Wow! This is a beautiful, Old European city. It is clean, vibrant and cosmopolitan! The city is located on the northwestern edge of Lake Zurich and is a global center for banking and finance.
Epic Things to Do in Zurich:
1. Explore the city and old churches
2. Lake Zurich
3. Enjoy shopping and eating
Explore the city by foot – There is a great reference at traveladdicts.net that offers a helpful “walking tour of Zurich” and that is where I started. There is so much to see! Of course, the Swiss are known for their watches and I noticed that every church (and there are many) has a clock on it. They are all free (with the exception of the Fraumunster Church- which has windows designed by Chagall) so don’t miss taking some time to go inside and discover these gems. Besides Fraumunster Church, you can check out Saint Peter Church (largest clock in Europe), Grossmunster Church and Wasserkirch (water) Church.
Fraumunster Church
Don’t miss Lindenhof Park for scenic views of the city and river, and the Quailbrucke Bridge for views of the mountains on one side and views of the city on the other. Alstadt (Old Town) is separated by the Limmat River and each side reflects the pre-medieval history. Stop along your route and soak up the history of this town!
Lake Zurich is large, scenic lake that also provides lots of entertainment. You can enjoy the views, the beaches, boating, as well as boat tours and dinner cruises.
Lake Zurich
Bahnhofstrasse – is a pedestrian and tram only street and there is plenty of window shopping to be done here and throughout the city. If you are a serious shopper, then I think you will love this city and all the selections here! The same is true of the coffee shops, chocolate stores and restaurants – if you are a foodie you may be overwhelmed!
It was interesting to learn and see that there are over 1200 unique fountains throughout the city and the water flows down from the mountains. It is cold and crystal clear and drinkable, so bring your water bottles and fill up along the way and save your Swiss Francs for the fun stuff.
A fountain in Zurich
A country that speaks and emulates the cuisines of the French, German and Italian, I struggled somewhat to get a feel for the vibe of the locals. Most of the people I interacted with were actually from somewhere else. However, my quick impression of the Swiss people is that they are quiet, industrious and not self or attention seeking. They also seem very focused and seem to have a passion for sports. I saw entire families out everywhere – biking, hiking, sailing and I’m sure in the winter there is plenty of them skiing as well.
Overall – Switzerland is beautiful, clean, functions well and was a joy to visit. I look forward to having the opportunity to return and explore more of this epic country!
