Welcome to Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city, where breathtaking Alpine landscapes meet shimmering waters in a captivating fusion of art, luxury, and delectable culinary experiences. An ideal destination for an indulgent city break or the starting point for your Swiss adventure, the question is, where to begin? We consulted expert Travel Concierge Daniele, who reveals that Zurich’s stunning old town, exceptional shopping avenues, and culinary excellence create an enchanting backdrop for your luxurious 24 hours in Zurich.

For travel inspiration: Switzerland destination guide

Introducing Zurich

Zurich is a captivating blend of history, culture, and modern sophistication. With a population of about 430,000, the city gracefully lies at the northern tip of Lake Zurich, framed by the majestic Swiss Alps. “The city is famous for its beautiful setting on the lake,” says Daniele. “You can enjoy castles, forts, medieval streets and some exceptional shopping, but also be prepared for Zurich’s luxurious prices,” he advises noting that Zurich is one of the world’s top ten expensive cities.

Zurich was founded by the Romans in 15 B.C. who called it Turicum. In Modern times the city has blossomed into a prestigious financial center, while its enchanting medieval old town remains well-preserved. Zurich boasts a flourishing arts scene, world-class museums and diverse culinary delights, making it a must-visit destination for discerning travelers.

Make Zurich your gateway to a luxurious Alpine journey with Majestic Switzerland

Bahnhofstrasse

Zürich’s Bahnhofstrasse is a premier shopping avenue, renowned as one of the world’s most exclusive streets.

“This famous shopping destination is a paradise for luxury seekers,” says Daniele. “With iconic brands like Armani, Gucci and Prada alongside Swiss legends such as Cartier, Montblanc and Rolex, the options are endless. Don’t miss Confiserie Sprüngli for their legendary Luxemburgerli macarons, a delight cherished by locals.

“You should allocate one to two hours for browsing, but if you’re indulging in extensive shopping or taking time to savoring a coffee or two, plan for half a day. Arrive mid-morning to avoid the crowds maximizing your 24 hours in Zurich, and start your journey at Paradeplatz for a grand entrance.”

Image credit: @zurich_bahnhofstrasse on Instagram

If you love shopping you may also enjoy reading: Our Favorite Legendary and Lesser-Known Shopping Streets

Enge

The upscale neighborhood of Enge, located on the western side of Zurich, is characterized by beautiful parks, gardens and scenic lakeside promenades.

“This elegant area offers a serene escape from the urban hustle,” says Daniele. “Take a leisurely stroll through Rieterpark, which provides stunning views and makes for a lovely spot for a picnic. Don’t miss the nearby Sukkulenten-Sammlung Zurich (Succulent Plant Collection) if you’re a plant enthusiast.

“Enrich your 24 hours in Zurich and prepare a picnic or enjoy a gourmet lunch by Lake Zurich, where sunsets are truly enchanting. Alternatively, rent a paddleboat for a delightful perspective of the area from the water.”

The Kunsthaus and Rietberg Museums

The Kunsthaus Museum is a treasure trove, hosting one of Switzerland’s most impressive art collections. “The Kunsthaus is perfect for those who wish to see great works by Swiss artists like Alberto Giacometti,” Daniele tells us. “A café visit here offers a luxurious touch of relaxation. Sip a coffee or wine to unwind amidst the artistry.

“For a tranquil cultural experience, the Rietberg Museum showcases a unique collection of non-European art, particularly stunning in spring when the gardens bloom.”  The villas in which the museum is housed offer a serene experience and are where Richard Wagner penned Tristan und Isolde.

“The Opera House frequently hosts outstanding performances,” Daniele adds. “Attending a show is a splendid way to embrace Zurich’s vibrant arts scene during your 24 hours in Zurich.”

Image credit: @kunsthauszuerich on Instagram

You may also enjoy: After-Hours at the Little Museum of Dublin with Author Trevor White

The Old Town (Altstadt)

On the south bank of the river, Zurich’s enchanting Old Town presents a mesmerizing mix of narrow streets, historic buildings, and picturesque squares. Key landmarks include the iconic Fraumünster and Grossmünster churches, architectural marvels that define Zurich.

“For an atmospheric encounter, the Fraumünster with its spectacular Chagall stained-glass windows is breathtaking (5 CHF entrance fee),” advises Daniele. “Don’t overlook the Cloister adjacent to the church, and explore Münsterhof Square, known for its charming historical buildings and cobblestone streets.”

In the heart of Old Town, St. Peter’s Church features Europe’s largest church clock, boasting an outer diameter of 8.64 meters.

“The Lindenhof Hill offers panoramic views of the river and Old Town, particularly magical at sunset,” Daniele notes. “It’s a must-visit during your 24 hours in Zurich.”

