Zurich Canton


Places in Zurich City and Zurich Canton worth mentioning. . .


First a few facts and Figures

Zürich canton is in northeastern Switzerland and has an area of 1,729 sq km. This includes about 500 sq km of forests. The Sihlwald in the southwest of Lake Zurich covers the elongated Albis chain of mountains and is the largest contiguous mixed deciduous forest on the Swiss plateau. 2000 years ago large parts of Germany and Switzerland were covered by a single dense, primeval beech forest. The Zurich Wilderness Park’s website explains the history of this forest, how it is protected and the many activities available there.

This region also has plenty of lakes spread throughout. They cover around 72 sq km of the canton and come in all shapes and sizes. From the long and narrow Lake Zürich (Zürichsee) and Greifensee to ones like Hüttnersee which is a small lake, tucked away amongst the rolling hills in the southwestern corner of the canton.

History

Historically, the canton represented the territories acquired up to 1803 by its capital, Zürich and it was the first canton to join the Swiss Confederation in 1351. The whole of the lower part of Lake Zürich was added in 1362, and the canton reached the Rhine after the purchase of Winterthur from the Habsburgs in 1467.

The first railway line in Switzerland (1847) was from Zürich to Baden in the Limmat Valley. Nowadays train tracks radiate in all directions from the city of Zürich, mostly on time and with good connections to all over Switzerland and the neighbouring countries.

I found the above statistical and historical information from Britannica.com website, revised and updated by Jeff Wallenfeldt.


Discoveries of mine Beyond Zürich city


Zurich City and Lakeside

Zürich is not only my home canton, it’s also a place where my family and I spend most of our time. Before starting this blog I had already spent a lot of time wandering around the streets of Zürich city. The old town offers plenty of opportunities to get off the main tourist trail. Majestic buildings and leafy courtyards can be found on both sides of the Limmat River which runs into the wide expanse of Lake Zurich with its uninterrupted views of the Alps.

The first stop for tourists is normally the central district, home to the famous Bahnhofstrasse; which starts at the train station and is lined with a treasure trove of shops and restaurants for visitors who have money to burn. However, Zürich has much more to offer. You just need to scratch beneath the surface, do plenty of meandering and peek into the nooks and crannies and you will find the rich cultural, and recreational sides to this squeaky clean, elegant city.

My Experiences

During my time researching this city, I managed to:

  • Disappear into an overgrown courtyard with pergolas.
  • Swim in the warm waters of the Limmat River and Lake Zurich.
  • Sunbathe in a quiet sanctuary or on a platform floating on the lake.
  • Shop under a railway viaduct.
  • Walk for hours along the Uetliberg ridge overlooking Lake Zurich, stopping to have a sausage with crusty bread at a grill spot in the forest.

I have added my walks through the old town as well as some surprising experiences both off and on the beaten track.



Old town and riverside walks

Walk 1: Old Town Walk-along the Limmat River

Walk 2: From ETH University (public research University) down to the old town district of Niederdorf

Click on the pictures above for Walk 1 or Walk 2 to go directly to the walks and maps.


Walk 1:

Walking along the Limmat River toward lake zürich


I have put together one of my favourite walks down the side of the Limmat river, ending at the side of Lake Zurich. The last part is by tram and is an option for the summer months or to continue your walk, tucked up with, a hat, gloves and a warm coat for a brisk walk down the side of Lake Zurich. The walk begins at the Tibits buffet restaurant just off Bahnhofstrasse and continues down narrow paths and alleyways tucked in by the river. You will then walk under the archways of historic buildings and have the possibility to eat on a garden terrace or, in the summer, in a shaded park with a view. The last part of the walk gives you an opportunity to cool off in the Limmat River or Lake Zurich.


Hiltl Restaurant with terraces

My first recommendation is to have a coffee with breakfast or brunch at the cafe-style branch of the famous Hiltl restaurant chain. This light and airy spot is above the PKZ women’s fashion store. There is a side entrance via a couple of glass lifts on Beatengasse, off Bahnhofstrasse. Hiltl is famously considered to be the first vegetarian restaurant in the world. This chain has two types of restaurants – buffet and A La Carte.

