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What’s the secret to a summer LGBT+ friendly city getaway? A vibrant club scene, seasonal cocktails, and a welcoming community. Combine that with a city that seamlessly blends stunning natural beauty with urban amenities, and you’ve got a weekend getaway in Zurich that should be on every queer traveler’s list.
“You can find anything you want in Zurich,” a local told me as I enjoyed a free livestream of Bizet’s opera “Carmen” in a lakeside square in Zurich, Switzerland. “It’s all there.”
This bold statement was accompanied by an equally bold gesture, a sort of wave to the entire city. But what was the man referring to with this all-encompassing movement? After spending a few days in Zurich, with just one smooth gesture it seems like everything from wild swimming and boat tours to a vibrant dance scene and riverside cocktails come together to create an LGBT+ holiday destination that is often overlooked, or even considered.
The streets fill with people during summer parades and parties (Getty Images)
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While more publicly promoted queer hubs such as Berlin, Amsterdam and Brighton might get more attention as LGBT+ friendly destinations, Zurich has a deep queer culture and was the birthplace of “Der Kreis” (the Circle), an underground network and social club for gay men in the 1940s, when homosexuality was still criminalised.
And today, the riverside district of Niederdorf is home to dozens of queer bars clustered along the Limmat. Spend some time at Cranberry Bar, with its charming staff and inventive cocktails behind its “blink-and-you’ll-miss-it” facade on Metzgergasse. Café-bar GLEIS welcomes you day and night with a fantastic selection of spritzes designed to be enjoyed in the Swiss summer.
But what makes Zurich truly special is its rare combination of natural beauty and a vibrant cultural centre. It’s impossible to resist the gravitational pull of Lake Zurich: its blue waters, visible from the narrow streets, are inviting, and its crystal clear depths are ideal for spending a few hours on sunny summer days. There are around 40 outdoor swimming pools, called buddies, across the city, which are open from May to October.
Cooling off in the Limmat River (Getty Images)
Fortunately, this isn’t the only way to enjoy Lake Zurich, nor is it the most common way. There are numerous parks and swimming areas where many young people gather and prefer to take a dip in the clear, sparkling water outside the buddy. You can swim anywhere on the lake, but we recommend picking a spot that’s easy to get in and out of.
The stone and grass slopes are the perfect spot to sunbathe afterwards. There are kiosks and cafes nearby where you can grab a snack or a beer to go with the sunshine. The view from the lake looks directly towards the Swiss Alps, a sight that is hard to find anywhere else in Europe. The combination of a bustling city, a tranquil lake and mountain views is definitely something rare and not to be missed.
For those who prefer to enjoy the lake from above rather than below, there’s an easy and cost-effective way to do so: the Zurich Card costs 29 CHF (£25.60) for 24 hours and includes all public transport, including boats. While that might seem like a lot just for transport, you can also use the Zurich Card to take a 90-minute cruise around the lake, complete with table and chairs and great views of the lake and surrounding forest.
Don’t miss this lively street parade in August (Getty Images)
If you’re looking for somewhere to keep the fun going when the sun starts to go down, Zurich’s dance culture has a lot to offer. Nightlife here is low-key but rewarding; our best advice is to look for specific nights, like Glitter Gwitter on the Plaza on Saturdays, or a rotating lineup of local and international techno/electro DJs heading to Kauz.
Festivals are also popular on the shores of Lake Zurich, where the world’s largest electronic music event takes place in the streets of Zurich every August. The 2024 street parade will take place on August 10, making it a good idea if you’re wondering when to visit Zurich. The convoy of trucks blasting music for over 2 km starts at Utquai in the Seefeld district of Zurich, travels along the shores of Lake Zurich and ends at Hafendam Enge. Pick a truck that’s blasting music and follow it until midnight.
Also, don’t miss the annual queer afterparty, the Volkshaus Zurich Flash Party. While the street parade itself is free, tickets for the Flash Party start at CHF30 (£26.50), so it’s worth buying in advance.
Overall, Zurich offers a quieter, more intimate experience thanks to its dense urban area set against a beautiful natural backdrop. You can spend your summers relaxing by the lake during the day and hanging out in the densely populated bars and nightlife at night. As a lesser known city, you can discover destinations away from the usual tourist throngs and enjoy a more authentic city break.
How to do it
You can get to Zurich with direct flights from major UK cities such as London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol and Birmingham, operated by a variety of airlines including easyJet, Ryanair and Swiss International Air Lines. The flight time is around 2 hours.
Read more: From honeymoons to parties, the 10 best LGBT-friendly holiday destinations around the world
