Christmas markets, Bar pop-ups, or a wild Speakeasy – What is your favourite December activity in Zurich?
The glam season of the year is beginning soon! Zurich has so much to offer, no matter if you prefer to stay outside with a hot glühwein pot to warm your hands or enjoy zipping your Christmas cocktail in a cosy bar. I have a list of activities you can choose from! The start of the Christmas season is the last weekend in November when the “Lucy” fest takes place. This is the official day when a sparkling starry sky over the Bahnhofstrasse is lit. At 6 pm the Christmas lights will be switched on and shopping gets truly exciting.
Attractions for families
- Christmas market
The Wiehnachtsdorf at Bellevue Platz belongs to Zurich’s main Christmas market attraction. It is a land of milk and honey for hungry and thirsty kids and adults. It’s on from 23.11. until 23.12.2023.On the traditional Sechseläutenplatz right in front of the opera house, more than 100 huts create a cosy Christmas village for browsing, shopping, feasting, and lingering. Experience a musical advent calendar, graceful ice princesses, enchanted storytellers, and other guests providing entertainment for young and old. On the cute artificial ice rink, winter fans can enjoy a fun-filled round of games, and in the Villa Zauberwurz magical character captivates little visitors with fairy tales, humour, and costumer. Besides that, you find also a Fondue Chalet, Glühwein, and other drinks including plenty of food stalls with finger-licking international street food. Opening hours: Monday – Thursday to 11 pm, Friday + Saturday to 12 pm, Sunday to 10 pm. - Winterwonderland with shiny lights, shows, food & drinks
Welcome to Illuminarium where an enchanting winter wonderland of light, illumination, illusion, music, and culinary delights waits for you. It’s located in the inner courtyard of the Landesmuseum Zurich. Be prepared to dive into a magical storytelling world. Try the food stalls, slurp mulled wine and enjoy concerts by mysterious mythical creatures by Yuki and her fabulous friends.
Opening hours: 9.12 – 30.12. 2023 / 5 pm to 12 pm, daily – Landesmuseum Zürich, Museumstrasse 2, 8001 Zürich
Get tickets for the Wonderland here, Prices: festival Free entree – Light Show. - Fondue Alp Grossmünsterplatz at Grossmünster. In the run-up to Christmas, there is a kitschy, pretty fondue chalet on Zwingliplatz near the Grossmünster. Cosiness and chalet character are guaranteed. It’s taking place from November 23 to December 23, 2023. Make your reservation here.
After-work Cocktails, Glühwein & cheesy Christmas songs
- Any plans for New Year’s eve yet? Why not spend it crazy and with good food at Pink Rabbit Show in Zurich? Saturday you can access their club for a cocktail and dance! The diner show runs daily until December 31, 2023.
A wellness day or a relaxing weekend for two?
- Relax & Wellness in a roman bath after a crazy Christmas Shopping – or overnight with a cosy dinner in a wine library?
If you are travelling from abroad or you live in Zurich but are totally in the mood to overnight in a cosy boutique hotel that is connected with a thermal bath, this program is your choice. The site is located in a former brewery called Hürlimann. The building was partially monument protected, this is why parts of it are cleverly integrated and give the space a very particular ambience.Take a bath in a centenarian stone vaults of the former brewery Hürlimann at Thermalbad & SPA Zurich.
The Wine Library at B2 Boutique Hotel is memorable. On the ceiling, you find lamps constructed from old original beer bottles. All books that fill the hotel library – 33000 of them – come from the inventory of a former antiquarian bookshop in Zurich. Get your room rate or a special wellness package here!
Enjoy a thermal bath that offers 3500 sqm of pure joy for body & soul. Absolutely take a bath in the rooftop infinity pool overlooking the city of Zurich. It offers guests relaxation with valuable minerals in 35 to 41-degree warm water. A delight especially in cold winter days. Find all of their packages here. - Cosy Sunday afternoon Ice skating at Dolder
Instead of spending a lazy Sunday afternoon on the sofa why not go out for some ice skating! The atmosphere at the Dolder Ice Complex is unique: surrounded by wooded countryside on 6,000 square meters you find the biggest artificial ice rink in Switzerland.
Watch out for special events like the Ice disco. The next one is 17. December 2022 and 30.12.2023!
Opening hours: October – March, Monday – Saturday: 9 am-10.20 pm / Sunday: 9 am to -5.40 pm
Address: Kunsteisbahn Dolder AG, Adlisbergstrasse 36, 8044 Zürich.
In the mood to discover some cosy coffees in Zurich? Check my coffee guide here.