Your advice for a taste of Zurich in August
Aug 6th, 2013, 01:29 AM
#1
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Your advice for a taste of Zurich in August
I would greatly appreciate your advice for a somewhat last minute trip to Zurich this August. I'm scrambling to learn as much as I can about this city and what to do with 1 day and a half day during late afternoon - early evening (other half will consist of a walking tour of the historical section of Zürich). Between those days, I've got a commitment I must tend to, that is distant from the city centre. Lodging is nearby the Zürichberg and don't mind taking the tram.
I found a few helpful posts below, but need some help narrowing things down and finding out more specifics.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...goes-there.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...rth-seeing.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-in-zurich.cfm
Questions that come to mind...
1) What is the weather like during late August?
2) Which major museum is a must see? My taste - I fell in love with Musée d'Orsay during a rainy day.
3) What are the top places with great finds for chocolate and food to bring home, that I won't find in the US? Is there anything I'm restricted from bringing back to the US?
4) What are your top recommendations for reasonably priced meals and a yummy chocolate drink? It doesn't have to be glamorous, just fabulous.
5) How easy is it to get around via tram to see key places, shop and dine? Should I expect 1 major route or multiple connections? And how frequent and late does the tram run? I believe I have quite a ride between the city centre and the Zürichberg area.
Danke!
I found a few helpful posts below, but need some help narrowing things down and finding out more specifics.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...goes-there.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...rth-seeing.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-in-zurich.cfm
Questions that come to mind...
1) What is the weather like during late August?
2) Which major museum is a must see? My taste - I fell in love with Musée d'Orsay during a rainy day.
3) What are the top places with great finds for chocolate and food to bring home, that I won't find in the US? Is there anything I'm restricted from bringing back to the US?
4) What are your top recommendations for reasonably priced meals and a yummy chocolate drink? It doesn't have to be glamorous, just fabulous.
5) How easy is it to get around via tram to see key places, shop and dine? Should I expect 1 major route or multiple connections? And how frequent and late does the tram run? I believe I have quite a ride between the city centre and the Zürichberg area.
Danke!
Aug 6th, 2013, 02:20 AM
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Weather can be warm to HOT.
Landesmuseum-right across from the Main train station.
Spruengli, Schober chocolates (Way expensive, but oh so good).
Hmmmm, reasonably priced and Zurich don't belong in the same sentence! Cafe Felix for divine hot chocolate. Shopville-in the subterranean mall under the HB train station has a LOT of reasonably priced food choices.
Easy--consider a 24 hour Zurichcard.
DO go up to the local "mountain" Uetliberg.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...einsiedeln.cfm
Landesmuseum-right across from the Main train station.
Spruengli, Schober chocolates (Way expensive, but oh so good).
Hmmmm, reasonably priced and Zurich don't belong in the same sentence! Cafe Felix for divine hot chocolate. Shopville-in the subterranean mall under the HB train station has a LOT of reasonably priced food choices.
Easy--consider a 24 hour Zurichcard.
DO go up to the local "mountain" Uetliberg.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...einsiedeln.cfm
Aug 6th, 2013, 02:51 AM
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Boat rides :
Lunch boat cruise around the lake or
Ride to Rappenswil (look around a bit, eat, train back:
http://www.myswitzerland.com/en-US/rapperswil-jona.html).
Old Town stroll
Window shop the Bahnhofstrasse, stop at the Sprüngli-Lindt cafe for lunch/chocolates. (You can also tour the factory outside of town, but I haven't done that so don't know the logistics)
Fraümunster boasts some famous Chagall stained glass windows.
Lunch boat cruise around the lake or
Ride to Rappenswil (look around a bit, eat, train back:
http://www.myswitzerland.com/en-US/rapperswil-jona.html).
Old Town stroll
Window shop the Bahnhofstrasse, stop at the Sprüngli-Lindt cafe for lunch/chocolates. (You can also tour the factory outside of town, but I haven't done that so don't know the logistics)
Fraümunster boasts some famous Chagall stained glass windows.
Aug 6th, 2013, 12:40 PM
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mokka4 thanks so much for the weather advise and clarity around 'reasonably priced'. i thought maybe things have change since samantha brown did her show there.
mocha_dolce, glad you suggested the boat cruise idea. this will probably get me going from my jet lag.
i didn't realize i know little about switzerland compared to other places, despite this country (along with austria) being on the top of my list for places to visit as a kid (the sound of music did it for me).
mocha_dolce, glad you suggested the boat cruise idea. this will probably get me going from my jet lag.
i didn't realize i know little about switzerland compared to other places, despite this country (along with austria) being on the top of my list for places to visit as a kid (the sound of music did it for me).
Aug 6th, 2013, 04:07 PM
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> 1) What is the weather like during late August?
http://www.timeanddate.com/weather/s...and/zurich/ext
> 2) Which major museum is a must see? My taste - I fell in love with Musée d'Orsay during a rainy day.
I was impressed with the Kunstmuseum. I wouldn't personally put it in quite the same category as the Musee d'Orsay (which I consider one of the best museums in the world), but I would say it has a very fine, world-class collection.
For history and for medieval art, the Landesmuseum (mentioned above) is excellent.
> 3) What are the top places with great finds for chocolate
I was pleased with Spruengli. There's a branch in the main train station.
