Zurich, Switzerland

After spending 13-months in the canton, it is no surprise that my travels in and around Zurich, Switzerland are pretty well documented! I would have thought that I would tackle this place sooner, but I’m now finally gotten around to it. So, without further ado,  here are my comments and suggestions on some of my favourite parts of Zurich that I picked up over my time out there.

***

Travel To and From Zurich

To me, Zurich is the beating heart of Switzerland. Yes, the pull of culture and landmarks are important, but the thing I love most is the expansive travel links that the city enjoys to all four corners of the country, and beyond! It’s got fantastic train, bus, coach, tram connections, all of which are efficient but pricey (as are most things in Switzerland)! As an example, I have used the train to get to Basel and Lugano for day trips which mean that, from the German-speaking side of the country (Zurich), I was able to get to both the French-speaking (Basel) and Italian-speaking (Lugano) parts of the country. Everything is interconnected!

 

Wandering Zurich Lake (Zürichsee)

One of the best things about Zurich is the fact that the whole city is so easily explored on foot! And it is not difficult to find yourself wandering alongside Zurich Lake in the heat of summer or the cool, bright winters. For no money at all, just being able to take in the breath-taking views of this large body of water on every which way of the Lake is such a site and is something that we did a lot during the summer and into the autumn months.

As you will see in the below pictures, the Lake is well-connected by tram links, if you would rather reach the Lake quicker than on foot. You can jump on the trams and buses as they are inclusive with the SBB Zurich Day-Pass ticket, but make sure you always have it handy as the Swiss are well-known as sticklers for rules and you may face a heavy fine if you are caught without a valid ticket. These tickets can be purchased at any train station, though the most central to Zurich is Zurich Hauptbanhof (HB) and costs upwards of CHF 20.00 per person (around £15.65). Expensive, yes, but it also allows you a lot of room to travel and cram as much into the day as possible to get your money’s worth!

 

Zurich’s Night-Life

I am happy to report that the night-life in Zurich is great too! Our love of the karaoke scene in Zurich was particularly strong. We went to a great place called “Fambar” which was one bus ride away from the main station and, similarly, we went to a bar called “Almodòbar” which was also a great spot. To be honest, it is not difficult to find great bars in Zurich for drinkers (and non-drinkers, like me)! We had a lot of fun on multiple occasions soaking up the night-life in Zurich and I highly recommend you doing the same!

 

Christmas Market

And, of course, I would be remiss to forget that Zurich can also be fantastic during the Christmas period because of the markets that fill the place. As with most European countries, the Christmas markets are not to be missed – so if you are in the area, it is definitely worth a visit. We visited the Christmas market/village in Sechseläutenplatz, Zurich which was filled with people and was lovely to wander around and get the typical Christmas treats: roasted almonds, hot chocolate, etc. Be warned, you might be a little shocked by the prices, but as with most places around Christmas and the holidays, the prices do tend to soar so do be prepared for this. Either way, there was no entry fee and it was a pretty place to take pictures and get in the festive mood!

***

Undoubtedly, there is a lot that can be done in Zurich and the city is well worth a visit, especially because it is loud, proud, and very well connected with the rest of the country. It is no surprise that it feels like the beating heart of the country.

– Freeing Freida –