During our recent trip to Konstanz, Sven and I took advantage of our nearness to Switzerland and made a trip to Zürich for the day.
You have to believe me when I say that we nearly froze! It was so cold in the city and even snowed a little bit throughout the day. We made the best of it though and still enjoyed ourselves in spite of the weather.
Even though we were only there for an afternoon, I thought I would share a mini travel guide since you can still cover a lot of ground in one day!
Eight things to do in Zürich Switzerland
1. Altstadt
We spent the afternoon wandering around the beautiful Altstadt (old town), exploring the coziness of its medieval streets. You can easily get lost in the winding cobblestone alleyways of the Altstadt.
2. Bahnhofstrasse
If your in the mood for some shopping, or even some window shopping, take a stroll down Bahnhofstrasse. Here is where you will find all of the top designer labels. Sven had to pull me along as I was going gooey-eyed over the window displays…
3. Zürichsee
Even though we visited Zürich on a cold and gray day, we still took a stroll along the Zürichsee (lake Zürich) at Bürkliterrasse. I can only imagine how breathtaking the view must be on a clear and sunny day. I also imagine that Zürichsee is a prime spot for picnicing in the warmer months!
4. Lindenhof Hill
If you’re looking for a superb view of the city, head to Lindenhof Hill. Here you will find a beautiful gravel park lined with tall trees. Sven and I snacked some croissants here while enjoying the view of Limmat River, Great Minster, and the Altstadt. No trip to Zürich would be complete without visiting this hill top!
5. Grossmunster Cathedral
While Grossmunster (Great Minster) Cathedral is stunning from the outside, don’t pass by without taking a look inside. Here Sven and I took a break from the cold weather and sat inside admiring the beautiful interior architecture and stain glass windows.
6. Fraumünster Church
Fraumünster (Minster of Our Lady) Church is perhaps one of the most iconic buildings of Zürich’s skyline. The tall green spire is easy to see from many point all over the town. And although we didn’t go inside, we enjoyed wandering the nearby grounds of Fraumünster.
7. Zürich Fountains
As you explore Zürich, you will find many beautiful fountains all over the city. In fact, there are approximately 1,200 fountains nestled throughout the city’s streets. But the coolest part is that you can drink from them. We didn’t because it was so cold outside, but I’m sure it’s super convenient in the summer time! Above is a link to one… now it’s your job to find the other 1,199!
8. Zürich Opera House
At Sechseläutenplatz, you will find the beautiful Zürich Opera House. This building was absolutely stunning and the square in front was covered in the cutest green and pink chairs. I wish the sun was shining when we visited because the the foot of the Opera House would make a perfect place for a picnic!
Best Cappuccino in Zürich
If you’re on the hunt for a cozy café and delicious Cappuccino, stop by Bovelli Coffee House & Bar (pictured below). It was the only place we stopped to have coffee during our visit, so I can’t really say if it’s the best. But I thought their espresso was tasty and it also has a ton of great reviews (mine included).
Other tips for visiting Zürich
It’s no secret that Zürich is an expensive city – it’s actually the third most expensive city in the world! Knowing this, Sven and I packed a lot of snack with us before leaving Germany in the morning. Being so near to Germany, Zürich makes a great day-trip city and I imagine it would be even better in warmer months when there’s more to do outside. If we go back to Zürich, I don’t think we would plan an overnight stay because it’s just so expensive, and we would also plan to visit when it isn’t snowing.