Bookmark for later: How Luxury Gold Journeys Go Above and Beyond with Expert Karen Gower

Exceptional Dining

“The Old Town is not only rich in architecture but also a culinary gem,” Daniele reveals. “Enjoy an exquisite array of fine dining and cozy, traditional spots. You can’t leave without trying Zürcher Geschnetzeltes, a delectable veal dish in a creamy sauce, often paired with rösti—a Swiss classic! The vicinity of the Opera House also offers an array of contemporary and traditional restaurants with exceptional menus.”

With over 35 Michelin-starred restaurants, Zurich is a gastronomical paradise. Historical dining venues like Zunfthaus Zur Zimmermann, which dates back to the 14th century, are distinctive. “Originally a meeting place for the carpenters’ guild, it now merges refined dining with Zurich’s rich heritage.”

You may also enjoy reading: The 10 Most Scenic Train Rides in Europe: From Switzerland to Scotland

Sample Swiss Chocolate

No Swiss visit is complete without a sumptuous chocolate experience, and our Luxury Gold Majestic Switzerland includes an immersive visit to a chocolate factory as part of the voyage! For those eager to indulge, Zurich, among other chocolate havens, boasts the exclusiveMax Chocolatier located in the old town, near Bahnhofstrasse.

Founded in 2009, it is known for its artisanal chocolates made from 100% natural ingredients, using seasonal flavors and local Swiss products. The Zurich shop provides a refined yet welcoming experience, with beautifully packaged pralines, truffles, and even vegan options. Tastings are available to sample their unique creations firsthand.

Bookmark for later: History in the Making: Meet Chef Chocolatiers in Switzerland

For the ultimate in Swiss luxury, join us on the 10-Day Majestic Switzerland, where Zurich is your starting destination.

With a cultural scene tied up in royalty, historic landmarks and some of the world’s oldest and best hotels, London is a honeypot for luxury living. Guests on Luxury Gold’s 10-day British Royale journey will get 24 hours in the UK’s iconic capital – including some free time between the included experiences. For those who want to make the most of their time in London, or choose to arrive in the city a couple of days before their itinerary starts, this is the guide for you – the  very best London experiences to make you feel like the star of your own  

Take a helicopter ride along the River Thames

Seeing the London skyline from a hotel sky bar is one thing (Sky Lounge at The Shard has the best), but there’s nothing quite like soaring over the Thames, Houses of Parliament, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Shard at sunset. The London Helicopter’s 35-minute flight follows the majestic river as it passes dozens of key landmarks. Why this flight? You’ll enjoy it with a chilled bottle of Champagne and glasses on hand for two. With 24 hours in London to spend as you please, this is how to do it – living the high life in the literal sense. 

Price: £750 for two

Enjoy an iconic afternoon tea at Claridges

Afternoon tea in is not just one of the best London experiences, it’s an essential one. But in a city with scores of afternoon teas, high teas, tea services on buses and as takeaway picnics, why Claridges? Well, because this Mayfair hotel is the crème de la crème – it’s where the Princess of Wales stayed over before marrying the future heir to the throne, it’s been a hotel since the 1850s, and it does a superior afternoon tea service. Think dainty finger sandwiches of cucumber and dill creme fraiche, smoked salmon with lemon and capers, plus exquisite cakes, served on the finest bone china. Add a glass of one of several premium champagnes to really do it like the royals.

Price: £100pp with a glass of Laurent-Perrier Héritage

Credit: Claridge’s

Dine aboard a luxury steam train from London Victoria

Harking back to the golden age of travel, London still operates gorgeous steam trains from its main terminals – take the Belmond British Pullman, which runs delightful round-trips into the countryside from London Victoria station. Book for a five-course lunch and you’ll board in your finest to a Champagne reception, with uniformed stewards and lavish Art Deco train interiors right out of an Agatha Christie novel. Chugging into the Kent countryside with steam streaming from the engine carriage, you’ll enjoy fine dining treats such as braised shorthorn beef with oxtail tart, or damson baba.

Price: From £540pp

Create your own bespoke perfume at Floris

Luxury fashion, beauty and fragrance houses have deep roots in London – for one, perfumer Floris was founded back in 1730 in London’s smart St James’s neighbourhood. It’s since received royal warrants and celebrity fans from Winston Churchill to Marilyn Monroe, but still operates an exclusive bespoke service today. Enter its historic boutique at 89 Jermyn Street, where you’ll be given a glass of Champagne as you peruse a selection of fragrance bases over a two-hour session, naming notes you love and trying different blends until you’re happy with your fragrance’s bouquet. You can then give it an original name, and even have the bottle engraved – not only one of the best London experiences, but one that will endure long after you return home.

