Zurich and its Surrounding Area

What type of transport suits me best?

The cheapest is definitely Flixbus, which has many direct connections to many cities in Switzerland, such as Zurich and Geneva. However, if you want to travel more comfortably, I recommend the international night train.

I booked a bed on the overnight train, which is a direct connection from Zagreb to Zurich and runs every day of the year. You can buy a ticket six months before departure and if you book it early enough, the ticket is very affordable. The trip will be more pleasant than on a bus. In the evening, you board the train and by the time you wake up, you can have breakfast overlooking Lake Zurich.

I travelled around Switzerland by train most of the time. It is true that a day ticket is very expensive compared to Slovenian tickets, but you quickly find out why tickets are so expensive. The trains here are really on time like a Swiss clock, very fast and comfortable. If they are more than three minutes late, an apology for the train's delay will be heard on the loudspeaker. Meanwhile, in Slovenia, a 10-minute train delay is quite common.

Zurich - Switzerland's largest city

Zurich is a city where you can spend several days and visit many attractions, such as the university, Lake Zurich, various museums and more. I have visited quite a few attractions myself, and here are my favourite three.

The famous Lindt Chocolatier is a favourite among chocolate lovers, where you can taste a variety of their pralines and chocolates and learn why Switzerland is famous for chocolate in the first place. At the end, you will find a shop full of chocolate in all shapes and forms. I advise you to buy your tickets in advance, as the chocolate shop is a very popular tourist attraction.

I also visited the Swiss National Museum to see the various permanent and temporary exhibitions, which change regularly every two months.

I also spent a day visiting the Zurich Zoo, which is really huge. More than 365 species live there, including elephants, koalas, and hyenas. A large part of the zoo is represented by a safari, which allows animals to move more freely and socialize with other species. The zoo also devotes a lot of money to endangered species in nature, so you contribute to this with your entry ticket.

The Rhine Falls and Schaffhausen

Rhine waterfalls are really something unique and definitely worth a visit. You can see them from all perspectives; book a seat on a boat that takes you directly to the falls, or pay an entrance fee (I paid 5 francs in 2023) and see the falls from a nearby viewing deck. In addition, you can visit the Laufen Castle, where you can learn about the history of the Rhine Falls.

If you want to see Europe's largest waterfalls, do not forget to stop in Schaffhausen too. The town is about an hour by foot along the river. However, if you are less adventurous, take the train only two stops further. Schaffhausen is a small town, but pleasant for a coffee at one of the cafés in the centre or a visit to the Munot Fortress. One of the fortress's attractions is that the bell rings for five minutes every day at 9 o'clock in the evening. Without a mechanism, just like they did 400 years ago.

Rapperswil

Switzerland's City of Roses, or Rapperswil, is named after the more than 15,000 plants that are planted in its parks and streets every year. It is located right next to Lake Zurich and is a place where Swiss people like to spend evenings having a nice drink. That is why there are many bars and restaurants by the lake, which are very busy on Friday evenings.

Rapperswil can be reached by train or by boat from Zurich. If you buy a Zurich Day Pass, it includes boat trips on Lake Zurich.

I hope this article will help you plan your trip to Switzerland. It is true that Switzerland is by no means the cheapest travel destination, but it is worth every penny.