🇨🇭 Canton guide
Zürich: living, going out and working in the canton
Everything about the canton of Zürich: institutions, tax for French cross-border workers (ordinary scales), the municipal minimum wage, the Grossmünster, the Kunsthaus, Winterthur, the Rhine Falls, and an interactive map.
Photo (cropped): Kuhnmi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- residents at the end of 2025 (Federal Statistical Office)
- 1,632,918
- of the population are foreign nationals (calculated, end of 2025)
- 29.2%
- ordinary scales for French workers: no special agreement (tax office)
- At source
- in the Kantonsrat, elected by proportional representation by district (Constitution, art. 50 and 51)
- 180 members
10 sections≈ 13 min readSources checked on November 6, 2026
The interactive map
43 places marked: landmarks, museums, transport, restaurants, nights out and events. Tap a point to learn more.
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Places on the map (43)
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Zürich is a canton of German-speaking Switzerland with 1,632,918 residents, around the city of Zürich, Lake Zürich, the Limmat and the Rhine, with Winterthur, the Rhine Falls and twelve districts. It has no border with France and is not one of the eight cantons of the 1983 agreement. Unlike other cantons, the tax office says so explicitly: “The canton of Zürich has not concluded a special agreement with France. French cross-border workers are liable to source tax on the ordinary scales (A/H, B/C).” For a French cross-border worker this means you are taxed at source in Switzerland, and not in France as in Basel or Neuchâtel.
This page gathers what you need to know to live, go out and work in the canton of Zürich: language, institutions, tax, minimum wage, transport, food, museums, nature, traditions. The figures come from official sources listed at the bottom of the page. Venues open, close and change their hours: always check with them before you travel. The interactive map further down places sixteen municipalities and about thirty sites, from Rheinau to Wädenswil.
1. Zürich at a glance
| Marker | What to know |
|---|---|
| Population | 1,632,918 residents at the end of 2025 (permanent resident population) |
| Foreign nationals | 476,608 people, or 29.2% |
| Districts (FSO) | Zürich (440,935), Winterthur (182,860), Bülach (166,722), Uster (142,849), Horgen (133,469), Meilen (110,383), Hinwil (102,688), Dietikon (98,965), Dielsdorf (97,747), Pfäffikon (64,147), Affoltern (58,566), Andelfingen (33,587); twelve districts |
| Municipalities on the map | Zürich (440,935; 34.2%), Winterthur (120,741; 27.1%), Uster (37,031), Dübendorf (33,214; 37.9%), Dietikon (28,325; 48.9%), Wetzikon (27,317), Wädenswil (26,012), Horgen (24,641), Bülach (24,590), Kloten (22,017; 38.5%), Opfikon (21,462; 46.3%), Schlieren (20,474; 46.4%), Illnau-Effretikon (17,973), Küsnacht (15,250), Laufen-Uhwiesen (1,848), Rheinau (1,334) |
| Parliament | Kantonsrat of 180 members, a part-time (“Milizparlament”) body (art. 50); the districts are the constituencies (art. 51) |
| Government | Regierungsrat of 7 full-time members (art. 61), elected by majority vote across the whole canton (art. 62) |
| Tax for a French cross-border worker | At source in Switzerland, ordinary scales A/H and B/C (tax office) |
| Names that come up often | Grossmünster, Kunsthaus, Uetliberg, Limmat, Winterthur, Rheinfall |
The share of foreign nationals is calculated from the Federal Statistical Office table “Permanent resident population” (2025); the figures per district and per municipality come from the same table. The Constitution is dated 27 February 2005 and has been in force since 1 January 2006; the version we read has the status of 1 July 2025.
2. Language
Article 48 of the Constitution is clear: “The official language is German.” The official texts we read (Constitution, administration pages) are in German, and the contract, payslip and forms generally are too. No main-language statistics were read, so we give no percentage of French speakers. For paperwork, count on German or English; with 29.2% foreign nationals (nearly 49% in Dietikon) you will not be the only one who is not a native German speaker, but that is not a rule. The Zürich Tourismus website is available in several languages, including French.
3. How the canton is governed
| Institution | What the Constitution says |
|---|---|
| Right to vote | Swiss citizens aged 18 or over living in the canton and entitled to vote in federal matters (art. 22) |
| Kantonsrat | 180 members, a part-time parliament (art. 50); elected by proportional representation; the districts form the constituencies, and large districts may be divided (art. 51) |
| Regierungsrat | 7 full-time members (art. 61); elected by majority vote, the canton forming one constituency, at the same time as the Kantonsrat (art. 62); decides as a collegiate body (art. 65); at most two members may sit in the Federal Assembly (art. 63) |
| Terms of office | Four years; six years for judges (art. 41) |
| Popular initiative | 6,000 voters, six months to gather signatures after the preliminary review (art. 24, 26 and 27); an initiative may also come from an authority or a single person (art. 24) |
| Optional referendum | 3,000 voters, twelve political municipalities, the city of Zürich or the city of Winterthur, or 45 members of the Kantonsrat, within 60 days (art. 33); for laws and for one-off spending above CHF 4 million or yearly spending above CHF 400,000 |
| Mandatory referendum | Constitutional revisions and tax laws that create new taxes or increase individual burdens (art. 32) |
| Districts | The canton is divided into districts (twelve according to the FSO) |
A cross-border worker has no right to vote in the canton: they vote neither in cantonal or municipal elections nor in votes.
