What to Do in Zurich When It Rains (Complete Rainy-Day Guide)

If you’re wondering what to do in Zurich when it rains, I can reassure you straight away. Rainy days in Zurich can be amazing. I’ve lived here for three years, and some of my favorite experiences, chocolate, cheese, museums, spas, escape rooms and being on the lake, can actually be super fun when the weather is grey.

Here are the best indoor and rain-friendly activities in Zurich, perfect for visitors and locals.

Visit Zurich’s Best Museums

Zurich is one of the best cities in Switzerland for museums, and rainy days are the perfect excuse to explore them properly.

Landesmuseum Zürich (Swiss National Museum)
Next to Zürich Main Station, you can find one of the must do museum of the city, the Landesmuseum. You will discover a magnificent building, combining historic architecture with modern extensions. Why going there ? Well, first to be covered from the rain in a beautiful place and second to learn about Swiss history and traditions from medieval to modern times. If it’s raining and that you have time, I recommend you to go there.

Kunsthaus Zürich
This museum is one of the most important in Switzerand. Its collection range from medieval to modern art and aims to show the evolution of society. The collection is pretty big with famous artists like Giacometti, Munch or Monet. You will also be able to discover very interesting Swiss artists. If you want an other argument, it has many exhibitions, so you always have something new to discover going there. And if you’re still not sure, it’s free every wednesday 😉

FIFA Museum
I know that football is not for everyone. But ! The FIFA Museum is very interesting in the sense that you will discover a new side of football. For example, can you speak about the technological innovations that the football created ? Well, after the FIFA Museum you will ! Or maybe you would find more interesting to learn about the social impact of football in unexpected countries ? In anycase, if you want to surprise yourself finding aspect of football interesting that is one of the best option !

Museum Rietberg & Migros Museum für Gegenwartskunst
Museum Rietberg focuses on non-European art from Asia, Africa, and the Americas, while the Migros Museum showcases contemporary art in Zurich West. Both are excellent choices if you want something a bit different from classic museums.

Visit the Grossmünster

Enough with the museum ! Or maybe you still want to learn and discover Zürich history but not with too many text and stop ? For that the Grossmünster is the place to be on a rainy day! This historic Protestant church, with its iconic twin towers, offers a glimpse into the city’s medieval past and its role in the Swiss Reformation. Step inside to admire the magnificent stained-glass windows by Augusto Giacometti (the one of the Kunsthaus) and explore the Romanesque crypt. If you want a bit of an adventur, you can climb the tower. And when you arrive you will have a panoramic view of Zurich. And that view is worth the climb even when it rains.

Explore ETH Zurich & the Natural History Museum

Just a short walk from the Grossmünster, the ETH Zurich main building is a must-visit for architecture and science enthusiasts. Designed by the famous Swiss architect Gottfried Semper in the 19th century, the building is a stunning example of historic academic architecture, with grand staircases and impressive lecture halls. Even if you’re not attending a lecture, walking through the hallways gives a sense of the university’s rich history and its status as one of the world’s leading science and technology institutions.

Right next to ETH, the Natural History Museum Zurich is a perfect indoor stop, especially for famillies on a rainy day. And best of all, entry is free ! The museum showcases Swiss wildlife, fossils, minerals, and even real-size animal displays. They ave special pieces for the kids to touch and learn while having fun, but don’t worry the adults can also have fun there 😉 If you combine it with a visit to ETH you will be able to admire both Zurich’s architectural heritage and scientific treasures, all while staying dry.

Visit Zurich Zoo (Even in the Rain)

Zurich Zoo is absolutely worth visiting on a rainy day. Especially because of its impressive indoor areas, which is the Masoala Rainforest Hall. Don’t worry about the “rainforest” part, it’s a huge covered tropical ecosystem, so you’ll stay dry 😉 You will walk through lush vegetation, waterfalls, and if you open your eyes you will catch the wildlife.
In addition to the Masoala Rainforest Hall, the zoo has multiple indoor animal houses (the elephant’s place is one of the best), cafés, and covered paths. It’s a fantastic option for families. But honestly, I also enjoy it as an adult when I want to chill and be amazed as I was when I was a kid. Plus, the rain makes the zoo calmer with less people and so a better time to observe the animals.

Discover the Lindt Home of Chocolate

If you love chocolate as much as I do, the Lindt Home of Chocolate is one of the best things to do in Zurich when it rains.

