Best Christmas Markets in Zurich, Switzerland (with map!) + Fun Winter Activities

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But first, I have to tell you how this trip happened in the first place. I had originally planned a Frank Sinatra Winter in Italy to check out some of the Italian Christmas markets and festivities. My first stop was Milan, and when I talked about how excited I was to see the Christmas stuff, the locals kept telling me that “we don’t do Christmas markets like Germany and Switzerland.”

And just like a winter love story, Switzerland became that man that came along and wrecked all my plans. I switched up my original itinerary of staying a week in Rome and split my time between Rome and Zurich instead. Fast forward to the end of my trip, and I can confirm the Milan locals are correct: Zurich is now one of my favorite European cities during Christmastime. Keep reading to discover why it just might be one of yours too!

The Best Christmas Markets in Zürich, Switzerland

1. Zurich Main Station Market

With trains being the main form of public transportation in Zurich, it’s only fitting that there’s a market inside of the train station, complete with a giant Lindt chocolate tree. I actually ended up finding this market by mistake when I got off the train to go explore the Niederdorf area (more on that later). To get here, head to the Zurich HB/Bahnofquai station and go on the Bahnofquai side (or, just put Bahnofquai into your maps). While this market wasn’t my favorite one in Zurich, it IS indoors, which makes it a perfect spot to warm up from the cold.

2. Zürcher Weihnachtsallee at Europaallee

The Weihnachtsallee market was one of my favorite ones I visited, so I would add it to your must-see list. This market is right OUTSIDE the Zurich HB station – in fact, I thought this was the main station market at first due to it’s massive size. You’ll find a bar playing hip hop dance music, plenty of vendors offering samples, a fondue station, and another bar with a rooftop overlooking the entire market, where I got the shot below:

If you aren’t feeling Christmas market food, there are plenty of restaurants on this street to check out. I went to Loft Five and can attest that their burger and fries are amazing. In fact, the entire area of Europaalle is filled with shops, restaurants, apartments, etc, and is quite the contrast to Old Town Zurich, which I’ll talk about next.

3. Old Town Market in Niederdorf (Dörfli)

In contrast to Europaallee’s “new city” vibes, Zurich’s old town will take you back in time – and their Christmas market feels every bit as cozy as you’d expect. This market is in the Niederdorf area of old town – or more specifically, Dörfli (“little village”) – and is the city’s oldest market. It’s not very big, but it gives you an excuse to wander through the cobblestone streets and overlook the river and some of the historic buildings. To get here, type in “Grossmünster” into Google maps – this is the Protestant church with the twin towers that you’ll find overlooking the city.

After you’re done seeing this Christmas market, be sure to get some photos in front of the river. I found the photo ops to be good during the day as well as at night. Oh – and if you travel solo like me, here’s the tripod I use to take all my photos!

4. Wienachtsdorf at Sechseläutenplatz

This market was another one of my favorites. Similar to Weihnachtsallee at Europaallee (#2), it’s large yet somehow manages to feel cozy, especially at night. The backdrop is Zurich’s opera house, and there’s a massive Christmas tree in the center. This is a great place to hang around if you plan on seeing an opera show to get you into the Christmas spirit, but even if you don’t, it’s still beautiful to walk around.

There’s also a fondue chalet at this market! What a time to be alive. Melted Swiss cheese is a hot commodity, so these chalets can get packed…but if you go during the daytime you can likely find a spot, especially during the week. This Wienachtsdorf (Christmas village) is also a 10-15 minute walk to Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich’s main shopping street. Yes, it’s one of the most expensive streets in the world, but that doesn’t mean you can’t window shop and marvel at the decorations (don’t worry, we’ll get into that later in this post!).

5. Münsterhof Christmas Market

This is a small market in front of the Fraumünster Church. TBH, I don’t think it’s a must-visit, but it’s only an 11-minute walk from the Wienachtsdorf market I just talked about, AND it’s on the way to Bahnhofstrasse. Soooo we might as well, right? Plus, getting here requires you to walk across a bridge, giving you more views of the city on the Limmat river.

6. The Singing Christmas Tree at Werdmühleplatz

The Singing Christmas Tree at Werdmühleplatz might just be the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. It’s exactly what it sounds like: a giant Christmas tree stage with children singing live Christmas carols. There are different songs and “concerts” every night. I actually think I died over how adorable this was. You can find the Singing Christmas Tree right off of Bahnhofstrasse, the shopping street that I mentioned earlier. Concert times will be crowded, but even if you only stay for a few minutes, it’s worth seeing.

