Top things to do - One day in Zurich?

Transportation, Travel and Trips
1
I have a day free in Zurich tomorrow while my husband attends a conference and I was wondering what you would all recommend as the top things to do and see around Zurich. I love the arts, architecture and photography so I'm open to suggestions for self guided walks and such. Are there any must see exhibitions on? I I don't want it to turn into just a big shopping day but I would love to find an English book store along the way.

2
As for the English Bookstore, I'd recommend Orell Füssli , it's just down Bahnhofstrasse from the main station.. see the map here.

If you want to go for a tour, I'd recommend calling or passing by the Zurich Tourism office, it's at the end of the hall in the main station, past the big "angel" hanging off the ceiling..

3
Thanks, I appreciate the link to the book store and the tourist office. Tourist offices are alway a good start but rather than a tour I was hoping to get some insider tips from the seasoned EFers who live in Zurich on good spots to go and see.

Any great galleries, hip happening areas, good markets etc... on your must do list?

4
The ETH Museum is great, and it is free!

5
There's some neat Roman Bath ruins by Storchen I believe. A drink up at Jules Verne is nice, and dinner at Waid are my usual stops.

6
Take a walk in the Niederdorf, and peek into all the quaint but overpriced shops. Go up the Grossmunster, then sit outside the Odeon Cafe, have a cuppa and watch the world go by.

Head to the Jules Verne bar in the evening and there is a day gone.

7
Get a Zuri card (20 CHF) its gets you free travel on the network and a host of discounts

Walks, to get a view of the city and if it’s a sunny day, head down to Zurichhorn (by tram or car) and then walk along the lake side park to Belleview (it will take 30 mins approx) You get wonderful views of the lake and the city a s you walk up. With a few places to stop and get a drink. If it’s a weekend or evening you get to see a lot of the locals and sample a bit of Zurich atmosphere.

For culture, head town to the Kuntshaus www.kunsthaus.ch , its has all the big names, Picasso, Monet, Van Gough. Plus its free with a Zuri Card and about 10mins walk from Belleview

O f course the old town and Utilberg are worth looking up too.

Things in my view to avoid:

1) The landesmuseum (or Swiss National Musem) you can go and walk around the court yard for free, which is good. But inside I found it rather sterile and noting of significance (especially compared to the British Museum etc al)

2) Langstrasse (RLD) a lot of tourist books give the impression that’s it’s the edgy/ bohemian part of town and, but in reality if you are looking for that then you are in the wrong town and it just a bit dirty and grim. Useful place for a large pub crawl.

3) Buy gifts from the shiny shops in Bahnhofstrasse, most things are way cheaper in Migro/Coop and of the same quality, actually my family prefer the chocolates from Coop rather then the swanky stuff I used to get from spungli!