ZURICH'S LONG NIGHT OF MUSEUMS
5 September 2026 · 6 PM–2 AM
6 tips from a local
Zurich has a lot of museums. During the Long Night of Museums, it becomes slightly ridiculous.
52 museums. 80 exhibitions. 756 events. One night.
You could try to see everything. You shouldn't.
Here are my six tips for making the most of it:
01 — Have a plan. But not too much of one.
With 52 museums and hundreds of events, just showing up is probably not the best strategy. Have a look at the programme beforehand, pick a few things you really don't want to miss and build your route around them.
Then leave some room for the unexpected. That's half the fun.
02 — Check the closing times.
Don't assume that everything stays open until 2 AM.
Most of the major museums do, but some close earlier. Even the Zoo closes at midnight; and its last admission is earlier still.
Check the individual programme before heading across town.
03 — Have a Plan B.
Some special events have limited capacity or restricted group sizes. And some are simply so popular that you'll be competing with half of Zurich for a spot.
If something is high on your list, check whether you need to register or expect a queue. And have a nearby alternative in mind.
Because nothing kills the museum mood quite like standing in line for 45 minutes.
04 — Take a break.
You cannot see 52 museums in one night. And frankly, you shouldn't try.
After one or two museums, have dinner. Later, stop for a drink. Walk through the city. Talk about what you've just seen.
The Long Night is eight hours long. Treat it like a night out, not an exam.
And leave something for next year.
05 — Look for the things you normally can't see.
This is probably my favourite tip.
The Long Night isn't just about keeping museums open late. Some institutions offer behind-the-scenes experiences, workshops, special tours or access to spaces that are normally closed to the public.
Those are often the experiences worth planning around.
06 — Don't underestimate the classics.
Yes, you could spend the entire night hunting for obscure little museums you've never heard of.
But sometimes the classics win.
Kunsthaus. Museum Rietberg. Zoo.
If you visit just one of the big attractions, your ticket may already feel worthwhile.
My advice? Pick one big classic, one slightly unusual museum and one experience you wouldn't normally get.
Then see where the night takes you.
The most important rule? Don't try to win the Long Night of Museums.
Zurich has another one next year.
Enjoy the city in between the museums, too.
See Zurich differently.
We all know the Zurich summer.
For a few magical months, the city transforms into something that feels almost Mediterranean. Cafés spill onto pavements, people linger by the lake until sunset, and every spare moment seems to be spent outdoors.
But in recent years, Zurich summers have come with a new companion: heatwaves.
They creep into every Cobra tram, settle between the narrow streets of the Old Town and make even the most beautiful squares feel like open-air ovens. And unlike many places around the world, air conditioning isn't really part of everyday life here. Partly for environmental reasons, partly because we Swiss have long believed that opening the windows for a few minutes — Stosslüften — can solve almost everything.
So how do locals survive the hottest days of the year?
Here are seven of my favourite ways to stay cool while experiencing Zurich like a Zürcher.
How to Survive the Zurich Heat — 7 Tips from a Local
1. Head for Higher Ground
When temperatures climb, many locals quietly disappear from the city centre.
Neighbourhoods such as Fluntern or the Waid Forest sit at a higher elevation, offering noticeably cooler air, leafy streets and welcome shade. It's one of the easiest ways to escape the heat without ever leaving the city.
Sometimes, all it takes is a little altitude.
2. Find the City's Green Living Rooms
Not everyone can escape uphill, but Zurich's parks offer another refuge.
The Josefwiese is one of my favourites, with its impressive mature trees creating natural shade throughout the day. The historic lindens on the Lindenhof have been offering relief for centuries, while the elegant Belvoir Park feels almost like stepping into another world.
One interesting exception is Pfingstweidpark. Although designed as a modern urban park, its trees are still young. They'll eventually provide the cooling shade the neighbourhood needs—but for now, the summer sun usually wins.
3. Follow Everyone Else into the Water
If there is one true Zurich summer ritual, it's this.
Finish work, change into your swimsuit and head straight for the water.
Whether it's floating down the Limmat at Oberer Letten, swimming in Lake Zurich or spending the evening on the Werdinsel, water is simply part of everyday life here.
The southern tip of Werdinsel has another local peculiarity: it's one of the city's unofficial naturist spots, where some swimmers happily leave their swimsuits behind.
4. Swap Chocolate for Glacé
Zurich may be famous for chocolate, but when temperatures reach 30°C, locals have other priorities.
Instead, we queue for Glacé—the Swiss word for ice cream, borrowed from French.
Two personal favourites?
Gelateria di Berna, where I'd always recommend Mare di Berna, and Eisladen, whose Blood Orange Aperol flavour somehow tastes exactly like a Zurich summer afternoon.
6. Stay Out Late
If mornings belong to the runners, evenings belong to everyone else.
Since the pandemic especially, Zurich has embraced outdoor living more than ever before. Restaurants, cafés and bars move their tables outside, transforming quiet squares into lively meeting places that stay busy long after sunset.
One of my favourite spots is Bullingerplatz, where the colourful tables outside Café du Bonheur surround a playful water fountain that somehow makes even the hottest evenings feel relaxed.
It's one of those places visitors rarely discover on their own.
5. Become an Early Bird
When the heat arrives, Zurich quietly changes its daily rhythm.
Instead of exercising in the afternoon, many people head to the lake before work, take an early morning swim in the Limmat or join one of the city's running communities before the streets begin to heat up.
The city feels completely different at seven in the morning—calm, fresh and almost surprisingly peaceful.
Sometimes the best way to beat the heat is simply to start your day before everyone else.
7. Keep It Stylish
One thing Zurich residents rarely do is complain.
Instead, they simply adapt—with style.
Order an iced coffee at ViCAFE, enjoy an avocado toast at Oko, or spend an afternoon outside Onno with one of their wonderfully refreshing cherry and rosemary lemonades while watching children play on the nearby Fritschiwiese.
There's no rush.
No grand itinerary.
Just good coffee, good food and a reminder that one of Zurich's greatest luxuries is knowing how to slow down.
Final Thoughts
The best way to survive a Zurich heatwave isn't by hiding indoors.
It's by learning how the city itself changes.
Follow the shade. Swim after work. Stay out a little later. Find a favourite park, a favourite café or a quiet place by the water.
Do that, and you'll discover something many locals already know:
Summer isn't just a season in Zurich.
It's a way of living.