Price: £750 for 100ml

Creating your own unique scent at one of London’s oldest perfume houses (Floris)

Put your foot down at an Aston Martin driving experience

You expect me to talk? No, Mr Bond, we expect you to drive. Like 007 himself, of course in a classic Aston Martin, made in Britain since 1913. Head to the Millbrook-based Aston Martin Clubhouse just outside the capital for a four-hour luxury driving experience, involving a four-hour drive with an instructor and guide, an overview of your chosen vehicle’s dynamics, a chauffeur-drive transfer from the nearest station and breakfast pastries, a hot lunch and other refreshments served at the Clubhouse. 

Price: From £1,800

Drive an Aston Martin while you’re in London (Unsplash/Andrew Pons)

Hire a personal shopping assistant at Liberty London

London’s stylish, original and carefully curated luxury shopping scene is best experienced at Liberty of London – the grand, mock-Tudor department store just off of Regent’s Street devoted to everything from botanical-print textiles to cult beauty products and homeware design. Book a personal shopper here for the most relaxed retail experience in town: based in a private suite on the second floor, you can arrange to put together next season’s wardrobe, reinvigorate your entire beauty regime or redecorate your home. Once you’ve selected your favourites, simply have them delivered. Not only is this one of the best London experiences, it’s also free. 

Price: Free

Book a private photography shoot

In town for a special occasion? Capture the magic effortlessly by engaging a private photographer for an afternoon – a two-hour shoot is typical, often at “golden hour”, the time before sunset. A local photographer can help you plot out a particularly scenic walking route along which to snap your sophisticated vacation photos, perhaps pausing by the Thames riverbank, in pastel-painted Notting Hill or the romantic, 1900s Apple Market in Covent Garden. Once framed at home, your 24 hours in London will last forever.

Price: £475 for two hours

Commission a tailored suit on Savile Row

London is famous for its tailoring, with the visionaries along the world-famous Savile Row stitching classic, timeless and more cutting-edge suits for generations. Having your next ensemble made to measure on this iconic Mayfair street is a worthwhile use of 24 hours in London; there are a handful of top boutiques to choose from, but Gieves and Hawkes has real pedigree. Since being founded in the late 1700s, it’s tailored suits to King Charles and the late Duke of Edinburgh, and they’ll run you through a comprehensive library of luxe (some exclusive) fabrics and textiles to work with, keeping your measurements and preferences on file for future purchases.

Price: From £5,000

See London in style on Luxury Gold’s 10-day British Royale tour.

Unique travel destinations are subjective: Paris, for instance, may not be a unique place to travel for a museum-hopper yet be a hidden gem for one who enjoys exploring the subterranean levels beneath our cities. 

Luxury Gold knows all too well that every group of travelers will have both common interests and diverse passions. We tailor our itineraries to you, first by selecting only the travel destinations with the potential for the most unique experiences.

We then weave these activities together, connecting them with a range of exciting transportation options and luxurious accommodations that have signature surprises in store. If you’re searching for a unique travel destination that speaks to your soul, we invite you to join a Luxury Gold tour and immerse yourself in our favorite unique places to travel every single day.

For the culturally-curious: Japan

If you’re one who dissects an itinerary in hopes of unlocking the smallest differences and details that make a place unique, then Japan will leave you engulfed in an enriching experience.  

Discover a deeper message and meaning to the magnificent and the mundane when you spend 11 days in the Land of the Rising Sun on our Majestic Japan journey. The itinerary is strewn with golden threads linking the past and the present. You’ll speak to a survivor of the Hiroshima Atomic Bomb, enjoy a private sake tasting, and engage in a traditional Sendai tea ceremony.

Allow your curiosity to go farther with optional experiences like a visit to the Itchiku Kubota Art Museum to marvel at the astounding kimono collection or a private sushi-making class that demonstrates why a decade is required to perfect the art of rolling sushi.

For Movers and Shakers: USA

Music history, Black history, and American history converge in the Deep South. A literal soundtrack was written during a chapter which saw the birth of the Mississippi Delta Blues, New Orleans jazz, and Nashville country genres.

Savor a sensory experience like no other when you devote 9 days to music and food on our Southern Grace journey. This itinerary was designed to touch your soul, starting with a lesson in music history in Nashville. Catch a live musical performance at the Grand Ole Opry, take a VIP tour of the Country Music Hall of Fame, then record your own song at the legendary Studio B. 

The King awaits your arrival to Graceland and so do stacks of Memphis BBQ. More exceptional dining is on the menu at Mississippi’s Monmouth Historic Inn and Gardens and Dunleith Historic Inn. Finally, explore the Big Easy and dance your way through the streets of New Orleans.

