How to see the best of Europe on a shoestring
It may be one of the most expensive cities in Europe, inhabited by some of the richest people on earth, but it is possible to visit Zurich without breaking the bank.
Luxury may be in abundance in this spectacular city, but there is plenty to keep the budget traveller more than satisfied and very well entertained.
For example, travellers can fill up their water bottles for free at one of the city’s 1200 plus stone fountains which are bubbling with clean drinking water.
Then there are the bikes and skateboards that are available at six different locations across town at no charge, apart from a small deposit.
And when the stomach begins to grumble, head for one of the many sausage stands where your meat fix comes served with bread and beer – delicious and filling meals for a reasonable price.
Even getting there needn’t break the bank with a variety of airlines offering attractive deals on airfares. Qatar Airways, for instance, is offering special fares to Zurich from Australia priced from just $1,450 in economy class and $6,510 in business class, subject to terms and conditions.
Here are our suggestions for eight activities that will appeal to those being a little more careful with their holiday budget:
- Zurich Toy Museum
Unleash your inner kid at this “small yet refined” museum with free entry. Let it take you on a discovery of the imaginative and innovative playthings that have been used to entertain little ones over the last 300 years. Aglance at the old doll’s houses or the dolls dressed in the fashions of times gone-by can give a playful yet haunting insight into the past. Train sets and steam engines offer a fascinating idea of the evolution of technology.
- Lake Zurich Otherwise known as the Zurichsee, the lake offers the perfect setting to stretch those legs, be it a gentle walk or a more energetic run. In the summer months, take a picnic and enjoy the serene water view, or strip down and cool off in the refreshing shallows. But even when the temperatures drop, there’s plenty here that merits a visit – the ice rinks at Küsnacht and Wädenswil for example, situated directly next to the lake shore.
- The Old Town (Alstadt)
Zurich’s historic heart is also perhaps the city’s most atmospheric area crammed with 19th century buildings and cute cobbled streetslined with cafes, shops and galleries. Spread along the banks of the River Limmat and home to many of the city’s most popular tourist attractions such as its two landmark cathedrals Fraumuenster and Grossmuenster, it makes a great place to kick of a visit to the city simply by soaking up the vibe.
- Bahnhofstrasse
OK, so this may be one of the most exclusive shopping streets in the city, hmmm or the world, attracting the rich and glamorous keen to splash their cash. BUT, even for those a bit more reluctant to part with their pennies, a visit to the elegant avenue offers fantastic window shopping and people watching.
- Flea markets
Bargains galore can be found among the colourful stalls that fill the city’s popular flea markets. The biggest is probably the one found at Kanzlei where around 400 people come each Saturday to sell their second-hand bric-a-brac. Young and old, hipsters and nerds come to peruse the rails and racks, in search of treasure. Otherwise, at the start of Bahnhofstrasse, you’ll find the Burkiplatz flea market where second-hand jewellery and antiques mingle with the junk.
- Zurich West
This quirky neighbourhood, once an industrial area used by ship-builders and pumping factories, is now alive with a creative buzz. The old railway arches of Im Viadukt are filled with design boutiques and market halls, while in Gerolds-Areal you’ll come across Frau Gerolds Garten, a delightful city garden, while on the other side of the Hardbrucke Bridge there is the 126m Prime Tower – once Switzerland’s tallest building.
- Fluntern Cemetery
The final resting of Irish writer James Joyce, nobel prize-winner Elias Cannetti and Johanna Spyri who wrote Heidi, this cemetery is widely considered one of the prettiest in the world. Surprisingly green and bordered by a wooded area, it’s the perfect spot for quiet reflection, or even a touch of hiking or biking if you are feeling a little more energetic.
- Mount Uetliberg
Zurich’s highest point can be easily reached with the help of a free train which leaves Zurich’s main station every 30 minutes. The climb up to 871 metres above sea level is short but well worth it for the dramatic views. Once at the top, you can simply pause to take in the panorama or limber up to hike the Planet Trail – a unique representation of the solar system where each kilometre represents 1 million km in space. When you finally reach Pluto, you can jump on the (also free) funicular back down to catch the train back to town.
Qatar Airways and Zurich Tourism would like to give you the chance to WIN two return economy flights to Zurich, Switzerland, along with two nights of accommodation in a 4 star hotel and two city travel passes for free public transportation, and access to most of the Museums in and around Zurich! Terms and conditions apply. Enter here: qatarairways.com/visitzurich.
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