4. Working in Zürich as a cross-border worker
| Point | What we read |
|---|---|
| 1983 agreement | The Federal Council signed it on behalf of Bern, Solothurn, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, Vaud, Valais, Neuchâtel and Jura: Zürich is not one of them |
| Zürich tax office | Page “Quellensteuerabrechnung für Grenzgänger”: “Cross-border workers from France: the canton of Zürich has not concluded a special agreement with France. French cross-border workers are liable to source tax on the ordinary scales (A/H, B/C).” |
| Other countries | For German cross-border workers a flat rate of 4.5% exists with the Gre-1 form (daily return, less than 100 km or 1.5 hours by public transport); that does not apply to French workers |
| Weekly stay | An international weekly resident (nights in Switzerland, return on days off) is also taxed on the ordinary scales (page about Germans) |
| Competent office | Kanton Zürich, Steueramt, Quellensteuer, Bändliweg 21, 8090 Zürich; Monday to Friday 8:00-11:45 and 13:30-17:00 |
| Cantonal minimum wage | Not read: no cantonal text found |
| Number of cross-border workers | Not read |
Municipal minimum wages
| Point | What we read |
|---|---|
| City of Zürich | Voters accepted on 18 June 2023, with 69.43% yes, the counter-proposal to the “Ein Lohn zum Leben” initiative: a minimum of CHF 23.90 gross an hour for people who work mostly within the city, adjusted each year to the price index and the nominal wage index |
| Procedure | The Administrative Court annulled the ordinance on 17 September 2024; the Federal Supreme Court ruled on 12 May 2026 (2C_28/2025) that the municipal rules are valid and compatible with cantonal law |
| Entry into force | Not yet set: the City will give at least six months' notice |
| Holidays and public holidays | Not included in the minimum: a supplement is due on hourly wages |
| Exceptions | Notably training internships (12 months at most), apprentices and family members in family businesses |
| Winterthur | Voters also accepted a municipal minimum wage (65% yes); amount not read |
| Collective agreement | Not read: how the municipal minimum fits with the hospitality CCNT |
The details of your case (scale, deduction, 45 days, remote work, health insurance) depend on your situation: follow our guides rather than this page.
5. Getting around
| Means | What we read |
|---|---|
| Zürich Card | 24 hours: CHF 29, 72 hours: CHF 56 (adults); second-class public transport in the city and region (tram, bus, train, boat, funicular, cable car), free entry to museums, discounts; Tourist Information at the main station |
| Uetliberg | The SZU underground station at the main station is closed from 29 April to 12 December 2026: the S10 only runs as far as Selnau; SBB and ZVV recommend trams and buses; the Felsenegg cable car will be out of service in March 2027 |
| Limmat boats | Electric cruise from the “Landesmuseum” pier to the Zürichhorn, from April to October; CHF 4.60 round trip; the page we read says the service is suspended until further notice because of low water |
| Zürichsee | The Lake Zurich Navigation Company (ZSG) runs the lake boats; no timetable read |
We did not read a detailed network map or ZVV fares. Check your journey on the SBB or ZVV website before choosing where to live.
6. Eating and drinking
| Place | What we read |
|---|---|
| Haus Hiltl (Sihlstrasse 28) | The oldest vegetarian restaurant in the world according to Guinness (1898); vegetarian and vegan buffet of more than 100 dishes; Monday-Thursday 7-22, Friday 7-23, Saturday 8-23, Sunday 10-22 |
| Kronenhalle (Rämistrasse 4) | A meeting place for artists, genuine paintings by Chagall, Picasso and Miró; French-inspired cooking and Zürcher Geschnetzeltes; daily 12:00-24:00 |
| Zeughauskeller (Bahnhofstrasse 28a) | A former arsenal, long shared tables since 1926; sausages, Wiener schnitzel, cordon bleu, Geschnetzeltes; daily 11:30-23:00 |
| Confiserie Sprüngli (Paradeplatz) | House dating from 1859, Luxemburgerli; Monday-Friday 8:30-18:30, Saturday 9:00-18:30, Sunday 9:00-17:00 |
| Swiss Chuchi (Rosengasse 10) | The first fondue parlour in the Old Town; cheese fondue, Alpine macaroni, capuns; daily until 23:15 |
Zürcher Geschnetzeltes (sliced veal in sauce) is cited by three of these addresses as a house dish; we read no exhaustive list of restaurants for this canton.
