« SWITZERLAND • Discover Switzerland • Zurich
Discover Magical Zurich
Zurich is Switzerland's main commercial and cultural centre and sometimes called the Cultural Capital of Switzerland, the political capital of Switzerland being Berne. Zurich can be counted as one of the world's preeminent global cities.
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» Appenzell
The village of Appenzell is the capital of the canton Appenzell Innerrhoden in eastern Switzerland. It is situated in the valley of Sitter, surrounded by green hills and dominated by a rural character. Appenzell isn't a typical close-packed village and instead, is made up of free standing houses loosely grouped around the inner core. The parish church with the Gothic choir and massive tower rises over other stately homes such as the city hall, monasteries and other historical buildings …
» Bahnhofstrasse
Bahnhofstrasse is THE shopping street in Zurich. Running from Bahnhofplatz outside the main train station all the way to the lake, it's full of luxury shops selling designer fashion, furs, porcelain, and, of course, chocolates, clocks and watches. Halfway along is Zurich's first, biggest and best department store Jelmoli. The basement food-hall is a must. Or if you want the best in Swiss chocolate, take a break at Cafe Sprungli, the epicenter of sweet Switzerland since 1836 …
» Chinese Garden Zurich
Surrounded by a white wall topped with the golden East Asian roofs and interspersed with bright red gates, the Chinese Garden is about as far removed from the traditional Swiss houses neighboring it as possible. The garden is a quiet oasis of little ponds, lush vegetation and intricately decorated buildings with tiered roofs, red pillars and bright green railings, a place where strolls on perfectly planned paths and meditation sessions are possible …
» Church of Our Lady (Fraumunster)
The 13th-century Church of our Lady, or Fraumunster, has an elegant blue spire which soars above the Zurich skyline. Situated right next to the lake, it is one of Zurich's key sights. Founded in 853 as a Benedictine convent, around the 11th century it was responsible for minting coins and collecting tolls making the then Abbess a powerful women indeed. Inside the church are the famous stained-glass windows of 1967 by the famous artist Marc Chagall …
» Dolderbahn
The Dolderbahn is a proper mountain railway that, in just under six minutes, leads from the hustle and bustle of Zurich to the top of the Adlisberg, a forested hill on the eastern side of the city. Upon exiting the station at the Dolder Recreation Area next to the luxury Dolder Grand Hotel, one shouldn't be surprised to see an army of bikers and joggers, as the region is immensely popular due to the many leisure and sports facilities as well as the vast network of hiking trails …
» Felsenegg
A cable car takes nature lovers in five minutes from Adliswil to Felsenegg, a view point on the Albis mountain range. It is one of Zurich's most popular recreation areas and at 800 meters, you have a breathtaking view over Lake Zurich, the small towns lining the shores and the towering, snow-capped mountains in the distance. Numerous walking and hiking trails as well as a restaurant on the summit serve as an escape from the hectic everyday life. From Uetliberg for example, the Planetenweg …
» Jungfrau Glacier
Jungfraujoch is a saddle in the Bernese Alps between the Monch and the Jungfrau and one of Switzerland's most popular destinations. The Jungfraujoch is often referred to as the "Top of Europe" in travel books; however, in fact the Jungfraujoch is the lowest point on the col between Monch and Jungfrau, at 3,471 meters (11,388 feet). Take the famous railway ride to the Jungfraujoch and enjoy scenic views of glaciers and Eiger's northern face …
» Kleine Scheidegg
Set at a lofty 2,061 meters high, with the iconic peaks of the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau towering overhead, Kleine Scheidegg is unsurprisingly known for its jaw-dropping vistas, including a striking view of the infamous Eiger North Face. With a cluster of hotels and amenities, the scenic mountain pass makes a strategic base for hiking and skiing, with alpine resorts like Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen just below and access to a vast network of ski runs, hiking routes and rock climbing trails …
» Lake Walen (Walensee)
Lake Walen is a lake in eastern Switzerland separating the cantons Glarus and St.Gallen. It is part of a region known as Heidiland, named after the famous Heidi story by Johanna Spyri and represents these corresponding values of unspoiled nature, warmth and simplicity. The mountains rise almost vertically on all sides of the lake and nestled on little plateaus and along the shores are several traditional Swiss towns. Below the steep south face of the Churfirsten, the small village of Quinten is a car-free paradise …
» Lake Zurich
Lake Zurich is big: 25 mi (40 km) long and 1.9 mi (3 km) wide. At its deepest it reaches 469 ft (143 m). The water is very clean, coming off those Swiss mountains, and is used for supplying water to the cities around it. The largest of these is Zurich at around 360,000 residents. The lake is used for boating and swimming, reaching up to 20 degrees Celcius (68 F) in summer. Along its edges are dotted swimming pools - these are floating pontoon decks with change rooms, sunbathing areas and usually saunas, massage and a cafe …
» Limmatquai
Limmatquai is the street along the right side of the river Limmat in central Zurich. On one side is the Rathaus, Zurich's Baroque parliament building. Limmatquai is a vibrant shopping, dining and hotel area with many interesting buildings dating from the days of the rich Guilds which governed Zurich until 1789. It is the perfect place to start your exploration of the narrow, charming streets of the Old Town …
» Lindenhof
