I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time. It’s been my first Christmas in Europe in 7 years. It’s really amazing how time flies. My sister moved to Zurich in the meantime, so this beautiful Swiss city was the first stop of our trip. We then travelled to Poland, my home country, to celebrate Christmas with family and friends.

Keep reading to see my Top 7 things to do in Zurich in winter.

Strolling the streets of Altstadt in Zurich

I have never been in Zurich before and I can honestly say the city stole my heart very quickly. It’s extremely clean, very stylish and attention to detail is everywhere. Every day was interesting in Zurich and I could go on and on about what to do in this great city. Here I picked my 7 favourite things:

7 things to do in Zurich in Winter

Visit Kunsthaus museum. A great way of spending your afternoon if you’re an art lover. The variety of paintings and sculpture will take your breath away. I especially admired Chagall, Van Gogh and Monet. Admission is free on Wednesdays.
Go antique shopping at Brockenhaus. Few floors filled with vintage clothes, books, furniture and other finds! Everyone will grab something here. I found an elegant umbrella from 1920’s and a beautiful scarf.
Eat a vegetarian meal at Hiltl. Hiltl holds the Guiness World Record for being the oldest continuously open vegetarian restaurant in the world. Back when it was founded, vegetarians were laughingly nicknamed «root bunkers», with some guests preferring to visit the place through the back door.
Take a boat ride to Rapperswil. Two hours on a boat go by fast with good company and great views. Rapperswil has a charming Christmas market, beautifully preserved old town and a stunning castle. I truly fell in love with this little place!

5. Try local, traditional food: fondue and raclette are my choices! Many parts of the city smell of cheese and mulled wine this time of the year. My favourite restaurant was a cozy farmhouse with cute rabbits - Chaesalp. This lovely place is situated on a hill overlooking the city, so the view (whether you go during the day or at nigh) is stunning.

6. Enjoy hot chocolate & dessert at Confiserie Sprungli. It’s a Swiss luxury confectionery founded in 1836. The restaurant at Bahnhofstrasse is an amazing, traditional place with a variety of hot chocolate, coffee and desserts.

7. Take a cable car up Zurichberg. The cable car is a part of Zurich city transportation. It offers great views of the city and will take you up Zurichberg, where you can enjoy a nice walk and admire the city, lake and the mountains from the top.

After our fairytale trip to Zurich, we arrived in Bialystok, Poland and were greeted by snow on our first day, which only made seeing our families more beautiful. Spending time with everyone and celebrating Christmas and New Year with them is the best gift I could ask for. I’m feeling very grateful as I’m writing these words.

“This holiday season, I am wishing you lots of love, happiness and health every day. I wish you courage and determination in going after your dreams and goals. Listen to your heart, pour your love intro your work, be kind, respect yourself. Don’t forget about the most important people in your life and never take them for granted. Love always,”

— Agnes