Switzerland's largest city sits at the northern tip of Lake Zurich where the Limmat River flows out toward the Rhine. Founded as a Roman customs post (Turicum), it became a center of the Protestant Reformation under Huldrych Zwingli in the 1520s. Today it is one of the world's leading financial centers and consistently ranks among the top cities for quality of life. The Kunsthaus museum holds one of Europe's most important modern art collections.
Nights sit around 12°C and afternoons around 20°C, though some days reach 26°C.
Zurich has real seasons: summer afternoons sit around 25°C, winter ones around 6°C.
Some summer days reach 31°C, and some winter nights drop below freezing.
Rain is spread through the year: about 11 days in 30 in June, the wettest month, and 8 in February.
Wind is rarely an issue; most months sit between calm and a light breeze. Air quality is worth watching: February averages an AQI of 60, while July clears to 33.
Days stretch to about 15.7 hours of light in June and shrink to 8.3 in December — something to weigh if you work to a fixed timezone.
No month in Zurich matches what you're after, so come for the place rather than the weather. Expect fast internet (437 Mbps) and a high cost of living (about €3800 a month).
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