best time to visit Zurich? June to September is best for the lake and river baths. December has Christmas markets, and winter is good for combining with ski areas.
- How can I save money in Zurich? Eat lunch from supermarkets, drink tap water, walk the old town and compare rail passes before you buy.
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