Winter in Zurich and the surrounding area: tips for sights and hikes

We always thought of Zurich as a neat, maybe even a bit serious city. Banking capital, sharp suits, that kind of thing. But nothing could be further from the truth. As soon as the days get shorter, the city and its surroundings turn into a cozy, almost fairytale-like destination. One that's full of fun and—how could it be otherwise—lots and lots of cheese. And the great thing is: from Zurich, you're right in the middle of the mountains. Perfect for combining a city trip with winter hikes. In this blog, we share tips for the best sights, day trips, and walks around Zurich in winter.

Sights in Zurich city

A relaxed start at the lake

For a relaxed lunch, start at Lake Zurich with a Swiss bratwurst. This beloved street food is found in cities throughout Switzerland. The sausage is traditionally grilled over an open fire and served with a crispy roll. There is a relaxed atmosphere at the lake: swans gliding by, boats bobbing around, and often live music in the background. Sometimes a pianist, sometimes a band.

Raclette under thousands of lights at the Illuminarium

The evenings around the festive season are magical. At the Illuminarium, next to the Landesmuseum, Zurich seems to transform into a fairy tale. Lights everywhere and a warm winter atmosphere. The perfect setting for raclette: steaming potatoes, gherkins, and of course melted cheese.

Swiss cheese fondue in an urban garden

Because you can never have enough cheese, Frau Gerolds Garten is also high on the list. Located in the middle of the city, but with the atmosphere of a creative city garden where locals gather. In winter, it is the place to be for a pan of steaming cheese fondue. The atmosphere is incredibly cozy. We do recommend reserving in advance for the cheese fondue. Even on weekdays, all the tables were full when we visited.

Culture at the Landesmuseum

And of course, you can't leave Zurich without visiting the Landesmuseum. The building alone is impressive: it's like walking into a fairytale castle. Inside, you'll find everything from medieval art to interactive exhibitions about modern Swiss society. It's precisely this mix that makes it so interesting.

Lucerne: the most beautiful places in the city for a day trip

The city we had heard so many wonderful stories about. And those stories were true, because what a beautiful and special city it is. Of course, it helped that the sun was shining.

For us, the highlights of the city were:

The Chapel Bridge

The absolute center of the city is the Chapel Bridge, built in 1365, a wooden covered bridge connecting the two banks of the Reuss River. Fun fact: the bridge was built thanks to a storm near Mount Pilatus, which washed so much wood into the river that it was possible to build a bridge. As you walk across it, you can see the old painted triangles in the roof, each of which tells a piece of history.

The Lion Monument

Another highlight is the Lion Monument. A dying lion has been carved out of a rock face. It is both impressive and moving. The statue commemorates the Swiss Guards who died in 1792 during the French Revolution.

Colorful facades

What makes Lucerne extra special are the colorful buildings in the old town. You walk through narrow streets where the facades are decorated with murals, while in the background the snow-capped mountain peaks tower above everything. The contrast between the lively city and nature makes Lucerne almost unrealistically beautiful.

Rigi Kulm: taking the cogwheel train to the Queen of the Mountains

After visiting Lucerne, we got in the car and headed for Goldau, the starting point of a classic cogwheel train that goes all the way to the top of the Rigi Kulm. The train ride alone is an experience in itself, highly recommended! The higher we climbed, the more the Alps revealed themselves. First green meadows and forests, then more and more snow-capped peaks, until we found ourselves in the snow too.

Because we didn't leave until late afternoon, we were doubly lucky. The big tourist rush was already over and we were treated to the sunset. We were all alone in our compartment, right next to the only window that could be opened. Perfect for leaning halfway out of the window and enjoying the view even more.

After about 45 minutes, we reached the summit at an altitude of 1,752 meters. From there, we chose one of the routes down to the last station to take the train back to the starting point.

