Travel Tips For Sightseeing In Zurich

Zürich is an exuberant and culturally active city. As an ideal tourist destination, sightseeing in Zürich is sure to provide you with an interesting experience of the ancient and contemporary charm of the city. Zürich provides a great vacation atmosphere with nightlife, cultural centers, ancient winding roads, old steeple churches, and beautiful breathtaking scenery along trails for leisure walks and exploration. But you need to know where to stay in Zürich and the interesting things to do in Zürich that will make your holiday a worthwhile memory.

Famous sights to see in Zürich

Grossmünster

Grossmünster is the landmark of Zürich, built by Emperor Charlemagne to commemorate the martyrdom of St. Felix and St. Regula, both patron saints of Zürich. The Grossmünster has twelve beautiful windows studded with semi-precious stones. The towers offer splendid views of the city.

Fraumünster 

Built-in the 13th century, The Fraumünster  is a stunning gothic-styled Benedictine Abbey. Its remarkable stained windows were designed by Marc Chagall, the famous Russian –Jewish artist.

The Wasserkirche

Also called the water church, The Wasserkirche stands on the banks of the river Limmat. The 10th-century church completed in the 15thcentury features the typical gothic-styled designs iconic of Switzerland’s monuments. It’s interesting to visit the place, especially because of the musicians and booksellers lining the stone arches outside the church.

Bahnhofstrasse 

This is Zürich’s main shopping boulevard where you can get everything from fashion to art and local souvenirs. You can even find several boutiques and shops selling famous Swiss make timepieces. The Bahnhofstrasse is an ideal location for a leisurely stroll along the lake, where one can even enjoy a cool wine or coffee and hot chocolate at the many cafes lining the boulevard.

Altstadt 

The old Town area or Altstadt with its old-world cobblestone streets is an ideal setting for a day’s visit when in Zürich. The Fraumünster  and the Bahnhofstrasse are not far from here. If you love visiting museums, then you’ll find two famous ones in the old town. The Kunsthaus Zürich and Swiss national museum. There are some great Italian restaurants in the old town worth visiting for a bite.

Where to stay in Zürich

Touring around and sightseeing in Zürich is a great plan, but you’ll need to spend a couple of days or weeks to get a good vacation there. While Zürich may be considered an expensive city, there are many budget-friendly hotels in the main city areas where accommodation is concerned. You could even opt for bunking it out dorm-style in a hostel such as the H.I. Hostel, where you can even rent a private room. Some good budget hotels are Hotel Biber, Hotel Otto and ‘The City backpacker’. You could also try a few of the Lakeside Inns, some of which offer affordable rates. Budget hotels are also located in the Alstadt or old town area.

If you really want a Swiss ambience, then you should consider spending a few days in one of the Swiss alpine hamlets in the Lower Engadine area. Ftan is an ideal place where you can get the world’s best cheese and breathtaking views of the Alps.

Where to eat in Zürich

Zürich has always been a center for fine dining and has several restaurants scattered around the city. Sightseeing in Zürich is not complete without getting a taste of the local cuisine. It would be best to research well enough to get budgeted meals as dining out can be quite expensive. For those who prefer an exquisite experience of fine gourmet dining, there are some high-end restaurants along the lakeside, such as ‘Wirtschaft Wurzburg’, which dates back to 1676 and the Michelin star “Restaurant Spice” that features an interesting global fusion menu.

However, if you’re looking for pocket-friendly stuff, many roadside cafes serve up some really good authentic Swiss food. There are many quality restaurants in the old town area and nightclubs in the western area of the city.

For that perfect Fondue, you could check out the cozy Café Chasalp situated on Zürichberg, a hill overlooking Lake Zürich. You can indulge in some pretty tantalizing stuff with flavored fondues that come in mushroom, chili, or peppercorn.

Best day tours from Zürich

Jungfraujoch: One of the most spectacular sights, The Jungfraujoch region will sweep you off your feet with its panoramic view of alpine mountains. Jungfraujoch is also the highest railways station in Europe at 11,333 feet high.

Mount Pilatus: Ideal in summer, a round trip to Mount Pilatus will be the top spot for the family. Situated in the area of Lucerne, one can also go on a cruise or a Gondola on Lake Lucerne. The aerial car ride is a breathtaking journey over some amazing hilltop scenery. Lucerne is a quaint old town for a nice relaxing walk.

Lichtenstein- One of the best day tours from Zürich: When sightseeing in Zürich, a day tour to Lichtenstein takes you through Rappersweil or the city of roses and the Ricken Pass with fantastic views of the majestic Alps. Lichenstein is a picture-perfect region where a visit to Maienfeld is a must. Maienfield is significant as the setting for the much loved Heidi story where you can see her village and Heidi’s home. Perhaps one of the most nostalgic Swiss tours, Lichtenstein is a dream tour for all.

Getting around Zurich is easy. Transport is easily available through rental cars, guided tour buses and public transport. Alternately, you could also try the Trainline app which makes your travel easier around Europe.