Anyone that knows me knows that I love to walk. So, after a busy day at Rheinfall, I still wanted…read moreto walk and explore Zurich. Left my hotel looking for a place with a good view of the river and old city. Like a magnet, I was pulled to Lindenhof. Lindenhof is a historic hill and public square in the heart of Zurich. It is known for its Roman origins, medieval significance, and panoramic views of the city. Lindenhof sits on a hill in Zurich's Old Town. People have lived here for thousands of years dating back to prehistoric communities during the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. Old tombstones found here have been traced back to Roman times. During the 9th century, a royal palace was built here. That site later served as a place to unify Swizerland under the Helvetic Constitution. I love how medieval history also documents how women dressed up as soldiers to defend the city. It was so nice to relax and enjoy the tranquil, tree-covered park. The panoramic views of the Limmat River, Lake Zurich, and Old Town were stunning. Listening to the church bells ring in unison was a bit magical. A beautiful park to visit on Switzerland National Day.

This hill is located in the the oldest part of Zurich (near Schipfe). It was once a Celtic…read moresettlement and then it became a Roman fort. The stone wall of the fort is what you see today. There's more history there that is still being uncovered. Some items found around the Lindenhof date back to the 1st century BC. Today, it's a large park with incredible views of Zurich and the Limmat River. We saw groups of people playing boules in the grassy area on a Sunday, as well as people playing chess. There's a fountain in the middle of the square that pays homage to Hedwig's women who wore battle gear to defend the city during the seige of Zurich in 1292. It's worth seeking out as it can be quite peaceful up there even though it's a tourist hot spot. The walk up the somewhat steep pathway and steps to get there from the city center is worth it. I've read that there is an elevator for those with mobility issues, but I didn't see one. There are benches as well as places to sit along the wall. It's shady and breezy up there. A great place to relax and enjoy the view.

Can't miss this church walking along the river. Inside is the usual high high ceilings, reliefs,…read moreand some stellar stained glass. It's about 3 meters to the top- (about $3) tickets available on site - no rez required. Stairs! First level a killer, you & your backpack will have a hard time navigating the tiny twisty stairs. Thankfully, there's a couple rest stops, one even has chairs by the windows, bring a book- or rest- pretending to be looking for something in your bag. There are eight windows on top with stunning views. Minus one star because they closed off the balconies, making it impossible to see past the 4' + decorative concrete barrier, except for snippets through the medallions. All in all, a worthwhile stop, but photographers will have to look for another vantage point.

The Grossmünster is a show stopper! We were walking along the river and I had to find a way to walk…read moreover there! Inside is gorgeous! They offer a tour inside, and walk-ins are welcome. You can walk inside and look (free of charge) at the first level of the church.

Was here during the holiday season to take in the local Christmas market flare - maybe not as…read moregrandiose as others around Switzerland/Europe, but I still enjoyed seeing what locals experience year-on-year. I always appreciate the stark contrast in setting between city squares and the festive market stalls; this one is no different!

This plaza is located by the Hotel Zum Storchen and was the site of the Corn Exchange until 1620…read more It's supposed to be the oldest market square in Zurich. The name Weinplatz comes from the 1909 Weinbauer fountain, which shows a Swiss winegrower with a basket of grapes. Every December, the city of Zurich puts on the Lichterschwimmen here and passes out free punch and cookies.

Rathaus Zürich, the Zurich Town Hall, was built between 1694 to 1698. It is so interesting to see…read moreso many historic sites that were built before the US gained its independence 250 years ago. It is designed in the baroque and renaissance style. Such a beautiful site as you stroll along the Limmat River in the heart of Old Town.

It's the square or promenade in front of Lake Zurich near the dock. This is where you can take a…read morescenic boat tour of the lake. It's also a great place to walk and soak in the views of it. My favorite part of the experience was watching the swans and ducks on what looks like an old boat ramp. They look so majestic while sunbathing after a swim. There's a sculpture on the terrace of Ganymede in a scene described as "The Abduction to Olympus" in Greek mythology. It was sculpted by Hermann Hubacher in 1952. The eagle in the sculpture represents Zeus. I thought it looked more elegant when viewing it from below the terrace. This is also where you can find the farmers market on Tuesday & Friday as well as a flea market on Saturday. Although, I believe they may have recently moved to the Münsterhof (Oct 2025) due to construction in the area. Check the website just to be sure. We walked down Bahnhofstrasse to get here. You can also take Fraumünsterstrasse to get here as well depending on where you are in the city. Take that short or long boat excursion if you have the time so that you can see all the sights on Lake Zurich. It's all worth it.

We had amazing boat lake tour on Lake Zurich. They have long and short lake tours so you can…read morechoose. We saw a lot of ducks and swans on the lake, beautiful homes along the lake and beautiful fountain. It was very relaxing and beautiful boat ride.

It's kind of interesting that this street was once named after a ditch of frogs (Fröschengraben)…read more Well, actually the frogs lived in a moat along the defensive wall that surrounded Old Town Zurich prior to 1864. That moat would eventually become a major street connecting the train station to Lake Zurich. Currently, it is considered to be one of the most exclusive & expensive shopping boulevards in the world. It's Switzerland's Fifth Avenue or Champs-Élysées. Honestly, I had no idea until our tour brought us here. All I can say is that this is a designer shopper's paradise. We walked along this ritzy street to get to the Bürkliplatz for a beautiful view of Lake Zurich. It was just nice to see the architecture and history here. There were many public art sculptures and cafés. We were there during the autumn season. I've read that this area is best seen during the winter months when they string up the "Lucy" lights all along the area. They are named after the "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" song from the Beatles. It looks amazing in pictures. So, is it as beautiful as the Champs-Élysées? No, but it has its own charm. I'm sure it looks very magical at night. Maybe it's the view of the tram cables over the street that makes it feel like a busy railway. Although, I didn't see any traffic. Then again, the street is aptly named "Bahnhofstrasse" for a reason.

The Zurich Bahnhofstrasse has maybe a less catchy name than others but still represents the most…read morebeautiful shopping boulevard in the world and easily beats Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles or the Champs Élysées in Paris. There is nothing that can compete with the wide open space, the relaxing atmosphere in combination with the ultimate concentration of luxury stores.