Both offer a good selection of warm and cold dishes. I first visited the Hiltl, Tibits branch in Winterthur. My husband took me to Winterthur as an anniversary surprise trip just before we were due to move to the city a month later. We were both hooked from the moment we walked in the door; even though my husband is a firm believer that most meals should have a meat portion. We now frequent the Tibits buffet restaurant in Winterthur often and always walk away full and satisfied with the quality of the food. The slogan for Hiltl is ‘Healthy Indulgence ‘ which I consider a good description of the kind of food you will get here.


walkway along Limmat and the lindenhof Historical viewpoint

After walking down Beatenstrasse, Beatenplatz and Bahnhofquai, the narrow, quiet and very cute Heiristeg walkway starts at the Rudolf-Brun-Brücke (Rudolf-Brun Bridge), between the river and the Schweizer Heimatwerk Gift shop. Note: From the Hiltl restaurant, you could also go via Bahnhofstrasse and Uraniastrasse to reach this point – where you will see the ground floor entrance to the Jules Verne Panorama Bar with views to die for and in a very classy cool setting. Opens early evenings until late on Tuesday-Friday, from 2 pm until late on Saturday and is closed Mondays and Sundays. So, perhaps an early evening or late-night stop for later on…

You will then turn onto Fortunagasse which takes you up to the leafy Lindenhofplatz park and viewpoint. This large park has a rich historic past which includes a Roman Fort and a Royal Palace. Read a bit more about it on the Discover Zurich website.


from Fortunagasse to the Shipfe walkway ending up at Cafe Montmatrea small Parisian cafe

Once you have visited Lindenhofplatz, you can follow my recommendation and wander back down Fortunagasse to the Limmat.

This is when you will see your first option for a drink or food stop. The Restaurant Schipfe 16 is in a listed building and is directly on the bank of the Limmat.

You can then carry on along the river, towards the lake, down the narrow Shipfe walkway, partly covered, to a tiny courtyard, then through some small alleyways (another Shipfe and Strehlgasse), ending up at Weggengasse. When entering this narrow Gasse it feels a bit like you have stepped into a small part of Montmartre. The existence of the Parisian Cafe helps set the scene. You could stop here for a bite to eat or continue up the steps to St Peter’s Church (St Peterhofstatt). If you do this you will be right beside a 13th Century Tower and the largest clock face in Europe (8.7m in diameter).


Frauenbad

Next, you will walk past, or stop at, the Frauenbadi – (Woman’s Bathing area). This elegant historical building has been used as swimming Baths since 1888. Entering here depends on a few things:

Daytime (until 7pm):
  • You can only enter if you are a woman.
  • If it is a hot day you will want your togs with you (although the tops are optional).
  • There is a small cover charge and a possibility for some coffee and cake so you will need your wallet.
Evening, normally from 7.30pm – transformed to a Barefoot Bar with entertainment:
  • Open Tuesday to Sunday.
  • You can be male or female.
  • This is a Barefoot bar with flooring made of natural wooden slats. You can leave your shoes (and socks) at the entrance.
  • You are looking for an evening venue to chill out and have a few drinks, perhaps listen to some music.
  • No swimming allowed – however, dipping your toes in the water is permitted.
Anytime:
  • For Swimming Open from end of May to mid-September – from 7am to 11am – also, depending on the weather, from 11am until 7pm.
  • For Barefoot BarOpen until end of October – Tuesday to Sunday from 7.30-8pm. Times can differ slightly, depending on the season.
  • You will need to check the times on the website or facebook page as they sometimes close in the evenings for private events (at the moment this is Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturday evenings). Apart from that – they have a weekly programme for entertainment. You can find out more information here and here.

Bauschänzli beer garden with bar and grill

The historic Bauschänzli is an artificial island. It is one of the last remains of the Baroque fortifications of Zürich from around 1642. This area is considered a park but is now home to a Restaurant and separate Bar and Grill with beer garden – supposedly the largest outside of the Munich Oktoberfest. The Beer Garden and Grill is open from April to September. In December, this area is home to the Circius Conelli.

My slightly embarrassing visit

I sat here, under the huge trees, enjoying a tarte flambée (or Flammkuchen in German). I remember feeling quite happy with myself; sunglasses on, tapping away on my keyboard, finishing off my morning coffee. Things changed very quickly when I somehow knocked my coffee cup over, the dregs of coffee, that had laid forgotten at the bottom of the cup were now spread across my keyboard. I leapt up, sunglasses falling off my face, phone flying onto the ground while I frantically tipped my keyboard over, tapping it firmly then awkwardly trying to wipe it clean, while still keeping it turned downwards. I then slunk down on my hands and knees grabbed my sunglasses and phone scooped them up and into my bag, gave the keyboard a further wipe with my napkin and then slunk away, under the shadows of the trees, determined to come back another day and try again. I was planning to return a few weeks later, but, with lockdown firmly in place I thought better of it. It is now on my list for next summer. This time, I will make sure my coffee is far away from any keyboard.