> 4) What are your top recommendations for reasonably priced meals
It might not meet your definition of "reasonably priced", but I had a truly wonderful meal at Zunfthaus zur Waag.
http://zunfthaus-zur-waag.ch
> 5) How easy is it to get around via tram
I thought it extremely easy.
http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html
Also, I second the recommendation to visit the Fraumunster for its Chagall and Giacometti windows, and don't miss the cloister to its side. Try to visit in the morning, when the light is best.
http://www.timeanddate.com/weather/s...and/zurich/ext
> 2) Which major museum is a must see? My taste - I fell in love with Musée d'Orsay during a rainy day.
I was impressed with the Kunstmuseum. I wouldn't personally put it in quite the same category as the Musee d'Orsay (which I consider one of the best museums in the world), but I would say it has a very fine, world-class collection.
For history and for medieval art, the Landesmuseum (mentioned above) is excellent.
> 3) What are the top places with great finds for chocolate
I was pleased with Spruengli. There's a branch in the main train station.
> 4) What are your top recommendations for reasonably priced meals
It might not meet your definition of "reasonably priced", but I had a truly wonderful meal at Zunfthaus zur Waag.
http://zunfthaus-zur-waag.ch
> 5) How easy is it to get around via tram
I thought it extremely easy.
http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html
Also, I second the recommendation to visit the Fraumunster for its Chagall and Giacometti windows, and don't miss the cloister to its side. Try to visit in the morning, when the light is best.
Aug 6th, 2013, 05:40 PM
#6
Hiltl vegetarian restaurant for not-too expensive meal.
The mother ship of Teuscher chocolates is on
the Bahnhofstrasse, along with Sprungli.
Be prepared.
The prices in Zurich would even give the Duke of Westminster the shivers.
See the Chagall Windows in the Fraumunster.
Take a walk up to Lindenhof Park.
I would also take the train into Luzern.
Thin
The mother ship of Teuscher chocolates is on
the Bahnhofstrasse, along with Sprungli.
Be prepared.
The prices in Zurich would even give the Duke of Westminster the shivers.
See the Chagall Windows in the Fraumunster.
Take a walk up to Lindenhof Park.
I would also take the train into Luzern.
Thin
Aug 6th, 2013, 11:12 PM
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Haus Hiltl is tempting for lunch and going there could make me the envy of my vegetable-loving and foodie friends.
I just found this post for future inquiries about this place:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ltl-zurich.cfm
A food question - is skimmed milk something I can easily request for my coffee or chocolate drink? Will I get the evil eye? I know whole milk taste so much better, but I'm concern it might make my digestive system unhappy for a few hours.
I just found this post for future inquiries about this place:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ltl-zurich.cfm
A food question - is skimmed milk something I can easily request for my coffee or chocolate drink? Will I get the evil eye? I know whole milk taste so much better, but I'm concern it might make my digestive system unhappy for a few hours.
Aug 7th, 2013, 04:00 AM
#9
There are Starbucks-one in Tram Square, one right off of the Bahnhofstrasse-where you can get all sorts of coffee concoctions involving soy or skim milk.
There is a really fabulous cafe in an arcade close to Lake Zurich. It is about two blocks over from the posh Baur au Lac Hotel, walking past the Bahnhofstrasse toward the Grossmunster.
You can sit outside and have cappuccino and a croissant.
Thin
There is a really fabulous cafe in an arcade close to Lake Zurich. It is about two blocks over from the posh Baur au Lac Hotel, walking past the Bahnhofstrasse toward the Grossmunster.
You can sit outside and have cappuccino and a croissant.
Thin
Aug 7th, 2013, 04:31 AM
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Skim milk = Magermilch, but NOT so readily available in SWISS resturants. May I suggest (if its really important), that you purchase a carton of Magermilch in the Coop (or similar) grocery store, keep it in your hotel room fridge, and take a little leakproof rubbermaid container with it for your use in coffee? For delish whole milk hot chocolate you'll need a half of Imodium (or similar)!
Aug 7th, 2013, 12:30 PM
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Just found out my lodging provides free bicycle rental for its guest. Woohoo! I just found more info about other bike rental in Zurich:
Zürich on Wheels: May to October, you can hire City Bikes in Zürich completely free of charge, seven days a week. Bikes can be picked up at locations below with a valid ID and a deposit of CHF 20.00. Here's a website with info in Deutsch.
May to October:
Globus City: daily, 9am-9.30pm
Bellevue: daily, 9am-9.30pm
Bahnhof Enge: Mon-Fri: 10am-9.30pm, Sat-Sun: 9am-9.30pm
Bahnhof Oerlikon, Swissotel: Mon-Fri: 12am-9.30pm, Sat: 9am-9.30pm, Sun: closed
Im Viadukt: Mon-Fri: 11am-9.30pm, Sat-Sun: 9am-9.30pm
Year round:
Bike Station North, Swiss National Museum: daily, 8am-9.30pm
Bike Station South, Sihlpost: daily, 8am-9.30pm
Zürich on Wheels: May to October, you can hire City Bikes in Zürich completely free of charge, seven days a week. Bikes can be picked up at locations below with a valid ID and a deposit of CHF 20.00. Here's a website with info in Deutsch.
May to October:
Globus City: daily, 9am-9.30pm
Bellevue: daily, 9am-9.30pm
Bahnhof Enge: Mon-Fri: 10am-9.30pm, Sat-Sun: 9am-9.30pm
Bahnhof Oerlikon, Swissotel: Mon-Fri: 12am-9.30pm, Sat: 9am-9.30pm, Sun: closed
Im Viadukt: Mon-Fri: 11am-9.30pm, Sat-Sun: 9am-9.30pm
Year round:
Bike Station North, Swiss National Museum: daily, 8am-9.30pm
Bike Station South, Sihlpost: daily, 8am-9.30pm
