ZURICH TRAVEL GUIDE: What to DO & SEE in Zurich! + Lindt Home of Chocolate & Rhine Falls

Hey guys welcome back to our channel. We are in the heart of Zurich's old town and I know Zurich is a place that so many of you start and end your trips because of the huge airport and the availability of flight and train connections here. So before you get into Switzerland and enjoy the rest of the country and what there is to visit we're going to show you a quick two days in Zurich because there is a lot to explore and discover in the city and beyond. So before we get into the video I do want to direct you to our website thetravellingswiss.com. We do have a two day Zurich pdf guide available there for purchase with more information than what we'll cover in this video if you think that'll be a helpful resource. You can also book one-on-one consultations, check out free hotel reviews and so much more. But without further ado let's get into Zurich. Day one is going to be all about Zurich. You're going to explore the beautiful old town, the river, the lake and there are museums here worth checking out. So let's get into Zurich. Begin your day in Zurich by walking along the Limat river on the right heading towards Lake Zurich from Zurich main station. The path is a lovely pedestrian only path with great views all along the way and there are chances anywhere you look to head into the beautiful old town at any time if you wish to. As you approach the lake you'll stop by the Stadthaus to begin an exciting and free activity. In the Stadthaus which is Zurich city hall you'll find on the right a booth called the archaeological windows. You'll need to fill out a quick form, leave a piece of ideas collateral and they will give you a key and map to discover hidden doors and exciting things all around the city for free. We recommend the blue key as it includes one of our favorite special hidden doors at the Lindenhof. Next head into the old town to visit three beautiful churches. The Fraumünster known for its stained glass windows and its beautiful square. The Grossmünster which is right across the bridge which is Zurich's most prominent landmark which also has an option to which is beautiful to check out from the outside and of course all three are within a quick short walking distance of one another. Nearby we also recommend checking out the Augustiner Gasse on your walking tour of Zurich which is a beautiful colorful street and we think the most picturesque in all of the city. From there continue to the Lindenhof hill which you'll have to climb a series of stairs to access. This is a park offering some of the best views over the river and city rooftops. A very cool section of the archaeological windows can be found here with a secret trap door opening from the floor leading you to discover some of the old walls of the city. Cross the river and walk in the old town and explore more of the archaeological windows like a hidden passage between two buildings that only your key card can open. For lunch we recommend stopping at Bauschnetzli which is a beer garden germanic swiss style restaurant located on a island in the river. It's a beautiful atmosphere during the daytime when the weather is nice and we love the lively beer garden style. In the afternoon continue towards Bellevue and the opera house near the lake which is a gateway to the lakeside promenade. You can walk along the lake towards the Zurichhorn park which is a large public space with open lawns and lake access and at the edge of the park check out the Chinese garden which is an unexpected serene place hidden in the city with pavilions ponds and traditional landscaping. From the pier next to Zurichhorn board one of Lake Zurich's river cruise boats for a return trip towards the city center. Get off at Landesmuseum which is the swiss national history museum. It is located right next to Zurich's main station. The museum is worth visiting if you have extra time or if you don't have a particularly nice weather day since this is all inside. The exhibitions cover swiss history, culture, and art and is included in the swiss travel pass. Head towards Centrale across the and take the Polybon, a short funicular that brings you to a terrace with a view over Zurich. It's a quick ride and easy experience to combine with the rest of your day. And if you want to do some shopping or window shopping head to the famous Bahnhofstrasse. It's located right near the train station and runs towards the lake. It's home of course with international classic brands, swiss labels, department stores, and a wide assortment of luxury stores as well. And if you're looking for souvenirs or gifts the Victorinox flagship store is a great stop to pick up a customized swiss army knife. In the evening you can head just to stop outside of Zurich main station to Hardbrücke, an industrial chic up-and-coming neighborhood of Zurich that feels a little bit like brooklyn relative to new york city terms which has laid back bars, exciting dynamic restaurants. We personally love Frau Gerald's garden and every season where you can grab a drink or even a meal in this exciting outdoor restaurant with different food trucks and experiences you'll feel like a local here with lots of young professionals meeting for an after-work drink. So you've just touched down in Zurich ready to start your european summer adventure you turn on your phone and nothing there's no service so you think no problem i'll just find a sim card vendor somewhere in the terminal but then you connect to the slow airport wi-fi start searching and it's confusing expensive and unnecessarily stressful. We skipped all of that by using Arlo's discover plus e-sim. 