Right in front of the Hauptbahnhof!
by lonestar_philomath
The main shopping street is Bahnhofstrasse. When you exit the train station, the street is "gerade aus" or right in front of you. It leads from the station to a park on the lake. It is less than 2 km long and can easily be walked in 1 hour (allow extra time for shopping). There are many old buildings along this street so look skyward! The river is only one block away with important sites. More to follow as I build my page.
Gold.....
by bugalugs
After WWII Zurich flourished and became one of the worlds leading financial centres.
Today Zurich is the most important market for gold (didnt get any free samples though) and has the fourth largest stock market after New York, London and Tokyo.
After the bridge we arrive at...
by Volare
After the bridge we arrive at Bürkiplatz. In summer, vegetable and flower sellers cry their wares on Tuesdays and Fridays between 6-11 a.m. On Saturdays between 6 a.m.- 3.30 p.m.there is a flea market where bargain-hunters can rummage for antiques and rarities. Across from the Bürkliplatz is the jetty, embarcation point for passenger boats plying the lake of Zürich.
Meeting James Joyce
in many...
by call_me_rhia
Meeting James Joyce
in many places, still. The Irish writer spent several years in zürich, so my suggestion is a pilgrimage to some places related to him. First of all you can see his burial place: tram stop ZOO (tram 6) direction Fluntern - inside the small cemetery a statue marks his grave. Next stop is the James Joyce Foundation (Zürcher James Joyce Stiftung, Augustinergasse 9): museum, lectures, and Fritz Senn, one of the world's 5 leading experts on Joyce. Given advance notice he loves meeting visitors and sharing many anecdotes with them: a word of warning: he's a great story-teller, and you can get stuck there for many pleasant hours. More James Joyce at the Kronenhalle restaurant in Bellevue: in the 30s it was one of Joyce's favourite haunts. Finally a hotel: Rigihof (Universitätstrasse 101) - Joyce never stayed here but room 301 is dedicated to him - and there are several portraits and paintings in his honour
Rhine Falls
by jorgec25
Not exactly right outside of Zurich, but that's another advantage of having rented a car.
The Rhine Falls are the largest plain waterfalls in Europe, with 150 m wide and 23 m high.
If you like to get close, you can catch a boat that will take you to a viewing point, on the top of a rock, right in the middle of the falls.
The facilities in the area include a very nice restaurant, and a big garden.
There is also a castle, but it was closed for renovation (October 2009).