Lake Zurich
Zürichsee
A crescent-shaped lake about 40 km long. Lakeside paths, open-air bathing spots and boat trips are part of daily life for Zurich locals, and on clear days you can see the Alpine peaks in the distance.
Lake Zurich is a glacial lake about 40 km long, with its northern end right next to Zurich's city centre. The city shoreline centres on Bürkliplatz, at the southern end of Bahnhofstrasse. On the west bank, the Alpenquai promenade passes the Botanical Garden and continues all the way to Ritterpark. On the east bank, at Utoquai, there is a Chinese garden and the Heidi Weber Museum, Le Corbusier's final work. On clear days you can see the Glarus Alps at the far end of the lake. The Zürichsee Schifffahrt company (ZSG) departs from Bürkliplatz. The 1.5-hour 'small lake loop' costs about CHF 9–10 (free with the Zurich Card), and there is also a 4-hour route to the rose city of Rapperswil. In summer, classic old steam paddle boats also run. The lake is clear in summer, and you can swim at open-air bathing spots such as Seebad Utoquai, Frauenbadi (women only, turning into a bar in the evening) and Mythenquai, for an entrance fee of a few francs. Coordinates are taken from the lakeshore at Bürkliplatz.
Opening hours
Open all day; most cruise departures April–October
Nearby sights
- Zurich Lake & River Baths (Badi)
- Fraumünster
- Confiserie Sprüngli Paradeplatz
- St. Peter Church
- Grossmünster
- Lindenhof
- Zurich Opera House
- Bahnhofstrasse