Zurich – Gateway to Switzerland

When you think of Switzerland, you probably come up with images in your mind of the beautiful nature the company has to offer like the Swiss Alps and glacial rivers and lakes. In order to explore the picture-perfect scenery of this country, you will most likely fly into the largest airport and city in Switzerland, Zurich. Not only does Zurich make for a great gateway to any Switzerland vacation, it’s also the perfect city to explore before heading out into the natural beauty that most come to Switzerland to see.

There are many attractions to see while visiting Zurich:

Zurich’s Old Town

While the country of Switzerland was not founded until 1848, the earliest settlements in Zurich dates back to over 6,400 years. The early settlements of Zurich were along the immediate shores of both sides of the Limmat River which runs through the Old Town. Over these 6,400 years, the city went thru many changes and expanded well past the shores of the Limmat River. The Old Town of Zurich is the tourist heart of the city; it’s full of many pedestrian-only streets to walk down, exploring the shops, grabbing a bite to eat in the restaurants and admiring the stunning old buildings.

Some of the can’t miss sites to see in the Old Town include:

• Grossmünster – Like most European cities, Zurich is home to quite a few beautiful churches that have been around for centuries. One of the most recognizable churches in the city, Grossmünster has been around since the year 1220. The twin towers of the church are what makes it such a recognizable landmark in the city, and you can even climb the 187 steps to the top of one of the towers for a stunning view of the city of Zurich. The church was built at this location as it’s said to be the site of the graves of the city of Zurich’s patron saints, Felix and Regula. In the crypt of the church, there are old murals of the saints for you to see. While visiting Grossmünster, also make sure to see the stained-glass windows and the reformation museum.

• Fraumünster – One of the other famous churches in Zurich is located just across the Limmat River from Grossmünster. Fraumünster is often considered the women’s church as the convent at the church was housed by women from its founding in 853 through the 13th century. Many people visit Fraumünster each year to see the Chagall windows that were added to the church in 1970. These 5 windows display different biblical stories with the middle and largest window displaying the story of Jesus Christ’s life. Other things to see in the church are many other stained-glass windows by other artists, the organ and the crypt which dates back to the 9th century and now houses an exhibit on the history of Fraumünster.

• St. Peter’s Church – The oldest parish church in Zurich is St. Peter’s Church. The building that stands today is still on the original foundation which dates back to the 9th century. The church was not just a house of worship, starting in the year 1340, the tower, which has four windows facing in different directions across the city, was used as a fire watch tower. But the former fire watch duties are not all the tower of St. Peter’s Church is known for. The tower also features a clock that is 28 feet in diameter making it the largest clock face in all of Europe.

• Lindenhof – For a beautiful view while exploring the Old Town, head up the hill to Lindenhof Park and Viewpoint. From this viewpoint, you will get a stunning view of the Limmat River below and Grossmünster. But this park isn’t just known for its view, it has a lot of history as well. The history of Lindenhof dates all the way back to the 4th century when a Roman fort stood at the site. In the 9th century the grandson of the emperor Charlemagne built a royal palace at Lindenhof.

As one of the main tourist areas in Zurich, there are many restaurants and shops (including Swiss chocolate shops!) located in the Old Town and it’s just a perfect area to walk around as there are many car- free areas located in this historic part of the city. If you are looking for a great way to explore Zurich’s Old Town and learn a lot about the history of the city, sign up for a free walking tour. I took one of these tours and feel like I learned more than I feel I would have learned on a paid tour.

Waterways of Zurich

There is no shortage of bodies of water in Zurich. And who doesn’t love exploring a city from the water.

• Limmat River – As mentioned above, the Limmat River runs right thru the middle of Old Town Zurich. A walk along the river is a must do while visiting the city and a great way to get to and from the different sites within the Old Town. If all the walking makes you hungry, there are restaurants along the banks of the river to enjoy a meal with a great view. One particularly great way to enjoy the Limmat River is by taking a Limmat River Cruise which are offered between April and October each year. This is not only a great way to see the city from a different perspective on the water, but also a relaxing way to learn more about the city while you cruise down the river.

While the water looks very refreshing to jump in for a swim on a warm day, swimming is actually not allowed in the Limmat River in Zurich except for one day of the year when they hold the Limmatschwimmen. This event is held once a year and allows people to sign up for a 2-kilometer swim down the river. There is a challenge available for competitive swimmers while the non-competitive can sign up for a relaxing float down the Limmat River. The 58th annual event took place in late August on my first day in Zurich. It was a lot of fun watching everyone enjoy floating down the river. While quite a lot of people were floating down the river, the tickets for the event are limited and sell out very quickly when registration opens 3 days before the event. Check out the event website for information on when the next Limmatschwimmen will take place.

