Part of Zurich's charm is what an incongruous experience it can be to travel around the city. One minute you're biking through medieval villages to see Renaissance frescoes. The next you're sampling fusion cuisine in the vibrant industrial quarter. Before you leave you'll take a train up the steepest railway in the world before visiting a stork sanctuary.
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GETTING THERE
US Airways offers daily flights year round from Philadelphia to Zurich. Trains from the airport run frequently and take less than 15 minutes.
GETTING AROUND
Customizable timetables for Switzerland’s rail system are available in English at rail.ch. For Zurich transit schedules, go to zvv.ch. Bicycles can be rented at many railroad stations, but some only offer rentals between May and October. Outside Zurich’s main station, across from Platform 18, they’re free year round, so bring your passport. Scooters and skateboards are also available.
WHERE TO STAY
Architect Tilla Theus
crafted the Widder Hotel from nine historic houses,
one dating back to the 12th
century. Medieval building
materials and Renaissance
frescoes commingle with
Bauhaus and Biedermeier
furniture.
Rennweg 7
widder.ch
The Zen-inspired, all-white
rooms at Hotel Greulich will appeal to lovers of
modern design. The
Aussersihl location is
several minutes from
downtown by train.
Herman-Greulich-Strasse 56
greulich.ch
At Dakini’s Bed &
Breakfast, owner-artist
Susanne Seiler
has enlivened six guest
rooms with her own
collage-covered furniture.
If you’re looking to save some
cash for shopping, shared
baths mean bargain prices.
Brauerstrasse 87
dakini.ch
At Kafischnaps, another
European-style pension,
each room was created by
a different young Zurich
designer. The cafe is a
favorite gathering spot in
the Wipkingen quarter.
Kornhausstrasse 57
kafischnaps.ch
WHERE TO EAT
The modern European
cuisine at LaSalle bursts
with bright flavors like
fennel, banana, citrus, and
olive. Its setting (a former
ship building factory) is
half the experience.
Schiffbaustrasse 4
lasalle-restaurant.ch
The pizza at Rosso is
crispy and flavorful, the
staff upbeat and helpful.
No surprise this Italian
restaurant is one of Züri-West’s most lively spots.
Geroldstrasse 31
Angkor serves rich Pan-Asian fare. Don’t shy away
from the vegetarian dishes:
You’ve never tasted tofu
like this before.
Giessereistrasse 18
Restaurant
Bäckeranlage sits inside the park by the
same name. Locals gather
alfresco for inexpensive
salads and pastas.
Hohlstrasse 67
Converted from a military
riding school, Reithalle feels like a convivial beer
garden. It serves reasonably
priced meat and vegetarian
dishes late into the evening.
Gessnerallee 8
