Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and one of the richest in Europe, known as the most livable city in the world. Zurich is blessed with beautiful natural beauty, historic buildings, rich cultural activities, and high quality of life. Zurich is a city worth your time to explore, whether you're into history, art, food, shopping, or the outdoors, you'll find what you're looking for. In this article, you'll find a guide to a two-day getaway in Zurich, including how to plan your trip, how to choose transportation, how to choose accommodation, and how to visit Zurich's three main attractions: Lindenhofberg, Lake Zurich and Bahnhofstrasse. Hopefully, this article will make your trip to Zurich more relaxing and enjoyable.
Zurich's main attractions are concentrated in the Old Town and on the banks of the Limmat River, which are easily accessible on foot or by public transport. If you have two days, you can plan your itinerary by following these suggestions:
Day 1: Arrive in Zurich in the morning, take the train from Zurich Airport to Zurich Train Station, then walk or take the tram to your accommodation. In the afternoon, depart from your accommodation and walk along the Limmat River to Lindenhof for panoramic views of Zurich, then continue along the riverbank to Lake Zurich for a cruise on the lake and enjoy the scenery, or take a walk around the lake to see the buildings and sculptures on the lakeside. In the evening, you can enjoy a dinner of Swiss specialties at a restaurant by the lake, or head back to the old town for some local snacks and desserts.
Day 2: In the morning, depart from your accommodation and take the tram to Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich's busiest shopping street, where you can browse the boutiques or buy some Swiss watches and chocolates as souvenirs. At noon, you can have lunch at a restaurant near Bahnhofstrasse, or go to the Sprüngli dessert shop and taste some of the famous macarons and chocolates. In the afternoon, you can choose to visit some museums or churches in Zurich, such as Kunsthalle Zurich, Zurich Cathedral, Zurich Notre Dame Cathedral, etc., to learn about the history and culture of Zurich. In the evening, you can choose between an opera or a party, or go to some bars and nightclubs to experience Zurich's nightlife.
Public transport in Zurich is very well developed, and you can easily get where you want to go by train, tram, bus, boat, etc. If you want to save on transport, you can buy the Zürich Card, a card that gives you unlimited travel on public transport around the city of Zurich, as well as free or discounted admission to more than 40 museums in Zurich, as well as other benefits. The Zurich Card is available in 24-hour and 72-hour versions, and you can choose the right card for your itinerary. You can buy the Zurich Card at Zurich Airport, train stations, tourist information centres, or some hotels and hostels, or book online.
Accommodation in Zurich is relatively high**, and if you want to save money on accommodation, you can choose from a number of youth hostels, B&Bs, or aparthotels. If you want to stay more comfortably, you can choose from some mid-range or high-end hotels. Whatever accommodation you choose, it's best to choose somewhere near the old town or the train station, so you can easily walk or take public transport to get to the attractions you want to visit.
Here's an introduction to the three main attractions in Zurich, and you can arrange your visit in order and time according to your interests and timing.
Lindenhof is a small hill in Zurich in the heart of the Old Town and is one of the oldest places in Zurich. Here, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Zurich, see the beautiful buildings on both sides of the Limmat River, and the snow-capped mountains in the distance. You can also take a walk in the park at the top of the hill and see some prehistoric, Roman, and medieval architectural remains and get a feel for Zurich's history and culture. You can walk to Lindenhof from anywhere in the Old Town, or take the tram to the Rathaus station and walk a few minutes to get there. The Lindenhof is free and open to the public, so you can go whenever you want, but the best time to see it at night is when you can see the lights and fireworks of Zurich. You can enjoy some drinks and snacks at the restaurant or café at the top of the hill, or enjoy some street performances in the square at the bottom of the hill.
Lake Zurich is a calling card of Zurich, it is one of the largest lakes in Switzerland, with crystal clear water and beautiful shores. On Lake Zurich, you can take a boat ride and enjoy the cityscape of Zurich, or follow the lakeside cycle or walking trails to see the villas, gardens, churches and museums along the lakeside. You can also relax in the park by the lake or swim on the beach by the lake. You can take a boat cruise from the Bürkliplatz pier in the Old Town or walk to Lake Zurich from Landiwiese Park near the train station. Boat fares vary depending on the route and time, and you can check and purchase them at the pier or online. Lake Zurich is free and you can go whenever you want, but it can get cold in the winter, so you'd better dress warmly.
Bahnhofstrasse is Zurich's busiest shopping street and one of the most expensive in Europe, connecting the train station to the lake, and there are many high-end boutiques, jewellery shops, watch shops, chocolate shops and more along the way, where you can buy some Swiss brands and specialties, or just admire the window displays. You can also see some of Zurich's landmarks on Bahnhofstrasse, such as the Zurich State Museum, the Zurich Opera House, the University of Zurich, and more. You can walk to Bahnhofstrasse from the train station or the lake, or take the tram to Bahnhofstrasse or Rennweg. Bahnhofstrasse is free and you can go whenever you want, but it can get crowded on weekends and holidays, so it's a good idea to plan ahead where you want to go.
Zurich is a fascinating city where you can experience the nature, history, culture and life of Switzerland. Depending on your interests and time, you can choose the attractions you want to visit or discover some surprises of your own. Whatever you choose, I'm sure your trip to Zurich will be unforgettable. Have a great trip!