I would like advice on what to see. I like castles, big houses, parks, walking, eating out. I have never been to Switzerland or this area of Europe. Any advice would be appreciated. How is public transport? Should I concentrate on the city or travel out? (Accommodation has been arranged).

Zurich is a delightful and underrated town. There is a tourist office in the train station (banhof) that can help you select your activities. You can jump on a lake steamer and spend half a day or more exploring, and an all day trip to Junfraujoch is also nice.

Zurich, is closed on Sundays, except the shopping mall in the basement of the train station. If you are in town on a Sunday, I suggest going to Lucerne for the day (about 1 hour away). <BR><BR>In Zurich, expect to see a bunch of asylum-seeking African refugees who hang around in the train station. They may harass you, especially if you are female and make eye contact, and rather than saying anything to them, I suggest that you completely ignore them (even if they initially appear to be friendly).<BR><BR> In Zurich, make sure to see a church called Fraum&uuml;nster. Another big church is called Grassm&uuml;nster. At Fraum&uuml;snter you can go up the tower for great views. For the James Joyce fans, he was buried in Zurich (to get to the correct cemetery, take tram 6 (direction fluntern) and get off at the zoo – the cemetery is nearby). <BR><BR>If you are a chocolate lover you might want to visit the Lindt chocolate factory (located at Seestrasse # 204, in the city of Kilchberg; tel (+41) 1-716 22 33, Fax (+41) 1-715 39 85<BR>

Fodor's has already planned an itinerary for you. Read the 3-day suggested itinerary prepared by Foder's and posted on this site under &quot;Destinations&quot; above. This is full of good ideas for what to see and where to eat. The Fodor's guide book on Switzerland also has a good and helpful chapter on Zurich. <BR>As mentioned above, if you will be here over a weekend, shops will be closed on Sunday. If you are here on a Saturday, there is a great flea market on the lake at Burkliplatz. There is a good farmers market every Tuesday and Friday morning. If you are coming to Zurich to do other shopping you must be very rich, so give me a call…..Just strolling the cobblestone streets of the old town on either side of the river is pleasant way to spend the day; the town is extremely walkable. A nice walk is along either shore of the lake.<BR><BR>The Fraumunster church described above has beautiful stain-glass windows designed by Chagall, they are best seen in the morning when the sunlight is directly behind them. To my knowledge, you cannot climb the tower at the Fraumunster, but can and should climb the tower at the Grossmunster across the river (there is a small charge for this.) <BR><BR>Public transport is phenomenal, clean fast efficient. You will probably concentrate on trams and the ferries down the lake. One of the best rides in Zurich is the #6 tram to the Zoo; it goes up the hill past the university, some interesting houses and has great views over the lake. If you don't want to visit the Zoo, stay in the car as it turns around at the Zoo and goes back down. As mentioned above, the cemetery where James Joyce is buried is on this line. My preference is to go where James Joyce DRANK: the Odeon in the old town right near the Bellevue tram stop.<BR>FYI, Having lived here a year and been in the main train station about 50 times and never having encountered the asylum-seekers mentioned above, I would say they are an isolated occurrence. <BR><BR>There aren't really any castles or big houses in the area, you need to go to Germany for that.<BR>

Hi homebird<BR><BR>Rapperswil a town about 40km out of Zurich has a small castle but very pretty. If you get a nice day while you are in Zurich you can take a boat to Rapperswil which takes about 1.5 hours. Rapperswil is a lovely lake side town with a nice small old town, the castle and a group of restaurants on the lake with sidewalk tables and chairs. It makes a nice day trip. St Gallen is 1.5 hours by train from Zurich, it has a very nice abbey and library. Stein am Rhein is a medieval village about 1.5 hours by train from Zurich, it has great frescoes. If you go to S am R you can go on the train making a change in Shaffhausen which has an interesting fortress and a very nice old town. As was said, Lucerne is a day trip from Zurich, beautiful to look at, lovely lake and mountain setting with the opportunity to take a gondola or cog railway trip up to Pilatus. Public transport is the best I have ever seen, the trains are somewhat expensive but extremely good. While in Zurich you have had good advice from the other posters but also make time for the Museaum behind the railway station. I think the collection is great but it is in a big old house which may suit you!<BR><BR>I live near Zurich and have seen the African men in the station but in all my trips in and out have never been approached, snorkelman must have been unlucky or really cute!

Thanks - this is exactly the type of info that I need. Great to hear about Joyce. Any advice on Swiss food?

Good evening, homebird<BR>3 days in Zurich...places to go: The<BR>Bahnhofstrasse, best for shopping and <BR>a visit tothe Franz Carl Weber, Bahnhoftrasse, 62.. Ahalf day trip to<BR>Einsiedeln for a beautiful abbey about<BR>an hour by railwith one change...<BR>The Swiss National Museum.. Congiserie Teuscher. and Sprugli at Paradeplatz.<BR>department stores of Gemoli and Annahof'<BR>along the Bahnhofstrasse.<BR>Ristorantes&quot;<BR>Zeughauske ller, in Gassem 17. Swiss<BR>off of the Paradeplatz.<BR>Bierhalle Kropf, In Gassen, 16....<BR>Churrasco, Argentian Steakhouse at<BR>Glockengasse, 9, just about a block<BR>off of the Bahnhofstrasse..<BR>Haus Zum Ruden, Continental $$$$<BR>Limmatquai, 42 along river.<BR>Cantinetta Antinori, Italian $$$$<BR>Augustinergasse, 4 just off the Bhan-<BR>hofstrasse.<BR>Bindella, Italian $$$$ Honggerstrasse, 115 just a bit further up from Kropf..<BR>Richard of LaGrange Park, Il..