How much I spent in a day 1 in Switzerland - Europe’s Most Expensive City🇨🇭 Zurich - 4-day, 3-night trip to Zurich

KLM flights to Zurich, Switzerland - Checked baggage/ hand luggage's.
Total price GBP 604.60
Episodes
E01
Any ideas on where we're headed? I'm now focusing on spending quality time with ItalyPaul, taking care of myself, and finding joy in travel. It's all about keeping my emotions and physical well-being.  I’m not really into staying cooped up at home right now. I’d much rather spend my holidays exploring new spots, wandering around to take in the views, and savouring the local food and drinks.
 Amsterdam Airport
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) is the largest international airport in the Netherlands. It's also one of the biggest airports in Europe. 
You get to be your own boss when you plan your trip which means you can pick your own timetable and what you want to do. You have the freedom to enjoy any food you desire, explore any place that catches your interest, and relax at the hotel for as long as you wish. Travel agents can save you money sometimes, but it comes at a cost that might not fit into your budget.
 
 Zurich Airport
Upon arriving at Zurich airport in late February this year of 2025, it felt much quieter compared to Paris. We visited Paris twice last year and at least 7 days for each trip. but this time we're excited to explore City of Zurich for a short getaway of 4 days and 3 nights.
We passed by the Lindt chocolate counter, and the smell of chocolate was super tempting. But honestly, a lot of these Lindt chocolates can be found in UK grocery stores like Sainsbury's, plus you can grab them on Amazon too. So, we’re thinking we probably won’t buy any at the airport.
This was our first trip to Zurich, Switzerland. We got the O2 big bundle, which worked great in Europe last time we were in Amsterdam, Paris and Sweden, but it didn’t do so well in Zurich.
I also tried the travel bolt-on, but at Zurich airport, it was hit or miss— sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t. 
So, we decided to take the airport coach to our hotel in the city. The transport cost from UK CHF 35, Zurich to Hotel CHF 55 = CHF 90.  If I go back to Zurich, I think I’ll sign up for TravelWifi and get a smart SIM instead.

Hotels, cafes, and restaurants in Zurich typically offer free Wi-Fi, but we were looking for internet access while exploring the city, as we depended on Google Maps to find our way from the hotel to various spots. Despite that, we did well with our walking tours this time around!

  CitizenM Zürich hotel (4-star hotel)

(Check in after 2pm, check out 11am)

This 4-star CitizenM hotel is conveniently located in the centre of Zürich. You can do a self check-in, but the staff is around to help. We got to check in early since our room was already cleaned, which was awesome. Again, the location is fantastic!

The cost for one night is CHF180. Pricing may vary based on the date and season as indicated on the website. The room is on the smaller side, but super clean and modern. The mattress and pillows are incredibly comfy, and the shower is just amazing—easy to adjust the temperature and way better than what you find in most hotels. There are UK and Switzerland plug adapters ready for you on the table.

There’s an iPad in the room that lets you control the lights, blinds, colors, curtains, and even the TV. 

The décor had a playful touch, featuring a bookshelf and a stuffed animal, which added a charming, youthful vibe. The best part? It’s really clean, the shower is top-notch, and the room is quiet, so you can sleep well.

Although the room was quite small, it reminded me of a university hall of resident student room. However, it was much fresher and impeccably clean, almost like it was just renovated.

Just a quick 2-minute walk from the Citizen M Zurich hotel leads you to a local famous Babu bakery & coffee house, perfect for breakfast or afternoon tea break, open from 7 AM to 6 PM.

Babu's, Löwenstrasse 1, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland

This café is a local favourite for its delicious baked goods. The Swiss couples we met in the café, they were incredibly friendly, even capturing a short video of us without asking!

In Europe, it's common to pay the bill when the food and beverages that have been served at your table. The croissants are light and flaky, not greasy at all, with a lovely buttery flavour and a fluffy on the inside, reminiscent of those in Paris. I particularly enjoy the "Brioche Veneziana," which is wonderfully soft and chewy, with a delightful vanilla custard that makes it a real treat. 

