Ideas for a solo week in Switzerland with Zurich as a base?
Mar 6th, 2011, 12:17 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ideas for a solo week in Switzerland with Zurich as a base?
This June I ( a woman, 26, by myself) am going to visit one of my friends who is working in Switzerland. She lives in Uzwil, which is right outside of Zurich, evidently. I am going to stay with her and use her apartment as a base, so that limits me to where I can travel. I am willing to go somewhere that is 2hrs/1 way from Zurich by train as a day trip.
I like beautiful scenery, the outdoors, culture... really anything different than North Carolina...
So far I have these ideas: Lake Rapperswil and Mount Titlis. Any other suggestions are appreciated. I am a little overwhelmed with all the potential great places.
Thanks in advance!
I like beautiful scenery, the outdoors, culture... really anything different than North Carolina...
So far I have these ideas: Lake Rapperswil and Mount Titlis. Any other suggestions are appreciated. I am a little overwhelmed with all the potential great places.
Thanks in advance!
Mar 6th, 2011, 02:39 PM
#3
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,214
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The boat ride across the lake to Rapperswil is an excellent option. You can take the train back - there is a local line along the northern shore of the lake with great views.
There is heaps to see in Zürich itself, including some good museums, depending on your interests. Half of Switzerland can be reached in two hours from Zürich, so there are lots of options for day trips. Luzern, Basel, Geneva, Bern are all within reach.
Bern has a well-preserved old town in a rather unique style. Bern is of course prettiest in sunshine like any other place but also makes a good plan B for rainy weather: the sidewalks in many streets in the old town are covered with arcades.
Not to forget the small towns.
The Rhine Falls are often mentioned but most visitors overlook the old town of nearby Schaffhausen with the castle in the centre.
I have not yet made it to Solothurn but this place seems to deserve a visit.
If you are into history and very old books, visit St. Gallen, the baroque abbey with the opulent library hall and its treasures of medieval manuscripts.
There is heaps to see in Zürich itself, including some good museums, depending on your interests. Half of Switzerland can be reached in two hours from Zürich, so there are lots of options for day trips. Luzern, Basel, Geneva, Bern are all within reach.
Bern has a well-preserved old town in a rather unique style. Bern is of course prettiest in sunshine like any other place but also makes a good plan B for rainy weather: the sidewalks in many streets in the old town are covered with arcades.
Not to forget the small towns.
The Rhine Falls are often mentioned but most visitors overlook the old town of nearby Schaffhausen with the castle in the centre.
I have not yet made it to Solothurn but this place seems to deserve a visit.
If you are into history and very old books, visit St. Gallen, the baroque abbey with the opulent library hall and its treasures of medieval manuscripts.
Mar 7th, 2011, 01:52 AM
#4
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
wow... where should i start...
you should count enough time just to visit Zurich.. there are so many cool restaurants, bars, places, museums, lake sides, parks etc etc that you can just wander around for 2 days...
bern definately deserves a one day trip.. its a bit more than an hour by train and the its worth every minute...
Luzern is worth a visit too.... just for a stroll in the city, go see the glacier park, old town etc...
Basel is a possibility as well.... cool oldtown with many magnificent buildings and museums... stroll along the rhein and drink a coffe... or visit the zoo, one of europes most favourite...
i would go to rapperswil too.. old town is very beautiful and there are many cool shops and restaurants just by the lake...
Rhinefalls i would agree too... if you got the time, its about 1 1/2 hours from Zurich...
do you couch surf..? i know of many cool folks here in zürich, that would gladly show you town if you get in touch (i am a Züri-local myself, but i assume, you will take your friends advice concerning zürich-city itself...)
and i suggest you specify your interessts a bit ... i could tell you a million places to go, but beautiful scenery, the outdoors and culture you got pretty much everywhere you go... so if you can narrow it down, i might be able to point you in a more concrete direction...
you should count enough time just to visit Zurich.. there are so many cool restaurants, bars, places, museums, lake sides, parks etc etc that you can just wander around for 2 days...
bern definately deserves a one day trip.. its a bit more than an hour by train and the its worth every minute...
Luzern is worth a visit too.... just for a stroll in the city, go see the glacier park, old town etc...
Basel is a possibility as well.... cool oldtown with many magnificent buildings and museums... stroll along the rhein and drink a coffe... or visit the zoo, one of europes most favourite...
i would go to rapperswil too.. old town is very beautiful and there are many cool shops and restaurants just by the lake...
Rhinefalls i would agree too... if you got the time, its about 1 1/2 hours from Zurich...
do you couch surf..? i know of many cool folks here in zürich, that would gladly show you town if you get in touch (i am a Züri-local myself, but i assume, you will take your friends advice concerning zürich-city itself...)
and i suggest you specify your interessts a bit ... i could tell you a million places to go, but beautiful scenery, the outdoors and culture you got pretty much everywhere you go... so if you can narrow it down, i might be able to point you in a more concrete direction...
