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A trip to the center of the finance and banking industry may leave you a little bit poorer but Zurich’s charm will stay with you far longer than the coin you have spent in this city. It’s very true that Switzerland as a whole is expensive, but that doesn’t mean you have to break the bank to enjoy it.

There is much to see in this city and you should consider stopping by if you’re in this part of Europe as part of a larger trip. Getting here is easy; Zurich airport is the largest in the country so naturally most, if not all, flights will start and end here. After landing, simply just follow the signs to the train station and buy a ticket to Zurich HB Train station (or Zurich Stadelhofen if your accommodation is further south and close to Grossmunster church). The trains leave every 10-15 minutes and the cost for a one way ticket will be around 6 Swiss Francs (Swiss Franc Abbreviation: CHF). Make sure to validate your ticket on the train platform before boarding.

As far as where to stay, I managed to save money by staying in a capsule hostel (Green Marmot Capsule Hotel), which provided me with all the amenities I needed, plus its location couldn’t be beat as all the major sights were within 10-15 minutes walking distance.

My journey to Zurich was also in the middle of December so weather was very much NOT on my side. There was no sunshine, and periods of light rain, but otherwise cloudy the whole time. It didn’t ruin my trip however, there was plenty to enjoy, especially with the festive Christmas atmosphere.

Bahnhofstrasse is the main shopping thoroughfare that stretches through District 1 in Zürich. It is especially nice during Christmas time as the Swiss do a fantastic job of making it quite charming with Christmas lights everywhere. Old and modern storefronts are also decorated, enticing shoppers to do some last minute splurging.

District 1 is the area of Zürich that contains most of the attractions as well as the Old Town area. It is almost its own island, formed by the Limmat and Sihl rivers. If in doubt of what to see in this city, just head over to this area to get started.

Fraumünster Church can be easily recognized by its distinctive turquoise-colored spire. This former abbey's history starts all the way back to the Middle Ages. You can view the church interior by paying a small entry fee and obeying general rules such as using a low/whispering voice to protect the peace inside. Ironically enough, the pipe organ inside is one of the largest in Switzerland.

The Swiss National Museum is located just behind the Zürich train station and boasts impressive architecture. Its colorful armory tower was my favorite attribute about it (you can see it in my drone video below). The courtyard in the center of the complex leads to Park Platzspitz, just north of the complex. The museum contains relics and collections illustrating Swiss culture and heritage.

Another church in town, conveniently located in the middle of Zürich's old town is St. Peter Church. By this point, maybe you have had your fill of churches but nonetheless this is another option of main sites in the city.

Kirche Enge is a nice sanctuary that hosts concerts from time to time, located in the southeastern part of Zürich. It is a little more modern than the other aforementioned churches (19th century). You also have the option of going up to its dome for a good view of this part of the city and the lake basin to the west.

Lindenhof is a hilltop area that is the highest point in District 1. A visit to this small park at all times of the day is highly recommended (by me and everyone). What I especially enjoyed about it was the views at night time. Just across the Limmat river, you can see the main building of ETH Zürich. When I was in graduate school, I was told that ETH Zurich was the “MIT of Europe” so I have always held it in such high regard.

The Quaibrücke and Münsterbrücke bridges are also old landmarks that span the Limmat river and are great places for slow exposure/night time photography.

My experience and initial thoughts of Zürich was that it was quite a bustling city. After all, it is the largest in Switzerland. However, it was very easy to get away from the noise of it all by escaping to the Botanical Garden in the southwest corner of District 1. It isn’t too large but it features an octagon-shaped palm house and curated gardens of medicinal plants. Its elevation also makes it a nice viewpoint for the city. My trip here was during the winter, so I can only imagine how gorgeous it is in spring and fall.

ETH Zurich (or Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich - The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), as mentioned before, is a prestigious university located in the eastern part of Zürich. Walking uphill to the Polyterrase (a cafeteria and viewing deck) is worth the climb for views of District 1.

For all football fans, you surely must already know that the FIFA headquarters are located in Zürich as well. The FIFA World Cup Museum can be toured, which outlines the history of FIFA and World Cup competitions.

The Zurich Thermal Bath is a spa, housed in a former brewery. The rooftop pool has also, guess what, great views of Zürich. You can buy a day pass here to enjoy its amenities. I highly recommend saving this for the end of your trip.

The Jules Verne Panoramic Bar, named after the French novelist and poet, offers ‘classic cocktails with a view’ and is conveniently located within District 1.

Lastly for the best coffee in the city, go right to MAME Coffee. 'MAME' means 'beans' in Japanese and this cozy cafe was one of my favorites I have ever been to. They suggested I try their Matcha Latte, and I am glad they did. It was exceptional. I stayed here for a few hours to do some photo editing and loved the ambient atmosphere.

PROTIP: Look into getting the Zurich City Card if you plan on being here for a few days. It’ll save you money in the long run on transport, entrance fees, and tours.

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