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Zurich
abounds in gentle hills, peaceful woods, lakes and rivers, and picturesque
villages—all within striking distance from the Swiss Alps. Zürich is
the ideal starting point for all kinds of excursions. Within the city,
you can enjoy the Old Town, the trendy new Zürich West district, and
the glorious lake. With opera, ballet, theaters, shows, musicals, and
art exhibitions in over 50 museums and 100 galleries, time never drags
in Zürich.
Zurich
is said to have begun at the Lindenhof, which is where many begin their
orientation to the city. This square is the architectural center of
historic Zurich. From there, you can look out over the city as it rises
on both banks of the Limmat from Bahnhofbrücke (Brücke
means bridge) to Quailbrücke
Zürich is a stunningly beautiful city that circles around the northern
end of Zürichsee (Lake Zurich), from which the Limmat River flows, bisecting
the city. In the distance, magnificent snow-clad peaks overlook the
waters of the lake, and the shores are dotted with stately 19th
century mansions.
The city is crisscrossed by lovely, low bridges. On the left bank are
the Altstadt (Old Town); the Hauptbahnhof (the main train station);
and Bahnhofplatz, a major urban crossroads and the beginning of the
Bahnhofstrasse. The right bank constitutes the livelier older section,
divided into the Oberdorf (Upper Village) and the Niederdorf (Lower
Village). Below this square runs Bahnhofstrasse, one of the most elegant
and expensive shopping streets in the world Old Town, or Altstadt, was
developed during the early medieval period . It expanded to Weinplatz,
the oldest market square, and Strehlgasse. By the 11th century, the
city continued its development on the right bank with such centers as
Kirchgasse and Neumarkt.
State-operated "Heimatwerk" shops present a high-quality selection of
'cottage industry' goods including wooden, hand carved objects and lace
.
Zürich has a free bicycle rental program. For a small, refundable deposit
and your passport, you can borrow a bike. More than 300 bikes are available.
The most central pickup points are at Platform 18 of the Hauptbahnhof,
the Globus department store on the Bahnhofstrasse, and at Theaterplatz/Stadelhofen.
Bikes are available from the train station year-round; the other locations
distribute bikes May through October. A great place to bike is the path
along the river starting at the Hauptbahnhof and running along the left
bank of the Limmat, downriver.
Zürich's tram service, VBZ-Züri-Linie, is rapid and on time. It runs
from 5:30 AM to midnight, every six minutes at peak hours, every 12
minutes at other times. All-day passes can be purchased at the stops
that post maps and sell one-ride tickets. Free route plans are available
from VBZ offices, located at major crossroads. Switzerland is rich in
natural attractions, which seems to make it a 'natural' for families
with children. Exploring the mountains and lakes provides endless hours
of enjoyment. Getting around is likely to be
as much an attraction as the destination. The train, bus, boat and mountain
transport infrastructure are usually very attractive to children. They'll
find steam trains and steam ships, and mountain lifts of all sorts:
large cable cars, four person cable cars as in Disneyland, chairlifts,
and many ancient funiculars.
Along the shores of Lake Zürich, concrete walkways give way to trees
and lawns in the Arboretum on the west bank, making the area perfect
for strolling. Designated areas for outdoor swimming and sunbathing
are open May to September. Well-known spots are Utoquai on the east
shore of the lake and Mythenquai on the west shore. There are also various
free swimming spots, such as the one just north of the confluence of
the Sihl and Limmat Rivers. Zürich is a central point allowing one-day
excursions almost anywhere in the country. Luzernand Bern are only 75
minutes away. The Rhein, the medieval village of Stein, and the Rhein
Falls are also close.
Swiss cooking deserves its reputation of being delicious, clean and
wholesome. The Swiss National Dish is Rösti: a sort of Swiss-style hash
browned potatoes, which cannot be imagined until they have been tasted.
There are many regional variations on Rösti (with eggs, cheese, bacon,
onion, etc.), especially in the mountains. One of the most popular excursions
out of Zürich starts with a train ride to Uetliberg. From there, there
is a panoramic two-hour Planetary Path (Planetenweg) running along the
mountain ridge overlooking the lake to Felsenegg. En route you pass
models of some of the planets in the solar system: These and the distances
between them are on a scale of one to 1000 million.
A day in the incredible experience. Travelers are given a range of choices
as to stops and activities. One option is to buy a Jungfrau pass and
plane to spread the experience over several days. That allows time to
stop for an afternoon in the alpine village of Grindalwald and just
relax and revel in the beauty of the mountains and the quiet beauty
of the village.
Switzerland's largest city is surely among the most beautiful in all
of Europe. Even today, Zurich retains much of its 19th-century charm.
Zurich is also considered to be one of the best shopping destinations
in the world. The city is both large enough to offer all amenities to
its visitors and small enough to make the visitor feel at home.
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