While there are limited things to do in Winterthur, they are nonetheless enjoyable. For instance boat trips on Lake Zürich are a great way to spend the afternoon; especially on a warm spring day. Winterthur has several internationally known art collections spread throughout its art museums. Most museums offer guided tours outside of their normal operation hours, so definitely look in to this if you want a first hand behind the scenes look at your favorite museum. Winterthur offers a museum pass that gets you access to the city's 17 different museums, as well as access to the museum buss.

Winterthur shopping is largely defined by the experience of shopping in old town. Old town is the largest pedestrian shopping area in all of Europe, and offers an interesting mix of stalls, small boutiques, and large department stores. Like many European cities Winterthur has a winter market around the holiday season that offers visitors many fun events and interesting items for sale. Beyond the winter market Winterthur also has many art, flea, craft, and farmers markets located throughout the city. Ask at your hotel what the best ones are to visit.

Car parking and car hire in Winterthur is much easier than in other Swiss cities. There are numerous car rental agencies including the internationally known Hertz, as well as several local agencies. If you wish to get around on public transportation you'll find that it is relatively easy to do so, though this system is not as advanced as in other cities such as Zürich. However unlike Zürich is actually possible to navigate the streets fairly easy and parking, while not exactly plentiful, is available.

Winterthur restaurants have a lot to offer, and surprisingly offer a lot of international flavors for a medium sized city. Thai food is quite popular in Winterthur, and can be found alongside traditional offerings like potato pancakes and veal. Winterthur hotels are slightly limited, and there are not a whole lot of options to choose from. On the other hand Winterthur is not a large city and does not need as many hotels as other cities. Travelers will find the same price range in Winterthur as they will in other cities, just on a smaller scale; everything from the inexpensive hostel, all the way up to pricey international resorts.