Enge Lakeside Swimming Baths (Seebad Enge)

Lake Zürich Photo by 🇨🇭 Claudio Schwarz | @purzlbaum on Unsplash

History / Architecture

The two-part bath was built by Robert Landolt in 1959/60 and is one of Zurich’s youngest outdoor bathing facilities. The concrete construction is styled on the city’s traditional wooden box baths. Once segregated into men’s and women’s areas, nowadays the bath has still retained its women’s section, while the men’s side has given way to a mixed-sex area. The bath floats on the water and is accessed via a 30 meter (100ft) long wooden walkway. Further information can be found here.

In Summer Seebad Enge offers a woman’s only bathing area and a mixed bathing area, both with lake access. The 44-metre (144 ft) long swimming lanes are anchored in the lake and enclosed by wooden planks with a view over Lake Zurich, the lakeside promenade, and the Alps on the horizon. Yoga courses are also offered on Monday and Tuesday evenings. The venue can be booked for private events Wednesdays to Saturdays and on Sunday evenings the sauna is open.

Stand up paddle courses and hire of SUPS: In addition, it is possible to hire stand-up paddling equipment and book SUP courses.

At the kiosk, which houses a barbecue and bar with light lunches, seasonal salads, oven-fresh bakery goods, and – in the evenings – barbecue specialties.

In Winter Seebad Enge operates as a sauna with hot drinks available although you can still swim from the sauna area. This is a bathing-costume-free-zone with different times available for women only, with a chance to take a dip in the lake. Brrrrrrr.

Mythenquai and Saffa Island

A nice green park area and promenade can be found a further 10 mins walk down the lake. There is also parking at Au Lac parking. Buses 161/2 and trams 5,6,7 & 8 leave from Bürkliplatz, next to Quai Bridge (Quaibrücke) which crosses the Limmat River where it meets Lake Zürich. The tram stops are Rietberg or Brunaustrasse and bus stops are Rentenanstalt and Schweizer Rück.


Walk 2:

Walking Tour Centred around the university and Niederdorf

A. This walk starts with a short trip up the lovingly renovated Polybahn – a small funicular.

View from Zurich University Terrace Photo by A. Leggett

B. The impressive Federal Institute of Technology was constructed in 1864. You can enjoy views over Zurich from the Poly Terrace directly in front of the main building. From here it is easy to find a spot on the terrace to sit and eat, drink, read or take photos. There is a students cafe called bQm Kulture with seating on a large terrace. It is directly below the Poly terrace. This is a relaxed buffet style cafe which anyone can visit. The UZH (University of Zurich) building next door is no less impressive.

Zoological Museum

C. There is a Zoological Museum in the university buildings. The City Campus of the University of Zurich and so also the Zoological Museum were built by the architect Karl Moser (1860-1936) and opened in 1914. About 70 years later, architect Ernst Gisel was asked to make much more space inside without changing the outer appearance of the landmark building. He built a “house within a house”, supported on a reinforced concrete structure with four pillars. Suspended to this frame is a large lecture hall for 400 people, as well as a library and reading rooms that are flooded with natural light. The new Zoological and Paleontological Museum was re-opened on July 4, 1991. This space receives approximately 140,000 visitors a year! So very popular. For opening hours including an restrictions or changes due to the current COVID situation please see the University of Zurich Zoological Museum website.

Rechberggarten

D: Rechberggarten is a park that is spread over various levels, offering great views of the spires of Zürich’s old town. There are plenty of places to sit and various different garden plots to enjoy. This is a nice diversion to make on your way down to Niederdorf.

Neumarkt

E: Once crossing Hirschengraben, you will find yourself on Neumarkt. A quiet pedestrian street at the edge of the old town. This street has gift shops, antique shops, art galleries, a small Italian fruit and veggie diary (which I found to have lovely homemade Bircher Muesli) and some restaurants and cafes. This splits off to Spiegelgasse which has an enclosed leafy park area and more specialty shops. You will end up in a small square with a fountain and some interesting historical buildings.

