5 Reasons to Not Overlook Zurich

Zurich is often viewed as a way to get in to Switzerland and then once there, people head off to the Alps. And the Alps are indeed magical but don’t overlook Zurich as a great destination in Switzerland!

It’s no secret that Switzerland is an expensive country to visit. While the Swiss Franc is practically equivalent to the USD, everything is just so much more expensive. Two double espressos in the train station were 12 Swiss Francs ($11.76 USD - more than twice what it would be at your local Starbucks). So, the biggest suggestions when visiting Zurich is to look for ways to save money. We rented an Airbnb which had a full kitchen and laundry so we could cook our own food and do laundry at the apartment. When walking back one night we considered eating at a restaurant. But after looking at the menu and seeing one hamburger was $18 we passed. Instead we went to a grocery store where we bought supplies to make our own hamburgers for dinner and a bottle of wine for $28 total.

Zurich is an easy city to navigate. The Zurich Bahnhoff (train station) is a major hub to access the rest of Switzerland (and Europe) but, in addition to walking, there are also trams, boats and buses to get around. You can take a train from the airport into the city as well. Our Airbnb was right by a tram stop so we could hop on that and in a few minutes be just about anywhere else in Zurich. We did have our Rail Europe Rail Pass but the tram is not included in that. You could purchase individual trips on the tram or a 24 hours pass. You can also purchase a 24 or 72 hour City Travel Pass. The Travel Pass includes all forms of public transportation, including short boat trips which is another great way to explore. If you’d like to travel outside of Zurich while you are there, you can read about 6 day trips using the great Swiss Rail system in my blog post here.

Here are 5 reasons to explore Zurich!

The Aldstatt (Old Town) is the heart of Zurich showcasing the towers of Grossmünster and the Fraumünster church. There are plenty of picturesque cobblestone streets to explore with beautiful architecture holding endless options of shopping and restaurants. The restaurant that we enjoyed the most was Zeughaus Keller. It is housed in a former armory (built in 1487) and is known for its traditional cuisine. We made reservations but also shared a table with a very nice German couple (who of course, spoke English). The food and beer were great - it was the only place that I remembered seeing Amber and IPA options - but it was also a fun atmosphere. We had Rösti with our meals (a type of hashbrown potatoes) and they put a bottle of ketchup down when they brought out our food. I found it funny that the Germans next to us didn’t receive this - it was only because we were American. We didn’t use it.  

Old Town Zurich and the River Limmat

The city is surrounded by water making it picturesque and fun to navigate - the River Limmat flows right through the Old Town to Lake Zurich. You can walk along the river, relax on a park bench, find a restaurant alongside it or even take a river boat cruise. We chose to walk along the river as it was free and allowed you to take in all the sights at your own pace. On the lake, boats are always coming and going but there are also plenty of places to sit and enjoy the views of the Alps in the distance. Our first day in Zurich we took a picnic lunch and sat beside the lake watching the boats and swans (a Coop grocery store is just across the street from the lake). Cruises on Lake Zurich are also available. You can utilize your City Travel Pass for this or take a more unique individualized trip (fondue trip anyone?).   

Lake Zurich

Zurich is the home of a Lindt Chocolate Factory. And largest Lindt chocolate outlet in Switzerland. You can use your City Travel Pass to take one of the short boat trips around the lake to the Kilchberg stop. As you get off the boat you’ll walk through a small park and once on the street, head left until you smell it. Seriously. You can take a tour or just browse the store which is what we did. Aside from smelling the chocolate walking in, the store is a feast for the eyes. Dozens of huge bins house a rainbow array of truffles. They have the standard flavors that you can find in any American grocery store but also unique ones that you don’t typically see in the US. I have found some of my favorites (like mango) at the Lindt outlets here in North Carolina but the range of flavors is tiny compared to what you find at the factory. They also have plenty of other items only sold over in Europe. While there is a Lindt factory in America, they don’t produce all the same types of products. So stock up.

Heaven on Earth aka The Lindt Chocolate Factory

Frau Gerolds Garten is a unique area just outside of the Old Town. Accessible by both train and tram, Frau Gerolds Garten is an area that houses gardens, shopping, restaurants and bars all in stacked shipping containers. The herbs, fruits and vegetables in the gardens are utilized in the meals served there. Menus changed based on the season. If you sit on one of the upper deck levels you can enjoy your meal or Swiss wine along with views of Zurich. During the spring and fall they have a market on Saturdays with 40+ additional vendors.

Frau Gerolds Garten

Zurich’s own mountain, Uetilberg, offers the best views of the area along with plenty of other activities. Uetilberg is accessible by train (included in the City Travel Pass) but there are hiking trails up and around the mountain. Even if you take the train it it still a bit of a walk (hills included!) to get to the lookout point. You can bring your own snacks and drinks but there is, of course, a restaurant at the top. Depending on the time of year there are different activities to choose from. Once at the top you can get even higher by climbing up the tower. Views on one side are of the city and Lake Zurich while the other offers Swiss countryside views.

Zurich and Lake Zurich from the top of Uetliberg

The Swiss countryside from the top of Uetliberg