Lindor Milk, the absolute classic of Swiss chocolate, is a popular pick in Lindt’s chocolate factory shop south of Zurich. As you savor its smooth and creamy filling, you will understand why Switzerland has the highest rate of chocolate consumption in the world. The Excellence assortment with a high content of first-class cocoa butter and flavors such as vanilla, chili, mint and orange is another delicious Lindt chocolate.
The quickest way to reach Lindt’s factory shop is the 11-minute ride with the S-bahn (local train) from Zurich Hauptbahnhof, the main railway station, to Kilchberg. If efficiency doesn’t mean anything to you, make use of the city’s free bike scheme, and borrow a bike at the railway station for a calm tour to Kilchberg along Zürich Lake.
The lake area is popular among the people in Zurich, especially during the summer months. Don’t forget to visit the Chinese Garden on Bellerivestrasse in Zurichhorn park, set in the attractive Seefeld zone. The garden is a gift to the city from Zurich’s twin town, Kunming, in southwest China and offers a peaceful, calming atmosphere.
Bahnhofstrasse, lined with jewelry, watch and fashion shops, is one of the most exclusive shopping avenues in the world. The renowned pedestrian street starts at the railway station and continues to the lake. Globus' terrific food hall, the department store, Jelmoli and Confisserie Sprüngli, are well worth a visit. Sprüngli is the city's oldest pastry shop located on the square Paradeplatz in the middle of the avenue.
From Bürkliplatz, at the end of Bahnhofstrasse, you have an amazing view of Lake Zürich and the snow-covered mountain tops in the distance. Skiing is a popular sport in Switzerland and prominent resorts as Zermatt, St. Moritz and Verbier attract thousands of people each year. In Engelberg, less than two hours from Zurich, the season runs from December to early May.
In November thousands of people gather at Bürkliplatz to attend Zurich’s annual Whiskyship festival. Last year over 6,000 visitors came to try the selection of Scotland’s finest blends and single malts. The festival is held on six deluxe ships, this year a floating casino and a golf course will offer further enjoyable activities.
Zurich isn't bigger than a single district of Paris and easy to explore on foot. The city has a number of galleries and about fourteen of Zurich's 50 museums are devoted to art. The Swiss National Museum, situated in a park near the railway station, and Kunsthaus, with its modern art collections and nonstop exhibitions are the most visited.
The river Limmat divides the city’s old town in two contrasting halves. Lindenhof, the oldest part of Zurich, is on the west bank of the river. Its quiet square offers a marvelous panorama over the rooftops. The trendy Niederdorf district is on the east bank of the river. The area is filled with hip clothing shops and antique bookstores. As it gets darker, the restaurants, clubs and bars attract people who dig the energetic nightlife in this part of the city. Zurich has a dynamic club scene with styles to suit every taste, including salsa, hiphop, reggae, R&B, techno and pop.
As a multilingual country, Switzerland takes the best from the German, French and Italian cuisine. Cheese fondue with the traditional ingredients kirsch and a mix of fresh cheeses, typically Emmentaler and Gruyère, is one of the country’s famous specialties. The appetizing dish is best combined with pieces of crusty bread. Walliser Keller is one of many restaurants where you can order the appetizing cheese fondue.
The majority of visitors agree that the Swiss stereotypes are true. Nearly everyone likes skiing, the cows that nourish the grasslands of the Swiss countryside all have bells, you can find cuckoo clocks and Swiss army knives in pretty much every shop, and they do eat a lot of chocolate and cheese.
Erica Johansson is a freelance writer based in Sweden. She blogs about travel on Blissful Travel.
0 comments:
Post a Comment