Located in Kilchberg, just outside Zurich, this modern chocolate museum is absolutely worth the trip. There you will get hungry in front of the world’s tallest chocolate fountain and the interactive exhibitions about the history of chocolate. But don’t worry, you will be able to taste a wide range of Lindt chocolates, just what you need for your hunger.

A little plus about that museum is that even if it is a bit outside of Zürich, you can easily reach it with public transport:

By train, from Zurich city center it is less than 15 minutes.
Or, even better, you can take a boat directly from Bürkliplatz. This allows you to combine a cruise on Lake Zurich (that is definitly worth it) with a chocolate museum visit ! That combo is the one I reserve to my friends when they come to visit Zürich and everyone is always amazed 😉 Indeed, ending a lake cruise with unlimited chocolate tasting is hard to beat.

Zurich Food Tour: Chocolate and Cheese Tastings

Maybe chocolate isn’t enough for you ? In that case, let me introduce you to an other combo ! The guided food tour focused on chocolate and cheese ! (Did not expected that, right?)

This Zurich food tour includes eight tastings, featuring Swiss cheeses, chocolates, and local specialties, all while exploring the city with a nice guide. You’ll learn about Swiss food culture, traditions, and why Switzerland is famous for cheese (Gruyere is the god of cheese) and chocolate worldwide.

I am Swiss so I love chocolate and cheese, and obviously I tried it even if it’s meant to tourists, I couldn’t resist… And I was not disappointed, you stay mostly indoors, move at a relaxed pace, and get to taste some of the best products Switzerland has to offer.

It’s ideal for first-time visitors, couples, and anyone who wants a cozy but memorable experience.

Zurich City Bus Tour with Audio Guide & Lake Cruise

Maybe you’re not that much into food ? Another tour to explore Zurich without worrying about the rain, is a Zurich city bus tour with an audio guide. This is also an excellent option, even for locals. You’re in a nice bus, you’re going through the city and you’re learning more about Zurich’s history, architecture, and neighborhoods while staying dry. The multilingual audio guide makes it easy to discover facts and stories you might otherwise miss (did you know that Zürich has roman ruins ?). This tour is surprisingly interesting even if you already live in Zurich.

The little plus is that you can combine this bus tour with the Lake Zurich cruise (this cruise can be combined with everything). The lake cruise offers a relaxing perspective of the city and surrounding nature, creating a perfect mix of learning, sightseeing, and comfort, ideal for a rainy day in Zurich.

Take a Covered Boat Cruise on Lake Zurich

I told you a lot about it in this article and we are finally reaching it, the boat tour ! I agree it can sound a bit counterintuitive, but it is definitely something worth doing.

You are inside a boat in a warm and cosy atmosphere, you look at the golden and silver coasts of Zürich while enjoying a drink (going from the cafe to the aperol spritz), with the rain and clouds creating that grey and tranquil atmosphere. You will truly feel at peace and it is also very nice to look at the people going in and out at each stop, making you wonder about their reasons for taking that ferry. Is it for work ? Is it to go to the grocery ? Maybe go see some friends ? Or Maybe just like you, enjoy the atmosphere ?

In any case a boat tour is a great 2-hour activity to do when it rains (but also when it is Sunny). And again a very nice thing is that you can combine it with other activities, whether it’s the Lindt museum or the bus tour.

Shop Indoors on Bahnhofstrasse or at Sihlcity

Maybe you’re not very into tours ? That is understandable, after all you mainly just stay still and contemplate. If you want more action or at least be a bit more active, you can go shopping! There are a lot of indoor shops and malls in Zürich.

If you are close to the main station or you want to be in an old part of Zürich you can go to the Bahnhofstrasse. You will be able to go in many stores and covered areas, but also to admire the famous swiss watches that are well known but quite expensive.

If you are more into malls, you can go to Sihlcity, with its huge indoor shopping mall. You will find a lot of different shops, food, clothes, games, etc. The perfect place to combine groceries and pleasure while staying dry and warm.

Spend Time at Zurich Main Station (Zürich HB)

You find that Sihlcity is too far away from the city center ? No problem! In that case just go explore Zürich main station. First, in the main hall you will often find some exhibitions, either for events or companies, and they’ll often have some nice little games to win prizes ! Just last week I won a pair of ski socks, perfect for my exploration of the nearby ski resorts.

But the main thing is that below the station, you will enter ShopVille, another indoor shopping area. You will find all you want there: candies, food, coffee, souvenirs, a hair cut and many other things. Actually, it is one of the first places one of my friends living in Zürich made me discover when I arrived, and it really stuck with me. And since it is very easily reachable by public transport, you can get there without being touched by the rain.

