10 Things to Do in Zurich in Summer

The sights of Zurich during the summer are one of the best experiences you can have during your summer visit. Some of the most interesting things to do during this period include climbing Mount First or touring the city.

In summer, any activity can easily be included among the best things to see and do in Zurich because the weather is much more pleasant than in winter. In addition, the landscapes become completely colourful with the arrival of the hot summer season.

With fairly warm temperatures and a pleasant climate for travelling, visiting the Rhine Falls from Zurich is an excellent choice to make during the summer in Zurich, or at least very close to the city. The best thing about this experience is that during the summer the views of the falls are truly beautiful.

In addition, the hiking trails around the falls allow you to get to know the place from different points of view. Also, a great advantage of visiting the falls during the summer is that the park is open for two hours longer than in winter. It opens one hour earlier at 8:00 and closes one hour later at 19:00.

From the north side you can enter free of charge, while for the viewpoints on the south side, you have to enter through Laufen Castle. If you want to get a close-up view of the waterfall, you can take a boat ride and even go up to the stone in the middle of the falls.

This place is known as Rheinfallfelsen and is definitely the best viewpoint of the falls. Once the boat reaches the rock, there is a small place where you can disembark and then climb up a very narrow staircase to the top of the rock and look out over the falls. Needless to say, the view is much better in summer and the weather is much nicer.

Mount First in winter is covered in snow and there is no doubt that this is perhaps one of the top 10 things to do in Zurich in winter. But definitely the best time to visit this mountain is in summer. The weather is much nicer and you can still feel the coolness left over from the winter so you don't suffer from the heat while climbing the mountain.

Another activity that is definitely best to do in summer is hiking. During this walk you can embark on a fun adventure to the cliffs of Tissot, a great place to challenge your adrenaline and have a high altitude experience, literally.

Depending on how you decide to visit Mount First, either on your own or with a guided tour to the area, I recommend looking for the opportunity to get on a motorbike, which will lead to even more adventures at the top of the mountain.

Again the very warm weather and clear weather will give you a much clearer postcard view of the whole landscape, so I recommend you don't waste any time and take as many pictures as you want. If you love adventure photography, this is the time to do it. And before you go back, don't forget to go on the zip line, it's one of the experiences you'll enjoy the most on this trip.

There's no better time of year for city sightseeing in Zurich than summer. The season here is warm enough to bring out your best summer clothes, but cool enough that you won't suffer from heat or dehydration. So you can venture out for several hours of walking around the city to get to know it from the inside out.

You can do this activity on your own or hire a tour guide to accompany you and show you around the city. But in case you go on your own, I have to recommend you to visit the historic centre of Zurich and also take advantage of the time to soak a bit more of Freddie Mercury's legacy if you like music and you prefer the classics.

Why Freddie Mercury? Zurich was his favourite city and that's why the city has a statue in his name and remembers the musical legacy of this star. But music aside, you can also visit other amazing places in the city, such as the City Hall, the financial district and even the University where Albert Einstein studied.

During your walk don't forget to try the most typical Swiss food and drinks, especially chocolate and fondue, typical of the Swiss tradition. You can't miss the street with the largest number of shops, known as the most expensive street in Europe.

Lucerne is a special city to visit at any time of the year, but if there is one time when you can visit Lucerne and marvel at the view, it is in summer. One of my favourite walks in this area is the covered bridge. It is one of the architectural wonders and icons of the city.

It is the oldest wooden bridge in Europe, known as Kapellbrücke or Chapel Bridge in Spanish. Its main attraction is the view it offers of the city, which also boasts classical and pre-medieval architecture. A walk along this bridge at sunset will leave you with incredible postcards of Lucerne.

But the bridge is not only attractive because of the beautiful view from it, there is much more to see inside. On the roof of the bridge you can see many paintings that reflect the history of the city, so in addition to being a beautiful walk, it is also rich in Swiss history and culture.

The Bernina Express is one of the best scenic trains from Zurich and is definitely best enjoyed during the summer months. During the ride you will be able to see many of the Alpine villages that dress up in colour during this time of year.

Depending on the type of tour you choose on the Bernina Express, you'll be able to enjoy typical Swiss food during your journey, which will make the trip even more enjoyable on one of the best excursions to see the Swiss Alps.

This is a trip that will last approximately 4 hours if you choose to do it in its entirety, so it will be a full day of adventure where you will have the chance to see the wonders of each of the villages that lie at the foot of the Alps.

You'll love the fact that you'll be able to ride the train up to 2,100 metres above sea level. As well as visiting a large number of tunnels, bridges and viaducts. It's a truly varied tour that you'll want to repeat at least once.

One of the most pleasant things to do in Switzerland in summer is to take a helicopter to fly over beautiful cities like Bern.

This helicopter tour to see Bern from above is a tenner if you want an adventurous experience where you can take beautiful pictures and also enjoy the views in clear weather.

Although you can also do this tour in winter, my recommendation is to do it in summer because that's when you can appreciate not only the scenery, but also all the colours that the city of Bern has to show you.

