Switzerland's largest city and the main gateway to the Alps: a lakeside old town, Bahnhofstrasse, the Fraumünster with Chagall's windows and the Lindt chocolate museum. By train, Lucerne and Mt Pilatus, Jungfraujoch (Top of Europe), Zermatt and the Matterhorn, the Rhine Falls and Bern are 1–3 hours away. Spotless, safe and punctual, but one of Europe's most expensive countries. No direct flights — connect via Frankfurt, Istanbul or Seoul. Mongolian citizens need a Schengen visa; Swiss visas are lodged in Beijing.
🛂 Visa: Visa required · 90 days✈ Flight: 13h☀ Best months: June, July, August, September
#Alps#lakes#scenic trains#chocolate#skiing#Schengen visa
Narrow lanes and guild houses on both banks of the Limmat, with city views from Lindenhof hill. The twin-towered Grossmünster is the birthplace of the Swiss Reformation. Bahnhofstrasse, one of the world's most expensive shopping streets, runs from the main station to the lake: watches, chocolate and luxury brands.
CultureCHF 5 (free under 16); combo with the Grossmünster Karlsturm tower CHF 8Mar–Oct Mon–Sat 10:00–18:00, Nov–Feb until 17:00; Sundays from 12:00
Travel guide
Like a well-travelled friend for a first-timer: before you go, landing, SIM, transport, money, food, safety, manners, apps, leaving — step by step.
🧳Before you goFrom Mongolia, Swiss visas are lodged in Beijing — the most time-consuming step, so plan early.+
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Schengen visa: Swiss Embassy in Beijing
Mongolian citizens need a Schengen short-stay (C) visa. The Swiss consular agency in Ulaanbaatar closed on 31 July 2024, so residents of Mongolia apply to the Swiss Embassy in Beijing: book through VFS Global's Swiss China site, then attend in person in Beijing for fingerprints. The fee is the yuan equivalent of €90 (ages 6–11 €45, under 6 free) plus the VFS fee. Apply between 6 months and 15 days before travel; decisions usually take 15 days.
Tip: If you will spend most of your trip in another Schengen state (Germany, France, Austria, etc.), you may legitimately apply through that country's channel in UB — no trip to Beijing needed.
Medical insurance valid across Schengen, including repatriation, with at least €30,000 cover is mandatory. Add a return flight reservation, hotel bookings for the whole stay, 3 months of bank statements, an employer letter granting leave and a 35×40 mm colour photo. Your passport must be valid for more than 3 months after the visa ends and have 2 blank pages.
If you will see several cities and mountains, the Swiss Travel Pass covers trains, buses, boats, city transport and over 500 museums, with discounts on most mountain railways. 2nd class: 3 days CHF 254, 4 days CHF 309, 8 days CHF 439 (about 30% less for under-25s). Children aged 6–15 travelling with a parent get a free Swiss Family Card.
🛬Landing and getting to the cityZürich Airport has a railway station right beneath it — the main station is very quick to reach.+
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By train to the main station
Trains leave the airport station for Zürich HB every 5–10 minutes and take ~10–15 minutes. A ZVV 3-zone ticket costs CHF 7.20 (ages 6–15 CHF 3.60), valid 1 hour — buy it from a machine or the ZVV or SBB app. With a Swiss Travel Pass or Zürich Card you need no extra ticket.
Tip: Heading straight to the mountains? Direct trains to Bern, Lucerne and Interlaken leave from the airport — no need to go via the city.
Connecting via Frankfurt with MIAT, you enter Schengen there and register fingerprints and face in EES; you then arrive in Zürich as on a domestic flight. Leave enough time for the connection and check at check-in whether your bags go through. By train, the ICE reaches Zürich via Basel.
Switzerland is not in the EU, so an EU SIM that worked in Germany, and some 'Europe' eSIMs, may charge separate, expensive roaming in Switzerland. Always check that Switzerland (CH) is on the country list of travel eSIMs such as Airalo or Holafly.
Tip: Download Switzerland in Google Maps and German in Google Translate for offline use — signal drops in mountain tunnels and valleys.
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Swisscom tourist eSIM
Swisscom offers tourists a Prepaid Flat with unlimited data and calls for 7, 15, 30 or 90 days: order the eSIM online and activate it after landing in Switzerland. Physical SIMs are sold only in Swisscom shops (airport, major stations) with your passport. Sunrise and Salt also sell prepaid SIMs.