Fronalpstock: 360-degree view of the Alps and Lake Lucerne

In November, many ski lifts in Switzerland are closed for maintenance. One of the few that was still open was the lift to Fronalpstock. To get there, you take the steepest funicular railway in the world from the town of Schwyz. Because you are standing horizontally, it doesn't feel strange at all, but secretly it is quite impressive.

In the morning, we had already checked the webcam and seen that the summit was covered in clouds. So it was exciting to see if we would have any view at all. But when the cable car came out of the tunnel, we suddenly found ourselves in a completely different world: everything was white, with snow everywhere.

In our car was a woman who told us that she takes this ride to work every day (!). Yesterday everything was still green, she said. With a sigh, she added that the winter season had now officially begun.

Once at the top, you have a choice: hike up to the summit of the Fronalpstock yourself, or continue with the ski lift. Because there was a thick layer of snow with a slippery layer of ice, we opted for the ski lift.

On top of that, we were rewarded with a panorama that leaves you speechless. What makes the mountain so special is the 360-degree view you have from the top: you can see Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee), but also mountains such as the Rigi and the Mythen, and on clear days even the highest peaks of the Alps in the distance.

After walking around and taking lots of photos, we decided to take the ski lift down a bit and continue on foot from there. The sun had melted the ice, making the path easier to walk on.

Ebenalp: Hiking to Seealpsee

An hour and a half's drive from Zurich lies Ebenalp, a mountain in the Alpstein range. Normally, you would take the cable car up, but strong winds prevented that. No problem: hiking up seemed like an adventure to us. Our destination? The mountain lake Seealpsee.

We had a choice: the “normal” path up or a more challenging route through the forest. Of course, we went for the latter. And it was worth it: colorful autumn trees, babbling brooks, and small waterfalls along the path made the climb a lot more enjoyable. After an hour, we reached the valley and... suddenly we were in a completely different world. From autumn colors to winter white, with snow as far as the eye could see. What a transition.

The last stretch to Lake Seealpsee was easier to walk, although the wind made for a brisk walk. The lake itself was a beautiful destination: a combination of snow-capped mountain peaks and brightly colored trees.

After a short break, we decided to climb a little further up towards the famous Aescher mountain hut, which is spectacularly perched against the rocks. The path there was enjoyable, but halfway up, the weather changed. Rain, wind, and an approaching storm... not exactly ideal conditions for continuing our climb. So we turned back and headed for the car. In hindsight, it was a good decision: just as we got in, the wind really started to pick up.

To warm up again, we drove on to the charming village of Appenzell. Known for cheese, beer, and chocolate (milk). Exactly what you crave after a day outdoors.

Mount Pilatus: take the Dragon Ride to the summit

Mount Pilatus (2,132 meters) is perhaps one of the most famous attractions in the Zurich area. The mountain is steeped in atmospheric legends: it is said to have once been home to dragons, and its name is sometimes associated with Pontius Pilate.

You can reach the summit from Kriens via the panoramic cable car and the ‘Dragon Ride’ gondola, which whisks you up to the top in just a few minutes. In summer, there is another spectacular option: the cogwheel railway from Alpnachstad, with a gradient of up to 48%.

Once at the top, a 360-degree panorama unfolds over Lake Lucerne and the surrounding Alpine ranges. There are short hiking trails and viewing platforms. During our walk, we even came face to face with ibexes, which live here in the wild. With a little luck, you can see them up close.

At the top of the mountain, you will also find a mountain hotel and restaurant, ideal for settling down with a hot chocolate or a hearty Swiss lunch.

In conclusion

Whether you're strolling through the charming streets of Zurich, standing on the Chapel Bridge in Lucerne, or breathing in the fresh mountain air at high altitudes on Pilatus, Rigi Kulm, Fronalpstock, or Ebenalp, winter in Switzerland is pure enjoyment. So put on your hiking boots, don't forget your gloves, and let yourself be surprised by everything Zurich and the surrounding mountains have to offer in winter.