Zürich in 48 hours

Since Zürich was only a 3,5-hour train ride away from Innsbruck, I decided to go there one December weekend. Every single person I've met, regardless of nationality, has told me that Switzerland is very expensive - Probably twice what I was spending in Innsbruck. Yet, this did not hinder me from visiting Switzerland's largest city. I left Innsbruck around 7pm on a Friday night, and got to Zürich around 10:30pm, thanks to our good friends over at OBB!

Tip #1: Take a train to reduce costs. Make sure to purchase discounted or "Sparschiene" tickets, which are perfect for budget travelers.

48 hours was quite short, but I managed to do everything I wanted to.

Zürich is one of the most expensive cities in the world, which meant I had to find ways to travel smarter and cheaper.

Tip #2: If you're planning to travel to a lot of places around Zürich, buy the ZürichCARD. The card, available for 24 hours (24 CHF / P 1,100) or 72 hours (48 CHF / P 2,200), gives you unlimited 2nd class travel on all forms of public transportation, and free admission/discounts on art museums, city tours and restaurants. I found it very useful since most of the places I wanted to go to were free with this pass!

With my ZürichCARD, I didn't have to pay for my short round trip boat ride in Lake Zürich. The boat ride comes every half hour, and lasts for about 1,5-2 hours. Find the boat schedule HERE.

Ok, if I'm being really honest here - The main reason why I decided to visit Zürich was actually because of the Florence + Machine concert. This indie rock band has been on my concert bucketlist since forever, and after watching Florence Welch perform, I now truly believe that she is a real-life goddess. "What Kind of Man" and "St. Jude" are my favorites from their "How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful" album. The tickets cost me around 81 CHF each (P 3,800) - Kind of steep, but trust me, she is one of the best performers I've watched live thus far.

Tip #3: Since everything was already expensive, I decided to try Couchsurfing for the first time. As a couchsurfer, you can either be the host or the guest. Fortunately, I found a host who lived near Hallenstadion, where the concert took place, plus he lived in the Philippines for a few months so I really felt like there was a connection. I know a lot of people who are wary about these kinds of things, but I always just tell them to check the person's reviews for safety and authenticity. Overall, it was a good experience, and my host was very accommodating. 

If there's one thing that the Swiss know - It's definitely their cheese! I told myself that I'm not leaving Zürich without having cheese fondue. I luckily got a table (although reservations are preferable) at Raclette Stube, and ordered the half and half Fondue fribourgeoise. This cheese fondue comes with bread and potatoes, which you can dip in half Gruyère and half Vacherin cheese, with wine and Kirsch.

Address: Zähringerstrasse 16, 8001
Business hours: Monday to Sunday - 6 to 11pm
Price: $$-$$$ CHF

Tip #4: Try the Chocolat Chaud (Hot Chocolate) at Confiserie Sprüngli and the St. Galler Bratwurst at Sternen Grill for cheaper eats.

Before catching my train back to Innsbruck, I went to the Kunsthalle Museum since admission was also free with my ZürichCARD. Every year, the museum houses different modern art exhibitions, mainly conveying current social issues, created by young, established contemporary artists.

Address: Limmatstrasse 270, 8005
Business hours: Monday - Closed; Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday - 11am to 6pm; Thursday - 11am to 8pm, free from 5pm onwards; Saturday, Sunday & holidays - 10am to 5pm
Admission: Free with ZürichCARD; Regular - 12 CHF; Students, Senior Citizens, Disabled, Concessions - 8 CHF; Children, under 16 years - Free

Tip #5: Take advantage of the free stuff. Zürich is a very cultural city, boasting over 50 museums and 100 galleries. Around 15+ museums, including the Swiss National Museum, Museum Rietberg, and Migros Museum, are all free with the ZürichCARD. Take a walk around the Old Town (Altstadt), and if ever you get thirsty, there are 1,000+ public fountains around the city (No thanks, 4 CHF bottled water!).

I've always believed that traveling doesn't have to be expensive, and there are always ways to save. All you need is right planning and an open mind-set.

Cheers,

Michelle