Zurich for 9 days- Help me plan my trip

Discussion in 'Rest of Europe' started by Beer_Economicus, Mar 11, 2024.

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  1. Beer_Economicus

    Beer_Economicus Pooh-Bah (2,698) Apr 8, 2017 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Howdy,

    So, I had a lot of great feedback last year when I flew into Munich, drove north for a conference, then ended up taking a train to Berlin. This year the conference is Zurich. So, help me plan my trip.

    So far, I have done limited research, but I have already booked my planeticket (round trip to Zurich rather than into Zurich and out of Munich, as I was originally planning). What I know is that there is (obviously) amazing hiking nearby, and my plan is to basically do as much as I possibly can. I know that I can take rail, but my plan is to rent a car and do about 4 days of hiking around the conference. Also, planning to visit Neuschwanstein castle, which I didn't get to visit while down in Munich. I found a great website for hiking suggestions within Zurich, and I'll likely go up to about 3 hours 1 way. BUT, looking for all sorts of recommendations. Anything from places to visit to places to hike to restaurants to breweries (and yes I did see https://www.beeradvocate.com/commun...mendations-for-breweries-or-beer-bars.666855/ ).

    All takers welcome.

    Hoping to do hiking
    Enjoy some bavarian food and beer
    Enjoy some local sights
    Enjoy some Swedish food (don't know what that would be, honestly)
    Pretty open! I have a decent amount of time for not moving.

    Thanks!
     
    #1 Beer_Economicus, Mar 11, 2024
  2. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,145) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I don't know - are there Ikea stores in Switzerland? :grin:

    Had a good friend and co-worker who was born in Austria during WWII (even had swastikas on his birth certificate :grimacing:) and he often used to complain about the obvious mistake many made when hearing that country's name as the place of his birth.

    I'd ask about what it was like growing up after the war - by his early 20s he was one of those American-centric guys - rolled up dungarees, ducktail haircut ala Elvis or James Dean (he had pics, too), probably wanted to drive a Chevy with rock 'n' roll blasting out of the AM radio. I then asked:
    "Yeah, sure, Werner, that's all pretty cool. But what was it like growing up with all those kangaroos and koalo bears runnin' around?" :smile:
     
    #2 jesskidden, Mar 11, 2024
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  3. Beer_Economicus

    Beer_Economicus Pooh-Bah (2,698) Apr 8, 2017 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Whoopsies. I literally had just drunk-texted a BA a joke about IKEA and swedish meatballs (and Ikea) before posting this. Drink+BA = Whoopsies. How I wish I could edit posts.
     
    #3 Beer_Economicus, Mar 11, 2024
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  4. einhorn

    einhorn Savant (1,175) Nov 3, 2005 California

    Just how I would approach this... if you have 9 days in Switzerland, go discover as much as possible there instead of thinking you have to hit Neuschwanstein (for example). Maybe a day trip to Konstanz/Bodensee, Basel and/or Winterthur and just do all things Swiss. Just remember that driving to your destinations will chew up a lot of your precious time and gas money (ha!)
     
    #4 einhorn, Mar 11, 2024
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  5. grantcty

    grantcty Savant (1,016) Feb 17, 2008 Minnesota
    Trader

    I definitely second what @einhorn said.

    Lake Zurich is beautiful. Basel is a cool city to visit (I had brief work project there some years ago).

    As far as Swiss food: You'll find a lot of similarities/foods options as those found in Bavaria/southern Germany in the Swiss-German speaking regions of Switzerland.

    I'd recommend: having rösti, a potato dish kind of like hashbrowns only better :slight_smile: and fondue of course--if the restaurant has kräuter fondue I'd recommend that--the herbs they use kick it up another level.

    Swiss German isn't the same as standard German. I worked in Basel with an American who was fluent in German (he lived/worked in Germany before coming back to the US) and he said he couldn't understand a good portion when they spoke to him in their local language/dialect. Of course, many people speak English so it shouldn't be a problem at all, just something to be aware of.
     
    #5 grantcty, Mar 11, 2024
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  6. WhatANicePub

    WhatANicePub Zealot (712) Jul 1, 2009 Scotland

    Do lots of hiking, as it's one of the few things that's inexpensive in Switzerland :slight_smile:
     
    #6 WhatANicePub, Mar 11, 2024
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