My first time I visited Switzerland was in 2017 when I ran a marathon in Geneva, and it was an amazing first glimpse into the alpine country known for amazing mountains, chocolate, and fondue. I was thrilled to be going back to a new city this time, to explore more of what Switzerland has to offer.
The largest city in Switzerland, Zurich is an incredible city to visit for a few days. It’s stunningly beautiful, surrounded by mountains and situated along the banks of the Limmat and Sihl Rivers and the shore of Lake Zurich. I had the joy of spending a few days here while visiting a friend who lives there, and while it was a short visit, I look forward to visiting again on a future trip to explore more of the city. Here are some of the great things I was able to experience during a long weekend in Zurich.
Eat & Drink in Zurich
Coffee at Barchetta
Started the day before a walking tour of the city at Barchetta, a swanky cafe on the river, offering beautiful views and a delicious cappuccino. Grab a croissant, sip your coffee and enjoy a lovely way of starting the morning before wandering around Zurich here.
Lunch at Zum Koningstuhl
This restaurant was a fantastic find for Swiss food, great service, and a beautiful terrace to eat on. It’s a historic venue, dating back to the 17th century, and is conveniently located in the city center, easy to walk to after a tour around the highlights. We indulged in a schnitzel with a mushroom sauce, and a sausage with fries and lingonberry sauce. The servers and host were so nice and the food was delicious, I’d highly recommend visiting Zum Koningstuhl for lunch or dinner while in Zurich.
Eat Fondue — Raclette Stube in Zurich
No trip to Switzerland is complete without a meal of fondue! Even in the summer months when hot, bubbly cheese sounds a bit less appealing than when it’s cold out, I still recommend indulging during your Swiss adventures. The classic fondue comes with the cheese pot and bread and potatoes for dipping, but you can also order sides of meats, pickled onions, and other accoutrements to enjoy. We ventured to Raclette Stube in Zurich for fondue, and it was a very cute restaurant with wonderful servers and delicious fondue.
Top Things To Do — Free Walking Tour of Zurich
It’s no secret that Switzerland is expensive — so finding free and cheap things to do is a great way to see the city without breaking the bank. I would recommend bringing some cash along to tip the guide, since they do work solely for tips, but the tour itself is free and a fabulous way to learn more about Zurich’s history and Swiss culture.
It was about a 90-minute walking tour and showed us some highlights around the city center and fascinating facts about Switzerland. Did you know that you can drink the water right out of the fountains in Switzerland? They appear to just be decorative but they are also safe to drink from!
Overnight Trip from Zurich — Visiting Lugano
While there are many museums and other attractions to visit in Zurich city itself, which I hope to explore on a future visit, during this trip we ventured south to Lugano, a beautiful city in the Italian region of Switzerland. It was perfect for an overnight visit, but you could also do this in a day trip if you felt ambitious.
Here are some of the great things we did and ate while in Lugano.
Things to Do in Lugano — Walk Along Lake Lugano
This lovely town hugs the shores of Lake Lugano, wrapping around the shoreline with beautiful buildings that lead into winding streets of cafes, shops, and more. The lakefront is easy to stroll along, with restaurants and cafes along the way. You can even rent little boats to cruise out on the lake to get a new perspective on the city.
Take the Cable Car Up Monte Bré
A top activity to enjoy while in Lugano is getting a stunning view of the city from above on Monte Bré, a mountain on the edge of the town. The cable car itself is a fun ride up to the top, where you can find a lovely restaurant with a terrace overlooking the lake and surrounding mountains. Grab an Aperol Spritz and toast to being on top of Monte Bré. You can buy tickets for the cable car on the SBB Mobile app — it makes it super easy to purchase tickets for all types of transport in Switzerland.
Breakfast at Fredy Bar in Lugano
This was a great find down a quiet street, it felt like a locals spot and was the perfect place to start the day with a coffee and a ham and cheese toasty. The service was very nice and it was a charming place to watch the citizens of Lugano start their days as we started our own. Definitely pop into Fredy Bar for breakfast, or enjoy a drink later in the day if you find yourself wandering the streets of Lugano.
Pasta at La Casa No. 6
Fresh, house made pasta and a crisp wine on a terrace near the lake? Sign me up! La Casa No. 6 is centrally located in Lugano and ideal for an afternoon meal when exploring the city. I had a classic Cacio e Pepe with a sauvignon blanc, while Laura had a special shrimp and spring vegetable pasta that was delicious too.
Seafood Dinner at I Calafatari
This meal was okay, albeit I wouldn’t say it’s the best seafood nor best Italian food I’ve ever had. If you want a Sicilian Italian food experience, you can check out I Calafatari in Lugano. The experience was a bit weird, it felt like the owner did not want us there, and it was quite expensive for the quality and portion size. I wouldn’t go back to I Calafatari, it was a bit disappointing, but it is highly reviewed so it’s possible we just got unlucky going at an off time.
Drinks at Boat Center Palace
This unassuming mini boat club was a great spot to stop for a drink right on Lake Lugano. I had a delicious grapefruit spritz, and they had a full bar with reasonably priced drinks. Stop here for a cocktail, or you can rent a boat from this establishment too! The deck is built right over the water, making it an ideal spot to people watch and enjoy beautiful views of the mountains and the lake.
Overall I had a wonderful time visiting my friends and exploring Zurich and Lugano. I can’t wait to go back to Zurich again to do more in the city and explore other small nearby cities and Swiss mountain towns. It’s truly a stunning country that is worthy of multiple visits in different seasons.
No Comments