I arrived at Zürich HB at 10:10 on 29 September 2026 after taking the Nightjet Mini Cabin from Hamburg to Zürich. I stayed with friends in Winterthur for the first five nights, spent my final night at Hotel Numa Zurich Turi, and continued to Chur on 5 October.
My Zürich trip at a glance
- Dates: 29 September to 5 October 2026—six nights in the Zürich area.
- Base: five nights with friends in Winterthur, about 25 minutes away by train.
- Sightseeing time: roughly one or two full days, mixed with work sessions in different cafés.
- Transport: walking plus daily trains covered by my continuous Interrail pass.
- Recorded spending: SEK 2,270, excluding the hotel and including an eSIM I needed after leaving Sweden.
- Final hotel night: SEK 2,679 at Hotel Numa Zurich Turi, including taxes and fees.
- Overall impression: beautiful, safe, easy to navigate, and somewhere I could imagine living—but expensive.
My first budget meal: a CHF 2.95 Coop pizza slice
My first stop was a Coop close to Zürich HB. I bought a pizza slice for CHF 2.95 and ate it in the shade beside the Limmat, next to a public fountain where I could refill my bottle. It was not an extraordinary pizza, but it was perfectly fine for the price—especially in Zürich.
Using the ECB reference rate for 29 September 2026 of €1 = CHF 0.9461, CHF 2.95 was about €3.12. The conversion is only there to make my trip price easier to compare; exchange rates change every day. See the ECB historical exchange-rate data.
Coop became one of my main ways to control costs. I relied on pizza, fruit, bread, prepared meals, and one meal of potatoes with grilled chicken instead of eating in restaurants. My hosts also cooked for me and covered our meals at home, which made a major difference to my total spending.
Using Interrail between Winterthur and Zürich
My friends lived in Winterthur, roughly 25 minutes from Zürich by train. I made that journey every day and often got off at Zürich Stadelhofen before walking toward the lake, the Limmat, and the old town. Because I had a continuous Interrail pass, those journeys did not cost me anything extra.
That worked very well for this stay: trains handled the longer journeys and I walked almost everywhere once I reached the city. If you have a Flexi Pass instead, check whether the local journey requires you to activate a travel day before copying my approach.
A free walking route through central Zürich
I did not follow a strict itinerary. I combined suggestions from my hosts with Maps and simply wandered. Starting at Stadelhofen made an easy route: walk by Lake Zürich, follow the Limmat into the centre, cross Münsterbrücke, and continue through the old-town streets on either side of the river.
The church behind me in the cover photo is Fraumünster, identifiable by its single green clock spire. Grossmünster is the twin-towered church across the river; I also stepped inside it while exploring. Nearby, I passed Wasserkirche and the Ulrich Zwingli statue, walked past the Swiss National Museum without entering, and spent plenty of time around the lake and river. Every one of those sightseeing stops was free for me.
My spontaneous Limmat swim by Dynamo
On 30 September, Zürich was around 27°C by my recollection—an exceptionally warm day for the end of September. Close to Dynamo Jugendkulturhaus, I found a wooden deck beside the river where locals and students were sunbathing. I had my microfibre towel with me, so I asked someone to watch my things and went in.
There was no fee, changing room, locker, or shower where I entered. I climbed down a ladder, let the current carry me a little, and then swam back to the same ladder. The current did not feel strong to me and I felt safe, but that was only my experience on that particular day. I stayed for around 45 minutes. I also saw people jumping from a nearby bridge, although I kept my distance and did not join them.
My first proper Swiss raclette
One of the best parts of staying with friends was my first proper Swiss raclette. We had five kinds of cheese, bacon, meat, sausages, potatoes, black tea, and white wine. I loved it—not least because it felt like an experience rather than just a meal.
I had not realised that the cheese melts in a small tray underneath while the meat cooks on top. My hosts showed me how to load a second slice while eating the first, so another bubbling, lightly grilled portion was ready as soon as I finished. It became a very efficient cycle of eating cheese.
What I spent in Zürich
My recorded day-to-day spending came to SEK 2,270. That figure excludes the hotel, includes the eSIM I had to buy after coming from Sweden, and reflects the time I spent in Zürich rather than my separate Luzern day trip. My friends paid for our meals at home, so this is not a realistic food budget for someone paying for every meal.
- Everyday spending recorded: SEK 2,270.
