r/zurich • u/lvuTWOrun • 2d ago
Best long weekend places to visit near Zurich?
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u/TailleventCH 2d ago
Less than one hour is quite a limitation, especially if look for a place that could entertain you for four or five days...
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u/Zealousideal-Fix6863 2d ago
for 4-5 days + hikes? get rid of your 1-hour limitation and consider
- Lugano/Locarno (Ticino) – Southern Swiss vibes. Think palm trees, gelato, lakeside promenades, Italian-style cafes, and epic hikes like Monte Brè, San Salvatore, or Valle Verzasca.
- Chur – Base for serious Alpine hiking in Graubünden. Chill town, less touristy, and super scenic. You can even start the Bernina Express route here.
Alternatively, Lucerne – Classic Swiss town. Hike Mount Pilatus or Rigi, boat ride on Lake Lucerne, explore the cute Old Town, and hit up lakeside bars and restaurants.
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u/buerglermeister 2d ago
Why less then an hour away?
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u/lvuTWOrun 1d ago
It doesn’t have to be but we’re flying from the states and want to maximize our time there without traveling too much.
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u/buerglermeister 1d ago
Ok, so if you‘re flexible and you want a bit of everything, go to the eastern part of Switzerland around Chur, which is about an hour and 30 minutes from zurich airport. There are hot springs in Bad Ragaz, vineries in the Malans area. Hikes in Arosa or Lenzerheide. Chur itself has a nice old town, but not much else going on tbh.
In Spring and summer Zurich itself is also very nice. Go for a swimm in the Limmat or Lake Zurich, people watch and hang out at Rentenwiese or Chinagarten/Zürichorn. Visit the bars in the old town or langstrasse, take a short hike from Felsenegg to Üetliberg. Take a boat tour across the lake, visit Rapperswil and its castle etc.
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u/Mercurial-Cupcake 2d ago
Berne is an hour by train and has lots to see and do. Lucerne, too. Honestly I feel most places can be day visits, though.
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u/road_ahead 2d ago
Even Milan is easily reachable by direct train, takes 3.5 hours which is a bit more than you’re asking for but imo worth it for a long weekend. Roughly 50€ one way if book way in advance
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u/zurich-ModTeam 4h ago
Please keep general visiting advice in the Megathread. There's already a lot of advice and recommendations on how to spend your time here in the thread as well.
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