For Soulful Escapists: Australia

Australia is one of the most unique travel destinations if for no other reason than this continent’s varied, and often harsh, geography. The Australian Outback, infamous for its inhospitable nature, is your retreat on our Inspiring Australia journey.

You won’t be without creature comforts for all 13 days: much of this 8-city adventure includes cruising out to the Great Barrier Reef, sipping artisanal wines in the Hunter Valley, and pub crawling through Sydney. But for four days, you’ll venture into the Outback where you’ll take guided walks through Walpa Gorge, seek out an ancestral water snake at the Mutitjulu Waterhole, and reflect during sunrise walks in Kings Canyon.

For Lovers of Rugged Luxury: New Zealand

New Zealand’s remote location makes it a unique travel destination for travelers who tend to visit locations with only one geographical hallmark. New Zealand, however, doesn’t make you choose a landscape for your selfie backdrops: glaciers, fiords, mountains, ancient forests, volcanic craters, and dramatic coastlines are all ready for you to explore on Luxury Gold’s The Long White Cloud journey.

This 19-day excursion is one that will rival even the most picturesque of places you’ve visited abroad. You’ll venture across New Zealand’s islands with opportunities to see the changing landscape from every vantage point possible. A catamaran will sail you past cascading waterfalls and imposing cliffs. You’ll cycle along the Arrow River, descend into the Waitomo caves, and trek across the valleys, glaciers, mountain peaks, and lakes of Milford Track. You’ll also stay in 5-star, luxury hotel, such as the Te Waonui Lodge, pictured. 

For Timeless Romantics: United Kingdom

In the Golden Age of Streaming, we’re treated to period dramas that weave as much historical accuracy possible into every scene. If you’ve ever wanted to travel to the unique travel destinations where these royal shows and period-piece movies are filmed, this 10-day British Royale journey transports you through centuries of royal rule and luxuriant glory.

Begin in London waving to Westminster Abbey while en route to a private Tower of London tour. Pass by other iconic sights you’ve only seen on the screen as you visit Stonehenge, Stratford-upon-Avon, and medieval York. Tour the 11th-century Alnwick Castle and cruise Ullswater Lake before toasting to an unforgettable trip with a visit to Edinburgh for whiskey tasting. 

For Gourmets (and Gourmands): Italy

What makes Italy such a unique travel destination is that it evokes a different set of feelings and expectations in every traveler. Some envision the ruins of Rome while others think about the fashion trends in Milan. Traditional Tuscan cuisine is at the top of the menu for one traveler while another may desire only white truffles from Alba, pizza from Naples, and gelato in Florence. 

The Luxury Gold Ultimate Italy journey is the ultimate buffet of history, food, and culture for a traveler with an insatiable wanderlust. 12 cities in 12 days means only stopping for the tastiest bites of history and cuisine: viewing the Faraglioni Rocks in Capri, after-hour tour of Doge’s Palace in Venice, and wandering the Vatican Museums. Unexpected delights are also on the menu by way of a journey through the villages of Cinque Terre, an Umbrian tasting experience, and wine sampling in Guardastelle.

For Collectors of Colorful Crafts

From the Sacred Valley to the streets of Lima, artisans long-devoted to their crafts welcome you to admire their handiwork on our Treasures of the Incas journey. Peru is more than Machu Picchu, as you’ll soon discover. Discuss all things art with a local sculptor in Lima. Learn about traditional Peruvian weaving techniques from a Quechua scholar. Break bread with a local family on Amantani Island as you learn about handicrafts that encapsulate thousands of years of Incan culture. And when one of these artisan wares returns home with you, you’ll forever be reminded of this souvenir’s amazing backstory. 

For Drinkers and Thinkers

The French Riviera has a stunning coastline, but if you turn away from the beach, you’ll find a sea of vineyards. If all you need is a bottle of vino, a farm-to-table meal, and a stroll through vibrant, rolling fields, the Luxury Gold Ultimate Southern France journey lets you uncork the French interior. 

Spend a few days under the sun, letting the coastline from Monaco to Saint-Tropez captivate you. Then, begin your wine tasting experience in Aix-en-Provence with organic wine sampling while you learn to make a classic French dessert. More wine awaits with a picnic at Domaine de la Citadelle and a cruise along the Canal du Midi through Languedoc wine country. Finally, savor every last drop of this wine tour opening bottles in Bordeaux and St. Émilion, the oldest active wine-producing appellation in the city. 

Luxury Gold showcases the world’s unique travel destinations through itineraries tailored to diverse travelers. Whatever your age or ability, we have a curated journey featuring the activities and experiences you’re passionate about. Book your vacation today and indulge in your interests.