Stories from Zurich
Long-form writing on the city and the country beyond it — lake swimming, mountain trains, café culture and the practicalities of travel in Switzerland.
More stories
A morning on the Uetliberg
Chasing the first snow from Zurich
Eating well in Zurich without going broke
Night trains from Zurich: Amsterdam, Prague, Zagreb and Rome by Nightjet
Riding the Polybahn: Zurich's one-minute funicular
Sechseläuten and the burning snowman
Swimming in the Limmat
The quiet side of Lake Zurich
The real cost of a coffee in Zurich
What nobody tells you about Jungfraujoch
Why Swiss trains run on time
Good to know about the Zurich blog
The blog is where Zurich Trip steps back from strict planning logistics and covers the questions that shape how a trip actually feels, written with the same honest, no-fluff approach as the rest of the site.
It opens with orientation pieces — what to know before visiting Zurich for the first time, and a direct look at whether Switzerland is really as expensive as its reputation suggests, which stays qualitative rather than inventing precise figures: a backpacker-style trip using hostels and self-catering is achievable but still costs more than most of Europe, mid-range comfort with restaurant meals and the occasional cable car ticket adds up quickly, and there's no real ceiling at the top end.
A Zurich versus Geneva comparison helps travellers deciding between Switzerland's two largest cities weigh up the practical differences in transport links, day-trip access and character rather than relying on vague impressions. Safety and etiquette get straightforward treatment: a solo travel piece covers what Zurich and the wider country actually offer, which is a genuinely low crime rate paired with ordinary city caution, and a Swiss etiquette piece covers habits worth knowing, from the emphasis on punctuality and quiet train carriages to the light-touch approach to tipping and greeting people with a handshake or a nod rather than assuming informality.
Food and culture pieces make up a solid share of the blog: a Zurich food guide covering what a realistic meal costs alongside the city's chocolate and cheese traditions, a piece on Swiss train travel and why the network's reputation for punctuality is largely earned, and a lake-days guide covering swimming spots and boat trips on Lake Zurich through the summer months. A best-time-to-visit piece pulls together the seasonal picture in one place: May to September as the strongest window for lakes and city walking, the ski season running roughly December to April across the Alpine regions, and the spring and autumn maintenance windows that briefly close some mountain lifts in between.
None of the blog content replaces the destination or guide pages — it's meant to be read for context and reassurance before or during a trip, answering the softer questions a strict itinerary or logistics guide doesn't cover.
Frequently asked questions about the Zurich blog
Is Switzerland as expensive as people say?
Yes, broadly — it's genuinely one of the more expensive countries in Europe, though the exact cost depends heavily on travel style. A backpacker approach using hostels and self-catering keeps costs down but still runs higher than most of Europe, while restaurant meals and cable car tickets add up quickly for a mid-range trip.
Should I visit Zurich or Geneva first?
It depends on your priorities: Zurich has better rail links to the Bernese Oberland, central Switzerland and eastern Switzerland, while Geneva sits closer to Lake Geneva, Gruyères and the French Alps. The blog's Zurich versus Geneva piece compares transport links and day-trip access directly rather than declaring one better overall.
Is Switzerland safe for solo travellers?
Yes — Switzerland has a consistently low crime rate, and ordinary city caution covers most situations, including in Zurich at night. The blog's solo travel piece goes into more detail on specific neighbourhoods and late-night transport.
Are Swiss trains really as punctual as their reputation suggests?
Largely yes — Swiss Federal Railways run one of the most reliable networks in Europe, which is part of why short-layover connections between trains, and even between a train and a cable car, are treated as normal here rather than risky.
When is the best time to visit Zurich and Switzerland according to the blog?
May to September is the strongest window for lakes, city walking and outdoor day trips, while ski season runs roughly December to April in the Alpine regions. Spring and autumn each bring brief maintenance closures on some mountain lifts, worth checking before building a trip around a specific summit.