Mar 7th, 2011, 04:25 AM
#5
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,065
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I, a single woman, stayed last November in Rapperswil for one week by myself. Please click on my name for trip report. I went to more obscure towns because I have been to Switzerland many times before, I HIGHLY recommend Engelberg/Mt. Titlis trip!
Have lots of fun!
Have lots of fun!
Mar 7th, 2011, 05:18 AM
#6
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
btw, uzwil isn't realy on Zurichs door step... its not like reaaaly far, but it takes you a rough hour by train to get to züri (bout 45mins by car)... just to clarify...
engelberg and titlis are awesome to go to.... i thought about it as well... but she mentioned about 1 - 2hours from the base, while Engelberg takes you 3hours+ to get there, and then your not even up on mt. Titlis...
There are however places up the mountains, you can reach relatively easy, relatively quick and will be cheaper than Engelberg and Titlis..
engelberg and titlis are awesome to go to.... i thought about it as well... but she mentioned about 1 - 2hours from the base, while Engelberg takes you 3hours+ to get there, and then your not even up on mt. Titlis...
There are however places up the mountains, you can reach relatively easy, relatively quick and will be cheaper than Engelberg and Titlis..
Mar 8th, 2011, 02:52 PM
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks, all, for the tips so far! I booked my plane ticket today.
As far as interests go, travelzomg, I really like hiking. I want to hike in those stereotypical mountain meadows that you associate with Switzerland. I like walking around old towns. I like going out and clubbing. I am not much for museums, although I do like art museums ( love the Prado in Spain). Oh, and I really like chocolate...
Getting shown around Zurich would be cool.
As far as interests go, travelzomg, I really like hiking. I want to hike in those stereotypical mountain meadows that you associate with Switzerland. I like walking around old towns. I like going out and clubbing. I am not much for museums, although I do like art museums ( love the Prado in Spain). Oh, and I really like chocolate...
Getting shown around Zurich would be cool.
Mar 9th, 2011, 03:09 AM
#8
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
allright.. concerning the hiking.. i would suggest, that you take a look at Flumserberg... there are many many hiking paths and you can reach them within an hours time from Uzwil.. you can check here:
http://www.flumserberg.ch/sommer/en/activities/Hiking/
you can also look into going up the Alps, namely Davos or Lenzerheide or alike.. thats rather a question of taste or liking or mood... by train about 2 - 3 hours... but the train/bus ride offers fantastic views, which makes even the ride itself wothwile...
http://davos.ch/en/summer.html
http://www.lenzerheide.com/sites/content/region.html
concerning some old towns... you might want to have a look at St. Gallen, which is right around the corner from Uzwil.. i still suggest Basel and Bern (reachable within two hours from Uzwil), which are for city trips the most interessting, concerning urban life, shopping etc...
Zürich is big city life as big as it gets in switzerland.. it offers a lot of creative, urban shoppin and with the Bahnhofstrasse covers the main stream too... with its lake side, its wonderfull to just stroll around or sit down, let time pass and enjoy a cup of coffee..
however, zürich offers also the most dense nightlife in whole of europe.. we have endless clubs and bars tightly packed for all couleur and tastes... and the night life is very vibrant until way into the morning hours....
well chocolate def. isnt a problem..
while in zurich every major chocolate producer has a store, i can give you the adress of the factory store of lindt&Sprüngli (maybe the most famous of em all).. you can get everything there at very cheap prices... they sell the not-so-perfect pieces there but quality wise its store stuff...
well... it depends on what day you exactly plan to come and stay etc... but if i got time, i could show you round...
just would need means to contact you outside fodors..
http://www.flumserberg.ch/sommer/en/activities/Hiking/
you can also look into going up the Alps, namely Davos or Lenzerheide or alike.. thats rather a question of taste or liking or mood... by train about 2 - 3 hours... but the train/bus ride offers fantastic views, which makes even the ride itself wothwile...
http://davos.ch/en/summer.html
http://www.lenzerheide.com/sites/content/region.html
concerning some old towns... you might want to have a look at St. Gallen, which is right around the corner from Uzwil.. i still suggest Basel and Bern (reachable within two hours from Uzwil), which are for city trips the most interessting, concerning urban life, shopping etc...
Zürich is big city life as big as it gets in switzerland.. it offers a lot of creative, urban shoppin and with the Bahnhofstrasse covers the main stream too... with its lake side, its wonderfull to just stroll around or sit down, let time pass and enjoy a cup of coffee..
however, zürich offers also the most dense nightlife in whole of europe.. we have endless clubs and bars tightly packed for all couleur and tastes... and the night life is very vibrant until way into the morning hours....
well chocolate def. isnt a problem..
while in zurich every major chocolate producer has a store, i can give you the adress of the factory store of lindt&Sprüngli (maybe the most famous of em all).. you can get everything there at very cheap prices... they sell the not-so-perfect pieces there but quality wise its store stuff...
well... it depends on what day you exactly plan to come and stay etc... but if i got time, i could show you round...
just would need means to contact you outside fodors..
