Kid-friendly guide to Zurich

Description:

Fraumünster Church was founded as a convent in 853 AD. In 1045, the church and convent was allowed certain economic rights like the ability to hold a market and to mint coins. Today, you can still see a metal rod, a former standard of measure for cloth merchants, attached to the church's wall. The convent was later dissolved in the 16th century Zurich Reformation, and the church officially became a possession of the city. In the 20th century, Fraumünster became home to windows designed by Swiss artist Augusto Giacometti and Russo-French artist Marc Chagall. The famous Chagall windows, five in total, illustrate Christian themes, which are explained in church-provided guides written in several languages. Excluding Sunday services, Fraumünster is open from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM in the winter (November 1st to March 31st) and from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM in the summer (April 1st to October 31st).

Description:

The Roman settled Turicum, a customs station on Lindenhof, in 15 BC. As the customs station grew, the local Romans built an extensive bath in Zurich just off Weinplatz, the site of Turicum's ancient harbor. The bath foundations on Thermengasse were uncovered when a local store decided to renovate the premises. What you see now on the structural remains of a hypocaust heating system. The Romans used to raise bath floors with a series of small columns so that furnace heat could circulate underground, warming both the rooms and the water in the bath. When you look at these columns under Thermengasse, it is hard to imagine what the Roman baths would have looked like, but these ruined foundations attest to the size and prosperity of Roman Zurich. It is free to visit Thermengasse, and as a side street, it is always open to the public. Written explanations are posted in both German and English.

@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Sectio

Description:

Running parallel to the Limmat River, Bahnhofstrasse appropriately starts at the side entrance to the Zurich's main train station, or Hauptbahnhof. The famous shopping street was built in 1864 by modernizing land that was once part of Zurich's medieval moat system. Now Bahnhofstrasse is home to upscale Swiss department stores like Jemoli and Globus, luxury brands like Chanel and Prada, and more affordable European chains like H&M and Mango. Chocolate lovers will find both Sprüngli and Teuscher outlets, as well as lesser-known Swiss chocolate seller Merkur. Book retailer Orell Füssli has an English language store at Bahnhofstrasse 70.

Description:

Confiserie Sprüngli has many stores across Zurich, but its flagship location in Paradeplatz also has a cafe. Even though the cafe has sandwiches and various pastries, the real item to indulge in is their excellent hot chocolate. or heisse Schoggi as it is know in Zurich. Naturally, they make an excellent hot chocolate at Cafe Sprüngli; they've been doing it for 175 years. Unfortunately, you cannot buy their hot chocolate mix in any of the Zurich Sprüngli stores. To do that you would have to go to the Lindt-Sprüngli Factory Store in nearby Kilchberg.

Description:

A former island bastion in Zurich's medieval city walls, Bauschänzli is now a beer garden restaurant with something for everyone. The self-service restaurant has 600 seats. The selection includes traditional Germanic beer garden food like grilled sausages, grilled chicken, and potato salad, as well as Wienerschniztel, tofu sausage, salad bar, and other daily specials. There is also a smaller full-service restaurant with 100 seats. Flanked with trees, umbrellas and the refreshing air from the Limmat River, it is a great place to keep cool during the hottest days of summer, especially with a beer, panaché (beer mixed with lemonade), or a soft drink.

Description:

Located close to the Old Town on Hirschengraben, Hotel St. Josef has forty-five reasonably priced rooms that work for tourists, business travelers and families. For those on a tight budget, it is possible to get single and double rooms with shared bathrooms. Otherwise, there are singles, doubles and family suites with en-suite facilities. Breakfast is included in all room prices. The hotel is wheelchair accessible, and there are rooms available to accommodate these guests' needs.

Description:

Relatively high up from the banks of the Limmat River, Lindenhof has continuously been one popular place. The Helveti settled here. The Romans built a customs station here back in the days when Zurich was known as Turicum. A Holy Roman Empire Kaiserpfalz, a secondary hotel-like residence for the Emperor, was constructed on top of the Roman-era foundations. Once Rudolf Brunn, the first mayor of Zurich, and the guilds took over the city in 1337, Lindenhof became a public square and remains so today. In the 1930s, the city planted the namesake linden trees, uncovering a trove of archaeological finds from Lindenhof's former inhabitants that are now a part of the Swiss National Museum (Landesmuseum)'s collection.

