Zurich for under £100
IT’S best known as a financial centre, but don’t let Zurich’s corporate image put you off. Beyond the brass doorplates of insurance firms, banks and stockbrokers, an intriguing city lurks with a compact centre of cobbled lanes. Expect vintage shops, quirky cafes and ancient churches. And there’s Lake Zurich, with bathing spots by secluded little parks and snowy alpine peaks rising in the distance. The daily high temperature is 20c from May to September . . . perfect for a summer city getaway.
Where to stay ÷ Hotel Marta
BANG in the centre, Hotel Marta has 39 rooms in a striking Fifties building designed by local architect Werner Stucheli. Minimalist rooms, reached by spiral staircase, have large windows and a pared-down, oriental feel. It’s a non-profit hotel with a ‘social welfare’ employment policy. Rooms can slip above £100. B&B doubles from £90 (hotelmarta.ch)
÷ Royal Hotel
NEAR the excellent Swiss National Museum and the main train station, this is well-run, with simple, colourful rooms with ‘a pinch of vintage’ and a cosy feel. It has 70 rooms in a seven-storey building, an airy reception and a pleasant courtyard. B&B doubles from £87 (royalhotelzurich.ch)
÷ Serviced apartments
GIVEN high hotel rates, these are a great option, especially in summer. Expect to find flats for about £80 a night, with the best good prices near the university. Book an ‘entire serviced flat’ not a ‘private room in an apartment’ or you may be sharing a bathroom. Swiss Star Zurich University is a good pick. From £80; Swiss Star Zurich University from £100 (hotels. com). Prices can fluctuate.
Where to eat ÷ Milch Bar
IDEAL for a lazy brunch or a pitstop for a glass of wine or a fresh juice ( made from fruit, vegetables and wheat). Despite being in the financial district, Milch Bar faces a quiet courtyard with a fountain. Salads, sandwiches, sushi, curries and pasta dishes are offered. A main dish and a drink are from about £23. milchbar.ch
÷ Helvti Diner
THERE are three Helvti Diners in Zurich. The original — Helvti Stauffacher by the Sihlbrucke bridge — stands out for its sleek Fifties U. S. diner-style exterior. Inside are booths and bow tie-wearing staff delivering trays of burgers (£16.50) and buckets of fried chicken (£15). Great fun. helvti-diner.ch
÷ Buchmann Beck
THIS is another local chain, with a handful of cafes connected to bakeries that serve delicious fresh sandwiches and salads. It’s worth checking if one is nearby. Sandwiches are £6.50 or crazy half-metre subs — enough to feed at least five — are £32. buchmannbeck.ch
÷ Seebad Enge or Seebad Utoquai
MORE on these Lake Zurich bathing houses in ‘What to see and do’, above — but they also happen to be where you will find brilliant little waterfront cafes. You pay £6 to enter, and then sandwiches/soups are about £6 on top of this. A hot dog is £3 or a beer £4.50. seebadenge.ch, s stadt-zuerich.ch
÷ Ojo de Agua
OK, you might not expect to go to Zurich to eat Argentine steaks. But that’s what this steakhouse owned by the Swiss electronicmusic supremo Dieter Meier offers — along with great wine and a convivial atmosphere. This is a spot for a treat. Steaks are from £30. Or just drop by for a glass of wine (£ 5.30) and soak up the atmosphere. ojodeagua.ch
How to get there
EASYJET has Luton-Zurich returns from £50 ( easyjet.com). Public transport to the airport is £5.20.