In the heart of Zurich, unforgettable adventures await
The Zürich Card is the most convenient method to navigate about the city. The ticket covers public transportation (including boat rides, funiculars, and cable cars! ), free admission to museums such as the National Museum and Kunsthalle Zürich, discounts on shops and restaurants, discounted admission to theaters, and even free access to the airport observation deck. It's a sensible way to see this enthralling city, costing just Swiss Francs 27 (about $39) for 24 hours or Swiss Francs 53 (about S$77) for 72 hours.Use the card to access Uetliberg, the city's own mountain at 870 meters above sea level. A 20-minute rail trip from Zürich HB main station, the summit offers views over Zurich's rooftops, the lake, the Alps, and woodlands, where the spectrum of colors spans from green to yellow to brown to orange to red in autumn, creating a beautiful thrill. A culinary feast awaits at the mountain's restaurants, which are ideal for fueling up before taking a leisurely walk on the Planet Trail, an easy two-hour hike from the mountain through the countryside to Felsenegg that traverses through a model of the solar system, with each metre of the path representing 1,000,000 kilometers in space. The peak of Uetliberg is particularly popular in November, since it sits above the curtain of fog that often surrounds the city.
Another popular perspective is in Zurich's Old Town. Lindenhof, which was chosen as a shooting site for the Korean drama Crash Landing On You, is a lovely hilltop plaza with breathtaking views. The tree leaves become a dazzling yellow in fall, bathing the plaza in a vibrant glow. Visitors will be able to view the Old Town, Grossmünster Church, City Hall, the Limmat River, the university, and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology from the plaza (also known as ETH). Lindenhof is likewise deep in history: a Roman fort was here in the fourth century, and the grandson of Charlemagne constructed a majestic palace on the site in the ninth century.
The lure of another interesting expedition in the city is exploration under the earth. Subterranean fungus is the reward on Truffle Hunts with Emma's Truffles, a quest with Thierry Garzotto and his friendly Lagotto Romagnolo dog Emma dei Silvanbull. Garzotto discusses where truffles may be located in the city, what trees they grow near, and what signals to look for while looking for black and gold truffles. This is a genuinely one-of-a-kind urban experience that takes players through city streets to squares, little patches of greenery, and big open parks, like a treasure hunt with a heady reward.
Truffles aren't the only gastronomical treat to be found in Zurich. Along the lake, there are various vineyards and wineries, two of which are located inside city boundaries. Zweifel, a 14th-century family business, makes wines from grapes grown in three locations: the city, the Limmat Valley, and near Lake Zurich in a region known as the Gold Coast. Visitors may sample the company's tantalizing whites and reds during wine tastings at the Zweifel Weinbeiz restaurant. In the same time, the family imports select wines from across the globe, which may be sampled and bought at the city's two shops.
Landolt was created in 1834 in the Enge neighborhood, which has some of the city's most magnificent vineyards. The vintner makes 30 distinct wines from 10 different grape varieties from the Zurich Wine Region. With six hectares of Zurich grape plants, including some near to the main FIFA building, this is the city's biggest winegrower. Landolt, like Zweifel, offers wine at its shop.
Find out where to go in Zurich for the greatest food and wine experiences
After whetting the whistle, it's time to fill the stomach, and Zurich has enough to offer in this area. There are 15 Michelin-starred restaurants in town, with meals ranging from molecular to hefty, national to international.Among these is Pavillon, a nine-person kitchen in the grounds of the Baur au Lac hotel that serves modern-French haute cuisine. Rico's in Küsnacht, led by Carlo Rampazzi, greets with warm colors and opulent décor, while meals combine the flavors of France, Italy, and Asia, and are offered à la carte or in seven-course tasting menus. Sushi Shin, a small restaurant serving omakase by Chef Kenichi Arimura, with handcrafted walnut-wood seats at the sushi counter. The menu varies daily, but it is heavy on seafood, with locally sourced ingredients and a focus on quality.
Equi-Table transforms sustainable items into aesthetic pleasures. Its meals are created entirely from seasonal and regional products, as well as fair trade items, and it is located near Bäckeranlage park. The city also has restaurants with a unique twist, where live entertainment is as important as the delicious cuisine.
On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, live music follows a supper of modern Zurich cuisine at Rank, while at Restaurant Akaraka, the Korean opera singer proprietors perform during the fine dining with live music slot on Friday and Saturday nights. Both of them are sensory delights, merging the arts of food and performance.