7. Illuminarium at the National Museum

The Illuminarium is the closest thing to a Christmas rave I’ve ever seen. There are 2 parts to this market: one is free, one requires a ticket. The free part takes you into the courtyard of the museum, which is decorated with non-traditional, psychedelic lights and has some market food and vendors. The ticketed part takes you indoors, where you can watch elaborate light shows that last around 25 minutes. In other words, WE’RE GOING TO THE CLEEEEEEEEERB! There are bars inside, and – you guessed it – a fondue chalet (make reservations!). This market is definitely better for adults than kids, although kids would be able to enjoy the outside courtyard.

More Things To Do and See in Zurich in the Wintertime

Yes, Zurich has fabulous Christmas markets, but that’s not all we’re here for. Below are some other festive, wintery things to add to your Zurich itinerary:

Go Shopping – and See The Decorations – on Bahnhofstrasse

Remember how I said Zurich was expensive? I have never felt more broke in my life than I did while walking on this street, and somehow loved every second of it. I blame the Christmas decor. The photo below doesn’t do it justice – it looked like stars were just falling out of the sky as I was walking around…

Bahnhofstrasse has designer stores as well as more affordable options like Zara and Mango. But keep in mind, prices at these stores are still going to be more expensive than you’d find in other parts of Europe. If you’re doing a multi-country Christmas trip, you may want to save your shopping for a country that uses euros instead of Swiss francs!

Spend a Day in the Alps

Here’s where I’m going to disappoint you: I didn’t get to REALLY experience the Alps. Since Italy was my original destination for this winter trip and the temperature there is more mild, I wasn’t prepared for the mountains. I didn’t bring snow boots…much less hiking clothes. If you have enough time (and packed appropriately), you could take the train to Grindelwald (about 2.5 hours) and ride the gondola up to Jungfrau, one of the most famous mountain peaks in the Alps. Or, spend a day relaxing at the Mineralbad & Spa in Rigi Kaltbad, (about 2 hours) where you can sit in a hot tub on top of the mountain(this one I probably could have done, but I had spent waaay too much money on this trip already…).

While we’re on the subject of cheese, I wanted to mention that a lot of the fondue places serve fondue for a minimum of 2 people. As a solo traveler, I had to settle for a ham and Swiss cheese sandwich. I realize that sounds incredibly ghetto, but trust me. I never thought I’d be fan-girling over ham and cheese either until I came here. It was SO good, and I still got my melty cheese (with extra protein!).

My Top Zurich Travel Tips

I’ll confess, I didn’t know much about Switzerland before I came here on a whim. If you’re in the same boat, here are some things I would tell you to make the most of your trip:

First of all, Switzerland is EXPENSIVE…like New-York-City-expensive. I got an iced latte and it was $10 USD. Granted, it was one of the best iced lattes I ever had, but REALLY?! The economy here is poppin’, and the Swiss Franc is strong…so if you’re coming here on vaca, don’t expect cheaper prices that are typical of other parts of Europe!

• Pro Tip: To help with accommodation costs, you can stay slightly outside the city center. I stayed in Mama Shelter Zurich when I came here and loved it – it was right next to the train station and 7 minutes from the airport.

Explore Other Zurich Hotels:

For transportation, they use trains and above-ground trolleys. This is the first time I’ve ever seen a city use actual trains for short distances and not a subway or metro. The best app for train and trolley routes is the SBB Mobile app – you can search destinations, buy tickets, a Day Pass, a Swiss Pass, and more.

• Pro Tip: One ticket will cover all forms of transportation – in other words, a single ticket will allow you to ride the train, trolley, ferry, etc. Individual tickets are valid for one hour.

You’ll hear 4 different languages spoken here – German, Italian, French, and Romansh, which is sort of a hybrid of the other 3. The language you hear the most will depend on the region you’re in, but German is usually a safe bet and what people tend to use the most.

Lastly, Switzerland had some of the kindest, friendliest people out of any country I’ve ever been to. I talked to so many locals that were so willing to help and give me recommendations. Also, the city is so clean, and I felt very safe traveling alone.