The single best spot in Zurich. An elevated square on a Roman-era site, with panoramic views over the Limmat, the Grossmünster towers, and the Alps on a clear day. Linden trees, benches, locals playing giant outdoor chess.
Go at golden hour (late afternoon) for softer light and fewer crowds. Only reachable on foot via the medieval alleys — short uphill, totally manageable.
You're already in the best part of Zurich. Just walk: Niederdorfstrasse, the parallel Oberdorf, the small lanes toward the river. Evening is better — tourist density drops and the lighting is warmer.
Predigergasse alley is particularly photogenic. The Grossmünster is visible everywhere and worth walking past even if you skip the climb.
Pedestrian bridge over the Limmat with views of Central Square and both banks of the old town. 2 minutes to cross. Fold it into the Lindenhof walk — you're passing close anyway.
The east-bank riverside walk runs basically beneath your hotel. Tram lines run parallel — you get the classic Zurich postcard: river, trams, guild house facades, church spires. Best early morning or late evening when it quietens down.
Dating to 1837 — historic garden tucked into the financial district, an unexpected quiet patch. April means things will be in bloom. Free, open 7am–7pm. Good for sitting somewhere that isn't a café or a tourist sight.
Worth a quick stop when passing. Famous for five enormous Chagall stained-glass windows — vivid blues and greens, genuinely striking. Free to enter the nave. On the west bank so you cross the Münsterbrücke to get there.
S10 from Hauptbahnhof direct to the top. 15-min walk to the observation tower. Panoramic view over Zurich, the lake, and Alps on a clear day. Low effort for the payoff. Skip entirely if overcast — the view is the whole point. Good for a half-morning.
District 4 — the counterweight to Niederdorf's polish. Grittier, more independent shops, better food-per-franc, genuinely non-touristy. Good for a late afternoon or evening wander if you want to see a different side of the city. Helvetiaplatz at its centre.
On your street, 2 minutes away. Social enterprise bakery and café — all-day vegan food: pastries, sandwiches, soups, rotating lunch menus. The Planted Kebab is a signature. Work-and-chill vibe upstairs. Good for breakfast or a casual lunch without going anywhere.
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30–20:00, Sat 9:00–20:00
Heritage café, ornate interior with a central arch — famous for hot chocolate. Not cheap (CHF 8–10 a drink) but this is Switzerland and this is the one. Best after Lindenhof as an afternoon wind-down. Sit in the main room.
Fully vegan burger chain in a 1960s diner style — reliably good, no fuss. Burgers, fries, milkshakes. Good value by Zurich standards and walkable from you. Use this when you don't want a sit-down meal.
Fully meat-free South Indian restaurant, 4 minutes from you. Dosas, curries, thalis. A solid option for a proper sit-down vegan dinner that isn't fondue — and the closest thing to Asian cooking you'll find in the neighbourhood.
Hours: Mon–Fri 11:30–14:30 & 17:00–22:00, Sat–Sun 12:00–22:00
In continuous operation since 1898 — Guinness record holder for oldest vegetarian restaurant. Buffet or à la carte, vegan options clearly marked, staff are used to dietary questions. The food is solid; the story is the main draw. Worth visiting if you're walking toward the station end of town anyway.
Over 650 years old, dark wood panelling, bull's-eye windowpanes — the dining room has barely changed since the 1800s. Traditional Zurich recipes sourced from old cookbooks: beef tartare, mushroom ragout, seasonal dishes. Locals and students have been carving their names into the benches since 1801.
The famous "Balkenprobe" (beam challenge) is a house tradition where brave guests climb over two ceiling beams and drink a glass of wine headfirst. You don't have to. Book ahead — it's small and fills up.
Note: Pricey for what it is (this is Zurich), but the atmosphere is genuinely irreplaceable.
Housed in a 15th-century former armoury — giant beer-hall space with oak beams, communal tables, and weapons on the walls (decorative). Traditional Swiss comfort food done with generous portions: Wiener schnitzel, pork shank, veal with mushroom sauce, all served with rösti or fries. They brew their own beer.
Touristy but not a trap — the food is genuinely good and the setting is the real deal. Book ahead, especially evenings. Not the spot for a quiet meal — it's loud, lively, communal.
Zurich's most famous sausage stand, open since 1951. The bratwurst here is a civic institution — grilled to order, served on a paper plate with bread and mustard, eaten standing up outside. Quick, cheap by Zurich standards, entirely satisfying. Go once for lunch or between things. No reservations, no pretension.
This is the one. Vaulted Alpine cellar dining room, 3 minutes from you. Vegan cheese fondue AND vegan chocolate fondue for dessert — both made with Vegusto as the base, seasoned in-house. The chocolate fondue alone is worth the trip.
