How to Spend Three Days in Zürich Off the Map

Morning

If you can roll out of bed early, grab a local coffee from Bean Bank Coffee & Co. and take a walk along the Schanzengraben Canal, a former moat that has been turned into a scenic promenade. It feels like something only locals know about.

Afternoon

Start your afternoon early with a noon lunch on Lake Zurich at Fischerstube. Reserve an outside table and order a fish dish (which naturally comes from nearby waters).

Make your first stop after lunch at the Pavillon Le Corbusier (the Pavillon is only open inside from April through December, but the house is always viewable from outside). This is the last building designed by Le Corbusier and is his only building made of steel and glass. Inside, you can walk through most rooms and onto the roof for a view of the neighboring park and Lake Zurich.

The Pavillon is on the edge of the park that hosts the Chinese Garden, another hidden gem and one of the highest-ranking gardens outside of China (it was a gift from their government). Take a peaceful stroll through to admire the pagodas and ponds. If this is a family trip, just next to the Chinese Garden is a bustling children’s playground where kids can burn off some energy.

Evening

Pick a spot to eat in Neiderdorf, Zürich's Old Town, and sit out front to people-watch. Try to avoid the crowded tourist restaurants (especially the fondue ones) and pick a local spot—maybe Blockhus for traditional fare (eat out front) or Santa Lucia Niederdorf for pizza (eat out back). After dinner, as dusk and evening settle in, take a stroll over the bridges and by the river to see the buildings lit up and reflected off the water. Evening is a great time for photos at Gedenkstein.

Pick up a bike from one of the numerous hire stations (some hotels even provide them) and take a morning cycle from the city center of Zürich. There are many different routes to take, and it’s a great way to spend your morning. If biking isn’t your thing, you can take the UBS Polybahn for a quick trip up the hill over the Old Town to capture picturesque views from the top at Zürich Polytechnic, where Albert Einstein taught. Walk back down to the Old Town after.

Afternoon

Since you’ve burned some calories, lunch on sausage and mustard at Sternen Grill. Plan to wait in line, but if you can sit and enjoy yours in the busy upstairs area, you can enjoy views while you dine.

You’ve already broken the healthy eating rule with the sausages, so you might as well plan to hit up the Lindt Home of Chocolate for the rest of the afternoon. You don’t have to be a chocolate lover to appreciate the factory tour and the towering chocolate fountain. As part of the tour, you’ll get plenty of samples to take home with you, but the store is also a good spot for the gifts you need to return home with. Book your tickets in advance.

After filling up on chocolate, if it’s summer, take a dip in the lake at Seebad Kilchberg, where you’ll then want to catch the boat back to central Zürich. Note: Kilchberg can be reached by train or boat in either direction.

Evening

Restaurant Kronenhalle is a celebrated spot for dining. There are few other restaurants in the world where you can dine next to masterpieces of fine art, from Picasso to Chagall. But you can also just enjoy a drink at the bar and have the same experience. If you are at all into art, this is an experience not to be missed. Please make sure to pay attention to their dress code.

Morning

Start the last day off with a visit to Hürlimannbad & Spa to soak in their vaulted thermal baths and take in the panoramic views from the infinity rooftop. Make sure not to miss the Roman-Irish Spa Ritual. You might be enticed to spend hours at the spa, but try to extricate yourself by lunchtime, as there is still so much to see and do. There are family-friendly sections throughout, so this is a spa to take the kids to. Book in advance so you get the time you want. (Sorry, no photos in the spa.)

Afternoon

Zürich West, Im Viadukt, and Josefweise make a fine area to spend the last afternoon. Hit up boutique and specialty shops, enjoy a bit of culture at Kunsthalle Zürich, and take a breather in the popular local park. You can also grab lunch at Don Weber, Zürich's first Mexican restaurant, which has served tacos and burritos since 1989.

The neighborhood is the home of Freitag (the eco-friendly and stylish messenger bags made from used and recycled materials). If you plan, they do give factory tours.

Evening

Close out your Zürich experience at Belvoir Park, one of the oldest landscaped parks in the region full of large meadows, very old trees and lush gardens (and the purplest of wisteria if you time the season right). Eat dinner at Belvoirpark Restaurant, which is housed in Villa Escher, dating back to the 1830s. It’s now run by a hotel management school.