Posted on January 24, 2012 by sguese

 

The banking powerhouse of Switzerland tends to take your wallet when you visit, unsurprisingly. And while Zurich is one of the most expensive cities in all of Europe, it shouldn’t be missed due to the price. With its Alpine backdrop, super-slick façade and dazzling Lake Zurich and Altstadt districts, bend your budget a bit and explore Zurich. Your wallet might be sorry, but you won’t be.

 

Pop in the Kunsthaus Zurich: Also known as the Fine Arts Museum, the Kunsthaus Zurich is one of Europe’s most important art museums. The museum contains an extensive collection of 19^th and 20^th century art. You can also admire a range of paintings and sculpture reaching back to antiquity. Zurich’s Fine Arts Museum covers all bases with more modern works of art as well. You can see the greats here including Chagall, Picasso and Bonnard. The museum also boasts of containing the largest collection of works by Edvard Munch outside of Oslo.

 

Get to know the Fraumünster: The church with a slender, blue spire is hard to miss while in Zurich. The Fraumünster sits on the left bank of the city, overlooking the old historic square, Münsterhof. Dating back to the 13^th and 14^th centuries, this church boasts even deeper foundations. An old abbey church stood here beginning in 853. The church is most notable for its five stained glass windows, designed by Marc Chagall in 1970.

 

Shop until you drop on Bahnhofstrasse: Bahnhofstrasse has been deemed the most beautiful of shopping streets. You can be the judge as you stroll through this shopper’s paradise, with stores on both sides of the street. Some of the world’s greatest merchandise can be found here. Bahnhofstrasse was built a century ago on the site of an ancient moat.

 

Step inside the Swiss National Museum: For those looking to gain insight into the culture and history of the Swiss people, head to the Swiss National Museum. The museum displays works of religious art, artifacts from the 4^th millennium B.C., Roman clothing and even medieval silverware. The Swiss National Museum even boasts an exhibit tracing the Swiss clock from the 16^th to 18^th centuries.

 

Pack a picnic for Uetliberg: Hop on the electric train to the park-like 840 meter hill, Uetliberg. Those looking to get away from the city will enjoy wandering about these natural surroundings. Known for its scenic vistas, Uetliberg is the perfect spot to bring a picnic and enjoy the more natural elements to Zurich.