Indulgent Zurich Hideaway Luxe Residence ComfortN°001
Lake Zurich / Zurich, Switzerland
Private pool
From $20,079 per night
Photo by Sergio ZhukovLakeside living on Switzerland's discreet Gold Coast
Lake Zurich curves southeast from Switzerland's largest city, its sunny right bank, the fabled Gold Coast, lined with the villages of Zollikon, Erlenbach, Herrliberg and Meilen. This is one of Europe's most desirable residential shores: vineyards above, boathouses below and Zurich's world-class culture, shopping and dining twenty minutes away. A private villa here offers lake views, gardens and discretion, with the Alps on the horizon and half of Switzerland within a day trip.
- The Gold Coast: Zollikon, Erlenbach, Herrliberg and Meilen on the lake's sunniest shore
- Swimming, sailing and boating from lakefront badis and private jetties
- Zurich's old town, Kunsthaus, Bahnhofstrasse shopping and a starred dining scene
- Vineyard walks above the lake and ferry crossings between the two shores
- Discreet villas with lake views, gardens and full concierge service
Known forThe Gold Coast villages, lakefront swimming and sailing, Zurich's old town, museums and fine dining, and easy Alpine day trips
Best time to visitMay to September for lake life; December for Christmas markets and festive Zurich
Nearest airportZurich (ZRH), around 20 to 35 minutes from the Gold Coast villages
Ideal forFamilies, business travellers extending a stay, couples and groups wanting lake calm beside a great city
Peninsula Villa With Wellness FacilitiesN°002
Lake Zurich / Zurich, Switzerland
Hot tubGardenFireplace
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Luxury Lakeside Villa Retreat with Infinity PoolN°003
Lake Zurich / Zurich, Switzerland
Private pool
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Zurich Villa With Charming Lake & Mountain ViewsN°004
Zürich, Switzerland
Sea view
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Contemporary Luxury Villa With Panoramic TerraceN°005
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Deluxe Sunny Villa with Alps and Lake ViewsN°006
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From $4,209 per night
9homes available
1–7bedrooms
up to 14guests
2with a pool
Lake Zurich / Zurich in pictures
Events not to miss in Lake Zurich / Zurich
- April
Sechseläuten
Zurich's spring festival sees the guilds parade in historic dress before the burning of the Böögg, a snowman effigy whose exploding head is said to forecast the summer.
- August
Zurich Street Parade
One of the world's largest electronic-music parades brings hundreds of thousands of dancers to the lake basin for a single exuberant Saturday; watch from the water or retreat to Gold Coast calm.
- August
Zürcher Theater Spektakel
A renowned international performing-arts festival staged on the lakeshore at Wollishofen, mixing world-class theatre with lakeside food stalls and summer-evening atmosphere.
- Late September to early October
Zurich Film Festival
Green-carpet premieres, international stars and a strong competition programme fill the city's cinemas each autumn, an easy glamorous evening from the lake villages.
- Late November to December
Zurich Christmas markets
The city glows with illuminated streets and several markets, including the singing Christmas tree at Werdmühleplatz and the vast indoor market at the main station.
Lake Zurich / Zurich through the seasons
- Spring (March – May)
Blossom, Sechseläuten and first lake days
Orchards and lakeside gardens bloom, the guilds burn the Böögg in April and café terraces reopen along the shore.
- Summer (June – August)
Swimming, sailing and open-air evenings
Badis and private jetties come alive, paddle steamers cross the lake and the city's festivals spill onto the waterfront late into the evening.
- Autumn (September – October)
Golden vineyards and the film festival
The lakeshore vineyards turn amber, harvest reaches the village cellars and the Zurich Film Festival brings premieres to town.
- Winter (November – February)
Christmas lights and Alpine day trips
Zurich's markets and illuminations make December sparkle, while ski areas from Flumserberg to Engelberg lie within easy day-trip reach of the lake.
The Area and Where to Stay
The lake's right bank earned the name Gold Coast for its afternoon sun and its property values, and the villages along it each keep a distinct village character despite the proximity of the city. Zollikon and Erlenbach sit closest to Zurich, leafy and quietly grand; Herrliberg climbs from the shore into vineyards; Meilen, the largest, has its own lively centre and the car ferry across to Horgen. The S-Bahn runs the length of the shore, putting Zurich's centre around twenty minutes from most front doors, and the lake itself is the neighbourhood amenity: badis, sailing clubs and lakeside paths. Villas here favour privacy, mature gardens and water views over ostentation. It is an ideal base for combining city culture, lake mornings and Alpine excursions, with our concierge handling cars, boats and reservations.
Things to Do
Mornings belong to the lake: swim from a badi or private jetty, sail or wakeboard on calm water, or take the historic paddle steamers that ply between the lakeside towns in summer. Zurich rewards unhurried days: the lanes of the Niederdorf and old town, the Kunsthaus's outstanding collection, Chagall's windows at the Fraumünster and Bahnhofstrasse's watchmakers and boutiques. Walk or e-bike through the vineyards above Herrliberg and Meilen, ride up the Forch heights for lake-and-Alp panoramas, or cross by ferry to explore the left shore. Day trips are a defining luxury of the location: Lucerne, the Rigi, Titlis glacier country and even St. Moritz or Zermatt by scenic rail are all feasible. The concierge arranges private boats, guides, gallery visits and mountain excursions.
Food and Local Flavour
Zurich's dining scene is among Europe's strongest, spanning historic guild houses serving Zürcher Geschnetzeltes, contemporary starred kitchens and the vast, convivial halls of tradition-rich cafés and chocolatiers. Along the Gold Coast, lakeside restaurants and village gasthöfe put fish from the lake, seasonal Swiss produce and local wine on terraces above the water; the vineyards of the Zurich lakeshore produce crisp whites and pinot noir worth seeking at source. Markets in the city and villages supply Alpine cheeses, breads and patisserie of famous Swiss precision. For villa guests, a private chef and sommelier evening at home, or a chartered dinner cruise on the lake, are effortless to arrange through the concierge.
When to Visit
May to September is lake season: warm, clear days for swimming and sailing, long evenings on terraces and the city's open-air life in full swing, with June and September particularly graceful. April brings spring blossom and Zurich's Sechseläuten festivities; autumn turns the vineyards gold and fills the calendar with the film festival and harvest. December is quietly magical, with Christmas markets, illuminated streets and the option of ski day trips as the season opens; the lake villages stay serene while the city sparkles. Winters are cold but rarely harsh at lake level. The Gold Coast works in every season, which is precisely why its residents rarely leave.
Getting There
Zurich Airport (ZRH), one of Europe's best-connected and most efficient hubs, lies around 20 to 35 minutes by car from the Gold Coast villages, with direct intercontinental and European flights. Zurich's main station adds seamless rail links across Switzerland and to Milan, Munich and Paris. Locally, the S-Bahn threads through Zollikon, Erlenbach, Herrliberg and Meilen every few minutes at peak times, lake boats call at the village piers in season, and the Meilen to Horgen car ferry shortcuts the lake. A car is pleasant but genuinely optional. The concierge arranges airport transfers, chauffeured cars and boat charters to make arrivals effortless.