Hanukkah 2026 in Zurich
Spending Hanukkah in Zurich? Here's everything in one place: when to light each night, where to light with the community, where to eat kosher, and where to stay within walking distance of a shul.
When is Hanukkah this year?
The first candle is lit on Friday, December 4, and the eighth on Friday, December 11. The holiday ends on Saturday, December 12. This year there are two Shabbatot inside Hanukkah - if you want a hotel near a shul for either, book early.
Hanukkah candle lighting times in Zurich
| Night | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Candle 1 | Friday, 12/4 | 16:18before Shabbat candles |
| Candle 2 | Saturday, 12/5 | 17:18after Shabbat ends |
| Candle 3 | Sunday, 12/6 | 17:05nightfall |
| Candle 4 | Monday, 12/7 | 17:04nightfall |
| Candle 5 | Tuesday, 12/8 | 17:04nightfall |
| Candle 6 | Wednesday, 12/9 | 17:04nightfall |
| Candle 7 | Thursday, 12/10 | 17:04nightfall |
| Candle 8 | Friday, 12/11 | 16:17before Shabbat candles |
Times are calculated for the city's location (Hebcal). Some people light at sunset - follow your own custom. On Friday, light before Shabbat, with candles that will burn until at least half an hour after nightfall.
A hotel near the community in Zurich for Hanukkah
Over Hanukkah, hotels near synagogues fill up fast, especially for Shabbat. We've set up searches with the dates already in, centred on the Chabad house and synagogues of Zurich - tap one to see what's free and what it costs:
Ended up choosing a different hotel? That booking still supports BooKasher when you start from our button - at exactly the same price. Thank you!
Our hotels in Zurich (2), with the walk to shulAffiliate link · booking through it supports the site, at no extra cost
This is an affiliate link. If you book through it we may earn a small commission - at no extra cost to you - that helps keep the site running. That holds even if you end up booking a different hotel from the one you picked here.Where can you light?
Many hotels don't allow open flames in the rooms, so ask the hotel before you arrive. You can also join the lighting at the Chabad house or a synagogue - in many cities Chabad holds a public menorah lighting. Check the exact time and place with them:
- Chabad Lubavitch Switzerland (Beth Chabad)Rüdigerstrasse 10, 8045 Zürich
- Chabad ESRARehalpstrasse 89, 8008 Zürich
- Synagoge Zürich Löwenstrasse (ICZ)Löwenstrasse 10, 8001 Zürich
- Israelitische Religionsgesellschaft Zürich (IRG)Freigutstrasse 37, 8002 Zürich
- Agudas AchimErikastrasse 8, 8003 Zürich
- Or ChadaschHallwylstrasse 78, Zürich
Kosher food and sufganiyot
We list 5 kosher restaurants in Zurich. For kosher sufganiyot and latkes, try the kosher bakeries and shops, and ask at the Chabad house - they sometimes run a holiday sale.
- Restaurant FlorentinMeat - modern Israeli
- Babi's Bagel ShopDairy - bagels & deli
- Tinyfish SushiKosher sushi
- Kol-TuvMeat butcher & takeaway
- Oakberry ZurichPareve - acai bowls and smoothies
- LeShuk
- Koscher City
A few tips for Hanukkah abroad
- Booking a hotel for Shabbat Hanukkah? Do it now. The hotels nearest the shul go first.
- Before you book, ask the hotel whether you may light candles in your room, or whether there's a spot in the lobby for it.
- Candles can usually go on the plane. Olive oil in hand luggage - up to 100 ml like any liquid, or pack it in your suitcase.
- Most poskim don't consider an electric menorah valid for the mitzvah. If you have no other option, ask a rabbi.
- On Friday, light Hanukkah before the Shabbat candles, with candles long enough to burn past nightfall.
Hanukkah in Zurich: common questions
- When is Hanukkah 2026?
- Hanukkah 2026 begins on Friday, December 4, with the first candle, and lasts until Saturday, December 12. This year there are two Shabbatot inside the holiday: December 4–5 and December 11–12.
- When do you light Hanukkah candles in Zurich?
- On weekdays in Zurich you light at nightfall, around 17:05. On Friday you light before Shabbat begins (16:18), and on Saturday night after Shabbat ends (17:18). The full times for every night are in the table on this page.
- Can you light Hanukkah candles in a hotel?
- It depends on the hotel. Many don't allow open flames in rooms, and some set aside a spot in the lobby. Ask before you book, or join the lighting at the Chabad house or a synagogue.
- Is there a public menorah lighting in Zurich?
- In many cities the local Chabad house holds a public menorah lighting. Check the exact time and place directly with the Chabad house in Zurich, listed on this page.
- Where should you stay in Zurich over Hanukkah?
- If you keep Shabbat you'll want a hotel within walking distance of a shul or the Chabad house, especially this year with two Shabbatot inside the holiday. This page has ready-made searches around the community in Zurich for each Shabbat and for the whole holiday.