Napfgasse

F: Napfgasse leads to a main pedestrian street called Münstergasse. Turn right and you will get to the more edgy side of Niederdorf, turn left; the more trendy side. Before going onto this street it is a good idea to check out the cafe set back from the street. This is Cafe 1842 im Haus Conditorei Schober. A historical cafe, bakery and gift shop with a fantastical feel about it. I have mentioned it in detail in my cafe and restaurant section.

Conditorei 1842 Schober Photo by A.Leggett

G: From here you can make your way to the foot of Grossmünster and climb the tower for a fantastic view over Lake Zürich and the old town districts. Close to the Grossmünster is Limmatquai, a narrow riverside road used mainly by trams. There are plenty of options from here to catch a tram back to the main station (e.g No. 4) or another part of the city.

Zurich offers a diverse and exciting range of activities and experiences. These are some of my discoveries:

Zurich’s West

This district was once all industry, then an industrial wasteland; notorious for drugs and crime. Nowadays the whole area has been transformed into a trendy, culturally rich playground. Night owls, arty types and shoppers will enjoy all that is on offer here. The old has been re-designed to show an edgy yet environmentally sensitive district. This area is still very industrial and built up but is gradually morphed to become the main art and cultural district of Zurich. The eclectic mix of modern, indie, punk and artistic shops (to name a few) offer everything you could want and more. Parts of this area are still pretty rough around the edges but also home to great cafes and bars with terraces and gardens. In the centre of it all is the impressive Viadukt …

It is close to the centre of Zürich taking about 25 minutes to walk from Zürich main station (Hauptbahnhof ), or 5 minutes walk from Hardbrücke station. Another option is taking a tram. Numbers 4, 8, 13 or 17 (stop Quellenstrasse or Löwenbräu) pass close by.

Here are the two places I recommend in Zürich’s west side – Im Viadukt and Frau Gerolds Garten:


Im viadukt

The Letten Viadukt has over 50 shops, cafes, restaurants and bars nestled within the arches – all perfectly designed to easily wander in and out of. This impressive rustic Viaduct is also a busy railway bridge for trains arriving to and departing from Zurich’s main station. You are reminded of this by the muffled noise of trains passing over the top of whatever cafe or shop you happen to be in. Now and then the shadow of a passing train slides over the buildings next door. There is a large leafy park called Josefwiese directly outside the arches of shop numbers 8 to 16. If you wish, you can play some petanque in the Pétanque Platz or beach volleyball or sit in the small park cafe watching the children play in the large playground.

Image: Marco Antonio Reyes Pixabay

When I wandered around the shops and cafes, it became obvious that this area is culturally rich. One of the cafes, Jenseits, at numbers 11 and 12, had posters in various spots around the cafe showing timetables for concerts, lectures, workshops, meditation sessions and yoga courses – all available to the passersby. My next stop was a special little garden found close to the Viadukt.


Frau Gerolds Garten

I visited Frau Gerolds Garten on a warm August morning and was surprised by what I found. This idyllic shingled area with plants sprouting out of pots and containers of many different shapes, colours and sizes, including both a supermarket trolley and an old metal bath, offers a cafe, bar and shops. There is a sign announcing the presence of lizards in one of the cozy corners as well as many seating possibilities such as an old-fashioned swinging bench and an upstairs seating terrace for views of the trains trundling in and out of central Zürich. The mish-mash of chairs and tables is scattered amongst the foliage, hidden under colourful sun umbrellas. Vegetables and herbs grow in large containers ready to be put in the dishes offered on the menu. This area is deceptively large and manages to swallow up the punters. When I visited I was sure the vines’ tendrils and plants’ branches were slowly growing, creeping towards the unsuspecting customers, ready to snatch their food and drink their beer. The most likely explanations for these thoughts were that perhaps I had one too many beers or a sneaky lizard or two were playing with my mind.

What is offered and when . . .

In Summer: April – mid-October you will find the large courtyard with seating, an open-air terrace and a restaurant as well as several bars.

In Cooler Months: End of October to March you will find a Winter Garden serving winter specialities and Fondues – all outdoors with plenty of seating possibilities, fire pits and overhead lighting in the evening. Colourful market huts are also set up around the garden.

Shops: Since September 2012, the Garden has been home to various small ateliers and other shops – all housed in cosy containers. In spring and autumn, there are fashion and designer pop-up exhibitions and young designers show their creations on selected Saturdays in stands throughout the garden.

Opening Hours: For more up-to-date information visit the Frau Gerold website. NOTE: The small flag at the top of the website indicates if the garden is open that day. It can depend on weather conditions. Please also see the opening hours at the bottom of the website.



