Where The Bathhouses Become Bars And The City Jumps Into The Lake
Zurich may be famous for winter trips, banking and pristine Swiss efficiency, but summertime reveals a completely different city. The cafes spill outdoors, people swim in the river and Lake Zurich, bathhouses become bars after dark and nearly every walk seems to involve a cold beer beside the water. After spending time there in summer, I came away wondering why more travelers do not include Zurich in their European party plans.
By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com Travel Editor
You may not have Zurich at the top of your list of summer party travel destinations, but if Europe is in your plans, then plan to spend a couple days in this city.
Why Zurich, you ask?
For starters, you can walk around with a beer in your hand.
Try that in America and you face a ticket of at least a hundred dollars, possible jail time and harassment from a police officer who apparently has nothing better to do than bother you about a beer.
Granted, you can do this all over Switzerland and most other European countries but Zurich is so buzzing with activity in the summertime that you want to soak it all in with a beer.
A river cuts right through Old Town and on both sides, cafes are teeming with life. People are sitting at the river’s edge, feet dangling in the water, while others are seated outdoor at cafes.
Keep walking, and you’ll run into Lake Zurich. On one side are cafes and a wide sidewalk. A steady stream of foot traffic keeps the sidewalk’s scenery changing every few moments. When good-looking girls wander by – which is so often you guys better be wearing your sunglasses – you wish those moments would last a bit longer. But soon your attention is focused elsewhere, such as on a street performer. And particularly the guy selling cold beers out of a backpack!
I even witnessed a small parade.
The city planners were kind enough several years ago to place several benches along the sidewalk, right by the lake, so you can pause and soak it all in, with your beer of course.
Along the way are bathing facilities, known locally as badis,( some of which turn into bars after dark!) and people swimming and laying out on floating platforms. It’s a scene familiar to anyone in the States who has been to a lake (with the exception of bathhouses turning into bars), but to have this happening at the edge of a major city is mindblowing.
At least to me.
Keep walking and you’ll run into a park. Well, it’s not really a park; it’s more of a grassy area along the sidewalk. It goes on for miles. At any point, you can pull over and pull out your beer. And pull your clothes down to your swimsuit and go for a refreshing splash. It’s awesome and I’m jealous just thinking about it.
In the opposite direction, past the train station, are a string of outdoor cafes – one with a small volleyball court – where you down a couple cold ones then jump in the river for a swim. And then have a couple more cold ones.
This even happens on a Sunday, when normally the rest of Switzerland is snoozing. In fact, most of Europe takes the day off from partying on Sunday. Even Amsterdam is quiet, relative to its standards the rest of the week.
So, indeed, include Zurich in your party plans for the summer.
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• Wait, Is That Rod Stewart Playing Piano In Splendid Bar?
• Zurich Nightlife Guide: The Best Bars, Clubs & Pubs
• How I Ended Up Living Like James Bond In Zurich’s Bars
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