Zurich
News and essential information about Zurich
A matter of 'justice': Zurich landlord seeks foreigners for apartment
Despite Zurich’s housing shortage and fierce competition for available flats, one landlord is bucking the general trend of giving preferential treatment to Swiss citizens.
TELL US: Is the quality of life in Zurich really worth the high cost of living?
There is a kind of 'duality' about Zurich: on one hand, the quality of life there is very high, but on the other, living in Switzerland's largest city is expensive. Does the former compensate for the latter? Share your views in our reader survey.
Zurich steps up fight against growing open-air drug use
The number of drug users and dealers on Zurich’s streets has risen during the summer months, prompting authorities to introduce new measures to combat the trend from spreading to other parts of the Swiss city.
Swiss airports advise travellers to get ready for long queues over summer
Faced with a combination of summer travel and new EES border checks, Swiss airports are advising that passengers prepare for longer queues and leave extra time to deal with delays.
Why is Zurich getting rid of a motorway from it its territory?
Six motorways are currently crossing Zurich, but soon the Swiss canton will ‘lose’ one of them.
Zurich Airport relaxes liquid restrictions for hand luggage
Passengers flying from Zurich Airport will soon be able to carry up to two litres of liquids in their hand luggage after the airport installed high-tech security scanners, bringing an end to the the strict 100ml limit established in 2006.
Zurich and Wintertur's minimum wages get green light from top court
Switzerland's Federal Court has ruled in favour of allowing Zurich and Wintertur to set a minimum wage after years of legal wrangling threatened to prevent the measures coming into force.
Blade attack at Winterthur train station 'a terrorist act'
A man wounded three people with a bladed weapon at the Winterthur train station near Zurich on Thursday morning, in what Swiss authorities have said was a "terrorist act".
EXPLAINED: What is Switzerland’s heroin distribution programme?
For more than three decades, Switzerland has been dispensing heroin to addicts. How does this innovative project work?
Sechseläuten: What you need to know about Zurich's snowman burning spring festival
One of the biggest annual events in Zurich, the Sechseläuten, takes places every April. The Local explains what it's all about...and what the Böögg is.
How wealthy foreigners are driving up prices in Zurich neighbourhoods
Zurich real estate is among Switzerland’s most expensive, and in some lakeside areas prices are driven upwards by international residents.
Oscar-winning British actress joins fight against new McDonald's in Zurich
American fast-food chain McDonald’s is set on expanding its operations in Switzerland, but not everyone is happy about its plans for a new Zurich location - including British actress Emma Thompson.
Six big differences between Zurich and Geneva
Only 276 kilometres lie between Switzerland’s two largest cities, but distance is not the only thing that separates Switzerland's German and French-speaking hubs.
What makes Zurich the 'smartest' city in the world in 2026?
A new global report ranks three Swiss cities - Zurich, Geneva, and Lausanne - among the world’s ‘smartest. What exactly does this mean?
'62 francs for 3km': Taxi drivers in Zurich demand new price caps
A curious phenomenon is underway in the Swiss city of Zurich: instead of trying to raise their fares, a group representing taxi drivers wants to see them capped.
What we know about Zurich's population of foreign residents in 2026
Zurich's population has reached a new high, but data also reveals interesting information about foreigners who call Switzerland’s largest city ‘home’.
IN NUMBERS: How thousands of foreigners leave Zurich every year
Each year, some 40,000 people move away from Switzerland's largest city, Zurich, and 55 percent are foreign nationals, new municipal figures show.
Zurich announces biggest tax cut for residents in 20 years
People who live in Zurich, Switzerland’s most expensive city, can look forward to some financial relief in 2026 – lower tax rates. But is this really good news?
Why are Zurich authorities skipping naturalisation interviews?
New cantonal figures reveal that communes in Zurich are relying less and less on personal interviews with applicants as part of the Swiss citizenship procedure.
Zurich Airport to lift restrictions on liquids in 2026
Thanks to new CT scanners being installed at Zurich airport, bottles of water and other liquids will no longer have to be surrendered at security checks at Switzerland’s largest airport.
Zurich tram driver goes on trial for American tourist’s death
A 55-year-old tram driver will appear in the Zurich District Court this week, accused of ‘negligent homicide’ after an elderly American tourist was hit and killed by the tram.
Long wait times at Zurich Airport to continue throughout December
If you are planning to travel out of Zurich Airport in the days leading up to Christmas, be prepared for long and slow lines.
Stadler Rail appeals Swiss $2.6 billion contract with Siemens Mobility
The Swiss group Stadler Rail announced Friday it has appealed a major public contract awarded to its German competitor Siemens Mobility, the latest development in a contentious public infrastructure dispute.