Exploring the countryside east of Lake Zürich

Meilen to Pfannenstiel – from the eastern shore of Lake Zürich to a hilltop restaurant

In the past, I have spent plenty of time around Lake Zürich’s shore and the towns spread down each side of the lake but, up until recently, I managed to completely miss the lovely countryside just a short walk away.

This is a walk (or bus trip) that is easily accessible from Meilen train station. It only takes a few minutes to walk from the built-up area to this forest path. As shown on the map below, this is mainly an uphill walk with plenty of steps mixed with forested tracks. It can be done in sections or, another option is to take bus 922 to Vorderer Pfannenstiel then walk 15 minutes to the hilltop views & restaurant, then walk down this track to Meilen train station near the lake.




Most of the walk is under the shade of a long, wide strip of forest, crisscrossing a pretty river.


Farm on hill behind Meilen, Zürich

These historical fortification ruins offer a place to picnic and have a grill, complete with a natural pond that is full of frogs at certain times of the year.


Meilen waterfall

The path leads up to the top of this waterfall and then continues to follow the river.


Hintere Runsstrasse, Photo by A.Leggett

When leaving the riverside, there is a small crossroads and restaurant. Walking up past this small group of buildings leads onto Hintere Runstrasse – a farm track through a field – then into another forest.


Photo by A.Leggett

This is where you need to keep an eye out for mountain cyclists although signs are telling them to look out for you. After walking through a huge, very peaceful clearing in the forest the path widens and joins with a forest road. This is the final climb before the hilltop. There is an impressive viewing tower here for views over the treetops.


This hilltop is home to the large Hochwacht restaurant. There are also BBQ & picnic spots around here and further opportunities to walk down the hill towards the towns around Greifensee like Egg & Maur. Greifensee is the lake on the other side of the hill.

From Pfannenstiel, there is a 15-minute downhill walk to Vorder Pfannenstiel which has a bus that regularly travels back down to Meilen train station.


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Beside the Limmat River

Bauschänzli Restaurant, Café & Grill

Bauschänzli was originally built as a fortress. This pentagonal-shaped island sits on the Limmat river and is a very chilled eatery, offering large leafy trees for shade in summer. There is a restaurant with table service and a beer garden with self-service. If you feel like a Cervelat sausage and crusty bun the island also has a grill stand. This offers a takeaway option if you would prefer to find a secluded perch overlooking the Limmat. Bauschänzli has many events on offer during the summer months and it is best to check out the website before going, or take your just pop in and see what’s on offer if you are nearby. Of course, with the precautions needed at this current time (2021), events such as dance evenings and the weekly (Sundays) Jazz Matinée evenings have been put on hold. There is still “Pétanque on the Limmat” every Tuesday but is always a good idea to check out the website.


Zurich inner-city

Centralhof

Photo by A. Leggett


Across from the Savoy, archways between shops such as Gucci, Hermès, and Tommy Hilfinger lead to a semi-hidden courtyard called Centralhof. Two eateries service this idyllic spot. The prices are as would be expected from an inner-city location but the food is fresh and it is a great place to go just for a hot coffee or a cold beer.

On a warm day, this courtyard is always buzzing with customers. It is a favourite for people working in the area, or local shoppers who managed to find it. 

Both cafes have plenty of courtyard seating. The Milchbar is small but also has a covered arcade with seating and the PURO restaurant, bar, and cafe has a very chic indoor area. Check out the links for opening times.


cafe montmatre & Bistro


When entering the narrow Weggengasse, it feels a bit like you have stepped into a small part of Montmartre. The existence of the Parisian Cafe helps set the scene. They offer breakfast, lunch and dinner. I had the smoked salmon on thick bread and received plenty of both. There’s a good selection of cocktails, wine and spirits on the menu. When sitting out in the narrow alleyway on a hot day, I recommend a refreshing Stange of beer (200 mls) or two with your lunch.
Opening Times: Tuesday – Thursday to 11 pm and
Friday, Saturday until Midnight. You can find food service times and further opening times here.
Accommodation: There are two large, airy rooms available above the cafe.


