Zurich, Switzerland

Every time I visit Zurich, I fall a little more in love with this beautiful city. An urban center with an old soul, Zurich is home to several museums and galleries, small boutiques and historical cafes, all on the banks of the beautiful lake Zurich.

The first stop was breakfast at Cafe 1842. This historic building first housed a bakery, opened in 1842 by the Eberle family and has undergone its own evolution to become the café and confiserie you see today. Step inside and enjoy continental breakfast spreads or go a la carte with a pastry and coffee to go. It was an unusually warm January day when I arrived in Zurich, so I grabbed one of 1842’s outdoor tables and people-watched while I sipped my cappuccino.

Café 1842 is located across the street from H. Schwartzenbach, an adorable shop and café designed like a 19th century general store. Here you can stock up on tea leaves, coffee beans and candied fruit before hitting the town!

Neumarkt is a quiet alley with no shortage of charm and history, with its Medieval buildings and cobbled streets and small boutiques selling unique crafts and treasures. I loved wandering Neumarkt and escaping the hustle and bustle of Zurich’s main thoroughfare near the river. Stop by Papier 5 for one of a kind stationary sets and satisfy all your letter-writing, well-wishing, scrapbooking needs. If you are looking for toys, books, jewelry, furniture, a bite to eat or even a haircut, you can find it in Neumarkt.  

There are so many museums and galleries to choose from in Zurich, but I am a sucker for the classics, so I headed to Kunsthaus. They offered an exhibit on Picasso, Gorky and Warhol in addition to their permanent collections of Old Masters and Impressionist works. I love spending a few quiet hours wandering around a museum. It never hurts to add a bit of culture into the busy itinerary.

When lunchtime rolls around, I can't recommend Cafe Odeon enough. Once frequented by intellectuals, writers, and musicians, Odeon has been a watering hole for the avant garde populace since 1911. Stepping inside this café, you are instantly transported back in time with the art nouveau furnishings, mirrored walls and crystal chandeliers. I could sit here for hours, sipping my coffee and reading my book, soaking in all the stories these walls could tell. It’s pricier than your average Pret A Manger, but the atmosphere makes it so worth it.

Oberdorfstrasse is a lovely amalgam of trendy stores and small mom-and-pop shops. My favorite is Fabrikat, a stationary store specializing in tools for arts and design (Can you sense a theme here?). Fabrikat’s vintage aesthetic lends a sense of history to each item you find amidst its trove, and it is the perfect place to pick up unique, well-made gifts for the creative spirits in your life.

Now that you've walked all over the city, rest your weary feet and take in a film at Corso. I have never been to see a movie while I have lived overseas. Usually, I wait until I get back home to the states to rent the new releases from my couch, but sometimes, you just can’t wait. Such was the case when I found out that the final installment of the latest Star Wars franchise was showing in Zurich. All my friends back home had seen it already, and the suspense of not knowing was killing me. But the stars aligned and pointed me in the direction of Corso Cinema, a movie theatre in Zurich that offered showings of movies in English. So, I bought myself a ticket and settled in for my first European movie experience.

Tips for Swiss movie theatres

There is an intermission halfway through the show. At first, I thought something was wrong with the film. But then the lights in the theatre came up and a timer started running on the screen. Turns out, this is a chance for the audience to grab a snack and smoke. It was unexpected to say the least.

Be sure to check the dubbing and subtitles before purchasing your ticket. Look for movies shown with dubbing in the language of your choice. If they are English-speaking films, they will most likely be accompanied by German and French subtitles if the dubbing is in English. You don’t want to end up in a two hour movie that isn’t shown in a language you understand.

Zurich is a city that is both modern and historic, filled with youth and vitality, while honoring the traditions of centuries past. One blog post cannot do this city justice, but I hope these words inspire you to add Zurich to the top of your Swiss itinerary.