🚇Getting around the city and the countryTrams, buses, S-Bahn trains, lake boats and the Uetliberg railway all use one ZVV zone ticket. There are no gates but frequent inspections.+
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ZVV tickets and the Zürich Card
Zürich city zone 110 counts as two zones: a 1–2-zone single is CHF 4.70 (1 hour), a 24-hour ticket CHF 9.40. The Zürich Card costs CHF 29 for 24 hours or CHF 56 for 72 hours (ages 6–15 CHF 19 / 37; from 13 Dec 2026) and covers the airport, Uetliberg, short lake cruises and free or discounted entry to most museums. Under-6s ride free. No ticket means a CHF 100 surcharge.
From Zürich, trains run hourly to Lucerne, Bern, the Rhine Falls, Interlaken and Zermatt, direct or with one change. Without a Swiss Travel Pass, buy discounted 'Supersaver' tickets or a Saver Day Pass early in the SBB app. The Glacier Express requires a separately paid seat reservation.
Mountain cogwheel railways and gondolas are privately run, so the Swiss Travel Pass gives discounts rather than free travel: 50% on Pilatus, 25% on Jungfraujoch. The Pilatus 'Golden Round Trip' costs CHF 119.80 (children and Swiss Travel Pass CHF 59.90) and runs May–October only. Seat reservations to Jungfraujoch are mandatory in summer.
💳Money and taxes+
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Swiss francs, cards and Twint
The currency is the Swiss franc (CHF), not the euro. Cards and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere, and the local Twint app is widespread. Some tourist spots take euros but give change in francs at a poor rate. Withdraw cash from bank ATMs.
Tip: If an ATM or card terminal offers to charge you in tögrög, say no — choose francs.
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Prices are very high
A meal at an inexpensive restaurant is about CHF 29 per person, and a mid-range dinner for two about CHF 120. To save money, picnic on ready meals, bread and cheese from Coop and Migros supermarkets. Zürich's fountain water is drinking water — no need to buy bottled water.
Foreign visitors who spend more than CHF 300 in one shop on one day can reclaim Switzerland's 8.1% VAT. Get an export form from the shop and have Swiss customs validate it within 90 days of purchase (at Zürich Airport).
🍜FoodSwiss food is rich in cheese, potatoes and chocolate — plenty for children to like.+
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What to eat
Fondue — bread dipped in melted cheese; raclette — melted cheese over potatoes; Zürcher Geschnetzeltes — veal in cream sauce with rösti (fried potatoes). Sweets: Sprüngli's Luxemburgerli macarons and Swiss chocolate. Vegetarians should try Hiltl in Zürich, the world's oldest vegetarian restaurant.
Tip: Service is included in restaurant prices; if you are happy, round the bill up a little.
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Eating on a budget
Coop and Migros supermarkets and station food outlets are the cheapest options. Take food and water up the mountains — summit restaurants are very expensive. Most shops close on Sundays, but those at the main station and airport stay open.
Police 117, fire 118, ambulance 144, poison control 145, European emergency number 112 — free, 24 hours. For a mountain accident call 144 or 112. Railway police 0800 117 117.
The air is thin up high (Jungfraujoch, Gornergrat) — walk slowly, drink water and go down if you feel dizzy. Weather can change within hours, so bring warm layers, a rain jacket, sunglasses and sunscreen. Stay on marked trails and never cross a glacier without a guide.
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Hospitals and pharmacies
University Hospital Zürich (USZ) has a 24-hour emergency department. A pharmacy is an 'Apotheke'; the one at the main station keeps long hours. Treatment is very expensive, so keep your insurer's phone number handy. If you lose your passport, report it to the police and contact Mongolia's mission in Geneva.
Say 'Grüezi' (to a group, 'Grüezi mitenand') entering a shop or restaurant and 'Adieu' or 'Uf Widerluege' when leaving. The Swiss take punctuality very seriously — trains are not even a minute late, so be on time for meetings.
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Quiet and tidiness
Keeping noise down on Sundays and at night is a firm, legally backed custom. Sort your rubbish; littering is fined. Don't cross on a red light. On trains, don't make calls in the quiet carriage or put your feet on the seats.
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Churches and mountain trails
Don't sightsee in churches during services, don't bring large bags into the Fraumünster, and go easy on photos of the Chagall windows. On mountain trails people greet each other with 'Grüezi'; close cattle gates behind you.
📱Useful apps+
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Transport
SBB Mobile — nationwide timetables, tickets and your Swiss Travel Pass. ZVV — Zürich zone tickets and check-in mode. Google Maps works well in the city, but check mountain train times in SBB.
