Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and is home to a lively, cosmopolitan population of over 350,000 residents. The scenic city has played a vital role in European history as it was once the center of trade and commerce during the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods. The city is known for its culture, art museums, and deep-rooted traditions that date back centuries ago. Zurich has lots of places to visit as it is arguably the best naturally beautiful town in the world.
When visiting Zurich as a tourist you can enjoy the exciting nightlife or relax at one of many parks scattered throughout the city such as Bellevue Park or Tinguely Museum Garden. There are also plenty of restaurants serving up traditional Swiss cuisine along with international cuisines from around the world depending on what type of food you like best! In addition, there are plenty of hotels to choose from if staying overnight is something you’re interested in doing while visiting Switzerland’s largest city (we recommend Hotel Storchen).
Where is Zurich?
You may be wondering where this magical place is. Zurich, Switzerland! It is located in the north-eastern part of the country and it’s known for its rich culture and history. If you love being outdoors, you will love what this city has to offer because there are many outdoor activities including hiking, biking, and skiing. This city is also home to a lot of museums that offer free admission every year on 1 May International Museum Day. You can visit some of them if you want to learn more about Swiss culture and heritage!
Zurich town is also known as Europe’s financial center because it has so many banks operating there such as UBS Group AG (UBSG), Credit Suisse Group AG (CSGN), and Julius Baer Group Ltd., among others which means there are plenty of opportunities for everyone looking for employment in this field too.
Üetliberg Mountain
Üetliberg is a mountain in the city of Zurich, Switzerland. It is the highest point of the city of Zurich and has a height of 669 meters (2,198 ft). It is part of a chain that lies between Lake Zurich and Lake Walen.
The mountain can be reached by a funicular railway or by walking up its southern slope from Wollishofen. The funicular ascends through vineyards to reach Uetliberg station at an altitude of 538 meters (1,767 ft). From there you can take another cable car up to 851 meters above sea level where you find yourself on top at “Burg” restaurant with great views over all of Zurich including its lake and Alps! There are also hiking trails if you don’t want to use public transport.
Bahnhofstrasse
Bahnhofstrasse is the main shopping street in Zurich. It is a pedestrian-only street and it is one of the busiest places. It is not very easy to walk on this street, but you can enjoy many shops and restaurants there.
How to go from Zurich?
- You can take a train from Zurich Hauptbahnhof (main station) and get off at Bahnhofstrasse station (the stop before Wiedikon).
- You can also use Uber or another car service app to get from your hotel or apartment to Bahnhofstrasse.
Frumünster Church
Frumünster Church is located in the old town of Zurich. The church is one of the most important churches in Zurich. Frumünster Church was built by Duke Louis IV (Ludwig) around 1130 AD, who later became King Ludwig III of Swabia.
The Frumunster Church is located near the river Limmat at the end of Kramgasse, which is near St Peterskirchhofstrasse tram stop and about a 5 min walk from Zurich Hauptbahnhof railway station.
Lake Zurich Promenade
If you want to visit Lake Zurich, there are several ways to go. The most popular way is by boat. The boat stops at four locations around the city lake: Zurich, Rapperswil, Stein am Rhein and Fluhli.
Another way is by cable car from Zurich Oberland Bahnhof to Hurden-Schlattli station and then walking along the promenade of Lake Zurich (about 3 km).
This walk takes about 1 hour or so in total but with breathtaking views of trees, mountains, and lakeside buildings like Villa Diodati where Lord Byron used to visit Percy Shelley during summertime along with Mary Godwin (later Mary Shelley).
The Old Town
The Old Town is the medieval city center of Zurich. The site was added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in 1983, with the justification that it “has remained intact to this day, it has retained its architectural and urban planning structure from the 13th century onwards and represents a unique example of an ideal town conceived by a ruling dynasty.
The Old Town is not only home to many historical buildings but also museums and galleries such as Kunst Halle Zurich which houses some exquisite works by Picasso, Van Gogh, and Degas; Museum für Gestaltung (Museum for Design) which showcases modern design from all over the world; Kunsthalle Zürich houses works by Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, and Salvador Dalí among others; Stadtmuseum Zürich displays various exhibitions related to the history of Zurich with emphasis on its culture; Rietberg Museum hosts temporary exhibitions related to anthropology, ethnology, and art history.
