Uetliberg
One of four viewpoints on the Albis chain, Zurich’s “house mountain” rises 2,850 feet above sea level, offering a miniature version of an Alpine ridge right above the city and affording the widest possible views across the lake to the glittering Alps. It’s where locals head in summer to hike and picnic, on foggy fall days to get above the cloud, and in winter, snow-permitting, to sled down a treacherously steep track. The Uetliberg-Bahn SZU (S10) leaves platform 22 at the main station every 30 minutes, topping out 20 minutes later. You need to buy a ticket (CHF17.60 return) before you board for zones 110, 154, and 155, or the ride is included in the Zurich Card. From the platform, where there is a playground and a small restaurant, Hillz, popular for cheese fondue in the winter, it’s a gentle seven-minute climb along a wooded path to the summit. Take care on cold days as it can be very icy. At the top there is a 30-meter (98-foot) high viewing tower and a stylish restaurant, Uto Kulm, which serves seasonal Swiss classics. Alternatively, you can join any number of hiking trails, including the two-hour Planet Trail along the ridge. It follows a scale model of the solar system, has numerous picnic spots, and there’s a small cable car at the end—Felsenegg—to return you to the valley, where you can board the S4 train from Adliswil to Zurich HB.
