One you’ve arrived in Zurich, taken the Zurich airport taxi and found out where to get an airport transfer in Zurich, you’re left with the most pleasurable things to do: visiting the tourist attractions that make this city one of the most famous ones in the world. Because it is Switzerland’s largest city, Zurich has dozens of museums, a charming old town filled with Renaissance and medieval buildings and art everywhere you look around. If you’re only left with a couple of days and you want to visit Zurich’s top-rated tourist attractions, here’s what you should consider:
Old Town
Old Town (Altstadt) is the central part of the city that encompasses the historical city that was built until 1893. These parts are a must-see if you travel to Zurich in order for you to get the full experience of the city and learn a great deal about its culture. Some main attractions of Old Town are: Shoemakers’ Guild, which is now a theatre and the Hans zum Rech, which dates back since the Middle Ages.
Lake Zurich
The lake lies in the South of the city and offers tourists an amazing view. Boat trips can be arranged on the lake. During summer, when water temperatures reach over 20 degrees Celsius, swimming is possible. A flea market is held every year between May and October. Here you can find many vendors that trade everything from antiquity to modern day gadgets.
Fraumunster
Fraumunster Church is a historical sight in Zurich. It was built on the remains of an abbey for aristocratic women all the way back in 853 by Louis the German for his daughter. Its architecture is in a gothic style. The remains of 9th-century crypt can be seen in the undercroft of the church. The church gets around 500.000 visitors every year and the tours are conducted by booking in advance and with accredited guides.
Schweizerisches Landesmuseum
The Swiss National Museum is located in central Zurich near the Hauptbahnhof. The museum is built in 1898 by historian Gustav Gull. Tourists are offered exhibitions ranging from prehistoric relicts to arts of the middle ages.
Grossmünster
The church was built between 1110 and 1220. It has a Romanesque-style. According to the legend the church was built by the Franc king Charles the Great when his horse fell on his knees. He believed that the horse kneeled over the tomb of Felix and Regula who are the saint patrons of Zurich.
Zurich Zoo
The zoo harbors more than 360 species of different animals. The zoo’s habitats are almost identical copies of the animals’ natural environments. The zoo’s main attraction is the Asian elephant exhibit, where tourists can watch elephants play with their young cubs or swim in their multi-environmental complex. There are trams and trains that run to the zoo from the center of the city.
With so many wonderful places to visit, Zurich will for sure remain one of the unforgettable journeys worth keeping in your mind and heart for a lifetime.
It’s no wonder that after the unbelievable amount of work you do throughout the year, you feel maxed-out after a while. You’re a human being, after all, bound to reach a breaking point every now and then.
It is in these moments, when you’re feeling down and out, that you should consider going on vacation so you can relieve all the pent-up stress. No need to overthink it. Just act spontaneously, pack your bags, and head over to one of the most beautiful places on the planet: Japan. I’m here to help you make the most out of your trip, by narrowing down the following must-see locations.
Kyoto’s Arashiyama Grove
Sometimes, the best way to feel alive is by going to your roots and connecting with your inner-self. A silent stroll through a quiet, calm natural scenery can conduct such magic. Arashiyama’s spiritually enlightening bamboo forest is the perfect spot for letting go of your tensions and meditating. Its trails are about 500 meters long, and are lined on both sides by towering bamboos, which then lead to a famous shrine and a temple. You can reach the Saga-Arashiyama Station by train, then cycle your way up the trails. This grove has served as creative inspiration for Hayao Miyazaki in his world-famous Japanese animated films, which you can stream right on your high-definition Xfinity TV, if you want to see the lush greenness before experiencing it.
Kyushu’s Gokase River
In the prefecture on the southern side of Kyushu Island lies a quaint little town with a wonderfully vast river, mystic waterfalls, and weeping cherry blossom trees. During the summer, you can go on an exhilarating kayaking adventure on the crystal clear Gokase River, and get the rowing experience of your life. Or you can trek through the place and dive into the refreshing waterfalls, which hide away in nooks you’ll want to explore. If it is winter, snowboarding and skiing will get your energy right back up.
Hida Takayama’s Street
If you’re looking for an escape from your gritty reality, plunge into the fantastic culture of Hida Takayama. A walk through Sanmachi Street presents a preserved chunk of Japan’s splendid Edo period when it was at its highest. Dark-wood houses of magnificent architecture line the broad street. There are coffee and sake stalls, plus shops selling antique trinkets. All you need to do is cross the bridge and lose yourself in a magnificent past picture of Japanese culture.
Kinosaki’s Onsen
Water is a healing element. It has a curious way of untying many of the knots which build up in your body over time. Just let it wash over you, and take all your frustration away. And what’s better than visiting a Japanese town built on the very concept of onsen (hot spring revitalization)? Once there, you can get a full body massage, relax in the hot springs, walk around in a yukata (light kimono) and geta (wooden clog sandals), eat the traditional food at the ryokan, and calm yourself by taking in the natural scenery.
Hokkaido’s Furano Fields
There’s something about flowers which make them so attractive. Either it’s the color, the texture, the scent, or perhaps it’s all of these factors. Together, they appeal to our senses more than anything, setting our imagination on fire. Hokkaido’s Furano Fields leave precisely this impression on one’s soul. Wherever you look, there are endless fields of flowers, especially the soothing lavender. Take a walk through them, or a bus ride, and you’ll definitely not regret it.