• Lake Zurich – The Limmat River empties into the fifth largest lake in Switzerland, Lake Zurich. This glacial lake was once used primarily as a transportation route to get goods into and out of the city of Zurich. Now it’s used primarily for recreation especially during the summer months in Zurich. Some of the more popular things you can do on Lake Zurich are:
  • Take a cruise on the Lake – Lake Zurich Navigation Company operates many different cruises on Lake Zurich including a mini-cruise which lasts just under an hour, a short cruise which lasts 90 minutes and a long cruise which lasts half a day. They also offer many unique themed cruises such as brunch cruises, sunset cruises and holiday themed cruises. The great thing about these boats is you can also use them as transportation to get to other locations along the lake.
  • Get out on the water – Not only can you take a boat cruise on the lake, but you can also rent a boat of your own for the day. Other great ways to get on the water are to go kayaking or stand up paddleboarding.
  • Take a walk along the lakefront – A nice stroll along the water is a great way to enjoy a nice day in Zurich. There are many different parks along the lake front to explore during your walk.
  • Enjoy the “beach” – All along the lake you will see people lounging in the sun on a warm summer day. There are not full sandy beaches like you may see along other beaches, but grassy areas that people use as a beach. These beaches are a great spot to relax and to dry off after a swim in the lake.

Swiss Chocolate

If you have a sweet tooth, you might have been wondering if I was going to mention that delicious treat from Switzerland, the famous Swiss chocolate! Well, Zurich is a great place not only to eat chocolate but also to learn about the history of Swiss Chocolate. One of the most well-known Swiss Chocolate companies is Lindt and it got its start right here in Zurich. No visit to Zurich is complete without visiting the Lindt Home of Chocolate.

At the Lindt Home of Chocolate, you can experience the following:

• Chocolate Fountain – As you enter the Lindt Home of Chocolate, you will be greeted by a nearly 30-foot-tall chocolate fountain.
• History of Swiss Chocolate – Not only will you learn more about how chocolate is made, but you will also learn the history of Lindt and other chocolate companies in Switzerland. Lindt was founded all the way back in 1845. You might wonder how an alpine country became such a popular chocolate making country when the cacao used in chocolate is grown in tropical climates near the equator. Well, the secret to what gives the Swiss Chocolate its delicious creamy flavor is the alpine milk from the dairy farms of Switzerland. This alpine milk has a higher fat content than other dairy farms which helps to make the chocolate so creamy.
• Chocolate Process – Walk by windows to the production floor to watch and learn the process of making chocolate.
• Chocolate Samples – No tour would be complete without some free samples and there are plenty to be found at Lindt Home of Chocolate. Tip: Bring a small bag to put the samples in to take with back to your hotel.
• Biggest Chocolate Shop in the World – Chocolate makes for the perfect souvenir to bring home to family and friends, so definitely check out the large gift shop before you leave.

Lindt Home of Chocolate is located in the suburbs of Zurich within walking distance from Lake Zurich. As I mentioned above, the boat cruises on Lake Zurich can be used as a means of transportation and Lindt Home of Chocolate is one of the most popular spots you can take the boat to. There is also a train that you can take as well with a foot path directly to the museum from the train stop.

Limited timed tickets are available, make sure to get your tickets in advance as they do sell out.

See Zurich from Above

One of the great things about the country of Switzerland is the views. All over the country, there are great views from the trains, from the water and also from above. I love a great view of a city from above, it gives you a better understanding of just how large and vast the city is. While the view from Lindenhof in the Old Town is beautiful, you can get even higher up above Zurich.

Take the train just a little over a half hour from Zurich’s main station to Adilswil where you can take a short (although a bit strenuous as it’s all uphill) walk to the Felsenegg Cable Car. This cable car will take you over 2,600 feet up to Felsenegg.

While up at Felsenegg, there are a number of things you can do:

• Enjoy the view – Take in the views of the city of Zurich and the surrounding area. From up here you get a good view of just how large the city is. I was very surprised at how much larger it was compared to how small of a city it seemed from below. You also get a good look at just how large Lake Zurich is and a great view of the mountains in the distance.

• Take a Hike – There are many different hiking trails accessible from Felsenegg including the Planet Path which will take you to Uetilberg. Along this 3.5-mile trail, you will past the planets to the sun at Uetilberg. Each meter of the trail represents 1 million kilometers in the solar system. The hike is fairly easy and will take you about 2 hours. There is a train from Uetilberg back to Zurich.

• Enjoy a meal with a view – On a nice day, I highly recommend enjoying some food and drinks at Felsenegg Restaurant. The restaurant has a beautiful outdoor seating area overlooking the views of Zurich below.

Make Time for Zurich

While you might be heading to Switzerland to visit the mountains for skiing, hiking or just taking in the views, make sure to save some time in your itinerary to explore Zurich. Chances are you’ll be flying in or out of Zurich, if you are arriving by plane, so why not make sure you see this beautiful city and learn it’s history. It’s the perfect start to your Switzerland vacation!

Bonus: If you’re looking for an easy day trip from Zurich, take the train just an hour from the city to Rhine Falls to see the largest waterfall in Europe.

This article is now featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Zurich.

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If you are looking for help in planning a trip to Switzerland, please contact me at Beyond The Miles Travel. I’d be more than happy to use my experience from my recent train trip in Switzerland to help plan the perfect vacation for you.