More than just a financial center, Zurich is a vibrant and charming city full of history, art and culture. Set on the banks of both a river and lake and surrounded by mountains in the distance, Zurich is Switzerland’s largest city and transportation hub and a great vacation destination for all types of travelers. I spent three whirlwind days exploring the city with new friends and only got a taste of everything it had to offer. This travel guide to Zurich will help you plan your visit to this beautiful city.
I had the distinct pleasure of flying Business Class from LA to Zurich on Lufthansa Airline and back home via Swiss. As my first Business Class experience, it was truly amazing. The service and food were incredible, and the roominess and comfort made me giddy like a child. Being able to lay down completely and sleep on an international flight is a game changer – it definitely makes for a better experience once you’ve landed since you’re well-rested and ready to go. I highly recommend flying with these guys. They are the best!
Getting around the city is really easy. You can explore the city by foot, but I’d also recommend getting the ZurichCARD, which allows unlimited travel on all public transportation and even offers free admission to many museums and discounts on city tours and at shops and restaurants. If you plan on venturing outside Zurich, consider the Swiss Travel Pass, which allows the same benefits as the ZurichCARD but isn’t limited to the city and includes travel on the panorama routes. While you don’t have to swipe the pass to get onto any train or bus, you do need to have the pass on you at all times as they periodically will come around and check! If walking and public transit aren’t enough for you, it’s also possible to rent a bike for free! All you have to do is present your ID and a deposit of 20CHF – check the website here for details.
HILTL | Sihlstrasse 28, 8001 Zurich // According to the Guinness Book of World Records, this is the oldest continuously open vegetarian restaurant in the world. Both a local and tourist favorite, Hiltl cooks up delicious meals even carnivores will love. The buffet is popular with most diners, though we ordered off the main menu. Be sure to try their freshly-squeezed juices– the Carrot-Ginger was tasty. Fun fact – if you order off the main menu and the serving didn’t fill you up, you can ask for a second helping!
RESTAURANT MARKTHALLE | Limmatstrasse 231, 8005 Zurich // Situated inside the Markthalle shopping plaza under the bridge. The restaurant is known for its simple menus made from fresh seasonal products. Our waiter helped us select an assortment of dishes to share for the evening, including meats and local caught fish.
KANTOREI | Neumarkt 2, 8001 Zurich // Loved the windows of this restaurant in the heart of Niederdorf. Here you can try the local “Wienerschnitzel”, a thin steak of veal pounded very thin, breaded, and fried, served with potato-pickle salad and cranberries. It reminded me a bit of a country fried steak! For dessert, try their coffee with ice cream – it’s so wonderful, I’m still dreaming about it.
SWISS CHUCHI | Rosengasse 10, 8001 Zurich // A local classic in Old Town. Come here to try the fondue and raclette, both popular Swiss meals. I particularly enjoyed the raclette, where the cheese is heated and then scraped off into a potato with pickle.
FISCHERS FRITZ | Seestrasse 559, 8038 Zurich // A beautiful lake side dinner view – complete with assorted fried fish dishes (and chicken if you like). It’s located on a campground, but the meal was one of my favorites in Zurich – more on this place to come!
CONFISERIE SPUNGLI | multiple locations // You can’t come to Switzerland and leave without trying some Swiss chocolate! Check out this shop of beautiful chocolates and pastries. There is also a cafe if you’d like to sit and enjoy your treats.
UETLIBERG | // 871 meters above sea level, the top of Uetliberg offers a panoramic view of the city and landscape. It’s a short 20-minute train ride from the Zurich main station. When you exit the train station, there is a short walk to the top, and should you desire, you can pay 2CHF to walk to the top of the tower.
MANIFESTA | multiple locations // As described by its director Hedwig Fijen, “Manifesta, the roving European Biennial for Contemporary Art, brings the visual arts together with the urban, social, historical, economical, ecological and architectural context of each host city” Zurich is the host for 2016 – exhibits run until September 18, 2016. If you happen to be in Zurich during this time, check it out.
EXPLORE BY FOOT // Walk around Old Town Niederdorf, a beautiful and historic part of town. I loved walking the streets in the early morning before they became bustling.
FRAU GEROLD’ GARTEN | Geroldstrasse 23/23a 8005 Zurich // An outdoor beer garden complete with local brews and cute shops. Be sure to check out the Freitag Store and walk to the top for a view of the city.
MUSEUMS | While I didn’t get a chance to explore the museums on my trip in-depth, many people recommend the Swiss National Museum. Check to see what museums you might be able to enjoy free with the ZurichCARD!
We stayed in Zurich West at the 25 Hours Hotel. The hotel is trendy, hip, and located in an industrial area outside of the city center but only a short tram ride away from downtown. The rooms were comfortable and roomy with a large view of the city. The restaurant downstairs is a great place to grab a quick bite or enjoy a morning breakfast before you head out.
This post is in partnership with Zurich Tourism Board. All thoughts and opinions are always my own. Sponsored posts like these allow for additional content to be produced. Thank you for supporting our partners!