Lindenhof is both a district in Zurich and a square of the same name and looks back on an eventful history. The district is the oldest part of the city and once, a Roman fort stood in its place on the hill. At Lindenhof Square, a Roman tombstone was found containing the oldest mention of the city, back then a customs post with the name Turicum. Even after the fall of the Roman Empire, the Lindenhof kept playing an important role in the city's history …
» Lindt & Sprungli Chocolate Factory Outlet
Swiss chocolate is as famous as mountains, clocks or Heidi. And so it should be - it's smooth and delicious, especially that made by Lindt & Sprungli. It's worth traveling to see where it is being made and to smell the unique aroma of chocolate. Although there is no possibility to visit the production, you can shop this famous Swiss Chocolate at their Chocolate Factory Outlet Shop. If you can't make it to the factory itself, head for the Sprungli cafe at Bahnhofstrasse 21, the heart of Switzerland's sweet tooth since 1836 …
» Lucerne
The lakeside medieval town of Lucerne is one of Switzerland's prettiest destinations, well-deserving of a day's exploration of its historic sites. A picture-perfect town, its proud symbol is the 14th-century Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrucke) spanning Lake Lucerne, the beautiful, fourth-largest lake in Switzerland. Chapel Bridge is 670 feet (204 meters) long and was built in 1333 to protect Lucerne from attacks. It's the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe …
» Maienfeld
Maienfeld is the picturesque town, in which the best-selling Heidi story by Johanna Spyri takes place. The famous novel tells of the life and adventures of a cheerful young girl growing up in the alps in her grandfather's, the Alm-Uncle's, care. The town of Maienfeld, which can be found in the canton of Graubunden in eastern Switzerland, embodies this image of a romantic and nature-oriented Switzerland and transports visitors back in time …
» Mount Rigi
Mount Rigi is a mountain in central Switzerland, bordering Lucerne, and part of the Swiss Alps. It's also known as the "Queen of the Mountains." Rigi offers stunning panoramic views and is famous for its beautiful sunrises. Nowadays, the mountain is easily accessible by public transportation. It offers many winter and summer excursions such as skiing, sledding, or hiking …
» Mt Pilatus
Pilatus is a just north of Lucerne. Local legend alleges that Pontius Pilate was buried there, giving the mountain its name. The tale claims Pilate haunted the mountain after his death and would unleash storms on climbers approaching the summit. However, it is more likely that the name comes from the Latin world pileatus, meaning covered in clouds. Whatever the truth is, everyone can agree that it is a beautiful place to visit, both in winter and in summer …
» Mt Titlis
Mount Titlis is the best and highest view over central Switzerland. The summit is always snow-covered, which is great for avid skiers. The view from the belvedere, at 2,970 meter (9,742 feet), includes the Jungfrau and the Matterhorn, in addition to Zurich and Basel on a nice day. Enjoy the ride up to the summit on the funicular and cable cars …
» Old Town (Altstadt)
The historic heart of Zurich, the Altstadt, or Old Town, remains the most atmospheric part of the city, with its striking 19th century buildings and winding cobblestone lanes hosting an array of modern cafes, shops and galleries. For visitors to the city, the Old Town makes the ideal starting point for a sightseeing tour of Zurich, sprawling along both sides of the River Limmat and home to many of the city's principal tourist attractions …
» Parade Square (Paradeplatz)
Zurich's Parade Square, better known as Paradeplatz, is located right outside of the main train station and is one of the city's most important junctions. Not only do many of the tram lines meet up here, but Parade Square has made itself a name as one of the world's big financial centers. Large Swiss banks have set up their headquarters here and thus, it has become a synonym for wealth and prosperity. The square also connects to the Bahnhofstrasse …
» Rhine Falls
Tumbling from a height of 75 feet over a 450-foot stretch of rock, the mighty Rhine Falls are the largest waterfalls in Europe. Located just outside the medieval town of Schaffhausen, the Rhine Falls make a popular day trip from Zurich and standing at the foot of the falls is one of the country's dramatic sights, with an average 21,000 cubic feet of water plummeting into the Rhine river basin each second. There are a number of ways to get a view of the falls, including strategic viewing platforms …
» Schaffhausen
A lively medieval town located an hour north of Zurich, Schaffhausen is best known as the gateway to one of Switzerland's most famous tourist attractions - the Rhine Falls. The mighty waterfall is Europe's largest, stretching 450-feet across the Rhine River and cascading from heights of up to 75-feet. Along with hosting Switzerland's largest fireworks display in honor of Swiss National Day on August 1st, the Falls are also a prime spot for hiking, boat trips and river rafting …
» St Peter Church (St. Peterskirche)
St Peter's is the oldest church in Zurich. It stands in a small square surrounded by houses and shops but its impressive spire dominates the city. St Peter's Church, also known as St Peterskirche, is so tall that from the Middle Ages until the early 20th century it was used by the night-watch keeping an eye out for fires breaking out in the city. On this spire is the largest church clockface in Europe with a diameter of 28.5 ft (8.7 m). The minute hand is 12 ft (4 m) long! …
» Swiss National Museum
In a city with almost 150 museums and galleries, the Swiss National Museum (Landesmuseum) beats off some pretty stiff competition to take its place as one of Zurich's top museums. The largest of its kind in the country, the museum is devoted to preserving the cultural heritage and history of Switzerland, chronicling the birth and evolution of the nation. Almost 1 million artifacts make up the permanent collection, which takes the visitor on a journey from ancient Switzerland …
« SWITZERLAND • Discover Switzerland • Zurich