East-side of the river – from Niederdorf to Zurich University


Cafe confiserie 1842


This is a beautiful, fantastical cafe, bakery and gift shop. When you first see it, it looks like a small cafe, tucked into a corner of the old town. Even when you step in the door it still seems quite small. You need to then continue up the stairs to get a real idea of the size of the place. It is a bit like the Tardis from Doctor Who – but one that has been designed for Alice in Wonderland. There are gorgeous murals on the walls in one room, deep red velvet padding covering the ceiling and sofas in another, with archways and elegantly shaped chairs. Another long, lighter room leads out to a small enclosed courtyard – you really have to go and see it. Here is the information regarding the history which can be found on their website:-

Café 1842 is located in a historic building in the heart of Zürich’s Niederdorf. In 1842, the Eberle family opened a bakery called the “Eberles Süsskramladen” that would later become the “Schober Confiserie”. In 1874, the confectioner Theodor Schober-Wolber acquired the building and founded the café in the new baroque style. Since 1975 the owners have changed hands several times.
1842 is now part of the “Arbeitskette” foundation which is made up of seven restaurants. The foundation started running the café and bakery in the Schober house in 2019 and is committed to facilitating the integration of young people and adults with life challenges into the staff.

The 13th Century-listed builders house 4 floors with a variety of stunningly designed rooms to choose from with wonderful patisseries and a good heart.

Floating Down the Limmat river

The impressive Limmat River at the edge of Zurich’s west district offers an adventurous way to stay cool in the summer. It runs southwest from the Limmatspitz (close to Switzerland’s northern spa town of Baden) before finally dividing just north of Zurich’s main station in the heart of Zurich. Various foot and bicycle bridges cross along the western district offering possibilities to enjoy the river and all it has to offer.

Best Locations along the River

The right-hand (eastern) side of the Limmat River’s centre island strip is best for enjoying the bankside facilities and baths. It is home to Oberer Letten baths which offer a bathing area with various terraces. You will find trendy places and cosy cafes close by. During summer this is a perfect spot to brave the deep, steady-flowing Limmat to cool off, by floating from one metal ladder, dotted along both banks, to another.

The lovely Unterer Letten Baths (see link below) are the oldest wooden-slated baths in Zürich (built in 1909). It’s a lovely building with a 100m swimming channel, good facilities such as changing rooms, shade and a kiosk. The river itself is not suitable for children to swim in due to the strong current. However, there is a children’s swimming area which was added in 1956 with changing rooms.

Originally these baths were for men only – this is no longer the case – anyone can come and swim, bathe or just hang out in this cool spot on the Limmat. They also offer open-air movie nights see: https://www.filmfluss.ch/#

Zurich’s official visitor’s website gives all the information you need. See the following links:-

Flussbad Obere Letten and Flussbad Untere Letten


Also worth seeing while in this area:

The Viadukt on the western side of the Limmat has shops & cafes built into the viaduct arches – see my Hidden Treasures section.

There is a Viaduct walkway running above shop number one (entry via various stairwells along the way). The walkway is attached to the side of the viaduct arches, above the level of the shops’ ceilings but just below the railway track. It takes you across the Limmat and continues as a pathway down the northeast side of the Limmat until you reach Platzspitz – the riverside park directly north of Zurich’s main station.

Here is a good link for all the Badi options along the Limmat and on Lake Zurich: https://www.zuerich.com/en/visit/the-seasons-in-zurich/summer/outdoor-pools-in-zurich


Zurich Lakeside

Down the western side of the Lake Zürich to Thalwil Photo by A. Leggett

The various districts (Bezirke) and communities (Gemeinden) spread down each side of Lake Zürich, blending into each other. This gives the impression of Zürich as one large sprawling city spread down each side of the lake. The tram, train, bus and road networks connect each district seamlessly making it easy to explore the lakeside communities and shoreline. About 10km down the southern shore of Lake Zürich is the township of Thalwil. This town has several facilities for enjoying the lake shore.

Bürger 2 – This bathing area offers: swimming, pontoon rafts, diving platforms, small restaurants/kiosks (with great burgers), changing facilities, good-sized lawn for sunbathing & kids playgrounds. There are parking possibilities here. You will need to pay for entrance to the baths & parking.

Seeanlage Farb – This is a shaded park area just north of the baths. Here you will find 3-4 grill possibilities, SUP and floaties rental, picnicking areas. There are limited parking possibilities but plenty of options further along the lakeside road. Just north of this area is the Ferry terminal which is a lovely way to return to Zürich or simply do a round trip of the lake.

The public transport day pass is also valid for travel on the boat when travelling within the relevant zones. i.e. a ticket from Zürich Hauptbahnhof to Thalwil (zones 110 & 150) can be used when taking the tram to Thalwil and a boat back to Bürkliplatz at the top of the lake.