Travel Guide: Zurich
Zurich isn't one of those places that automatically jumps to the top of most European travel lists, but it makes a great home-base for a host of central European trips, and after spending a few days there earlier this month, I'd argue its worth checking out in its own right as well.
{Get There}
The Zurich Airport is both very easy to navigate and very central to downtown. Car rentals and a train station are both located inside the same airport building which makes it very easy to rent a car for a few days, then return it to the airport and take the train into Zurich itself for the remainder of your trip, or vice versa.
Hotels, like most things in Switzerland, are pretty pricey so we booked an Airbnb which was fine for two nights. It was super convenient to the train to the airport and most major sites were walkable. If you want to spend a bit more the Marktgasse Hotel is in a great location and has great reviews.
{See & Do}
Cruise Lake Zurich - The short cruise is only about an hour and a half and offers stunning views of Lake Zurich and the surrounding towns. If you wanted to make a day of it you can hop off and explore some of the small lakeside towns before continuing your journey. The boats have indoor and outdoor seating and a full menu and bar so you can definitely make a day of it! Unless its high season I can't imagine you'd need to reserve in advance. We walked down to the water on a whim, bought tickets and hopped on board the next boat 10 minutes later. Granted it was a drizzly Sunday evening, but the views were still stunning and the lack of crowds made it really enjoyable.
Kunsthaus Museum - This is one of Zurich's most prominent museums and was sadly closed the only full day we had in town (Monday). It is definitely on my list for next time as the collections are supposed to be well worth the visit.
Grossmunster & Fraumunster - These two churches on opposite sides of the Limmat River dominate the skyline of old Zurich. We climbed to the top of Grossmunster and were rewarded by amazing views over the city and Lake Zurich. Its also a nice bit of exercise after all that Swiss chocolate!
District 5 - A little to the north of the old city is the up and coming District 5, here you've got the trendy
Viadukt Market - which boasts a wide array of artisanal food stalls, a gourmet restaurant and plenty of boutique shopping, as well as
Frau Gerolds Garden - which is an outdoor food/drink space perfect for warm weekend afternoons. Also nearby is Gerold Chuchi, a restaurant hidden in an alleyway filled with colorful umbrellas.
Botanical Gardens - A quick wander through these centrally located urban gardens will almost make you forget you're in the midst of a large city.
Banhofstrasse - This famous shopping street has every high end designer conceivable so definitely no bargains to be found, but plenty of beautiful window displays to gawk at.
{Eat & Drink}
Sprungli - This is the Zurich confectionary shop. In a country known for its chocolates, this place is the grande dame. There are outposts all over the city (Banhoff, Airport etc.) but nothing beats the downtown location where you can sit in the ground floor or upstairs cafe and enjoy your delicious treats with an espresso.
Dean & David - Quick lunchtime salads and soups.
Gartenhof - We had a delightful dinner at this unassuming neighborhood gastropub tucked away in a residential area near our Airbnb.
Kronenhalle - This restaurant is a Zurich institution, know for its amazing art collection which decorates the walls. Lesser known is the bar next door which is well worth a visit.
Caduff's Wine Loft - After reading several rave reviews, this place is on the list for next time!
{Things to Know}
Anything involving service (restaurants, hotels etc.) is very expensive. However, food in grocery stores such as Coop isn't terribly pricey so if you're on a budget, consider getting some groceries to avoid lots of meals out.
The public transit system is very easy to navigate and the trams are a great way to see the city and give your feet a bit of a break.
As Zurich is a central financial hub there is a surprising amount of English spoken downtown. In fact in a couple of cafes we were in, I couldn't pick out anyone speaking German!
