A Day Full of “Wow” Moments: Family Adventure in Zurich

The kick-off: puzzling fun in the center of ZurichAt 9 AM, we leave home and take the tram toward Löwenplatz. The kids squeal with excitement, a delicious bread roll in their hands, as we head to the WOW Museum in the heart of the city. At 10 AM, the WOW City Rally Family Tour begins. We solve tricky puzzles, discover hidden details, and make our own little photo creations with optical illusions. Especially brilliant is the fact that our children, who at 9 and 5 years of age are normally interested in different things, team up for this, and they both love every single photo task. It’s a chance to see the city with new eyes, find new hideouts, discover little alleyways, try out play areas, climb trees, and enjoy Zurich from new perspectives: with the City Rally, the whole city became a playground.

Between activities we treat ourselves to a quick break at L’Artisan Glacier Zürich at Limmatquai, including an espresso for us adults and an ice cream for the kids – perfect for topping up our energy levels and taking stock of our impressions from the rally.

Relaxation on the waterAfter this active start to the day – and around 2 km of walking later – we enjoy a change of pace. From the Landesmuseum, we board the Limmat riverboat, which transports us to the Zürichhorn. The city glides past us at a leisurely pace, and we have enough time to take in all the sights. Many places that we previously discovered on foot look completely different from the water. It’s almost like a mini cruise – the perfect way to enjoy a quick breather.

A gourmet breakWhen we arrive at the Zürichhorn, we find the Fischerstube waiting for us. Here, we experience a real summer atmosphere in September – it’s just wonderful! Sitting on the lakeside terrace, we feel almost as if we’re on vacation. And the food? Simply phenomenal. It’s a dream for the kids: the menus include fruity drinks and dessert – ice cream with sprinkles, fruit, and jelly sweets: all the things that bring joy to little ones with a sweet tooth. The table sets for coloring in are ready and waiting, and crayons are provided right away – our kids are on cloud nine. And us adults enjoy a delicious local wine from Rapperswil along with the famous fish goujons. We enjoy a cozy vacation moment as a family before continuing on with our afternoon itinerary.

Art and cultureThe Le Corbusier Pavilion is truly eye-catching: angular, unconventionally built, with oval doors, narrow windows, and many small details invite to admire this accessible work of art. After a detour to the colorful building by the famous Swiss architect, it’s time for a pedalo ride. This simple activity has a really great effect on our kids.

It’s so nice to see how proud and motivated the children feel as they put their feet to the pedals. From Lake Zurich, we can see the Limmat riverboat, the Fischerstube, and the towers of the city. And it goes without saying that we take a brave leap into the water.

Finale with lake breezeTo conclude the day, we treat ourselves to a cold drink on a deckchair right next to the Rytz + Kreuzer boat rental facility. We have a view of the lake and tired but happy children by our sides – exactly as a family outing should be. This location comes highly recommended: it features beautiful places to sit and super-friendly staff, and children are welcome. After that, we enjoy a relaxed walk back to Bellevue with lots of lovely conversations about everything we’ve experienced during the day and all the things the children will be able to tell their friends about on Monday.

SummaryThis day trip showed us a completely new side to Zurich. It was playful and varied, and full of laughter, amazement, and mini adventures. For us, it was a successful day in every way, and as a family we’ll remember it for a long time to come.