City Trip to Zurich: 7 Places You Won't Find in Travel Guides

Zurich is known as one Central Europe's hippest cities. The financial center of Europe, always topping the list of most comfortable cities. Nowadays, artists and trendsetters are given free rein here to revitalize post-industrial neighborhoods. Yet Zurich is more than just hip and prosperous. Surrounding the city are places untouched by time, such as ancient mountaintops and Roman settlements. Even in the city center, there are plenty of places for the curious soul to immerse themselves in a bath of culture or nature. Admire frescoes in the police station, gaze out over the glittering rooftops from the medieval city wall, dive into Lake Zurich, or climb alongside mountain goats. These are our tips, but the choice is yours!

1. Safari on Foot

In Langenberg Park, beavers, deer, bears, mountain goats, wild cats, and lynxes will cross your path. The moss is soft as down, stones shimmer between flowing river water, and mysterious mist hangs over the lake in the morning. Yet you don't feel like you're in the middle of the wilderness. The park is easily accessible to families with children, who can have fun on the zip line, swings, and in the water.

^{Photo: Jan Huber/Unsplash}

2. Swimming at the Foot of the Mountains

Sitting at the foot of Lake Zurich, the other shore is indistinguishable. The forty-kilometer-long lake springs from the Linth River and never widens beyond three kilometers. You could say it's a snake of a lake, whose shores are home to countless medieval towns. From Zurich, the lake can be admired from promenades and quiet parks, and in the summertime, locals splash in the crystal-clear waters to swim among the pleasure boats.

^{Photo: Henrique Ferreira/Unsplash}

3. Wonders of Archaeology

On the south bank of the Rhine, near the town of Basel, lies Augusta Raurica. A Roman settlement that's miraculously withstood the test of time. Here, you'll find the best-preserved Roman theater in the northern Alps. You'll walk in the footsteps of the Romans, among their houses, taverns, workshops, and baths. In the museum, you can admire the most important silver treasure from late antiquity, and in the Roman zoo, you'll learn about the animal species that once roamed here.

4. Yodeling in the Highest Train Station in the World

Had enough of the neat, trendy Zurich for a day? Escape the urban life for a day to the Jungfrau Massif. Hop on a train in Grindelwald that chugs from the valley, through a tunnel through the Eiger mountain. From there, ascend along snowy rocks to the highest train station in the world, where you'll have a panoramic view of the majestic peaks surrounding the glacier. Take a stroll at 3600 meters above sea level, breathe in the fresh mountain air, and take mental (or actual) photos. Don't forget to bring your sweater.

^{Photo: Wonsung Jang/Unsplash}

5. The Most Beautiful Police Station in the World

The Zurich police station is undoubtedly the only one in the world that people visit voluntarily. Yet it's not crowded, as few people know what the building looks like from the inside until they accidentally end up there and immediately forget all their crimes. Sitting in the lobby of the building, the Giacometti Hall, you'll marvel at frescoes of orange and yellow flowers. Crimes are forgotten and forgiven before you even enter the next room.

^{Photo: www.zuerich.com}

6. People-Watching and Beer Drinking

For an afternoon of people-watching, head to Bahnhofstrasse, one of the world's most exclusive and expensive shopping streets. Prada bags, gold watches, and Louis Vuitton shirts fly off the shelves here. Both tourists and locals stroll in and out of shops, lick saffron-flavored ice cream, and have lunch at the Zeughauskeller - a beer café and restaurant from 1487 where clocks hang on enormous walls, statues shine in corners, and traditional Swiss meals appear on plates.

^{Photo: Tomek Baginski/Unsplash}

7. Chess on the Mountain

In the heart of Zurich's hippest neighborhood, climb Lindenhof Hill, which leads to Lindenhofplatz. Sit on the remains of the medieval Roman city wall. Your feet dangle above urban activities and the Limmat River. Watch as the last sunlight of the day makes the church roof sparkle, locals play chess on the grass, and students end the day with a pint of beer.

^{Photo: Claudio Schwarz/Unsplash}

We booked our accommodations through Booking.com. Want to reserve a stay in advance? Then check out our favorite hotels here. Want to read more about Switzerland? You won't want to miss these natural highlights.