Description:

Grossmünster, literally "Big Cathedral", had a big role in Zurich's history and local lore. It is said that Charlemagne himself picked the spot for Grossmünster's foundations, the same legendary burial site of Zurich's patron saints Felix and Regula. As the seat of reformer Ulrich Zwingli's power, the church was a focal point for the Swiss German reformation that started in 1520. As a tribute to the deceased Zwingli, who died in battle in 1531 during the Kappel War, his successor Heinrich Bullinger removed much of the church's opulent interior, so that today austere Grossmünster starkly contrasts with the great Catholic churches of Europe. Like Fraumünster and its famed windows, Grossmünster now sports windows designed by 20th century artists Sigmar Polke and Augusto Giacometti. Grossmünster has summer and winter opening hours: March 1st to October 31st, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM; November 1st to February 28th, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Closed during religious services.

Description:

Tibits prides itself as being a healthy alternative to fast food. With a big emphasis on organic ingredients, Tibits has two daily vegetarian buffets that are both full on flavor. The breakfast buffet is served from store opening until 10:00 AM on weekdays and until noon on weekends. The lunch, dinner and any-time-in-between buffet is available after the breakfast buffet until 11:30 PM. Both buffets are self-serve and priced by weight. That means you first fill up your plate as you wish and then have it weighed when you pay. The prices are listed per 100 grams, which may not seem like a lot of food to those used to all-you-can-eat affairs. Take-out is available for a cheaper price. Tibits is very kid-friendly. It even offers a "babycino" beverage made foamed milk and cocoa powder.



reservations are not possible

Description:

Zoo Zurich is home to over 300 species of animals from all corners of the globe. Many of the enclosures are set up to reflect the ecosystems their inhabitants would find in the wild. One of the main attractions is the special simulated rain forest area called "Masaola Rainforest". There is also a petting zoo section called "Zoolino". Highlights change on a weekly schedule with all details featured on the zoo's multilingual webpage. At time of writing, Saturday highlights included elephant washing and a penguin parade. Summer opening hours (March to October) are 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily including holidays; winter opening hours (November to February) are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily including holidays.

Description:

The Lake Zurich Navigation Company (ZSG) offers year-round cruises up and down Lake Zurich. You can choose from a short 1.5 hour cruise or a longer 4 hour version. The 1.5 hour cruise travels as far down the Gold Coast to Erlenbach before crossing to the other side of the lake and then slowly heading back to Zurich. The 4 hour cruise follows a similar route, but goes as far as Rapperswil at the southern of Lake Zurich. ZSG also does special themed cruises like the Cheese Fondue dinner cruise and the Late Risers' Brunch. Tickets can be bought from the main Zurich departure point at Bürkliplatz.

Description:

In addition to Swiss sausages like St. Galler bratwursts and Zurich cervelats, the grill-meisters at Sternen Grill sausage stand also prepare chicken, burgers, hot dogs, schnitzel, and quorn. Conveniently located across the street from the Bellevue tram stop, Sternen Grill is primarily a take away restaurant, but covered outdoor seating is available. Popular with both locals and tourists, this outdoor grill is open all year long, busy even on the coldest winter days.

Description:

Technorama is in nearby Winterthur, a half hour train ride from Zurich's main station. A hands-on science museum, Technorama has over 500 interactive exhibits with scientific explanations in multiple languages. Demonstrations, however, are only done in German. Exhibits fall into many scientific domains including magnetism, perception, mechanics and electricity. Technorama is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and is great fun for all ages, even for those whose school days are long over.

Description:

A thirty-minute train ride from Zurich's Main Station, Alpamare is one of Europe's largest indoor water parks. Open daily, Alpamare features ten water slides, a wave pool, several baths with whirlpools, and a special Iodine-Saline thermal bath. There is also a looping outdoor river-like heated pool called the Rio Mare. Other wellness activities include access to several saunas. Alpamare has two restaurants. Bathing apparel and other accessories available for rent.

Our Local Expert Says:

Raclette Stube is home to the best raclette and fondue in town. Its cozy atmosphere is reminiscent of Swiss mountain hotel.

Description:

Raclette Stube is a small, homey restaurant focusing on Switzerland's most famous melted cheese specialities: fondue and raclette. Three types of cheese fondue are on offer: moitié-moitié (half Gruyère cheese, half Vacherin cheese melted with wine and kirsch), pure vacherin (melted Vacherin cheese without wine and kirsch), and valaisanne (cheese fondue with tomatoes). Fondue chinoise (meat fondue) is also on the menu. As its name would imply, Raclette Stube also serves up all-you-can-eat raclette, a Swiss cow's milk cheese that is usually served melted over potatoes and assorted pickled vegetables. There is an ample selection of Swiss wines and kirsch to help wash down all the cheese. Reservations are a must. Table space for this delicious fondue and raclette is limited.