7. What to see and do
The old town of Zürich
| Place | What we read |
|---|---|
| Grossmünster | The town's emblem; stained glass by Sigmar Polke, choir windows by Augusto Giacometti; Karlsturm tower (187 steps, CHF 5); renovation work from January 2025 to 2029 |
| Fraumünster | Founded in 853; windows by Marc Chagall in the chancel and south transept; CHF 5; November-February Monday-Saturday 10-17 |
| Lindenhof | A square with the best view of the old town; a Roman fort in the 4th century; oath on the Helvetic Constitution in 1798 |
| Landesmuseum | The Swiss National Museum near the station; CHF 13; the permanent exhibition “Simply Zurich” is free; Tuesday-Sunday 10-17 |
| Kunsthaus Zürich | The largest Munch collection outside Norway; CHF 31; Tuesday-Sunday 10-18, Thursday until 20:00, closed on Mondays |
| Zoo Zürich | About 6,000 animals, the Masoala Rainforest, the elephant park; hours and prices not read |
| Uetliberg | 871 m; a view of the city, the lake and the Alps; in November often above the fog |
| Flussbad Oberer Letten and Seebad Enge | River and lake baths, in summer |
Winterthur, Kyburg and the Rhine Falls
| Place | What we read |
|---|---|
| Technorama (Winterthur) | More than 500 experiment stations; CHF 34 adult; 30 minutes from Zürich |
| Kunst Museum Winterthur | Three museums under one name; check hours and prices (old page) |
| Schloss Kyburg | The oldest castle museum in Switzerland; Tuesday-Sunday 10-17:30; CHF 12 |
| Schloss Laufen | Above the Rhine Falls, first mentioned in 858; Historama CHF 5; November-March daily 10-16 |
8. Bars, nights out and venues
| Place | What we read |
|---|---|
| Langstrasse | A nightlife district: bars, clubs, take-aways, 24-hour shops; a former red-light district |
| Clouds Bar (Prime Tower, 35th floor) | The city's highest bar; Monday-Thursday 11-23, Friday 11-24, Saturday 16-24, Sunday 16-23 |
| Rote Fabrik (Wollishofen) | An alternative cultural centre on the lake: concerts, cinema, theatre; a former silk mill; hosts “Lethargy” after the Street Parade |
| Les Halles (Pfingstweidstrasse 6) | Mediterranean market-fresh cooking, moules et frites daily; Monday-Friday 11-24, Saturday 17-24, closed on Sundays |
No exhaustive list of clubs was read for this canton: we kept only the venues whose page we read.
9. Traditions and highlights
| Event | When | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Street Parade | 14 August 2027 | The world's largest techno party, hundreds of thousands of participants around the lake basin |
| Zurich Film Festival | 23 September to 3 October 2027 | About 100 films over 11 days; two international competitions (“Golden Eye” prize) |
| Sechseläuten | April (2027 date not read; 20 April in 2026) | The guilds' spring festival: the Böögg snowman is burned when the clock of St Peter's strikes 6 p.m.; the faster his head explodes, the finer the summer |
| Winter festivities | December (dates not read) | Zürich Tourismus lists a Christmas market in Winterthur and the “Polarzauber” at the main station (we only read the page titles) |
Sources
- Constitution of the canton of Zürich (LS 101): status of 1 July 2025; art. 22, 24, 26, 27, 32, 33, 41, 48, 50, 51, 61 to 65. Text in German.
- Federal Statistical Office: permanent resident population (table px-x-0102010000_101, 2025): population, foreign nationals, districts, municipalities.
- Agreement of 11 April 1983 on the taxation of cross-border workers.
- Canton of Zürich: Quellensteuerabrechnung für Grenzgänger and Quellensteuer.
- City of Zürich: Mindestlohn and press release on the Federal Supreme Court ruling.
- Site guides, checked against official sources: G permit, contract and salary (CCNT).
- Zürich Tourismus: Grossmünster, Fraumünster, Lindenhof, Kunsthaus, Landesmuseum, Technorama, Schloss Kyburg, Schloss Laufen, Uetliberg, Zoo.
- Zürich Tourismus: food and nights out: Haus Hiltl, Kronenhalle, Zeughauskeller, Sprüngli, Swiss Chuchi, Langstrasse, Clouds, Rote Fabrik, Les Halles.
- Zürich Tourismus: events and transport: Street Parade, ZFF, Sechseläuten, Zürich Card, Limmat.
- Map coordinates: © OpenStreetMap contributors; base map © swisstopo.
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