If you’re looking at skiing in Europe, there is a good chance you will need to stop over in one of the spectacular Swiss cities beforehand.  For us, on our way to St Anton, Austria we flew into Zürich, Switzerland for two nights before heading to the slopes.

It was our first European winter and it is safe to say neither of us were prepared for how cold it would actually be!  Jenna chose to wear wellies, which look great but actually do not keep your feet warm! Lesson learnt there.

So, if you have a day or two in Zürich here are a few ideas!

Christkindlimarkt (Christmas Market)

A visit to Zürich at Christmas time is not complete without visiting the incredible Christkindlimarkt.

Held at the main train station in Zürich, it is one of the largest indoor Christmas markets in Europe! Even if you’re not that into Christmas Markets, you should go just for the experience of it all.  It features 150 stalls, and you wonder around enjoying what’s on offer while sipping on a mulled wine. The most amazing part is of course the 50 foot tall Christmas tree which is decorated with thousands of sparking Swarovski crystals.

Grossmünster (The Grand Church)

Who doesn’t like to see a city from above? From Grossmünster you can. The church is a major landmark in Zürich with the two towers, which you can walk up (all 187 steps) for view across the entire city.

Altstadt (Old town)

Zürich is a beautiful quaint city with the narrow streets and colourful houses.

Because it was Christmas time, the atmosphere was contagious. There were impromptu singers on in the old town singing Christmas carols – it was absolutely amazing.

Take a look at our short video of the street singers!

Lake Zürich

Of course Zürich is divided by a beautiful lake! Take some time to just relax and enjoy the scenery!

Enjoy the Christmas celebrations

The streets are filled with Christmas spirit – it’s hard not to get involved!

Here is a short video of the streets of Zürich in the evening at Christmas time.

Lindenhof

“Lindenhof is an oasis at the heart of the city that looks back on a moving history”

For spectacular views over Zürich (and for free) you should definitely visit Lindenhof. We walked up there both during the day and the evening – both providing stunning views.

Where to stay

We chose to stay at the Hotel Continental Zurich – MGallery by Sofitel. The hotel is a 5 minute walk from the main train station and also very close to the Swiss National Museum and other main tourist sights.

The rooms were beautiful and the beauty of staying at an MGallery is that they have the turn down service in the evening which of course means chocolates on the pillows 🙂 Also, the lovely hand written notes go a long way for us!

Do you have travel insurance?

Before travelling, make sure you get a travel insurance policy – you never know when you might need it! Click here for information on travel insurance, what company we recommend and a link to get an instant quote.

Alternative accommodation

If you’re looking for alternative accommodation to either save some money or share with friends or family, click here for information on Air B&B ($50 discount on your first booking), hotel price comparison websites etc.

“For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” – Robert Louis Stevenson