Basically, we’re total bumpkins, but when things get too monotonous for us, we get in the car or on the train and plunge into the turbulent city life. Zurich city center is ideal for this, we are right in the middle of it within half an hour.
In recent years we have had enough time to explore every corner of Zurich. In this blog I summarize our personal 10 highlights. The order has no meaning and also says nothing about which place is our favorite place 😉 Well… maybe I’ll tell you our “favourite place” at the end.
1. LINDENHOF – OASIS OF QUIET WITH A GREAT VIEW
The Lindenhof, surrounded by the linden trees that give it its name, is the perfect place to retreat when the hustle and bustle of the city becomes too much. Here you can enjoy a wonderful view of the old town with Grossmünster and town hall as well as the river Limmat.
2. THE CHARMING OLD TOWN
The historic pulse of the city beats on the left and right of the river Limmat. However, I’m mainly referring to the left part here… we’ll get to the right part later 😉
The majority of the old town is a pedestrian zone and is therefore ideal for strolling through the winding streets. You will find plenty of restaurants, shops and places where you can just watch the hustle and bustle.
The Augustinergasse is probably the most photographed alley in Zurich. It runs from busy Bahnhofstrasse to St. Peter’s Church. You really can’t miss it if you look out for waving Swiss flags and well-preserved, brightly painted bay windows.
3. ALONG THE RIVER LIMAT
The Limmat begins in Zurich. It is 36 km long from Lake Zurich until it finally flows into the Aare.
The waterfront promenades invite you to take a walk or go sightseeing. You will find many sights here, such as the town hall, Frauenmünster and Grossmünster.
In summer you can take a boat trip on the Limmat or just cool off in it. The people of Zurich also like to use the clear water of the river as a swimming pool.
4. A WALK ALONG THE SCHANZENGRABENPROMENADE
The Schanzengraben is another retreat in the middle of the city of Zurich. Since 1984 there has been an idyllic pedestrian promenade along the former city fortress, which leads from Zurich main station over wooden footbridges to Lake Zurich. You can easily reach the city directly via several staircases.
5. HILTL – THE OLDEST VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT
While we are not 100% vegetarian, we try to avoid meat as much as possible for ethical reasons. Since Swiss cuisine is very meat-heavy, the Hiltl restaurant is a welcome change.
Founded in 1898 by Ambrosius Hiltl, Haus Hiltl is the oldest (Guinness World Records award) vegetarian restaurant in the world.
The Hiltl now has several locations in Zurich. In addition to the à la carte restaurant with waiter service, Haus Hiltl has a self-service area with a large range of takeaways. In Vegimetzg, Switzerland’s first vegetarian butcher’s shop, you can buy home-made Hiltl delicacies and gifts.
Our absolute favorite is the famous Hiltl Tatar.
6. CHINESE GARDEN IN AUTUMN
On the right bank of the lake, in the middle of the beautiful promenade, you will find the next oasis of calm – the Chinese Garden. It was opened in 1994 and is a present from the Chinese sister city of Kunming to the people of Zurich. We were particularly impressed by the Chinese Garden in autumn when the leaves change color.
The garden is open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. from March to mid-October. Dogs are unfortunately not allowed. Entry costs CHF 4 (price 2021).
7. SHOPPING AT BAHNHOFSTRASSE
One of the best known and most popular shopping streets in Zurich is the 1.4 km long Bahnhofstrasse. It is located in the center of the city and connects the main train station with Bürkliplatz on Lake Zurich.
Boutiques of big fashion designers, jewelery and watch shops, but also young, cheaper fashion chains make every shopping heart beat faster here. Our favorite shop “Läderach” is located near the train station – here you can find the best Swiss chocolate 😋
Apart from the numerous shops you will also find the Paradeplatz, the center of the Swiss banks.
And if you get hungry… the well-known Augustinergasse leads away from the Bahnhofstrasse into the old town, where you will find plenty of restaurants.
8. ÜTLIBERG – TOP OF ZURICH
The best view of Zurich is clearly from Zurich’s local mountain – the Ütliberg. The 870 meter high mountain is a popular destination for young and old. You can see the entire city, Lake Zurich and, in good weather, even the Alps.
Arriving from Zurich: from Zurich main train station to the Uetliberg station (S10)
However, we prefer a 45-minute hike from the Feldermoos car park near Uitikon-Waldegg 😉
9. NIEDERDORF – SHOPPING & RESTAURANTS
The charming Niederdorf lies to the right of the Limmat. It is part of Zurich’s old town and invites you to go shopping with its small hidden shops during the day. In the evenings, this car-free zone turns into an entertainment district with a wide range of restaurants and bars. The people of Zurich lovingly call this area “Dörfli”.
10. LAKE ZURICH AND ITS PROMENADES
Last but not least, we come to our personal Zurich highlight 😍
Lake Zurich is about 90 km² in size, 42 km long and extends over 3 cantons (Zurich, Schwyz and St. Gallen).
The eternally long lake promenades invite you to take a walk or have a picnic.
In summer, the following lidos are available for cooling off:
- Standbad Mythenquai
- Seebad Utoquai
- Strandbad Tiefenbrunnen
- Seebad Enge
- Frauenbad Stadthausquai
Our personal opinion about Zurich:
- very charming town
- Swiss friendliness
- many shopping opportunities
- Lake Zurich is a big plus
On the following pages you can get a very good overview of Zurich:
https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/destinations/zurich/
Best travel time:
Zurich is worth seeing all year round. In summer, Lake Zurich in particular invites you to splash around, but the Christmas markets in Zurich are also very popular.
Restaurant recommendations (constantly updated):
- Fischers Fritz – fish restaurant at the lake
- Hiltl – vegetarian restaurant
- La Pasta – Italian restaurant
- Ristorante Toscano – Italian restaurant
- Nagasui – Thai restaurant
- AURORA Zürich – International restaurant
- Yooji’s Bahnhofstrasse – Running Sushi
- Don Weber – Mexican restaurant
- White Elephant – Thai restaurant
- Taos Restaurant & Bar – Thai restaurant
- The Nest – Rooftop Bar
- Blue Monkey – Thai Restaurant
More tips & recommendations:
Zurich is an ideal starting point for exploring Switzerland. Some destinations are only about 1 hour away. Here are some recommendations for a day trip:
- Rapperswil – the city of roses on Lake Zurich
- Luzern – a jewel on Lake Lucerne
- Einsiedeln – monastery, panorama trail & Christmas market
- Bern – Top Things to do in 24 hours
You can get even more impressions in our YouTube video about Zurich 😊
