Zurich

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A day in the little big city

A May 2000 trip to Zurich by barbara Best of IgoUgo

The Leoneck HotelMore Photos

Zurich is an absolutely charming, interesting, and beautiful place to visit. We had only a short time to spend there, but its wealth of history, architecture and culture left me longing for another vacation!

  • 6 reviews
  • 1 story/tip
  • 11 photos

LeoneckBest of IgoUgo

Hotel

The Leoneck Hotel
Wonderful! The hotel was perfectly located near the center of the city. The beds were very comfortable with the huge down comforters so common in Switzerland. Everything was very clean, and most of the staff spoke perfect English. The decorations of the hotel were fabulously unique and quaint. People in Zurich are in love with cows. There are large painted cows throughout the city (very unique works of art---one of these cows was recently purchased by the city of Chicago for a very hefty sum of money), and the Leoneck is decorated with a cow motif. It may sound strange, but it is very charming---the black and white cow tiles in the bathroom, the cow chairs in the lobby. There are also murals painted right on the walls of each room to give the rooms character (As if they needed any more!). Our room (307) had a painting of a castle window with wine and grapes on the ledge. Many of the rooms also have balconies on which to enjoy your morning coffee.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by barbara on June 6, 2000

Leoneck
Zurich, Switzerland
(0) 1 254 2222

The Crazy CowBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

The Crazy Cow
The Crazy Cow has a very casual atmosphere. We zestfully ate our wonderfully prepared Weinersnitzel while a blindfolded blonde girl came in off a motorcycle with her boyfriend. A table of happy friends were waiting to surprise her for her birthday, and it was fun to see the delight in her face at her surprise party. There is a bar in the restaurant, of course, and the beer is really good. Stay away from the mineral water though! It’s awful! Just like the Leoneck Hotel which is actually connected to the Crazy Cow, everything is done in a cow motif---the long, twisty garlic bread is even served (hot!) in what looks like milking pails. There are a series of nine TV screens grouped in a square at one end of the restaurant on which you can view a continual silent movie of the Alps and Zurich. Our waitress spoke English well, and the fruit ice cream served for dessert topped off a perfect meal.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by barbara on June 6, 2000

The Crazy Cow
Zurich, Switzerland

Medieval Town CenterBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Zurich’s Medieval Town Center"

On the River
Keeping in mind that my visit to Zurich was a short one---really a layover from a longer trip further East before returning to the US---I had limited time to see the city. As no formal tours fit my schedule, I bought a Walking Tour Book so that I, along with a loose group of my traveling companions, could at least get a glimpse of the city’s great history. Such a book was easy to find as Zurich is perfectly laid out for a walking tour. Throughout the morning we made our way through the narrow streets in the oldest sections of Zurich enjoying the historical significance of the many things we passed. Because we were not involved in a formal tour, but were just a tiny band of like-minded tourists thrown together at the breakfast table,there was plenty of time to occasionally stop in a shop or walk into a building or two that looked especially interesting. We got ice cream and coffee on our way back to the hotel, feeling invigorated and happy, just in time to catch our bus to the airport.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by barbara on June 6, 2000

Medieval Town Center
Zurich Zurich, Switzerland

MarktgasseBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

There are many pubs and restaurants around Marktgasse teaming with people out for a drink or a late dinner. Marktgasse was the early center of a series of streets---Weinplatz-Gemusebrucke-Rindermarkt-Neumarkt--- which served as a type of market place in Zurich. I would suggest walking in this area to find a club or bar that suits your tastes. After dinner at the Crazy Cow, I walked with a group of friends to Marktgasse taking in all the interesting sights and sounds of a city far from sleeping. Half-gray twilight comes late in the summer, and a walk was very pleasant in the warm night air. Dark beer at a random pub with tables on the street was a great place to rest our feet and savor the evening.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by barbara on June 6, 2000

Marktgasse
Zurich, Switzerland

BahnhofplatzBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

The Bahnhofplatz is actually Switzerland’s most important railway center. It is full of people and trains going to various destinations, and is worth a walk-through just to see it. When we were there, a trade show was taking place in the building, so things were especially busy. There are several good stores in the main station through which to browse, and it is a good starting point for a shopping spree. If you are a serious shopper, however, or are looking for something in particular, a walk on the Bahnhofstrasse is a must! There are many wonderful shops selling books and antiques, jewelry and clocks. The windows have beautiful displays, thus each store front has a lot of character.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by barbara on June 6, 2000

Bahnhofplatz
Bahnhoffstrasse Zurich, Switzerland

LindenhoffBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "The Lindenhoff"

The Lindenhoff
The Lindenhoff is full of lime trees and is now a wonderful, quiet park. We learned that there has been a building ban in that square since the Middle Ages as it is considered to be the true birthplace of Zurich and the center of the city. The view is absolutely wonderful and serene, and you can take your time identifying important buildings across the river like the Grossmunster (the two tower church) which was said to have been donated by Charles the Great to Zurich many hundreds of years ago.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by barbara on June 6, 2000

Lindenhoff
Zurich, Switzerland

Closing ThoughtsBest of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

A Typical Building
Zurich is such an old city compared to anything in the United States, and much of it looks the same as it did two hundred years ago. And yet the future still touches all places. It was amazing seeing the number of Smart Cars driving past the ancient churches! It was also amazing fun looking at the painted cow statues in the train station, on buildings, all about town (See picture with Crazy Cow Entry!). When I think of Zurich, I will always think of a place with great character. And great chocolate. Two of the nicest things on Earth.

About the Writer

barbara
barbara
Atlanta, Georgia

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