If you want the best vantage point in Zurich, Lindenhof is well worth the uphill walk. It takes a…read morelittle bit of effort and uphill steps to reach the top, but the payoff is immediate. The view from the terrace is genuinely breathtaking--you get a stunning look across the Limmat river, the historic church spires, and the rooftops stretching across the city. The park itself has a relaxed, peaceful vibe under the trees where you can just sit, take photos, and soak it all in. Once you're done enjoying the scenery, it's an easy, charming stroll right down into Old Town (Altstadt) to explore the alleyways, check out the local shops, and grab some good food. Definitely a must-visit spot when exploring central Zurich.

Found this Park/Scenic Location by luck! Climbed some old winding steps and wow! The view is…read morespectacular! Turns out it has a lot of history and it a great place to take picture and see a panoramic view of old town Zurich.

I was in Zürich for a very short time. Had a 7 hour layover, so we decided to check out the city…read morecenter for a while. Mainly just walking around, exploring the side streets, grabbing a bite to eat. When we came across the Platzspitz Promenade, we decided to check it out for hell of it and it didn't seem so bad, considering there were some parts of the city that seemed a little sketchy. But it was during the month of May so everything was pretty lush and the weather was pretty decent for that time of year. It was mainly just something to check out while seeing what the city was about. When it came to potentially getting souvenirs though, a lot of the stores were expensive, so we opted out of that one.

I think this place used to be called needlepoint park because of all the junkies. But that time is…read morenow gone, and it's nice for a stroll by the river and museum. I like looking at ths swans swimming in the river. I came for a free jazz concert last weekend with some friends, and it attracted a small crowd of people hanging out on the grass in the dark. I'm not particularly fond of jazz, but it was still interesting to check out a live band.

Very good. The days are still cool enough to enjoy them fully, but good for these times.read more

Floating downstream, walking back up, floating downstream, walking back up, floating downstream…read more.. and going for a Cervelat and and Apfelwein. Pretty awesome way to spend a summer afternoon, if you ask me. The swimming stretch is quick-flowing, often lifeguarded, and has several ladders; during nice days, expect to deal with people hanging out on the ladders, trying to decide if they want a dip or not. It's totally fair game to bypass them and jump in. (And if that's your style, there's a rope swing on the opposite shore). The playground has both water and dry sections for the 2-to-8 crowd; the climbing structures are all pretty small, so more adventurous kids may be happier swimming. The buildings in the center of the island have an outdoor restaurant, plus bathrooms and warm showers. In the middle of the island, there's a run-of-the-river hydro plant --- good if you like crashing water. More impressive falls are on the south-east corner. One thing to know ahead of time: The western third of the island is a de facto nude area, predominantly male and frequently gay. Everyone's pretty mellow, but it does make for a marked transition just past the powerplant.

Been to this park twice for Meetup events. It's nestled in a very private area surrounded by…read morebuildings that if you don't pay attention, you might miss it. The park has just about everything to make children of all ages happy. There's a wading pool, a solid wooden jungle gym playground, slides, swings, a covered sandpit, benches under the trees, a sizable lawn for the adults to sunbathe, and even a short green hill on the side. An onsite Züri WC completes the setup. I plan to visit this park with my daughter a few more times before the weather gets cold again...

There are two places near Burkliplatz that one can have a nice BBQ/picnic on a warm day: (1) China…read moreWiese [in front of the Chinagarten] near Bellevue or at (2) Arborteum near Enge. China Wiese is a much bigger stretch of land and gets more sunshine than the other side at the Arborteum. So if you are looking for sun, come here; but if looking for shade, go to the other side (Arborteum). It is also more geared to a mixed crowd, from families, couples, friends, groups, etc. On the weekends you can also catch the excitement of watching tight rope walkers practice their gig. Watch, or even partake! Good balancing required. For those who want to show off their booty and immerse in a "fun to be young" bikini frisbee/volleyball/football crowd, they should head to the Arborteum, to see, and to be seen. You can also BBQ/picnic there, but the land area is smaller, and is shadier/cooler.

I stumbled upon Stadtgärtnerei while exploring the neighborhood in late autumn. The greenhouses are…read morereally lovely. I especially like visiting Bosi the Toucan in the Palmenhaus! There are other birds, as well as fish and turtles.

Rechberggarten is a hidden oasis…read more I was walking around University of Zurich (UZH) and accidentally walked through the nicely motif gates and I walked in to a nice garden. Nice and peaceful. The "gardeners" here are friendly and all smile. If you walked up the stairs, you will have a nice view and you can also exit through the upper gate.

A delightful, mellow garden behind the Rechberg, the large mansion named after the family that used…read moreto own it. There's usually music drifting out of one of the neighboring practice rooms, and from the higher levels of the garden you get a good view of Üetliberg. The benches are unusually angular for such a baroque setting; sturdy enough, just odd. The upper gates (usually, but not always, open) exit out to UZH, which can make this a scenic alternative to walking on Kantonschulstrasse.