- Hotel Numa Zurich Turi for one night: SEK 2,679 including taxes and fees.
- Interrail travel between Winterthur and Zürich: no extra fare with my continuous pass.
- Sightseeing in this article: free.
- Coop pizza slice: CHF 2.95, approximately €3.12 at the trip-date ECB rate.
- Limmat swim and public drinking water: free.
My practical budget formula was simple: use the Interrail pass I already had, walk once in the city, buy supermarket food, refill a bottle, and spend time by the lake and river. Zürich Tourism also lists river swimming, lakeside relaxation, public art, and fountain water among its free or low-cost Zürich ideas.
Hotel Numa Zurich Turi review: my final night
I could not stay with my friends for the final night, so I booked a Medium Studio with Kitchenette at Hotel Numa Zurich Turi for 4–5 October. The complete price was SEK 2,679 through Booking.com. My walk from Zürich HB took about ten minutes and followed a straightforward route, even with luggage.
Check-in and check-out worked smoothly on my phone. The studio was clean and comfortable, with reliable Wi-Fi, convenient power outlets, a private bathroom, coffee and tea, and no breakfast. I could not hear outside noise, although I stayed on a Sunday and another night could be different.
The official room listing describes the studio as 17 m² with a queen bed, private bathroom, kitchenette, mini-fridge, microwave, coffee machine, kettle, and smart TV. A gym was also included during my stay. I did not use either the gym or kitchenette because I was there for only one night, but the cooking facilities could help offset Zürich food prices on a longer stay.
How many days do you need in Zürich?
For the city itself, one or two sightseeing days felt sufficient to me. That was enough time to walk beside the lake and Limmat, explore both sides of the old town, see the main churches and public spaces, swim, and stop in cafés without turning the visit into a checklist.
The longer six-night stay still made sense because I was seeing friends, working, commuting from Winterthur, and using Zürich as a base. I also took a day trip to Luzern, which deserves its own post. If you only want the city highlights, I would not feel pressured to stay for nearly a week.
My verdict on Zürich
My first impression was that Zürich felt beautiful, safe, and easy. That did not change. I loved the turquoise river, the lake, the old buildings, and how straightforward it was to combine trains with walking. The prices were the obvious downside, but they did not stop me from enjoying the city because so many of its best experiences were outdoors and free.
Zürich was also one of the first places on this journey where I could genuinely imagine living. Seeing my friends was the biggest highlight, but the city itself made a strong case. I would return—with the same approach of Interrail, supermarket food, public fountains, and long walks beside the water.
Zürich on a budget FAQ
Is Zürich expensive for an Interrail trip?
Yes. Accommodation and restaurant prices were the main downside for me. I reduced the impact by staying with friends, using a continuous Interrail pass, shopping at Coop, filling my bottle at public fountains, and focusing on free walks and swimming.
Is one or two days enough for Zürich?
It was enough for my style of visit. I saw the central sights, walked by the lake and river, explored the old town, went swimming, and spent time in cafés. Add more days if you want museums, slower neighbourhood exploration, or day trips.
What can you do for free in Zürich?
My free activities included walking beside Lake Zürich and the Limmat, crossing Münsterbrücke, exploring old-town streets, seeing the churches and Swiss National Museum from outside, drinking public fountain water, and swimming near Dynamo when conditions were suitable.
Can Interrail cover Winterthur to Zürich?
My continuous Interrail pass covered my daily trains between Winterthur and Zürich without an additional ticket. Pass conditions can differ, so travellers with a Flexi Pass should confirm whether the journey uses a travel day and add the trip correctly before boarding.
Can you swim in the Limmat for free?
Yes, there are free designated river-swimming routes and access points. The best-known entry is near Dynamo, but the current must be taken seriously. Use the official access and exit points, check current conditions, and follow the city guidance rather than copying my exact swim.
Is Hotel Numa Zurich Turi worth it?
It was worth it for my one-night stay. I paid SEK 2,679 in total and rated it 8/10 for cleanliness, comfort, quiet, digital check-in, Wi-Fi, location, and the option to cook. Breakfast was not included, and I did not personally test the kitchenette or gym.
This was the fifth update from My 3-Month Interrail Journey Across Europe. Read the previous Hamburg to Zürich Nightjet Mini Cabin review, or start building your own route with Railey. Continue with my Lucerne day trip with Interrail. My Chur stop and Bernina Express journey are coming next.