So if you’re stressed out, stop waiting around and get your adventure on! Visit these Japanese natural sanctuaries, and give new strength to your depressed spirit.
Anyone who’s visited Singapore or has researched this destination will know about its major landmarks and points of interest. However, as it is with most cosmopolitan cities, there are attractions that even the locals are clueless about.
We’ve taken it upon ourselves to dig out the best of Singapore that are usually not on the mainstream tourist list of things to do.
Head over to Queenstown Swimming Complex at 473 Stirling Rd and for some cool underwater hockey sessions. Twice a week, both men and women gear themselves up with snorkels and get into the water. They play hockey with the regular sticks, placing the puck at the bottom of the pool. Don’t worry you’ll get plenty of professional guidance. One thing we can tell you though; you never felt this weightless playing hockey before!
The present Arts Center in Singapore was once a Parliament House. Today, the multidisciplinary arts center features intriguing exhibitions, workshops, movie screenings, and speaker sessions. There are also cultural performances; fashion shows choirs and other ensembles. What’s more, if you have a special event coming up, you can host it at The Arts House!
A little away from the busy city is the contemporary arts enclave, the Gillman Barracks. You can enjoy various limited-time exhibitions here showcasing artworks from promising or famous artists in one of its 11 galleries. Attending open studio sessions with artists in residence at the Gillman Barracks is one of the most underrated things do in Singapore.
The Children Little Museum in Kampong Glam has a life-sized tin robot guarding the entrance. This place stocks knick-knacks, antique memorabilia and yesteryear paraphernalia. In the courtyard, you can pose for photos with a classic Vespa bike and a Coke booth. Access kampung childhood curios on the second floor with a two-dollar token and enjoy checking out antique tin toys, plastic soldiers and hand-made set props such as a street barber’s booth, a bookstore and school setting.
Here you’ll find Singapore’s largest hawker center, the best way to get dirt-cheap authentic Singaporean cuisine. There are more than 260 stalls here offering glutinous rice, Lian He Ben, chee kueh (steamed rice cakes) and more. If you’re not sure which is the best dish, just join the line that’s the longest and you’ll be fine.
Want to see live frogs and eels jumping about in the water, ready to be purchased for dinner? Then head to the Chinatown Wet Market just two levels below the Chinatown Food Center. You’ll even find live turtles here for sale. This place is undeniably Singaporean, right from the mixed dialects and the seafood and poultry scents and the haggling.
You’ll find some of Singapore’s most ecological bird and wildlife trails at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, which is a known migratory stop for birds. Spot some frisky otters, mudskippers, kingfishers and herons. Between September to March, you might spot shorebirds such as plovers, on their way to Australia. Watch out for monitor lizards, crocodiles and tree snakes. A bug spray and a pair of binoculars are a must here!
Kusu Island (Tortoise Island) is just the perfect escape from the city. There are several picnic spots and seaside barbeque pits, apart from two swimming lagoons. The beaches are wonderful and warm with soft sands that’ll caress your feet. Enjoy fantastic views of Singapore’s skyscrapers from here. This island is a sanctuary to hundreds of tortoises; watch them crawling to their holes in the beach when the sun goes down. Watching those cute tortoises scramble about is one of the best things to do in Singapore!
Tong Mern Sern Antiques Arts and Crafts
If you’re into antiques and old-time crafts, this place is a must-visit. You can collect some real cool stuff that you won’t be able to find anywhere else, like old paintings, dinner sets from 50 years ago and old Grandfather’s clocks. You can spend a nice afternoon browsing the dusty old shelves and maybe, just maybe, find a treasure that someone’s overlooked.
Evernew Bookstore
What could be better than the dusty smell of an old dog-eared book? Head out to the Evernew Bookstore at Bras Basah Complex and check out their collection of incredible second hand books. You can find vintage comics, copies of classics, leather-bound bounds and hard-cover primary editions and more. It’s the perfect place to spend a lazy afternoon, swimming through nostalgic dusty memory lanes.
Cosmic Bowling
What’s better than bowling? Bowling in the dark! Orchid Bowl at SAFRA Yishun offers Comic Bowling where the pins and balls glow-in-the-dark. There will also be continuous party music playing in the background to ensure that the adrenaline rush is present!
The village of Geylang takes on a unique atmosphere during the Durian Feast each year. You can pick up incredible durians here, too-sweet, just-sweet-enough and bitter ones. Even the not-in-season durians taste good here. Browse through multiple fruit stalls and pick out the best. Also be sure to try out some durian fruit juices and other concoctions while you’re in Geylang.
Khatib Bongsu
Khatib Bongsu in Singapore’s north is a 7.5 kilometer area filled with mangroves. You can kayak through the mangroves, deftly avoiding the roots and the submerged braches. Don’t worry; there are plenty of toilets and showers here for you when you need them. Just in case you fall into the water, be sure to bring a change of clothes and some sunblock too.
The Projector
Forget about the regular cinemas and head out to The Projector for some rarely-seen indie films. What’s more, this is the most relaxed cinema hall you’ve ever been in. It’s got soft bean bags instead of seats! Roll around on the bean bags, munch on popcorn and enjoy the living-room like atmosphere of The Projector.
Conclusion
When you’re in Singapore, check out other not-so-well-known but charming places to visit. You’re bound to find many more than we’ve listed here. These charming little nooks and unknown activities are what give charm to a travel destination.