Depending on the type of flight or tour to discover Switzerland from Zurich you choose, you can do this shared or private tour, while enjoying refreshments along the way. The colours of Bern can definitely be appreciated much better from the heights.

I think this is one of my favourite summer activities to do in Switzerland, and the calmness of the Aare River is on another level. During this experience you will get on an inflatable boat that will take you on a water ride from Thun to Bern. You don't need to bring too much safety equipment and protection, as the waters are usually calm.

If you want to do this very summery route, you can take the train to Thun and then put your inflatable boat on the river and let it take you to Bern. Although you may think it's an extreme experience, there's no more relaxing ride to take than this one. It is definitely an experience I would recommend you to do with the whole family on your 3-day visit to Zurich.

You can take on board some snacks to pass the day and enjoy the scenery. This is not only a very peaceful experience, but it will leave you with some great postcards to take amazing pictures of the scenery around the river. Once you arrive in Bern, you could complement the experience with a rack railway tour of the local villages.

For hot summer days there is nothing better than hiking in Ticino. The route is really beautiful and not too difficult to traverse. You will have to spend at least four hours to complete the route, but it is a walk that is definitely worth the effort.

If you don't mind bathing in cold water, you can bring your swimming costume and jump into the natural pools along the way. This hiking route will also leave you plenty of opportunities to capture the scenery because you'll be crossing a few bridges from which you'll be able to take some really great photographs.

It is a route that you can do with family and friends without any problem, although it is not an activity that I would do with children because they can easily get exhausted. The alpine landscapes you'll find are beautiful, but the fresh air you'll breathe along the way makes up for any fatigue you may feel while completing the route.

Paddleboarding has become a really popular game, and if you can do it on a lake with no waves where you feel much more confident to do the moves of the game, so much the better.

This ride is a great adventure even before you get to the lake. You can travel by train from Zurich to Geneva, which is where Lake Geneva is located. One of the best things about this ride is the incredible views from the moment you get on the first train until you reach the lake.

Once you get to the lake you can get in the water for a swim, a paddle or hire a board to stand on and enjoy the tranquillity of the lake. This is one of the experiences I like to recommend the most because it is suitable for all kinds of groups, whether you want to go with friends, with your family or even with the kids.

Climbing Mount Pilatus is highly recommended if you like extreme adventures. There is a train line that takes you to the top of this mountain, climbing up steep paths that will surely make you fall into the carriage if you don't hold on well. But it's definitely a must-do on your visit to Zurich.

Once at the top, you'll be able to take in incredibly beautiful views and take pictures of the whole landscape. Depending on the type of tour you choose, you can do this tour from Lucerne, which is ideal if you want the full experience. You can reach Lucerne from Zurich by train and in Lucerne board another train line that will take you to Mount Pilatus.

You can even take the cable car to the top, which will take you to the viewpoint at the top. You can also experience a boat ride at the foot of the great stone mountain, an activity that is ideal to do in summer, as this is the season when you can go up.

During the summer the weather in Zurich is really pleasant. Temperatures do not rise above 25°C and do not drop below 14°C at night. These temperatures will allow you to have amazing beach and hiking experiences.

Summer is in fact divided into two parts, the early summer months, i.e. from April to the end of May, tend to be much cooler than the rest of the season. This is because there are still remnants of the harsh winter, so these months of mild weather could be considered the spring season.

Summer starts to warm up around June and settles in until September, when temperatures start to drop again to give way to autumn. The hottest month of the year is definitely August, but, despite this, temperatures do not usually exceed 25ºC.

Paradoxically, during the summer there is a good chance of daily rainfall. However, the month with the highest probability of rain is June. In August the probability decreases considerably, but is still high compared to other times of the year.

It goes without saying that summer, when temperatures are more comfortable, is when the number of tourists increases considerably. Summer is the peak season in Zurich, so if you don't want to miss out on any attractions or places of interest in the city or beyond, it's best to book everything you need in advance.

Accommodation is the first to fill up with tourists, so when planning your trip, make sure you book well in advance and book online to avoid running out of accommodation.

The same goes for tickets to museums, parks and other tourist attractions in and around the city of Zurich. Another recommendation I have to give you for visiting Zurich or anywhere else in Switzerland during the summer is to get to each place very early in the morning so you can enjoy the sights and places to see without so many people around.

During the high season, prices in Zurich are often very high. Already the most expensive city in Europe, Zurich tends to be even more expensive in summer.

A good thing to know if you want to visit Zurich in summer and save some money is to book in advance. By booking in advance, you can avoid paying what accommodation and attraction tickets can cost during the high season itself.

Private transport, taxis and car rentals tend to be much more expensive during the summer, as are train tickets.

Don't hesitate to pack all your summer clothes for your trip to Zurich at this time of year. Of course, don't forget to pack a few jumpers and of course warm pyjamas to keep you warm during the cooler summer nights.

Bring sunscreen, sunglasses and plenty of shorts to enjoy the hours outdoors with the sun on your side. Also remember to bring a swimming costume so you can enjoy the natural pools during the hiking activities.