Two events are coming up tomorrow: it’s Samichlaus and the x-mas market Heiliger Bimbam opens up this years christmas season of the “Montagsmarkt”.

So, how about mulled wine, cupcakes and x-mas shopping off the beaten track? Heiliger Bimbam offers more then the things you could buy at a normal market: stylish jewellery, clothing, books, cards and many different treasures and surprising finds. Situated at PLAZA, our favourite x-mas market is right in the heart of Kreis 4 and the shops, cafés and bars in the neighbourhood are worth a visit, too.

What else is a typical thing to do on Samichlaus in Zurich? Maybe have a real Swiss fondue with friends? But: you’re lucky if not all the restaurants are fully booked tomorrow, better cook one yourself. The strong ones among you might be brave enough to jump into the Limmat on Sunday, at the Chlausschwimmen.

Read our last year’s blog post for other things to do. Most of the activites listed there are still valid this year.

Willkommen in Zürich, Cherie – we wish you a wonderful week. Hope our tips make your stay even better.

Walking in Zurich
Walk up the beautiful Bahnhofstrasse until you arrive at the lake Zurich. Enjoy the terrific view over lake and mountains, then turn right and follow on the lakeside. When you’re starting to feel tired, turn around and walk back.

If you rather stay very close to your hotel, this is a short walk suggestion for you.

Or just head over to the Platzspitz behind the Swiss National Museum and follow the river Limmat downstream. Walk all the way down until you get to a wide bridge. Cross it and take the tram 4, 13 or 17 at Escher Wyss Platz, back to the central station.

If it is too cold for a walk, you could try any of Zurichs gyms. Or how about these indoor activities?

Our favourite local restaurants
Zurich offers a huge variety on good restaurants. Try one of our favourite little, not so touristy places to eat. And enjoy a tasty lunch or dinner without spending a fortune at these or these restaurants.

Important “sites”
Following all the walking trails listed above, you already see quite a lot of Zurichs highlights. Another non-touristy must-do definitely is a stroll through our favourite neighbourhoods Kreis 3, 4 or 5: Head over to Idaplatz for a brunch at Kafi Dihei or stroll up the Josefstrasse with its little shops and cafés. Walk over the grass at Josefswiese and visit the Viaduktbögen or the Freitag tower. 

Well, with the right company, every place can be romantic, isn’t it like that? For a date, we both like small and relaxed places, where you can talk easily. Two personal favorites are Pane e Olio (Italian cuisine) and Gartenhof (Swiss-Mediterean dishes).

Have a look at other places in Zurich we like here.

For more romance, also have a look at our suggestions for a first date.

Enjoy the date! And please let us know how it went

As Halloween, Thanksgiving isn’t a Swiss tradition, but it gets more and more common every year. After all it’s nice to gather with your loved ones, enjoy good food and be thankful for what you got!

For a Thanksgiving dinner Zurich style, myfriendfromzurich recommends the dinner at Piccolo Giardino on Saturday November 30th. The four course meal costs 75 Swiss Francs, booking required.

Our friends from My Girlfriend Guide to Zurich did some research and posted an overview on Thanksgiving dinners in Zurich. Check it out here!

If you’re planning to cook your own dinner, browse the recipe ideas of the girls from A Beautiful Mess – yummie yummie yummie!

Yepp..  Oerlikon.. not really at the heart of the city – hello suburbia! But don’t worry, with public transport it only takes about a half hour to get to the centre and there are some nice spots in Oerlikon too.

For fresh and healthy salads, soups and sandwiches, head to Not Guilty. It’s also a cozy place to drink a coffee (try their hazelnut latte!) and watch the busy people from the offices nearby. For fresh Italian pasta, Tschingg is your place to be. If you’re more into self catering, there are several grocery shops (Migros, Coop) near Sternen Oerlikon or Bahnhof Oerlikon.

We hope you’ll have some time to explore Zurich too! Here are some suggestions

For almost a mountain experience, take the tramway up to our landmark mountain, the Uetliberg.

Get a glimpse of Zurich in just one hour. If you have more time, read our tips on how to feel like a local.