![\"ICE](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-22-06-2025-06-30-45-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Snorkeling](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-08-07-2025-08-24-12-663x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-25-06-2025-10-01-44-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\nI check in at Motel One Zurich, within walking distance of Lake Zurich. It\u2019s the perfect way to start my days with a refreshing dip in the clear water. Because of the heat, I decide to go for a quick swim as soon as I arrive, but first I stop by \u00c4ss-Bar for a sandwich. <\/p>\n\n
Every day, \u00c4ss-Bar saves perfectly edible bread and pastries from the trash by picking up the previous day\u2019s products from local bakeries and selling them at low prices. It\u2019s been a huge success\u2014they\u2019ve already prevented many metric tons of food waste and now have more than a hundred employees. <\/p>\n\n
Zurich Districts: Walking Through Compact Urban Neighborhoods<\/h2>\n\n
Zurich is neatly divided into twelve districts, known as Kreise<\/em>, each with its own character and charm:<\/p>\n\n Zurich is relatively compact and very well organized, which means you can easily explore the city from almost any neighborhood. Public transportation is fast and reliable, and many attractions are within walking or biking distance of one another. <\/p>\n\n Price: approx. CHF 27 (24 hours) \/ CHF 53 (72 hours) <\/p>\n\n\n\n Includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n On hot summer days, the whole city seems to head toward the water. The sun glistens on the surface of Lake Zurich, while the Limmat flows crystal-clear and invitingly through the heart of the city. It\u2019s as if Zurich were designed specifically for swimming, and the locals eagerly take advantage of it. Everywhere you look, you see people in the water, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Swimming, snorkeling, on a SUP, or just bobbing along with the current. <\/p>\n\n Take Badi Schanzengraben<\/strong>, for example, tucked away between the old city walls. During the day, it\u2019s a quiet swimming spot exclusively for men, but as soon as night falls, it transforms into the lively Rimini bar (sometimes featuring live music), where everyone is welcome. <\/p>\n\n A little further on, on the shores of Lake Zurich, lie classic seaside resorts with views of the snow-capped peaks of the Alps. Women find refuge at the charming Frauenbad on Stadthausquai<\/strong>, a wooden pavilion steeped in history and character. I highly recommend it\u2014it immediately feels like I\u2019m at home relaxing by the pool with my friends. <\/p>\n\n You can also go for a swim in the Limmat River on the small, green island of Werdinsel<\/strong>. Families have picnics there, sunbathers lounge on the grass, and there\u2019s even a small caf\u00e9. The atmosphere is relaxed and laid-back. <\/p>\n\n But what really makes Zurich special isn\u2019t just the abundance of swimming spots\u2014it\u2019s the experience of swimming itself. At the Oberer and Unterer Letten, popular spots along the river, swimmers take full advantage of the current. I, too, let myself drift along, my belongings stowed away in a brightly colored waterproof bag that bobs along with me like a floating companion. This week, I\u2019ve drifted away like this several times, while the city glides past me. <\/p>\n\n In Zurich, sustainability is a major focus. This is evident, among other things, at Stadtbienen, Anna Hochreutener\u2019s bee shop, the beating heart of the Wabe3 initiative. This is no ordinary shop, but a workshop, knowledge center, and meeting place for anyone interested in the rhythm of bees and the city. <\/p>\n\n I attend a lecture by Anna, take a city tour of the rooftops where her bee colonies live, and make my own lip balm from beeswax. What I learn really sticks with me: just how important bees are for the pollination of wild plants and food crops. Without them, our ecosystem would literally collapse. <\/p>\n\n Anna also makes it clear that there is a big difference between honeybees, which are cared for by beekeepers and live in hives, and wild bees, which are often solitary and are finding fewer and fewer suitable nesting sites. For every species of wild bee, there is an ideal plant, but these are disappearing one by one from the landscape due to monoculture and urbanization. <\/p>\n\n The honeybee gets a lot of attention, but it\u2019s actually the wild species that are the most vulnerable. In her shop, Anna discusses this clearly and concretely, with a love for the little things. She casually hands me a handwritten recipe for flammkuchen with fennel, feta, and, of course, honey. <\/p>\n\n The store itself is a carefully curated collection: varieties of honey from different neighborhoods, beeswax wraps, handmade candles, ceramics, and books. Everything has been chosen with care. You\u2019re welcome to ask questions, smell the products, and taste them. <\/p>\n\n I buy a jar of honey from bees that live on the roof of the tram depot. It tastes spicy and slightly bitter\u2014nothing like supermarket honey. This experience feels like an encounter that lingers. Zurich, with all its modern precision, reveals a different side of itself here: slow-paced, layered, and connected to nature, however modestly. <\/p>\n\n For nature lovers visiting Zurich who also want to spend some time on a mountain, the Uetliberg is the perfect solution. Just a 20-minute train ride from Zurich Hauptbahnhof, the red S10 line\u2014with a gradient of nearly 8% (the steepest regular railway line in Europe)\u2014takes you to a completely different world. At the top, a short ten-minute climb awaits, after which you\u2019ll suddenly find yourself face-to-face with an impressive view of Zurich, the lake, and\u2014on a clear day\u2014even the Swiss Alps. You can also enjoy a meal at Uto Kulm, a hotel restaurant at the summit, featuring a menu full of refined regional dishes. <\/p>\n\n When I get back to the city, I stop for a nightcap at the Badi Schanzengraben men\u2019s bathhouse, which transforms into the cozy Rimini bar in the evening, with atmospheric lighting and seating areas by the babbling water.