LOCAL GUIDE TIPS

If you've made it this far, you've probably taken a free tour of the historic center with any of our guides. We hope you enjoyed it!

Surely some questions will have remained unanswered (or some names are too complicated to understand without writing!)

Here are some point-by-point recommendations:

FOOD AND DRINK

One of Switzerland's most iconic dishes is cheese fondue , consisting of a mixture of melted cheeses, usually Gruyère and Vacherin Fribourg, served in a casserole dish in which pieces of bread and potatoes are dipped. Recommended places to enjoy an authentic fondue are Swiss Chuchi or Le Dezaley , both located in the historic center. Reservations are recommended.

Another dish you can't miss is Raclette , which consists of melted cheese over boiled potatoes and bread, served with spring onions and pickled gherkins. You can find excellent raclette at Raclette Stube or Raclette Factory . If it's Christmas market season, this will always be the most popular stall.

 

If you're looking for something lighter, try Bircher Müesli , a typical Swiss breakfast that combines oatmeal, fresh fruit, and yogurt, usually served in a single-serve cup. Most people make it at home or buy it at the supermarket.

The most typical Zurich dish would definitely be Rösti mit Kalbgeschnetzeltes . This dish consists of strips of beef cooked in a cream and mushroom sauce , all served with Rösti (grated potatoes grilled with butter). Rösti may look like a potato omelet because of its shape, but it doesn't contain eggs! You can enjoy this delicacy at Swiss Chuchi or at the famous Zeughauskeller in front of Paradeplatz.

In any case, if Switzerland is famous for anything, it's its chocolates . The most famous confectionery in the city is Sprüngli , which we've probably already mentioned during the tour. The café where you can enjoy the famous Sprüngli Brunch is located on the corner of Paradeplatz, although the most famous items are available to take away: their cakes and pastries. You'll find five Sprüngli branches, as well as around twenty of them scattered throughout Zurich. Tip: The chocolate truffle cake is unbeatable!

Other interesting options are the following:

Cafeteria Clouds , located on the 35th floor of the Prime Tower, offers the best views of the city. It's also a great place to go for a drink at night. Despite the elegant setting, a 0.25cl beer costs CHF 6.50, which is quite reasonable for Zurich.

For a drink outdoors, the Biergarten Frau Gerold Garten in the Zurich West area, or Samigo or Rote Fabrik in the lake area, all of which offer a more relaxed atmosphere, are very popular.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

To get around Zurich, we suggest using public transport. Tickets can be purchased at any tram or bus stop. There are 1-hour or 24-hour options, the latter being more convenient, for CHF 9.20 . It will be marked as "Tageskarte" in German or " Day Pass " in English. From the " Zürich " stop Bükliplatz is where the boats that sail on Lake Zurich depart from .

If you're looking to get around by bike , there's a free bike rental option at a specific location in the central train station. Go to this exact location and you'll find the office on floor -1. You'll need a CHF 20 deposit and a personal ID.

CURRENCY EXCHANGE

The official currency in Switzerland is the CHF/Swiss Franc ; anything other than this is foreign currency. Therefore, if someone accepts foreign currency anywhere, you'll always end up paying more. You can pay everywhere with card or contactless, but if you absolutely need to exchange money, you can go to the central train station : There's a tourist office in the main hall that exchanges currency.

DISCOUNT ON DAYTRIP ZURICH

If you've read this far, you'll already have a general idea of ​​Zurich and some of its best-known secrets. Want to continue your visit by exploring other parts of Zurich/Switzerland? Enjoy a 5% discount by using the code "FREEWALK" on your order.

USE YOUR DISCOUNT ON THE FOLLOWING TOURS: