December in Zurich means Christmas markets, the “Lucy” lights on Bahnhofstrasse, fondue on a tram and fireworks over the lake on New Year’s Eve. Here are the dates for December 2026, the weather to expect and what is closed over Christmas.
19 November – 23/24 December 2026 · city centre
Six Christmas markets open in the city centre on 19 November 2026, from Polarzauber in the main station hall to Bellevue Noël on Sechseläutenplatz with its walkable Advent wreath. Most run until 23 December; Polarzauber and the Münsterhof market until 24 December.
All markets, dates and opening hours: Zurich Christmas markets 2026
switched on 19 November 2026 at 6 pm · until 4 January 2027
The Christmas lights on Bahnhofstrasse are named after the Beatles song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”: 11,550 light crystals spread over about one kilometre. Zürich Tourism also names the lights on Rennweg, around Neumarkt, on Paradeplatz with its large Christmas tree and on Löwenplatz, where the stars are made from recycled PET bottles. More about the street: Bahnhofstrasse and Paradeplatz.
20 November – 23 December 2026 · departs from Bellevue · children aged 4 to 9 · CHF 12
A 20-minute ride through the city centre – via Limmatquai, Central and Bahnhofstrasse and back to Bellevue – with Samichlaus as the driver and two angels who tell Christmas stories in German and sing. Each child gets a Tirggel biscuit. Adults are not allowed on board.
The tram, built in 1913, is the oldest vehicle still in service with the Zurich transport company VBZ and has been the Märlitram since 1958. It runs daily except on 29 November and 13 December. Tickets cost CHF 12 per child, online only; sales start on Friday, 13 November 2026, at 8 am.
Official website: Märlitram (in German)
November 2026 – February 2027 · starts at the Bellevue loop · CHF 109
The VBZ fondue tram runs two rides per evening, departing at 5.30 pm and 8.15 pm from the Bellevue loop. Zürich Tourism describes the route along Limmatquai and Bahnhofstrasse, past Paradeplatz and over the Quaibrücke. The 2026/27 “Graubünden Edition” serves a fondue with organic Graubünden mountain cheese. CHF 109 includes the ZVV ticket for zone 110.
At most 28 seats can be booked per ride; children under 16 only ride with an adult, and there is no toilet on board.
Official website: Fondue tram
21 November – 31 December 2026 · Bauschänzli, Stadthausquai 2 · closed on 25 December
Zurich’s Christmas circus has been part of Advent since 1992 and does without animal acts. Shows last two to two and a half hours including a 20-minute interval; children from 3 need their own seat. The season ends with a New Year’s Eve gala on 31 December.
Official website: Circus Conelli (in German)
season 17 October 2026 – 7 March 2027 · Dolder, Heuried and Oerlikon
The City of Zurich has three artificial ice rinks. The Dolder rink (Adlisbergstrasse 36) is reached by tram 2 or 3 to Römerhof and the Dolderbahn; adults pay CHF 8, children from 6 CHF 4. The Heuried sports centre (Wasserschöpfi 71) and the Kunsteisbahn Oerlikon (Siewerdtstrasse 80) have outdoor rinks for public skating.
On Wednesday, 2 December 2026, “Afterwork on Ice” offers free skating from 6 to 10 pm at Heuried and Oerlikon.
Official website: ice rinks of the City of Zurich (in German)
Sunday, 6 December 2026 · from Pier 7 (Limmatquai 7) to the Frauenbad
On St. Nicholas Day, about 300 swimmers swim down the Limmat from the Restaurant Pier 7 to the Frauenbad at Stadthausquai – in 2026 for the 25th time. The proceeds have gone to charity since 2011. The Samichlaus parade itself takes place a week earlier, on Sunday, 29 November 2026, at 5 pm, from Werdmühleplatz along Bahnhofstrasse to Bürkliplatz.
Official website: Samichlausschwimmen (in German)
5 November – 30 December 2026 · Museumstrasse 2
In the freely accessible front part of the museum courtyard there is a bar, a fondue chalet and food stands; in the paid section, light shows. More about the museum: Swiss National Museum.
6 November 2026 – 31 January 2027 · Hotel Uto Kulm
A curling rink on Zurich’s own mountain, and at weekends candle making and a small Christmas market. The Uetliberg railway runs there from the main station; in winter the summit is often above the fog – see Uetliberg.
31 December 2026 from 2 pm · fireworks on 1 January 2027 at 00.20 · free
Zurich celebrates New Year’s Eve around the lake basin. The Silvesterzauber is an open festival – no ticket needed – from 2 pm on 31 December until 3 am on 1 January. At 00.20 the fireworks are launched over the lake and last about 15 minutes. Private fireworks are banned on the festival grounds.
According to ZVV, S-Bahn trains, trams and buses run until 4 am on New Year’s night.
Official website: Silvesterzauber (in German)
December is cold and mostly grey. According to the MeteoSwiss climate normals for Zürich/Fluntern (1991–2020), the average temperature is 1.7 °C, with an average daily maximum of 4.0 °C and minimum of −0.5 °C. The month brings 83 mm of precipitation on 11.5 days and only 47 hours of sunshine – 20 % of the possible amount. On average 19 cm of fresh snow falls in December, and there is snow on the ground on 8.2 days, so a white Christmas is possible but not guaranteed.
Days are short: on 21 December 2026 the sun rises at 08:10 and sets at 16:37 (timeanddate.com). For sunshine above the fog, go up the Uetliberg; on a wet day, go to one of the Zurich museums.
Cold and often grey. MeteoSwiss gives an average of 1.7 °C for Zürich/Fluntern (1991–2020), with daily highs around 4 °C and lows around −0.5 °C, 83 mm of precipitation and about 47 hours of sunshine in the whole month.
Sometimes. On average 19 cm of fresh snow falls in December, and there is snow on the ground on about 8 days (MeteoSwiss, 1991–2020) – so snow is possible, but not guaranteed.
From 19 November to 23 December 2026; Polarzauber in the main station and the Münsterhof market stay open until 24 December.
At 00.20 on 1 January 2027, over the lake basin, for about 15 minutes. The Silvesterzauber festival around the lake is free and starts at 2 pm on 31 December; public transport runs until 4 am.
Mostly not: both days are public holidays in the canton of Zurich, and shops must in principle stay closed. Exceptions include shops in railway stations, pharmacies, bakeries, flower shops and kiosks.