<\/p>\n\n The Altstetten neighborhood, near the SBB Werkstadt, shows that Zurich is not just a city of bankers. (SBB stands for Schweizerische Bundesbahnen.) In the tall industrial halls where locomotives used to be repaired, all kinds of sustainable initiatives are now flourishing. <\/p>\n\n I start at ViCAF\u00c9, part of a large coffee roastery and tasting room, where the aroma of freshly roasted beans greets you. It\u2019s a spacious, open area where you can watch the beans being roasted. After an espresso, I\u2019m given a tour of the old workshop: eight-meter-high halls with original cast-iron pillars, interspersed with modern workspaces and lounges where local creators showcase their projects. You can experience this too on the last Friday of every month during open tours. werkstadt-zuerich.ch<\/a><\/p>\n\n On my way, I pass by Qwstion, a manufacturer of bags made from the innovative Bananatex\u00ae\u2014a sturdy, waterproof, and stylish fabric made from banana fibers. It fits seamlessly into the narrative of circular urban production. The material is now also being used in fashion and interior design. www.qwstion.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n The lobby also smells wonderful, thanks to the freshly made granola from Tiny Factory. Want to make your own granola? They offer workshops at tinyfactory.ch\/pages\/workshop<\/a>. To cool off a bit, I walk over to Restaurant N\u00fcni and enjoy a refreshing rhubarb spritzer under a parasol. <\/p>\n\n The city as a winegrower\u2014it\u2019s true! I discovered this during the Weinweg tour in the H\u00f6ngg neighborhood, a surprising part of Zurich where vineyards, history, and urban nature come together. What started as a simple walk through the hills surrounding the city turned into a journey through centuries-old stories and flavors. <\/p>\n\n Accompanied by our guide Elizabeth Brem\u2014cheerful and knowledgeable\u2014I walk along steep vineyard terraces, narrow paths, and old passageways on the Chillesteig<\/em>, once used by winegrowers. She explains how this area was once one of the largest wine-growing regions in the canton of Zurich. But in the early 20th century, disasters struck: phylloxera, downy mildew, and urbanization nearly put an end to local viticulture. <\/p>\n\n Fortunately, the Zweifel family kept the flame alive. Thanks to their efforts, the vineyard on the Chillesteig was replanted in 1969. What\u2019s remarkable is that these vineyards are now owned by the city of Zurich and managed by Gr\u00fcn Stadt Z\u00fcrich through the Juchhof municipal estate. <\/p>\n\n And then, of course, the best part: the tasting. At the end of the walk, I taste three wines at Bettina L\u00fcber\u2019s (whose Dutch mother leads to an unexpectedly fluent conversation): a crisp white, a smooth ros\u00e9, and a fruity red\u2014all made from grapes grown right here, in the middle of the city. You almost forget that you\u2019re still in Zurich, just a quarter of an hour from the city center. <\/p>\n\n In District 6<\/strong>, I discover yet another side of Zurich: peaceful, green, and academic thanks to the university. A ride on the charming Seilbahn Rigiblick cable car takes you to the wooded slopes of the Z\u00fcrichberg, offering stunning views of the city along the way. In this neighborhood, you can also dive into the world of science and curiosities. The Moulagenmuseum, filled with hyper-realistic wax models of medical conditions, is both bizarre and fascinating\u2014a spine-chilling journey through medical history. It\u2019s a place where fascination and revulsion go hand in hand. www.moulagen.uzh.ch\/de<\/a><\/p>\n\n Another highlight is focusTerra, ETH Zurich\u2019s Earth & Science Discovery Center. Here, you\u2019ll feel like an explorer: from the Earth\u2019s red-hot core to the peaks of the Alps\u2014and even out into space. Everything is explained in a way that\u2019s easy to understand, without being superficial. You\u2019re encouraged to touch, try things out, and ask questions, and sometimes you\u2019ll find yourself face-to-face with researchers who passionately talk about their work. focusterra.ethz.ch<\/a><\/p>\n\n Tucked away among former warehouses and railroad tracks in Z\u00fcrich-West lies the L\u00f6wenbr\u00e4u Areal, a place where industrial history and contemporary art converge. In the 1980s, many companies moved out of this former industrial district. When the L\u00f6wenbr\u00e4u brewery also closed its doors in 1986, the historic buildings were left standing empty. <\/p>\n\n Ten years later, institutions such as the Kunsthalle Z\u00fcrich, the Migros Museum f\u00fcr Gegenwartskunst, and the Hauser & Wirth gallery seized the opportunity to establish themselves here. What began as a forward-thinking experiment grew into an internationally recognized center for contemporary art. <\/p>\n\n More than ten years ago, the complex underwent a thorough renovation and expansion. The industrial charm of the original building has been preserved, while space was created for a new generation of art lovers and creative professionals. Now you\u2019ll find several exhibition spaces, a sleekly designed coffee bar with a metropolitan vibe, a museum shop, and a bistro with a vegetarian and vegan menu. During Zurich Art Week, leading up to Art Basel, the atmosphere here is international and vibrant. On hot summer days, it\u2019s also wonderfully cool inside. www.lowenbraukunst.ch\/de<\/a><\/p>\n\n The Haus Konstruktiv Museum is located in the east wing of the L\u00f6wenbr\u00e4u Areal. I\u2019m visiting the exhibition *We Are Here!*,<\/em> which features works by pioneers of Concrete Art such as Max Bill and Camille Graeser, as well as contemporary artists. www.hauskonstruktiv.ch<\/a> <\/p>\n\n After that, I walk along the river past the Unterer and Oberer Letten swimming spots, and take another dip before lunch at Chuchi am Wasser<\/strong> \u2014a lovely spot on the banks of the Limmat, connected to the Dynamo cultural center. During the day, you can enjoy fresh daily specials (including vegan options) here, and in the evening, a relaxed atmosphere on the terrace, often accompanied by live music or cultural events. What makes Chuchi truly special is its social mission: providing learning and work opportunities for young people, using CO\u2082-neutral packaging, and combating food waste. www.dynamo.ch\/restaurant-bar<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n
![\"Owners](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Ass-bar-zurich-1-683x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Public](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-08-07-2025-08-35-47-672x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Breakfast](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-24-06-2025-08-25-05-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\nTravel Smart with the Zurich Card<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Swimming spots in the heart of the city and beyond<\/h2>\n\n
