Forget cuckoo clocks and investment bankers in finely tailored suits.
Although those can be found in abundance in Zurich, the city also has a pulsating and fascinating underbelly which will fascinate those with a penchant for the quirky, the unique and the off the beaten track.
Wondering how to get there? Qatar Airways flies to Zurich from $1,450* in economy class and $6,510* in business class.
Ready to explore?
Here’s our round-up for the 10 best experiences for the well-travelled and curious adventurer.
- Moulagenmuseum
Image credit: uzh.ch This is a museum like no other that we’ve ever come across. On display here are lifelike representations of diseased body parts moulded in wax. Known as moulages, the moulds date back to 1917 when they were used for educational and documentation of skin diseases. This museum holds more than 1,800 of these replicas, with around 600 on display – widely considered among the best preserved and most lifelike in the world.
- Medizinhistorisches Museum
Image credit: uzh.ch Another medically-themed museum, this one instead takes a look at antique medical implements, with the displays completed with graphic illustrations of how each one was used. Among the eery exhibits, you’ll also find a surgery-stitch sampler and a plague doctor’s uniform.
- Thermalbad & Spa
Image credit: zuerich.com Imagine taking a bath in the unlikely surrounds of a brewery. That’s exactly what you’ll do at Thermalbad among the former brewery’s century-old stone vaults. Here, fresh thermal water bubbles up from the ground rich in minerals and warm – around 35 to 41 degrees.
- Blindekuh
Image credit: Blindekuh.ch This restaurant, founded in 1999, is the home of the world’s first dining in the dark experience, now imitated in several corners of the world. A major employer of the visually impaired, the restaurant offers a sensory experience for adventurous diners willing to step out of their comfort zone for a unique culinary experience.
- Ghost walk
Image: iStock For more than a decade, “paranormal entertainer” Dan Dent has been offering the brave a unique journey through the haunted history of Zurich’s streets. Prepare to be horrified, fascinated and, above all, entertained. Based on real events from the city’s past, his stories weave a web of executions, suicides and murder.
- Badi Bars
Image credit: zuerich.com With the onset of the summer sun comes the opening of the badi bars – outdoor bars perfectly located to capitalise on those balmy nights. As evening sets in, riverside and lakeside bathing spots are transformed into bars that lure tourists and locals alike for a dose of summer fun, be it in the form of concerts, readings or open-air movies.
- Cabaret Voltaire
This year, the legendary Zurich art movement known asDada celebrates its centenary. And celebrations will focus largely on its heart – the Cabaret Voltaire. Born here in 1916, Dadaism saw artists such as Hans Arp and Hugo Ball fuse art with the absurd questioning the status quo. It reopened in 2004, and now exhibitions and events are held at the historic building.
This year, the legendary Zurich art movement known asDada celebrates its centenary. And celebrations will focus largely on its heart – the Cabaret Voltaire. Born here in 1916, Dadaism saw artists such as Hans Arp and Hugo Ball fuse art with the absurd questioning the status quo. It reopened in 2004, and now exhibitions and events are held at the historic building.- Johann Jacobs Museum
Image credit: jacobsfoundation.org Although initially a coffee museum, this museum now offers a wider exploration of global trade routes and their convoluted histories. Coffee and cocoa are still at its core, but now it also takes a look at oil, rubber, diamonds, cotton and tobacco along with the “network of ties” that reach across the globe.
- 25hours Hotel
Image credit: zuerich.com Zurich may be home to some world-class luxury hotels steeped in tradition and old-school elegance, but its also seeing a surge in trendier boutique hotels that reflect the city’s other face. In the hip Zurich West neighbourhood, 25hours is one such hotel which puts the local environment at its design core with graffiti-splatters and vivid colour schemes.
- Frau Gerolds Garten
Image credit: zuerich.com This beer garden complete with a kitchen garden kicked off in summer 2012 as a temporary project but has since become a city landmark. It transformed its industrial setting into a garden community with an exciting events program and dramatic views across the city.
*Conditions apply.
Qatar Airways and Zurich Tourism would like to give you the chance to WIN two return economy flights to Zurich, Switzerland, along with two nights of accommodation in a 4 star hotel and two city travel passes for free public transportation, and access to most of the Museums in and around Zurich! Terms and conditions apply. Enter here: qatarairways.com/visitzurich.
