Niederdorf is the area of Zurich across the Limmat river from Lindenhof and Schipfe. It's more…read moretouristy in terms of shopping and there is more of a nightlife in this area. Unfortunately, that means it is also more expensive. It's definitely an area to check out, and is not too far from the old town hall, Grossmuenster cathedral, University of Zurich, or a couple of museums. 80/2025

Located in old town Zurich, this is a wonderful place to walk around and look at the shops, eat…read moredinner, grab a drink, and see some local landmarks. With plenty of restaurants, you are bound to find a place with good food and great atmosphere! The options are endless. Multiple shops line the street, from designer labels, to old antique shops that sell Swiss knives. The old river runs along side the street, as well as some popular church's, including the Grossmünster Church. The area has beautiful architecture, and during the holiday season, is lined with Christmas lights. As we walked along, we enjoyed window shopping, ending with a good dinner. Definitely a good way to spend the evening.

I've ridden funiculars in Paris, Santiago…read morehttps://www.yelp.com/biz/funicular-santiago?hrid=3MQbf-z1mZ0YI2yaEHqOww, Porto, https://www.yelp.com/biz/funicular-dos-guindais-porto?hrid=p8mBuupTw8wfxJBP4NpWcg, Bilbaohttps://www.yelp.com/biz/funicular-de-artxanda-bilbao-3?hrid=hmbNvBc8ogW1jtU-OhPk8Q, and Pittsburgh https://www.yelp.com/biz/monongahela-incline-pittsburgh?hrid=xqDMRikx8G0Ub2VXJaNPoA. They're fun and interesting and a bit of a step back to simpler times. I had the opportunity to ride the Polybahn in Zürich which is a quick half kilometer ride from Central Square to the Polyterrasse of the ETH Zürich. The train is owned by the UBS AG banking group but operated on their behalf by the Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich who run the city's tram network. Easy enough to board, ride and enjoy. It's over quick, so be ready! [Review 16479 overall - 28 in Switzerland - 1987 of 2021.]

Polybahn is a red funicular railway that takes passengers from the bottom of central Zurich up to a…read moreterrace at ETH Zurich. A lot of students use it as a convenient way to get to the university. It's completely automated with no person working the machines. It runs every 3 minutes, the ride is only about a minute and a half, and it is free with the Swiss Travel Pass. The alternative is an uphill 10 minute walk if you're looking for a little exercise. Occasionally the line will be long but it moves quickly as the railway can fit a good amount of people per ride.

Helvetiamarkt and Velobörse both make good use of this open square. It's an excellent venue, but…read moreI'm not sure I'd come here just to enjoy the scenery --- when it's empty, it's pretty empty. There is a nice little playground across the street, but the street traffic and surrounding concrete buildings mean this isn't my favorite place to sit and sip coffee.

Of all the used bike sales and bike auctions I've been to, this was by far the best --- and,…read moresurprisingly, the mellowest. Need a basic used city bike for getting to class and back? CHF 150. Want something simple to leave at the train station? CHF 100. Want an almost-new commuter with a working generator and V-brakes? CHF 400. Want a nicer bike for weekend rides? Well, that's a little trickier... Test rides are easy --- bring an ID to leave with the gatekeeper, and pop across the street for a few minutes. Checkout couldn't be simpler (as long as you bring cash) --- each bike has the no-haggle price on a form, along with the owner's name. You take the bike to the checkout stand, pay your money, and get your receipt; the operators deal with giving the money to the seller, so you don't need to wait for them to make change. No cards accepted, though --- so bring plenty of large bills, so nobody beats you to a good bike while you're at the Bancomat. I was looking for a good heavy-duty commuter for my wife, and a nice mountain bike for Altberg (and occasionally Üetliberg). The first one was easy --- quickly narrowed it down to a few, and picked a good one. The mountain bike was more of a stretch --- there were a few around, but several were too large, one was too downhill-oriented (I can live without three chainrings, but do need two), and many, many were too old (I'm trading up from a late-90s steel hardtail --- I don't need another). Did eventually find a 2005 Specialized FSR that had been pressed into city duty --- it's back in the mud and woods now.

Uetliberg is a popular place to enjoy great panoramic view of Zurich. On a clear day, you can see…read moreMount Pilatus and Lucern in the distance. You can use Google Maps to guide you through the trail. There's a dirt trail that will get you up faster, but don't take that one! I hiked it after a few days of rain so it was muddy and challenging. There's another trail that's a bit longer, with switchbacks throughout. I took that one on the way down and it's so much safer than the dirt path. Definitely worth a visit if you're in Zurich.

Amazing views of the city of Zürich, Zügersee (Lake Zürich), and the Alps. Take train (S10) which…read moreruns every 30 minutes (05 & 35) then walk up the small mountain to be rewarded with stunning views. There is a restaurant, a lookout area and a separate tower at the top. The lookout area is free. The tower offers 2 levels (30 m and 72 m) of views for free. The highest level of view (900m) will cost 1 or 2 franc. From this small mountain, you can hike various paths ranging from 0.6 km to several km. I wish I had the time and the right shoes to hike one of the paths. I'm sure the experience would be well worth the effort.

I only went here as its where the free Zurich walking tour starts but once at this square, loved…read morethe architectural styles mish-mash. The UBS HQ building was this awesome Art Deco modern behemoth that wouldn't look out of place in Berlin, while then immediately next to it was the fancy Neo-Baroque style of the Credit Swiss bank HQ that looked like something straight out of Prague streets. There was also the very fancy Savoy hotel located in the square, but am not sure if the cost would be worth the view of the trams? Oh one other note, our tour guide said that this was originally a farmers market and known as the square of Pigs - I think there is a certain poetic justice with bankers working there in the now renamed square :)

I mainly view Paradeplatz as a transportation hub. You are able to pick up the 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11,…read moreand 13. There may be others but these are the only ones I can guarantee. UBS and Credit Suisse are both headquarted here. The Savoy hotel overlooks the square. There is a large Sprungli here as well. Toilet facilities and a kiosk are also available for those waiting on a tram. A couple hundred years ago it served as a live stock market where the popular item to trade were pigs. This is often the meeting spot of the local Zurich informational walking tours.