iShouldTravel

I’ve been planning a trip to Switzerland for some time and have decided to start with Zurich. Apparently, summer is the best time for me to visit this beautiful swiss city. The temperature is perfect and I have no excuse to be outdoors exploring and wandering aimlessly.

So, after landing at Zurich Airport (ZRH), thanks to the precise way swiss are handling tings, you can arrive in the city center in less than 15 minutes. And since you’re here you can visit also the Observation Deck . Head to Check-in 2 and follow the signs pointing to Zuschauerterrasse / Observation Deck. You will walk past a ticket desk and through a security screening before going into the actual outdoor observation area.

From the airport train station (Zürich Flughafen) located under the shopping area, you can take the S-Bahn or Intercity Trains departig several times per hour (every ~10 minutes or less) and they arrive in Zurich Central Station (Zürich HB). The ticket costs about 9 Euro (if you buy The Swiss Travel Pass this journey is free). Another option is taking the Tram lines 10 or 12 from the street level and you’ll arrive in the northern part of Zurich, if that’s where you’d like to arrive.
Before asking yourself why not taking a taxi, know that you’ll be paying 60-70Euro for a 20 minutes ride.

Speaking about public transport you’ll have two apps to install if you’d like to do things in a more relaxing way. The SBB Mobile app, the essential app for any tourist traveling in Switzerland but more useful if you’re traveling beyond Zurich’s city borders and ZVV Fahrplan app which focuses on the region of Zurich and its immediate surrounding areas.

The official currency is the Swiss Franc (CHF), but you can also use Euro.

Now, if you’re searching for budget accommodations, the best areas are in old city center, Wiedikon area or Aussersihl area. Budget is a way of saying, because the prices are swiss style, so expect to pay 130-150Euro per night, assuming you plan ahead, but you already knew that before deciding to visit Switzerland. Swiss hotels are cheaper in March-April and October-November.

What I usually do in the first day is just walking around city center area getting to know the vibe of the city or just chill and grab something to eat.

So, for Day 1: walk in the Niederdorf area, in the old town, eat some cheese fondue or the local Zurcher Geschnetzeltes (Zurich style veel sliced, with mushroom cream sauce) at “Zum Königstuhl” or just buy something from a bakery and accompany that with a coffee. Sit on a bench to relax some more, and head to the Lindenhoff hill, where you can walk up a gentle slope and arrive in a shaded area like a small park with lookouts over the city and the river. Just sit on the stone walls and admire the beautiful view.

Start Day 2 with a big breakfast and a coffee and go to another lookout spot with beautiful view of the city: the University Polyterrasse. You arrive there using the Polybahn, an inclined rail train, paying 3 Euro for the ticket. There is not much shade once you get to the actual terrace but you can visit the National History Museum nearby and then find a nice restaurant for Lunch, or just grab something on the go and head to the art museum (Kunsthaus) and then have Lunch in that area of the city, there are plenty of restaurants and cafes. The museum ticket is from 26 to 36 Euro and children under 14 benefit from free entrance. On Wednesdays expect free entrance for everyone.

In the afternoon visit the Lindt Home of Chocolate (yes, Chocolate museum and more), in the Kilchberg area. The train ticket costs 14 Euro per person and the entrance costs 17 Euro (10 Euro for kids 8 to 15 years old or free for kids 7 years old or younger), but a bonus is that you also get to eat some chocolate and buy some more when to get out. Know that your ticket gives you an entry for a specific 15-minute arrival window, but no specific exit schedule.

If you don’t book a ticket in advance there is a chance you won’t get inside, but don’t worry. you’ll still be able to see the Chocolate Fountain at the entrance and the shop or you can go into the Lindt Cafe nearby and wait for a slot to buy a ticket (unlikely, but since you’re here you might as well try).

In the morning of Day 3 go to the Bellevue Square, explore the area a little bit, admire the views and head to the Zurich Lake Promenade. Now, this is a place where you can spend the entire day, walk in the sun admire the sights and blend in. This is the place where you can relax and “charge your batteries”. There are a lot of restaurants and cafes in the area and a lot of stuff to do. For example get an ice-cream and decide which boat cruise to go on: a 55 minutes, 90 minutes or 4 hours. The prices vary from 8 to 27 Euros.

In the afternoon/evening go into the western side of the city, the former industrial area. One of the special attraction here is the “Frau Gerolds Garten”. A variety of restaurants and cafes, with an outdoor area. Think of this as a meeting spot where you can find something to eat and drink and spend time with your friends. all those lights make you feel like you are in a Christmas market.

I feel like I’ve missed a lot of other beautiful places and activities so here is a list with other things you can include in your tour:

• Zurich Zoo in the Zürichberg hill reachable by car of by Tram nr 6. It is truly spectacular and besides what you expect from a zoo, it has an indoor tropical dome and a savannah. the entrance is 32 Euro for adults and 18-27 Euro for children depending on their age.
• The Law library at the University of Zurich, or its german name the “Rechtswissenschaftliche Bibliothek”. Free access even if you’re not a student there and there are the normal rules for any library, so keep quiet and admire the visual space.
• Fifa museum where you can see world cup thophies, famous team t-shirts and many more
• Bahnhofstrasse, a world famous street near the railway (Bahnhof) with exclusive and premium shops and stores. If you’re searching for a swiss watch, here is a chance you find one.
• Zürich Openair (ZOA) – the largest and most popular open-air music festival in the Zurich area
• Grossmünster, Fraumünster and St. Peterskirche Churches
• Buy the ZVV 24-Hour Pass for Zurich City (zone 110) for 9 Euro for unlimited, hop-on-hop-off access to every tram (even the blueand white line), city bus, the Polybahn funicular.
• Free Bike Rental (Züri rollt) – you only have to leave a fully refundable 20 Euro/CHF cash deposit
• The Zeughauskeller restaurant – one of Zurich’s most famous and traditional restaurants with prices of 30-50 Euro per person for a main dish and a drink. it is located between Fraumünster and St. Peterskirche Churches
• Sternen Grill is Zurich’s most famous restaurant for sausages (but not only) and it is located right at Bellevue Square near the Opera House

If you have time for a day trip from Zurich I would highly recommend Grindelwald, Interlaken and Lauterbrunnen. Of course a day isn’t enough to admire these places but you can try the day trip and plan for a future more paced visit like the one in Zurich. Actually they are one of the most beautiful areas in Switzerland and I definitely plan a tour that includes them.

A must do day trip from Zurich is the Stein am Rhein and Rhine Falls, Europe’s most powerful waterfall. The cost is 60-80 Euro on a guided tour or 32 Euro with train and 5 Euro more for the entrance to the castle on the left side of the Falls. You can take the Yellow Boat Tour (The Rock) which drops you directly onto the massive rock sitting in the middle of the waterfall. You can go on the 30-meter high observation deck (a ticket is needed ~2o EUro), use the Panoramic Glass Elevator with scenic views, and cross the Railway Bridge over the river. absolutely stunning views and experience.

I still need there are a lot of things to do and experience but let’s stop for now and add them to a future list, we may camo back here sooner or later.