After more than two years without a single passport stamp, there was no better feeling in the world than settling into our standard economy seats for an eight-hour flight. Our knees pressed firmly into the seatbacks in front of us as we shuffled our feet around the carry-on items below them. Before the plane even pushed back from the gate, we were mildly uncomfortable and slightly remorseful as we glanced ahead of us at the passengers with more spacious seating. And then, the engines roared to life, and our plane hurtled toward the end of the runway. As the wheels lifted off the tarmac, neither of us could stop smiling: we were finally off on another adventure. One short night later, our plane touched down in Zurich.
We visited Switzerland briefly a decade ago, and our stop afforded us only enough time to explore Geneva before it was time to move along to our next destination. This time, we planned a long weekend in Zurich to play tourist and eat all the fondue we could manage. Although it would be easy to find experiences to fill a longer trip, Zurich is perfect for a weekend visit if maximizing your vacation time is important to you. If you only have a few days to explore Zurich, here are some fun things to consider adding to your schedule!
Eats!
Zurich is absolutely filled with indulgences, and if you enjoy a terrifically decadent meal, it’s a food destination worth prioritizing. Here are a few of our favorites and where to find them!
► Fondue

More Information: Raclette-stube.ch
► Alpermagronen
Known as “herdsman’s macaroni,” alpermagronen is a hearty macaroni and cheese with cubed potato and onion. We found it to be a filling treat after a long flight that caused us to miss breakfast due to our arrival time; many restaurants serve it with a side of applesauce that serves as a nice accompaniment.
► Rösti
Famous throughout Switzerland, rösti is a potato dish not too dissimilar to hash browns, and it is served both as a main course and a side dish. We had a simpler rösti at Zeughauskeller, served with Zwingli sausage and onion sauce; we also had a more savory rösti at a restaurant during our visit to Jungfraujoch that included ham and egg to make it a bit more of a substantial meal.
More Information: Zeughauskeller.ch
► Swiss Chocolate

► Muesli
Considered by some to be a boring breakfast choice in the United States, muesli was invented in Switzerland and it’s a popular meal in Zurich, so we sought some out before meeting our Jungfraujoch tour. Admittedly, the muesli we ate was worlds apart from what you might find in the cereal aisle; prepared fresh, we visited a storefront that sold a few different types of muesli featuring a mix of fruit, seeds, and nuts that added crunch and sweetness. As a bonus, it was filling enough that we didn’t even think about food again until sitting down for our late lunch at the top of the world—minus a quick stop for chocolate during the morning portion of the tour!
► Rivella
Trying different beverages around the world can be a fun way to experience local culture, and the Swiss are partial to a local soft drink called Rivella that is made from milk whey. In fact, Rivella is the second most popular soft drink in all of Switzerland, and it was invented here in 1952. Boasting an almost herbal flavor profile with slight licorice notes, Adam enjoyed it much more than I did; it drinks like a soda without tasting at all like a soda, and while it’s refreshing on a hot day it’s also fair to call it an acquired taste. It’s like nothing else!
► Balkenprobe
We have certainly enjoyed a glass of wine or two during our travels, but little compares to the balkenprobe at the Oepfelchammer, a tavern that got its start in the 17th century and is home to the city’s most unique drinking ritual. To participate, a patron climbs their way up to a ceiling beam, where they hang, inverted, and drink a glass of wine. If they manage to consume the entire glass without spilling a single drop, they are allowed to carve their name into the wall of the Oepfelchammer. Should someone be unsuccessful—which is a frequent occurrence given how hard it is to drink wine while upside down—they can try up to twice more before admitting defeat. We didn’t try the challenge ourselves, but we visited the tavern to see just how hard it looked. Although it looks fun, we agreed we’re happier when drinking wine right side up.
You can check out this video on YouTube to see a successful attempt at the Oepfelchammer beam challenge.
St. Peter’s Church

Swiss National Museum
Immersing yourself in local culture and history can be a big part of an enjoyable vacation, and the Swiss National Museum is the perfect place to do just that. Housed in a castle-like structure at the convergence of two rivers, it houses a huge permanent collection as well as visiting exhibits. From historic currency to medieval armor to a full exhibit on Swiss architecture, there’s almost certainly an exhibit or two that will pique your interest. Our visit coincided with a temporary exhibition about Anne Frank’s connection to Switzerland, which began when her father settled there after World War II ended and he discovered he was the only person from the family that survived the Holocaust. In total, the museum has close to a million artifacts that tell the story of Zurich and of Switzerland in general, and it’s a great place to spend an afternoon.
Old Town Zurich
Old Town Zurich, known as the Altstadt, has more to offer than St. Peter’s Church; it’s a vibrant place filled with sightseeing options, shopping, and great food. Visit Grossmünster, a church with two towers and a surprising origin story. According to local legend, Charlemagne discovered the graves of Felix and Regula, the city’s patron saints, and built a church over them. Dozens of boutiques dot streets, and it’s easy to find anything from souvenirs to Swiss-designed clothing as you wander through Old Town. A short walk away, the Bürkliterrasse is a beautiful spot to look out over Lake Zurich as you enjoy some peace away from the crowds. We made Old Town our first stop after landing in Zurich, and it provided a great orientation to the city and what we hoped to experience during our short time there.
Lindenhof Hill

Getting Around Zurich
We found public transportation to be very convenient during our time in Zurich. The city is well-connected by a tram network that extends all the way to the airport, and we used the tram to get from the airport to our hotel. Zurich is also a great walking city, and we had no problem navigating on foot once we had stored our luggage safely at our hotel. If riding a tram, you can purchase a pass from a machine at each boarding location. Ticket machines have a few language options, including English, and they are straightforward to use.
Day Trips from Zurich

Our Post: Jungfraujoch, Switzerland: Visiting the Top of Europe
Our Post: 1 Day in Liechtenstein: A Day Trip from Zurich
Hotels in Zurich
We really enjoyed our stay at the Royal Hotel Zurich, which is conveniently located right at a tram stop on the same line as the airport. We were warmly greeted and promptly sent to our room hours before it was promised to us, which was welcomed after a long flight from Washington, DC. Our room was well-sized, especially for Europe; the only issue we noted was that the sliding door separating the bathroom from the bedroom had some stylized clear glass that made it easy to see in—perhaps not an ideal feature if you stay with a friend. That wasn’t a deal breaker for us; we really enjoyed our nights there and look forward to a return stay when we are in Zurich again.
More Information: Booking.com/royal-hotel-zurich
If you are looking for hotels in Zurich, Booking.com is a great option; we found it to be very convenient when comparing various properties and amenities as we made our decision on where to stay. Take a look to see if Booking.com has a great hotel for you, too!
Enjoy Zurich!
After just two days, we found ourselves back in another economy seat for another long flight—this time much fuller thanks to a steady diet of chocolate and cheese. Zurich did not disappoint. We thoroughly enjoyed our days of sightseeing and exploring and our evenings of delicious meals and walks through the beautiful Old Town. If Zurich is on your vacation list, start booking your flight—we think you’ll love it as much as we did!
Related Posts
Want to read about more interesting European cities we’ve written about? Check out these posts from our archives!