From here you can easily walk around any part of town on foot or take one of several buses that run frequently through the streets or hop into one of those pretty yellow trams which will take you anywhere you want to go within minutes.
Swiss National Museum
The Swiss National Museum and its collections of historical artifacts is one of the most popular attractions in Zurich. It’s located on the left bank of Lake Zurich, opposite Bellevueplatz. The museum was established in 1879, making it Switzerland’s oldest national museum. The building itself has been declared a historical monument by the canton of Zurich, as well as by UNESCO. The museum holds around 400 permanent exhibitions that cover topics such as natural history, ethnology, and archaeology. They also present a variety of temporary exhibitions throughout the year that often focuses on contemporary art or science topics (such as their current display on Swiss Nobel Prize winners).
If you’re traveling from another city in Europe to visit this landmark then there are several ways to get here:
- From Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam: take bus 551 from Amsterdam Sloterdijk train station, or take train A2 toward ‘Zürich Airport’; change at De Lairessestrasse stop for tram 10 direction ‘Messe’.
- From Basel Train Station: take tram 10 direction ‘Messe’ until Marzili stop then change onto trolleybus 602 (tram tickets valid) towards Marzili Platz/Bahnhofstrasse until Tribschener Heimgarten stop where you can transfer onto bus 610 to Bellevueplatz stop which takes about 35 minutes total travel time. If flying into Zürich International Airport then take bus 610 from airport terminal 2 or 3 until the Bellevueplatz stop which takes about 15 minutes total travel time.
Grossmunster
Grossmunster is a church in Zurich, Switzerland, and is the largest church of the city. It is dedicated to Mary, patron saint of Zurich.
It takes about 30 minutes from Zurich main station by train or tram to get to Grossmunster. You can take any tram from platforms 3-5 going westward until you reach the “Grossmünster” stop. Trams 2 and 4 will take you there, too but they are slower than trams 1 or 6 which run more often and faster than the other two mentioned above.
Kunsthaus
Kunsthaus is located in the city center. It is a museum of modern and contemporary art, whose collection ranges from Picasso to Matisse, Monet, and Kandinsky.
The Kunsthaus is open every day of the year, even on public holidays (except December 24th). You can get there by bus, tram or train from Zurich main station (Zurich Hauptbahnhof).
Niederdorf
Niederdorf is the oldest part of Zurich, and it’s a great place to eat, drink and shop. The area is also full of cafes and bars where you can go for just a coffee or have a more relaxed evening out with friends.
The tram stops at Stadelhofen Railway Station (Westbahnhof), from where you can take the number 15 tram straight into Niederdorf. Alternatively, if you are staying in another part of towns like Bellevue or Rennweg, there are buses that will take you through Niederdorf too.
Zurich Opera House
Zurich Opera House is a masterpiece of architecture and a must-see attraction in Zurich. It is located in the city center, next to the lake and the river Limmat.
From Hauptbahnhof Main Railway Station: Take tram number 11 or 13 and get off at ‘Opernhaus’. Walk to the right (south) on Bahnhofstrasse. After crossing under a bridge, you will see Zurich Opera House on your left-hand side.
From Flughafen Zurich Airport: Take bus number 747 or 749 to ‘Hauptbahnhof’, then walk from there as described above.
Lindenhof (Special mention)
from Lindenhof, you can get spectacular views of most places of Zurich like Old Town, Grossmünster Church, City Hall, the Limmat river, the university, and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. this place has a great historical value itself.
Conclusion
Zurich is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and it has so many things to do. It is among the best honeymoon destinations. There are so many things you can do in Zurich, whether it’s visiting museums or going to festivals, there’s always something for everyone. It is also a great place if you want to learn more about history because there are many remnants left behind by past civilizations who lived here before us.
Also Read: 10 Reasons why Travel to Greece and places must visit.