![\"Diving](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-08-07-2025-08-23-09-651x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-25-06-2025-15-29-41-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Swimmers](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-23-06-2025-09-35-31-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\nLatvian Rivers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n
Urban Beekeeping & Bee Experience at Wabe3<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
![\"Searching](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-23-06-2025-14-57-57-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-23-06-2025-16-59-09-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Beekeeper's](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-23-06-2025-16-59-25-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n![\"Anna](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-23-06-2025-15-38-26-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"With](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-23-06-2025-15-26-08-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Honeycomb](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-23-06-2025-16-57-40-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\nDid you know? Fascinating facts about bees <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
\n
![\"Sign](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-23-06-2025-19-22-21-1-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-23-06-2025-19-28-44-1-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"View](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-23-06-2025-20-59-55-1-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\nUetliberg: Panoramic views of Zurich and the Alps<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-23-06-2025-19-27-56-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-23-06-2025-20-06-12-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Bar](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-22-06-2025-21-56-00-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\nSBB Werkstadt: Industrial Heritage & Social Design<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
![\"ViCafe](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-24-06-2025-10-09-18-1-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-24-06-2025-10-19-48-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"ViCAFÉ](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-24-06-2025-10-09-41-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n![\"Presentation](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-24-06-2025-11-25-41-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Granola](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-24-06-2025-11-03-50-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Rhubarb](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-24-06-2025-12-25-36-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\nWeinweg H\u00f6ngg: Tasting City Wine in Zurich<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
![\"Terrace](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-24-06-2025-16-04-09-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-24-06-2025-17-23-55-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"House](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-24-06-2025-16-28-53-651x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\nWeinweg: Practical<\/strong> Information<\/h2>\n\n
\n
![\"Woman](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-24-06-2025-17-43-13-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Red](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-24-06-2025-15-33-27-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Bettina](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-24-06-2025-17-55-21-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\nDistrict 6<\/strong>: Peace, Science, and Culture<\/h2>\n\n
![\"Bar](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-25-06-2025-13-18-21-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Saffron](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-24-06-2025-19-01-49-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"River](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-24-06-2025-20-16-08-661x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\nL\u00f6wenbr\u00e4u Areal: From Brewery to Art Hub<\/strong> in Z\u00fcrich-West<\/h2>\n\n
![\"Löwenbräu](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-25-06-2025-11-07-15-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Art](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-25-06-2025-20-03-18-1-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Bistro](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-25-06-2025-10-55-17-774x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n![\"Dynamo](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-25-06-2025-13-29-04-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Grilled](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-25-06-2025-13-52-29-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-25-06-2025-14-20-33-1-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\nA Sporty Finale: SUP and Sunset on Lake Zurich<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-26-06-2025-22-11-50-e1751906931879-643x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Parasol](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-25-06-2025-15-28-06-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Squid](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-22-06-2025-19-39-03-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n![\"Umbrella](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-25-06-2025-10-15-31-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Man](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-25-06-2025-10-03-02-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Historic](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-25-06-2025-10-08-25-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n![\"Coffee](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-25-06-2025-12-07-59-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-25-06-2025-21-19-33-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Seafood](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-22-06-2025-19-32-59-1-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n![\"Facade](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-25-06-2025-09-57-18-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Boats](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-24-06-2025-08-37-08-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Foto-23-06-2025-14-57-43-768x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"