Dream Destinations – Zurich

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One of the most beautiful countries throughout the world has to be Switzerland with a perfect blend of rural beauty and cities that are full of history and cultural identity. Our latest Dream Destination is the gorgeous city of Zurich which in many ways is an iconic city for the Swiss stereotype. As it is the largest city in Switzerland, it is unsurprising that there are a plethora of attractions worth experiencing and must-see landmarks.

Here are some of the top reasons why you should take the time to visit Zurich, Switzerland.

Lake Zurich

Lake Zurich
Image courtesy of Roland zh (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
When you think about exploring a city like Zurich, you have to realize that even though it is like many other global cities, you are right on the edge of natural beauty as the city lies directly on the shores of Lake Zurich. If you are looking for a picture perfect opportunity, then visiting Lake Zurich will likely provide you with this chance because many of the postcards that you see associated with the city in general have the lake either in the foreground or background.

Lake Zurich also provides a perfect divide between the old town and new, modernized city of Zurich. It is a beautiful place to just sit and watch time pass by as you can see gorgeous scenery all around the lake.

Altstadt

Altstadt Zurich
Image courtesy of Michael D. Schmid (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Altstadt, or old town, is the historical and medieval part of Zurich. This region is full of winding cobblestoned streets, sat around the focal point that is Lindenhoff Square. Many of Zurich’s most acclaimed museums are located in this part of the city and it is a perfect place to just wander and take in some local cuisine or sample a late evening beverage.

Uetliberg

Uetliberg Zurich
Image courtesy of Roland zh (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (httpcreativecommons.orglicensesby-sa3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
If you dream of visiting the Swiss Alps whenever you visit Zurich, why not take a quick 20 minute trip outside of the city center to explore the Uetliberg which is part of the Albis chain but is a beautiful plateau overlooking the city of Zurich. After climbing to the summit of this plateau, you will be left with stunning views of both city and the Swiss Alps so even if you are not fortunate enough to get into the Alps themselves, you can still see their beauty from a distance.

This location just outside of Zurich is also famous for having gorgeous hiking trails which are another great reason to get out of the city lifestyle for a while.

Bahnhofstrasse

Bahnhofstrasse Zurich
Image courtesy of Sebastian Bergmann from Siegburg, Germany (Confiserie Sprüngli Uploaded by Sandstein) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (httpcreativecommons.orglicensesby-sa2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
One of Zurich’s essential locations is the Bahnhofstrasse which is home to many of Switzerland’s leading fashion and other retail stores. Strolling along this street, whether you have any intentions of splurging on Swiss products, will give you the opportunity to both window shop and people watch in an extremely upper class market.

Please note that for many the Bahnhofstrasse may not be for purchasing souvenirs or mementos, as you would be better suited heading to the Neiderdorf or Langstrasse areas of Zurich.

Rhine Falls

Rhine Falls
Image courtesy of Roland zh (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
You may have noticed a slight trend in many of our Dream Destinations that whenever a location is within close proximity to a waterfall, I am all for recommending folks to visit here. Zurich is no different as it plays host to Rhine Falls which is a short distance outside of the city limits. The beautiful falls are worth a trip to the Shaffhausen area of Switzerland as it is a perfect day trip to go hiking and exploring this part of Switzerland’s outdoors.

***This post is part of the 2014 A to Z Blogging Challenge (#DreamDestinations #AtoZChallenge)***

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Chris Boothmanhttps://abritandasoutherner.com
Chris Boothman is the co-founder of A Brit and A Southerner. Born near Manchester, England, Chris moved to USA in 2006 where he soon after met his wife and travel partner in crime, Heather. They have since embarked on an amazing journey of travel as they challenge others to follow in their paths of working full-time but also being able to travel frequently! If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact Chris at [email protected]

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