The coffee is decent, though not the best I've had! A more attentive and friendly service would really elevate the overall experience. Still, if you are in Zurich, it's definitely worth stopping by for afternoon tea at least once. A bread and coffee for one person will set you back just 10 Swiss francs, about 9 british pound. total CHF 20.

 Coop City

Nearby - The Coop is one of the largest supermarket in Switzerland.

Yes, tap water in Switzerland is among the cleanest and safest in the world, and it's perfectly fine to refill your bottle with it. Just ensure that you're refilling from a safe and clean source, and you can enjoy the fresh, pure taste of Swiss water without any worries! only cost 1 Swiss franc of 1 small bottle of Evian water.

A short walk of just a few minutes. We return to the hotel to take a break and subsequently make a reservation for our early dinner at 5:30 PM to avoid large crowds.

Zeughauskeller
Bahnhofstrasse 28A, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland

It's just a 7-minute walk from our hotel to the Zeughauskeller, which is conveniently located near Paradeplatz. Restauramt Zeughauskeller has been a popular hangout for locals and tourists alike since establishment in 1926.

Switzerland is generally considered the most expensive country in the world. but when you compare dining out Zurich to Paris, you'll find that restaurant, café, and hotel prices are pretty much the same.

These are Wurst Spiess + Rosti, it cost 34.50 Swiss franc, it's a handmade Swiss sausages, not fatty at all, less fat, less salty, healthy and incredibly tasty! 

This type of Swiss beer called Bier Flambe, it cost 15.80 Swiss franc. It is a blast to watch the server showcase their skills. The beer flavours are truly unique.

Oh wow, I'm still in awe of how amazing our first dinner in Switzerland was. It totally exceeded my expectations! It really made us so happy! I'll definitely be coming back on my next visit to Zurich.

Haxe (Schwein) it cost 33 Swiss franc, it's melt-in-your-mouth tender and bursting with flavour - I couldn't stop eating it.  

The barbeque grill sausage skewers are fantastic, with a variety of shapes and tastes, and they're so good, not greasy at all. I can't find anything like this, back in the UK. The food is absolutely delicious. It's a very high-quality selection of local Swiss cuisine, and importantly, not greasy. I'm always worried about the oily taste at other restaurants, but this place has an exceptional standard.

ItalyPaul asked the server to bring me a surprise and wanted to make me happy. The caramel pudding was amazingly good - super smooth in every bite and not too sweet, with a balanced taste. The real vanilla flavour was so good. It's definitely worth trying this dessert over the Europe. Even my signature dessert at home is caramel pudding, which I eat every dinner and never get bored of. My caramel pudding recipe is a favourite among my subscribers and I loved it so much. Here's to many more incredible moments like this one!

The waiter was fantastic, making us really happy and even taking a short videos for us. So, we decided to tip him 5 British pounds in cash. It felt good to show our appreciation for his great service! :) When someone brings you joy, you return the favour. 

We had a lovely dinner for two that set us back 97.60 Swiss francs, which is about 102.74 euros.

My friends, I am sending you positive energy. I am sending you love. All good things are flowing into your life.

This waiter was awesome! I totally forgot to catch his name. As we were heading out, he came over to film a quick video of me saying "Welcome to Restaurant Zeughauskeller," even though he wasn't serving us. He really brightened my day! The restaurant should definitely give him a reward.

[The law states that the service charge and any tips given by card go to the restaurant, not the waiter's personal tip]. The total expenses for day one, which include transportation, hotel accommodations, lunch, and dinner, 90+180+20+97.60+5.7 =  CHF 394.30 and £348. Covering what we've spent on our first day in Zurich.

I hope you had a great time watching my travel video! If you liked it, give me a thumbs up and drop a comment! Did you prefer it with my voice on or  original sound, or just music in the background with subtitles, or something else? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Let’s take a leisurely stroll back to the hotel. Good night, and catch you on day 2.

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