A Day in Zurich

Zurich is an old city, rich in history and complete with breathtaking views of the nearby Swiss Alps. If you find yourself there for a layover between flights, try to get out of the airport and check it out—the first time I transited in Switzerland mine wasn’t long enough and I spent the two-hour overlay at the airport eating chocolate and drinking beer. Then last Christmas while visiting my parents in southwestern Germany I got a chance to spend a day in Zurich, and tried to cram in as much as I could in a couple of hours.

Zurich is a popular one-day destination with travelers from all over Europe, easily accessible from France, Italy, Germany and Austria. We set out in my parents’ little Fiat 500 early one morning to spend as much of the day as possible taking in the sights and experiences of Zurich. It was only an hour and a half drive but after spending the better part of 45 minutes trying to find a public parking garage, we finally set out on foot in the middle of downtown. Our first stop was Starbucks to use their free wi-fi and plan our afternoon.


A fresco at the Fraumünster - Creative Commons

We started with lunch at the high-end Kronenhalle restaurant, choosing a window-side table covered in a pristine white tablecloth and set with more forks than I knew what to do with. Our view overlooking a bustling downtown avenue kept us busy for the few minutes it took for the carafe of wine my stepfather, Mike, had ordered. One of the specials of the day was South African shrimp ravioli in a fancy white sauce that I can’t remember how to pronounce, much less spell. But it was to die for.

Our stomachs happy, we decided to work off the calories by climbing to the top of the Grossmünster, an iconic twin-towered Romanesque cathedral offering unparalleled 360-degree views of the entire city. Mom gave up about halfway up the climb—the twisting staircases were treacherous at best, but Mike and I made it to the top and were rewarded with a breathtaking view, despite the relative gloominess of the overcast day.


Fraumünster - Creative Commons

Less than five minutes of walking from the Grossmünster brought us to the Fraumünster, another of Zurich’s famous churches. Built on the grounds of a former abbey, the Fraumünster was, unfortunately, closed that day so we were unable to walk around inside and take a closer look at the stained glass designed by famous painter Marc Chagall.

Walking down the meandering streets leading away from the Fraumünster, we found our way to the Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich’s main downtown street and one of the most expensive shopping districts in the world. The storefronts facing the street were like a who’s who of fine retail: Gucci was followed by Breitling and Armani, Montblanc next door to Tag Heuer and Burberry.

After a few hours wandering around downtown and window-shopping, Mom and I decided it was time for a beer. We stumbled into an Americanized restaurant called Papa Joes, which was like an odd hodgepodge of what people around the world think an American restaurant should look like. But I was fine with the gaudy décor since they had an honest-to-God American East Coast style India pale ale. It was bitter, hoppy and delicious. I could have easily spent the rest of the day sitting in that one bar, gladly overpaying for the 12-ounce bottles.

But it wasn’t long before Mike received a winter weather advisory on his cell phone, and we decided to head back to Germany. It turned out to be the right move; if we’d stayed much longer we would have likely been trapped for the night in this expensive winter wonderland. As it was, it took us nearly three hours to make the return trek in the billowing snow, pausing for dinner and gas along the way.

Our trip cut short, there were several other sights to see in Zurich that we didn’t make it to on our trip. For those planning on going, set aside a couple hours for Zurich’s Museum of Design, which is just a 20-minute train ride from downtown. If you’re visiting in the summertime, check out the wakeboarding and sailing available on Lake Zurich.

There are also other museums to visit, including the Swiss National Museum, Kunsthaus Zürich and the Rietberg Museum. In the evening catch a performance at the Zurich Opera House, open since 1834.


The Kronenhalle restaurant - courtesy Kronenalle