Zurich 2020

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I had a weekend visit to Zurich, Switzerland in early March on my way home from Israel. It was an interesting experience visiting my friend because it was fairly cold for that time of year and Covid-19 had just started to spread around Europe. I also did not plan an itinerary; only a list of places on Google Maps that I wanted to visit if I had time.

View from the Limmat looking South.

I bought a 72-hour Zurich Card at the airport which gives you unlimited access to the trains, trams, and buses, as well as discounts at some stores and free entry into select museums. I visited a museum each day and mainly walked since most places are within walking distance of each other in downtown. The Zurich Card was convenient and I found their public transportation system very clean and reliable, but I definitely did not use it to its full potential.

Student Village by architektick at the ETH Honggerberg campus.

I arrived in Zurich on a Thursday evening, so Friday was my first full day.

Day 1: 

I explored the ETH Honggerberg campus where my friend lives, then went to visit the downtown campus and had lunch at the Mensa (their cafeteria). I took the tram to visit the Museum fur Gestaltung Zurich (Museum of Design) - they have two locations (both free with the Zurich Card) not too far from each other, but I only went to Ausstellungsstrasse. I spent about 2 hours there and it was pretty small, but they had diverse and interesting exhibitions.

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Museum fur Gestaltung Zurich, Ausstellungsstrasse.

After the museum, I went back to ETH and to meet up with my friend at the Polyterrasse. There is a large terrace at the entrance of the building and a lookout with a beautiful panoramic view of Zurich and the mountains when it is not cloudy.

View of Zurich from the Polyterrasse.

My friend showed me around their buildings and Einstein's locker, as well as interesting architecture near the campus. The University of Zurich Law Library was designed by Santiago Calatrava and it is a stunning space to be in. I also wanted to visit the Le Corbusier Pavilion (south of the city) but they were temporarily closed.

Rechtswissenschaftliche Bibliothek by Santiago Calatrava, 2004.

Opernhaus Zurich built by Fellner & Helmer, 1891.

Day 2: 

We walked around the shopping district and went to the National Museum of Switzerland (free with the Zurich Card) to learn about some Swiss history. After the museum, we walked along Lake Zurich and watched the sunset before heading back. Most places closed early on Saturdays and on Sundays, almost everything was closed, including the grocery stores.

Limmat near Lake Zurich

Lake Zurich at sundown.

I left Sunday morning - taking the the train to the airport. It was a bit scary going to the airport and taking the plane across the Atlantic since they did not really have any safety measures in place yet for Covid-19. There was one extra passport check before boarding the plane in Switzerland and when I arrived in Montreal, passing through customs was too easy - the only screening for Covid-19 was asking passengers if they had visited recently visited an epicentre region.

View of Zurich from the plane.

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