Also has outdoor gondola chairs (the cable car kind) you can book as tables for the full Swiss visual. Small, well-known in the vegan scene — do not walk in and hope. Book ahead.
The same owner runs Urban Food Store around the corner — sells vegan cheeses and fondue mixes to take home. If you want a Swiss food souvenir that doesn't exist in KL, that's it.
Hours: Mon–Sun 5:30pm–9:30pm · Closed Sunday evenings April–Sept
Most well-known fondue address in Niederdorf. Nine variations including a vegan option, plus raclette and Swiss classics. More touristy than Walliser Keller but genuinely good food, right in the pedestrian zone. Book ahead regardless — fills fast.
If Walliser Keller is full when you try to book, go here. Don't just walk in to either.
Run in conjunction with Walliser Keller — sells vegan cheeses and fondue mixes to take home or cook yourself. If you want to bring back a Swiss vegan fondue set (not available in KL), this is where to look. A genuinely unique food purchase from this trip.
Switzerland's largest art museum. Strong modern collection — an entire Giacometti room (he's Swiss, from Graubünden), plus Monet, Picasso, Warhol, Van Gogh. Two buildings connected by underground tunnel; the new wing is bigger than it looks outside.
You're there on Monday 20th April — not a Wednesday, so CHF 25 entry. Allow 90 minutes. Skip the contemporary wing. Go early if you want space.
187 narrow spiral steps to a viewing platform — see the Limmat, old town, Fraumünster, and Alps. CHF 5. The platform has fencing which limits photos (Lindenhof is better for that), but the climb itself is satisfying. Only if you're okay with tight staircases.
Neo-gothic castle building (1898) plus a striking modern concrete extension (2016) — the building is worth seeing from the outside even if you skip the interior. Inside is Swiss history from prehistoric to present: dense, non-linear, a lot of rooms. CHF 13 is cheap. Save for a rainy day or if you're near the Hauptbahnhof anyway.
Good collection in a lovely villa with parkland — Asian, African, and Oceanic art. Interesting in principle but requires a tram ride out of the centre. Not worth the trip given you only have two days. Skip unless this specific collection is a priority for you.
Skip. Not relevant to anything you care about, requires a tram ride, and is expensive.
Right in the heart of Niederdorf — best location in Zurich for your pace. Café Schober 2 minutes, Walliser Keller 3 minutes, Fraumünster 5 minutes, Lindenhof 7 minutes. You barely need transport.
TGV Lyria from Zürich Hauptbahnhof to Paris Gare de Lyon — around 4 hours. Book via SBB or DB. Morning trains are better; arriving in Paris with afternoon time gives you more of the day. Hauptbahnhof is 15 min walk or 2 tram stops from Niederdorf.
Artisan food shop in Niederdorf, two minutes from you. Known for Swiss cheese selection, locally made products, and — crucially for you — the vegan cheese range linked to the Walliser Keller next door. Also sells vegan fondue mixes to take home. Swiss pantry items, some unusual finds.
If you want a cheese to carry (for a day or two max), ask for vacuum packing. Good for a quick browse before or after dinner at Walliser Keller, which is nearby.
Covered market under railway arches in District 5 — independent food vendors, cheese, bread, deli items, small producers. Worth a wander for the architecture alone (Victorian railway viaduct). Not touristy, genuinely used by locals.
Hours: Mon–Fri 11:00–20:00, Sat 9:00–17:00, closed Sunday
Your Swiss supermarket targets — things that don't exist in KL or are dramatically better here:
Aromat — Swiss seasoning powder. The local formulation is different from what's exported. Get it here.
Ovomaltine spread — thicker and less sweet than what reaches Asia. Only in Switzerland.
Knorr Gemüse Bouillon — Swiss-market vegetable stock, different flavour profile from the Asian Knorr. CHF 5–6 a box.
Café de Paris compound butter — a Geneva/Bern spice-butter blend, available in both supermarket chains. Unique to this region.
Swiss artisan chocolate made fresh daily — significantly better than Lindt by a margin. The flagship is on Bahnhofstrasse. Don't buy it to pack; buy it to eat on the spot or within the day. The FrischSchoggi slabs are the signature — pick a flavour at the counter.
Full Decathlon inside Zürich Hauptbahnhof — hiking, fitness, cycling, swimming, camping. Convenient: you're passing the station anyway for your Paris train on the 21st. Good stop-in if you need anything before Leg 4 or the rest of the trip.
Swiss pricing is higher than France or Germany but you're in a station so it's as convenient as it gets. Better to buy here than wait for Berlin if you need something urgently.
Swiss craft and design shop — textiles, ceramics, carved wood, embroidery, some jewellery. Not a tourist trap; it's a curated collection of genuinely Swiss-made things. Worth a look if you want to bring something back that isn't chocolate.