This European City Filled With Endless Lake Views Has The Most Public Bathrooms Of Any 'Tourist City' In The World

From seeing beautiful places to learning about unique cultures, traveling can bring all kinds of joys. But with all the pros of traveling, there can be some cons, like trying to find a bathroom in a foreign country when you really need to go. Whether you can't read the signs, you don't know the bathroom etiquette, or you're faced with one of Europe's self-cleaning toilets, finding a place to go can turn out to be an unexpectedly stressful situation. But visitors to Zurich are unlikely to face problems finding a public bathroom, as it has an impressive 76.5 options for every 100,000 people, making it the world's top "tourist city with the best toilet access" (per the Global Public Toilet Index from QS Supplies).

How did Zurich get this designation? QS Supplies, an online bathroom retailer, looked at cities listed on Euromonitor's Top 100 City Destinations Index and used OpenStreetMap data to find public toilets in cities around the world. Zurich took the No. 1 spot, followed by Lisbon, Portugal, and then Sydney, Australia.

There's a map of available public toilets in Zurich, so you can see what's nearby when nature calls. It even includes whether or not the bathroom is handicapped accessible. There are also apps, like Flush Toilet Finder and Map that can provide some guidance. Keep in mind that some toilets may come with a small charge; many now accept contactless card payment but not all. It's a good idea to have some cash with you to access the bathroom, and, as Rick Steves suggests, extra change to tip the bathroom attendant if there is one.

Zurich is Switzerland's largest city, and it's right along the northern end of Lake Zurich, so you can get lots of pretty water views. Along with bathroom access for all, it's a city where you can do everything from soaking in thermal waters to exploring the old town to boating on the lake, which will give you some beautiful perspectives on the city. To get a bird's-eye view of the city and the lake, head to the lookout tower on top of Uetliberg Mountain. From here, you get a 360-degree perspective of Lake Zurich's sparkling waters and the Swiss Alps in the distance.

The city has some great parks and green spaces, including the popular Zurichhorn. You can go swimming in the lake as well as check out the impressive Chinese Garden — one of the best temple gardens outside of China. The park also has a seasonal splash pad, playground, and (yes) toilets. One reviewer on Google Maps says it is a "beautiful lakeside place with peaceful surroundings and stunning views of Lake Zurich." It's particularly nice at sunset and is about a 30-minute walk along the waterfront from the old town, where you'll pass the iconic Zurich Opera House. 

On the other side of the lake are more swimming spots and green spaces, including the Zurich Succulent Plant Collection with over 4,500 plants. There's a handful of cafés and restaurants right along the lakefront between Zurichhorn and the Succulent Plant Collection, so you can stop for coffee and a snack with a lake view. Other superlatives that apply to Zurich: It's also one of the best cities for female travelers and solo visitors, thanks in part to its low crime stats, good transportation and walkability, and — as we now know — lots of public bathrooms.