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Discover plus keeps you connected wherever you go so if you're looking for a way to stay connected save money and skip the stress try Arlo discover plus and don't forget to use my code traveling swiss3 at checkout. So right now we're in the heart of Zurich and we are heading to our hotel which is super conveniently located literally across the street from the Zurich main station and that is the hotel Schweizerhof. It has been in Zurich for about 150 years it is really a mainstay here and it is a beautiful five-star hotel so we're excited to show you this amazing hotel. And if you're looking for a hotel that is close to the train station in Zurich to seamlessly catch a train from the airport or continue elsewhere in this beautiful country the hotel Schweizerhof is unparalleled. This five-star hotel has been a mainstay of the city for nearly 150 years and located directly across the street from Zurich main station the convenience is unmatched. They even have a concierge service to meet you at your platform to assist with your luggage and navigating the train station which can sometimes feel a bit like a maze. You'll then get settled in your beautiful room with elegant furnishings and thoughtful touches. They even have larger room options featuring two beds which can be a bit hard to come by in Switzerland. You won't have to go far for a good meal or drink as there is a dedicated bar area and multiple dining options on site. Whether you're looking for something quick to go or a luxurious fine dining experience complete with caviar and champagne the Schweizerhof has it covered. Day two we're using Zurich as a base for two nearby but incredible experiences. The first is the renowned Lindt Home of Chocolate and next up the renowned Lindt Home of Chocolate. You can get here either by boat or by train. For the more scenic route take a boat from Brückliplatz located near Bellevue in the opera house at the end of Bahnhofstrasse. During the summer months boats to Kielschberg depart every hour on the half hour. The ride takes about 30 minutes and offers beautiful views of Lake Zurich along the way and once you arrive in Kielschberg from the boat station it is just a 10 minute walk along the lake to reach the Lindt Home of Chocolate. Alternatively if you want to get there a little bit faster or if it's the winter months you may prefer taking the train from Zurich main station directly to Kielschberg which is quick and convenient. The Lindt Home of Chocolate is the most visited museum in all of Switzerland at the moment and it is very important to reserve your time entry tickets in advance. During the summer in particular tickets often sell out weeks or even months ahead of time so we highly recommend booking early. However if you're seeing this too late and there's no availability online anymore there is still a chance if you head to the museum early in the day around opening you can inquire at the counter for any cancellations in the next available time slot. They do sometimes have a few day of tickets that you can grab if you get lucky. Each ticket comes with a 30 minute time slot for entering the exhibition. We recommend arriving about 15 to 20 minutes after your time slot opens within that window. Since most visitors line up and enter right at the beginning of the time slot you'll actually find it is noticeably less crowded if you wait a little bit to head in but don't worry you can still enjoy the museum at your leisure. You don't have an exit time you could take your time to experience it. You'll move through a series of thoughtful rooms that take you on a journey through the world of chocolate. It begins with a deep dive of cocoa production and then moves into the history of chocolate. You'll then dive into the process of chocolate making with interactive exhibits and real machinery that show how chocolate is crafted from bean to bark. Naturally one of the highlights of this visit is of course tasting the chocolate. You'll have the chance to sample the base chocolate products straight from three flowing chocolate fountains dark milk and white. Then there's a station where you can try various flavored chocolate bark with unique combinations ranging from strawberry to orange or even pepper. After that you'll reach a room filled with a dozen different kinds of lint truffles. You can try each one as you discuss the tasting notes with master chocolatiers. The final part of the exhibit focuses on innovation and the future of chocolate including engaging displays about sustainability and product development and even gives you a view into the live production line where real lint chocolate is being made. As a fun and memorable way to end your trip you'll scan your ticket at the end of the exhibit and watch a small chocolate ball roll through whimsical swiss style obstacles before delivering you your final chocolate of the day. Until of course you stop by the incredible gift shop which is a great place for one-of-a-kind souvenirs. When it's time to leave you can walk to the Kilschberg train station and take a short ride back to Zurich, Hauptbahnhof or even catch a train direct to Schaffhausen and minimize train stations on your way to the incredible Rhine Falls. Next up we're heading to the Rhine Falls, the most powerful waterfalls in all of Europe. It is very easy to get here from Zurich. The ride takes only about 50 minutes by train with the S9 line from the main station. We suggest taking a train first to Schaffhausen and checking out this charming city first. This old town is beautiful. We simply love the streets and the Germanic style architecture. You'll notice the city is right along the German border. You can go visit the castle of Schaffhausen or simply stroll along the Rhine River and take in the views. Once you've discovered Schaffhausen, take a five-minute train to Neuhausen-Rhine Falls. You can walk down to the falls from here or take a series of elevators. We recommend walking all around the falls to enjoy the multiple different vantage points. It's worth noting that this is unfortunately not particularly stroller or handicap accessible however. Continue all the way around the falls and head to the castle on the other side. There you can pay five francs to access the closest part of the falls you can get by foot down some stairs or an elevator. The views are very impressive and you will literally be standing in the midst of the waterfall. After the falls there is a train stop by the castle side, Schlosslaufen am Rhinefall, and you can head back to Zurich by a window tour. Thank you guys so much for watching this video. Louis and I actually lived in Zurich for a few years and we loved it and we're so happy to rediscover it with all of you, but thank you so much for watching. We will catch you in the next one. Bye guys. Hey guys, thanks for watching. Thanks for watching. If you want to see more videos like this, please make sure to like and subscribe. We'll see you soon.