Zürichhorn Park (Zürich)

Zürichhorn Park occupies a low headland on the eastern shore of Lake Zurich, in the Riesbach district, about two kilometres south of the Bellevue square and the Opernhaus. It is one of the city’s most relaxed green spaces, a mix of lawns, tall trees and open waterfront with long views across the lake to the Alpine ridge. On clear days the Glarus mountains show up as a white line above the water, and in the evenings the sun sets behind the opposite shore.

The park is a popular place to swim. Locals use the lakeside entries from late spring to early autumn, and nearby lido-style baths on the same shore extend the options. The broad lawn called the Blatterwiese, also known as the Chinawiese because of the Chinese Garden next to it, is the main meadow where people picnic, play games and sit out the evening. The Chinagarten, a gift from Zurich’s Chinese partner city Kunming, is a separate attraction in the same area, and the two combine into an easy afternoon.

Art is part of the setting. The park holds the large kinetic sculpture Heureka by the Swiss artist Jean Tinguely, made for the Swiss National Exhibition, Expo 1964 in Lausanne and later installed here, where its clattering mechanical forms stand beside the water. The pavilion designed by Le Corbusier stands nearby, a colourful steel and glass building that now is now a museum, and smaller sculptures are scattered through the lawns.

The easiest way to reach the park is by tram, but many people prefer to walk the lake path from the city centre, passing Utoquai and the small harbours on the way. In summer, boats of the lake shipping company also stop at the Zürichhorn landing, so you can combine a short cruise and a walk. The route from Bellevue is flat and takes under an hour, and it makes a good alternative to the busier stretches near the Bahnhofstrasse and the old town.

There is no entry fee, and the park is open all year. Weekday late afternoons are quieter than weekends, and golden light on the lake then makes it a good spot for photographs. The park suits families, swimmers, picnickers, art lovers and anyone who wants a calm green stop away from the main streets of Zürich.