Cruises to Zurich

11 Reviews
Historic City Center in Zurich, Switzerland (Photo: canadastock/Shutterstock)

About Cruising to Zurich

Zurich consistently lands near the top of quality-of-life rankings worldwide. The air feels crisp and clear, the water is so pure you can drink it straight from one of the city's 1,200 fountains (the most in the world), and there's enough to do here to occupy several days of leisure time.

This thoroughly modern city is surrounded by hills but offers glimpses of the famed Swiss Alps. Activities and sights unique to Zurich include the Chagall stained-glass windows in Fraumunster Church, open-air swimming pools in Lake Zurich and the Limmat River, and the Swiss National Museum.

River cruises along the Rhine that begin and end in Basel, Switzerland, are sometimes packaged with a stay in Zurich, roughly 50 miles away. When cruise packages that include Zurich are booked through a cruise line, passengers generally are transported between the ship and hotel by motor coach. The trip may include scenic stops and/or tours along the way to facilitate arrival at the appropriate check-in time.

Transportation by train is available between the two cities for those self-booking a Zurich layover. The massive Zurich Airport is the primary hub for Swiss International Air Lines and services flights from around the globe. Transportation within the city is typically via trams, bicycles or on foot, but rideshare services and taxis are also available. Plan your trip to Zurich with our upcoming Switzerland cruise itineraries.

  • More about Zurich

  • Why Cruise to Zurich?

  • Currency & Best Way to Get Money?

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We found you 113 cruises

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7 Nights

Rhine Highlights

Port: Zurich • Kehl • Rastatt • Mannheim • Koblenz • Cologne • Amsterdam

118 reviews
Scenic River

11 Nights

Paris To The Swiss Alps

Port: Zurich • Basel • Strasbourg • Speyer • Mainz • Koblenz • Cochem • Bernkastel • Reims • Paris

108 reviews
Viking River Cruises
Viking River Cruises
Cruise Critic Favorite

11 Nights

Paris To The Swiss Alps

Port: Zurich • Basel • Strasbourg • Speyer • Mainz • Rhine • Cochem • Bernkastel • Reims • Paris

195 reviews
Viking River Cruises
Viking River Cruises
Cruise Critic Favorite

11 Nights

Paris To The Swiss Alps

Port: Paris • Reims • Trier • Cochem • Koblenz • Mainz • Speyer • Strasbourg • Basel • Zurich

195 reviews
Viking River Cruises
Viking River Cruises

11 Nights

Rhine Christmas Markets With Switzerland

Port: Zurich • Montreux • Kehl • Rastatt • Mannheim • Koblenz • Cologne • Amsterdam

88 reviews
Nov 28, 2024
Scenic River

7 Nights

Rhine Christmas Markets

Port: Amsterdam • Cologne • Koblenz • Mannheim • Rastatt • Kehl • Zurich

88 reviews
Nov 25, 2024
Scenic River

7 Nights

Rhine Christmas Markets

Port: Zurich • Kehl • Rastatt • Mannheim • Koblenz • Cologne • Amsterdam

161 reviews
Scenic River

11 Nights

Paris To The Swiss Alps

Port: Zurich • Basel • Strasbourg • Speyer • Mainz • Koblenz • Cochem • Bernkastel • Reims • Paris

71 reviews
Viking River Cruises
Viking River Cruises

11 Nights

Paris To The Swiss Alps

Port: Zurich • Basel • Strasbourg • Speyer • Mainz • Rhine • Cochem • Bernkastel • Reims • Paris

71 reviews
Viking River Cruises
Viking River Cruises

10 Nights

Tulips & The Rhine & Glacier Express

Port: Amsterdam • Colonia • Koblenz • Dürkheim • Kehl • Breisach • Zermatt • Chur • Zurich

92 reviews
May 3, 2025
Emerald River Cruises
Emerald River Cruises

7 Nights

Rhine Highlights

Port: Zurich • Kehl • Rastatt • Mannheim • Koblenz • Cologne • Amsterdam

161 reviews
Scenic River

10 Nights

Tulips Of The Rhine & Lucerne - Zurich

Port: Amsterdam • Colonia • Koblenz • Dürkheim • Kehl • Breisach • Basel • Luzern • Zurich

173 reviews
Mar 29, 2025
Emerald River Cruises
Emerald River Cruises

7 Nights

Tulips & The Rhine

Port: Amsterdam • Cologne • Koblenz • Dürkheim • Kehl • Breisach • Zurich

170 reviews
Emerald River Cruises
Emerald River Cruises

11 Nights

Paris To The Swiss Alps

Port: Paris • Reims • Trier • Cochem • Koblenz • Mainz • Speyer • Strasbourg • Basel • Zurich

108 reviews
Viking River Cruises
Viking River Cruises

11 Nights

Rhine Highlights With Switzerland

Port: Zurich • Montreux • Kehl • Rastatt • Mannheim • Koblenz • Cologne • Amsterdam

116 reviews
Scenic River

More about Zurich

Why Cruise to Zurich?

Pros:

Easy to explore the city center on your own

Cons:

Everything is expensive, especially dining

Bottom Line:

Zurich offers Alpine scenery, art, history and shopping

Currency & Best Way to Get Money?

Currency is the Swiss franc (CHF) but paper euro bills are accepted, with change typically given in CHF coins. Euro coins are not preferred. Credit cards are readily accepted and the abundance of banks in the city makes finding an ATM a simple matter. For up-to-date currency exchange rates, visit xe.com.

Language?

Switzerland has three official languages: German, French and Italian, each spoken more heavily in different regions of the country. German is the predominant local language in Zurich. Most Swiss learn English in primary school and are fluent.

Interestingly, the "CH" designation on Swiss currency, vehicle license plates and as the internet country code stems from the need to use a universal language among citizens speaking varied languages. It is the abbreviation for the Latin "Confoederatio Helvetica" or Swiss Confederation.


Zurich Cruise Reviews
So much to see in Zurich. The cathedral with the Chegal stained glass windows was a highlight. Be sure to rent the self-guided earphones. The lake tour via tour boat was lovely. Easy city to get around - wonderful trRead More
Stella2249
Took the optional tour to the Alps. expensive but worth every penny! Standing at base of Mt. Eiger at 7600 feet up was breathtaking!Read More
joy2cruise
The people weren't too friendly but the old town is easy to navigate and picturesque. Don't miss the Christmas market in the Central Train Station and the huge Swarovski crystal Christmas tree there.Read More
Annebar1
Loved Zurich. Spent three days there before meeting Scenic's guests. However, Zurich is very expensive.Read More
CruisingSusan3

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