After a delicious and interesting supper, Zurich's trendy pubs are lively places to spend the evening. Bar am Wasser, which translates to "bar by the lake," is located near Lake Zurich and transitions from a daytime restaurant/café to a chill bar with dark parquet floors and velour armchairs as the day winds down. In its two-story premium spirits gallery, the bar carries 400 bottles, with 25 specialty drinks organized by flavor rather than alcohol type.
The sky is within touching distance at Clouds, the city's tallest bar, located in the middle of Zürich-West, a former industrial neighborhood. The views and drink selection dazzle on the 35th level of the Prime Tower, with distinctive cocktails prepared from the bar's own award-winning gin, set against panoramas of the Limmat Valley, the urban Zürich-West sector, and dramatic sunsets.
Jules Verne Panorama Bar boasts curling banquettes and stunning views of the city's rooftops, as well as a selected range of gins, tequilas, and rums. The Widder Bar of the Widder Hotel combines live jazz with an extensive cocktail menu – its Library of Spirits has over 1,000 bottles.
Discover Zurich's one-of-a-kind shopping experiences
More choice may be found in the different retail locations dispersed across the city. Every region has its own local market, some of which are very well-known. Every Tuesday and Friday morning, the biggest market in Zurich, Bürkliplatz, takes place, featuring local seasonal vegetables and fruits, flowers, cheese, meat, and fish from Lake Zurich. The setting is stunning, nestled amid horse chestnut trees at Bürkliplatz, where the famed retail strip Bahnhofstrasse meets Lake Zurich. From May through October, this plaza also offers a flea market with antiques and unusual things from vintage collections, such as ancient cameras, vinyl discs, furniture, jewelry, and more.After shopping, a walk around the lake is in order. Every Saturday morning on the Rathausbrücke (City Hall Bridge), there is a flower and vegetable market that goes back to the Middle Ages, and some think that this market is where Zurich tourism began.
The permanent Markthalle in the Viaduct in Zürich-West has 20 produce and food kiosks, as well as restaurants that serve seasonal specialities. Zürich-West is also home to stylish flagship shops situated in old industrial structures. Among these are the legendary bag company Freitag (founded in 1993 in an apartment near the neighboring Hardbrücke bridge), housed in a four-story shipping container tower, and the immersive, interactive European flagship sports retailer ON, founded in the Swiss Alps.
For a more traditional Swiss shopping experience, the 1.4-kilometer Bahnhofstrasse, which runs from Zürich HB main station to Lake Zurich, is packed with jewelry, fashion, art, watch, and department shops and is popular with both residents and visitors.
Autumn in Zurich: A Seasonal Series of Exclusive Events
During the fall season, visitors may enjoy a special series of seasonal activities. FOOD ZURICH, which runs from September 8 to 18, is the country's biggest food festival, with over 100 activities taking place in and around the city, including culinary courses, seminars, city walks, brunches, food markets, and more.Knabenschiessen, which takes place on September 12, is a historic rifle-shooting tournament for local boys and girls that goes back to 1656, albeit it is now accompanied by a public festival with food, amusement rides, and market kiosks.
The Zurich Film Festival, the only film festival with a green carpet, takes place from September 22 to October 2 and features about 160 globally recognized films as well as several debuts by young, rising filmmakers from throughout the globe.
Wine enthusiasts will be delighted by the Expovina Wine Fair, which takes place from 3 to 17 November aboard 12 boats anchored in Zurich, with the stunning background of the lake, an exceptional setting for an excellent display.
Zurich hotel ideas for your vacation
Zurich also boasts fantastic housing to go along with its outstanding attractions. The Uto Kulm hotel and restaurant is located on top of Uetliberg, providing visitors with breathtaking views during the day and stargazing at night. The Dolder Grand, located across the city on a hill overlooking Uetliberg, is a luxury getaway with a two-Michelin-star restaurant, stunning views, 175 elegant rooms and suites, and a 4,000-square-metre spa.For those seeking a more central location, the Sorell Hotel St. Peter is a contemporary refuge positioned between the Bahnhofstrasse and the old town, opposite to St Peter church, which features Europe's biggest clock face on a tower.
The Art Deco Ameron Bellerive au Lac on the lakefront provides accommodations with views of Zurich's waterfront promenade, and the golden morning light in fall is a sight to see, another reminder of the richness in this fashionable, calm Swiss city.