Relax at Hürlimannbad & Thermal Spa Zurich

If you are still here, maybe you’re not very into museums, contemplation or shopping. In that case, why not take the rain as an opportunity to relax? Now we’re talking aren’t we!

The Hürlimannbad & Thermal Spa Zürich is a former brewery that has been transformed into a beautiful spa with indoor thermal pools, saunas, and relaxation areas. That is THE place to go to relax in Zürich. They kept the brewery style and it is very nice to relax in hot bubbly water just next to old wooden barrels.

But the best is its rooftop pool. There you will have an incredible view over the city but you will also have that nice feeling of being somewhere warm while being in a cold environment. That same feeling you have when under your blanket with the window of your room open. I love to just put my shoulders out for a few seconds to feel the cold and then sink back into the water, definitely incredible!

If you go there I recommand to check the Sunset time so you can go to the rooftop pool to also Watch the changing colors in the sky that’s totaally worth it !

Do an Escape Game in Zurich

Escape game is something really fun to do when the weather is bad in Zurich, and honestly, the city has a really good scene for them. I’ve done quite a few and they were all super nice.

My personal favorite was Gulliver, it’s a room inspired by the famous story where Gulliver encounters a terrifying giant cat. It was actually my first escape room ever, so maybe I’m a little biased. But honestly, I think that makes it the perfect escape game for a first timer! The level was just right, not too easy but not too hard either, and there’s a fun mix of puzzles including climbing and ramping to solve some of the enigmas. If you’ve never done an escape room before, start with this one.

If you want to explore all the options, Everyescaperoom.ch lists over 80 escape games in Zurich with ratings and themes. There’s something for everyone, from beginner-friendly adventures to seriously brain-melting challenges.

Try a Virtual Reality Gaming Experience

If you want to take things up to a higher level, Zurich also has a really cool virtual reality gaming experience that I’ve had my eye on for a while. With the VR experience on GetYourGuide, you can battle zombies, go head-to-head in PvP shooter matches, or try a virtual escape room. All with proper VR gear that apparently makes it feel incredibly real.

Now, full transparency: I haven’t done this one yet. It’s still on top of my bucket list! But a few friends of mine tried out the Squid Game one and loved it. So while I can’t give you my personal opinion about it yet, consider this my very enthusiastic second-hand recommendation.

Warm Up in Cozy Cafés Around Zurich

If you would like to take your friends with you, why not just go grab a coffee with them ? Rainy days are perfect for café hopping, and Zurich has plenty of great options. You can go to some cozy independent cafés in Niederdorf with small tables and warm interiors. Not feeling the cozy vibe ? No problem, you will find stylish cafés in Kreis 4 and Kreis 5, perfect for brunch or working remotely. You can also go to hotel cafés and lounges because they are open to everyone and feel extra comfortable when it’s cold and wet outside. But my favorites are the Alehouse and the Nordern (even if they are closer to a bar). Why ? Because they have board games that you can take to play with your friends !

So if you want to go out with your friends when it’s rainy, just have a little look around and go discover the nice coffees in Zürich, you’ll always find the one you want.

Go to the Cinema or Theatre

Another thing that you can do with your friends, or alone when it rains, and that you can combine with one of Zürich’s cafés is the cinema. Indeed Zurich has a strong cinema and theatre scene, making rainy evenings easy to plan.

Many independent cinemas like Kino Xenix or RiffRaff show a mix of international and art-house films, often in original language. On the other hand, Zurich’s theatres, such as Schauspielhaus Zürich or Theater am Hechtplatz, offer plays, cabaret, and live performances year-round. And if you are more into Hollywood movies you can go to the Bluecinema (there are 3 in the city) or go to the cinema at Sihlcity.

And as I said, after the movie you can head to one of Zürich’s cozy cafés with your friends to discuss what you just watched.

Final Thoughts

If you’re asking yourself what to do in Zurich when it rains, the answer is: plenty. From museums and chocolate experiences to spas, cafés, food tours, zoos, escape games and boat rides. And there are plenty more things to do like one of the many escape games in the city, but this article needs an end… Zürich is really a city where rain is not a problem for activities.

If that can convince you a bit more, I can assure you that I have so many great memories made on rainy days in Zürich. So next time it rains, don’t tell yourself “Oh no, it’s raining”, just tell yourself “Alright, it’s time to discover something new!”