MeteoSwiss — mountain weather and storm warnings; check the summit webcams for clear skies before going up. Zürich City Guide — the Zürich Card and events. Google Translate's camera translates German menus on the spot.
Trains run from Zürich HB to the airport every 5–10 minutes in ~10–15 minutes; a 3-zone ticket is CHF 7.20. If you connect to MIAT via Frankfurt, your Schengen EES exit check happens in Frankfurt — leave enough time for the connection.
Leave the Schengen area no later than the date on your visa — EES records your exit day automatically, and an overstay will hurt your next application. Carry Tax Free goods unopened in your hand luggage and have the export form validated by Swiss customs at Zürich Airport — since Switzerland is outside the EU, this happens in Zürich, not Frankfurt.
AI answer: double-check anything beyond our researched facts with an official source.
A church with five stained-glass windows by Marc Chagall (1970) and a window by Giacometti. Admission includes the crypt museum and a leaflet in many languages, plus CHF 5 off the Kunsthaus collection. Large bags and suitcases are not allowed inside.
RelaxMini and short cruises included in the Zürich Card; others with a ZVV zone ticketDaily from Bürkliplatz; many sailings in summer, fewer in winter
From Bürkliplatz: 1-hour mini, 1.5-hour short and 4.5-hour long cruises past lakeside villages and vineyards, with the Alps on the horizon on clear days. A 1-hour river cruise on the Limmat leaves from the National Museum. In summer, the lakeside 'Badi' bathing spots are great with children.
CultureCHF 13; free under 16Tue–Sun 10:00–17:00; closed Mondays
Swiss history in a castle-like building right next to the main station: medieval armour, the Reformation and modern Switzerland, with interactive areas for children. Behind it are Platzspitz park and the river-cruise pier.
Switzerland's largest art museum: Munch, Picasso, Monet, Van Gogh, Chagall and the world's largest Giacometti collection. The Bührle Collection's Impressionists hang in the new Chipperfield wing. Five minutes' walk from the Old Town.
KidsCHF 17; ages 8–15 CHF 10; under 8 free; 20% off with the Zürich CardDaily about 10:00–19:00
A 9-metre chocolate fountain, an interactive museum with audio guide and tastings along the way. Children love the courses where you make your own chocolate with a master chocolatier (from CHF 32). The world's biggest Lindt shop. Reach it from Zürich by S8 train or lake boat.
NatureTrain included in the Zürich Card; otherwise a ZVV ticketDaily; frequent S10 trains
Zürich's 'home mountain' (871 m): take the S10 from the main station, then walk 10 minutes to the top. Views over the city, the lake and, on clear days, the whole Alpine chain. From the summit an easy 2-hour 'Planet Trail' leads to Felsenegg and a cable car down.
NatureFalls free; Schloss Laufen side CHF 5 (ages 6–15 CHF 3); boats extraFalls 24/7; castle and platforms in daytime
Europe's most powerful waterfall — 23 m high and 150 m wide. Walk down the platforms on the Schloss Laufen side right to the water, or take a boat to the rock in the middle of the falls. About an hour by train from Zürich; combine with Schaffhausen's old town.
About 45 minutes by train from Zürich, Lucerne has the wooden Chapel Bridge and the Lion Monument. The 'Golden Round Trip': boat across the lake to Alpnachstad, the world's steepest cogwheel railway up Pilatus (2,132 m), then gondola and cable car down to Kriens. Rigi and Titlis are other nearby options.
NatureReturn from CHF 129.60; from Interlaken about CHF 260 in summer; discounted with a Swiss Travel PassOpen 365 days; seat reservation mandatory May–Oct
Europe's highest railway station (3,454 m) — UNESCO: the Aletsch Glacier, the Ice Palace and the Sphinx observation deck. From Interlaken go to Grindelwald, ride the Eiger Express gondola, then the train through the Eiger. Walk slowly at altitude and pick a clear day.
From the car-free village of Zermatt you see the Matterhorn (4,478 m). The Gornergrat cogwheel railway climbs to 3,089 m for views of 29 peaks and glaciers. The Glacier Express, the 'slowest express train in the world', runs ~8 hours from Zermatt to St. Moritz in panoramic carriages. Zermatt is ~3.5 hours from Zürich by train.
About an hour by train from Zürich. A UNESCO-listed old town with 6 km of stone arcades, the Zytglogge astronomical clock (figures move just before each hour) and fountains. The Bear Park on the Aare is a hit with children; Einstein's house museum is here too.
