Zurich with Kids without Going Broke
Zurich with kids without going broke can be done! Zurich is known as one of the most expensive cities in the world to travel to. However, we are here to show you ways to have a great trip without ruining your wallet. Use these tips for a great family trip to Zurich!
Where to Stay
There are many options of where to stay in Zurich but the most affordable place that we found was the Meininger Hostel. We’ve never stayed in a hostel before so I was super nervous about what our experience would be like. However, it ended up being just fine and we encourage you all to stay there too if you are budget-minded.
The Pros of Meininger
They have family rooms with your own bathroom, so it is very much like just staying in a hotel room. There was a queen size bed for my husband and I and then bunk beds for the kids. They actually preferred this over staying in a regular hotel room that would have made them share a bed.
There was a nice “fun” area in the lobby with pool, board games, etc. There was also a big outdoor area where kids can run around. I feel like you don’t get many places in a big city with this kind of space so if you are in Zurich with kids that need to get their energy out, this is a great spot.
Also, there is a grocery store within walking distance. This helps a ton with food costs!
The Cons of Meininger
It is further away from the city center than what we would have liked, but for the cost savings it was worth it. It is just a short walk from the train station so it really wasn’t that big of a deal, but noteworthy so that you plan extra time in your itinerary getting to and from the hostel.
I had originally packed oatmeal for us to make in the hostel’s kitchen to help save money, but the kitchen was not as clean as what I had expected so we ended up eating out anyway. Maybe it will be more clean when you all go, but I would pack things that don’t require the kitchen just in case. (Protein bars, muffins, etc.)
They do have a paid breakfast area though so that is another option too. It was just a little expensive for what we were wanting to pay so we did not eat there. We ended up just stopping by the grocery store for quick grab-n-go kind of breakfasts instead.
We got there a few hours before our check-in time and even though our room was ready, they charged us an extra fee to check in early. I think it was around $30 euros. I totally get this is a hostel and they are bare bones in the initial cost but this extra up charge was a little ridiculous to me considering the room was already ready.
The only real con I had about the room were the really uncomfortable chairs lol. You can see what I mean in the picture below. This is definitely a room where you come to crash. It is not really a place to lounge.
Let’s go back to the walk from the train station to the hostel. We felt completely safe the whole time; however, I do want to at least warn you that it doesn’t really look quite safe on the opposite side of the street.
The side that the hostel is on is clean and nice with the grocery store and even a school. (The school is super unique by the way and will bring up good convo with your family.) But quite literally on the other side of the train tracks it looks rough. Again, we had no problems with safety but just wanted to give you a heads up.
Final Thought
Our final thoughts is that, while we would have liked to stay closer to the city center, it was overall a really good option for us to help us be able to visit Zurich with kids without going broke. Staff is super friendly and the rooms were clean so its ultimately a thumbs up in our opinion.
Where to Eat in Zurich with Kids
Food can be crazy expensive in Zurich. Most bloggers will tell you the “must eats” but honestly, practically all of these places are tourist traps that are $$$$. Because we like to try to go where the locals go, we found some really awesome places that were reasonably priced though without sacrificing flavor.
1. Courtside Belvoir
We absolutely LOVED this place, not only for the food, but for the environment too.
The restaurant is located at a tennis court so you can eat while you watch people play tennis. This is totally a locals kind of place and off the beaten path. In fact, you actually have to take a hike on a path to even find it!
We ordered a few pizzas and all really enjoyed it. Plus, you can watch them make the pizzas right there as they have an outdoor kitchen. Another experience you can have in Zurich with your kids. 🙂 We figured that we were so close to Italy that their pizza had to be good, which it was.
Make sure to have one of your meals be at Courtside Belvoir while you are in Zurich. I wish we had a place like this where we live in Nashville! (Check out all of my Nashville posts here.)
2. Gainsbourg
I know, I know. A Mexican restaurant in Switzerland!? Aren’t I supposed to overload you on traditional SWISS food!?
If I were writing about all the places to have a traditional Swiss meal, then yes, but that is not what you are here for. You are here to find out how to enjoy Zurich with kids without going broke. Because of that, this Mexican restaurant makes the list!
I’m not just listing Gainsbourg because it is more affordable though. I am also listing it because it is absolutely delicious! We eat a lot of Mexican food and we were wowed by the flavors of our burritos here. Plus, it doesn’t really look like a Mexican restaurant. It still has that European beauty to it.
Plus, it is in a really pretty area of town that I think a lot of people miss. It isn’t in city center, but a little south near the Opera House. There were mostly locals there when we were went, which is a really great sign that you are in a great place.
A heads up though, they have a button near the door that looks like the buttons to exit the trains. DO NOT PUSH THIS BUTTON! I know this by firsthand experience, unfortunately lol. I mean, it looks just like the exit buttons that you have to push to have the doors open on the trains but it is actually an emergency button and will call the cops and have the sirens go off lol. Gosh, I was SO embarrassed!
3. Burgermeister Enge
This fast food burger joint was super good and doesn’t really look like a fast food joint. Again, even though it might be more affordable, it doesn’t mean it isn’t classy! Europe is great that way.
Located near the FIFA Museum (see more about this below), this was the perfect spot for us to grab lunch after we finished at the museum.
We all ordered kids meals; however, I’m a little sad that I didn’t order one of their specialty burgers and sweet potato fries. If you all eat here while in Zurich with your kids, maybe order a few different things and split it all up.
4. Pizza Nation
This was a place that we passed on the street but didn’t get a chance to eat at. However, their $9.90 slice deal was worthy of me stopping and taking a photo of so that I could share it with you all. Yes, still expensive based on that is what we would pay for a whole pizza at some of our pizza places in the United States, but still one of the cheaper places I saw in Zurich.
5. Olive Ladencafe
This cafe makes the list for two reasons. First, it is close to the Meininger Hostel. Second, they have a really yummy and fresh buffet that has a unique paying style. Instead of it being a set, expensive price per person like other places, you pay by weight.
Think of Sweet Cece’s Frozen Yogurt here in the United States. It’s similar in the fact that once you have made your plate, you take it to the register where they will weigh it and you pay based on how many grams of food you have on your plate.
This is really good in the scenarios of: you have younger eaters who don’t eat a lot, picky eaters, or someone in your group who just doesn’t want that much food. For us though, we ended up still spending like 60 Euroes for lunch because we were all very hungry and loaded up.
If you do this, make sure to load up on those proteins! I wouldn’t want to pay the exact same price for a tomato salad as a kabob skewer!
6. Subway (Hear me out please!)
We really do not like to eat at places that we have back home; however, if you are looking to save money on food, then this might be a good option for you. This particular Subway is also in a gorgeous building that is IG photo worthy!
If you do choose to eat at some of the fast food restaurants that we have in the U.S., I think you’ll still find that the experience is a bit different. Because of this, it can still be a new cultural experience while you are in Zurich with your kids. We had lots of fun exploring some of the McDonald’s around Europe and talking about the differences (which are many).
7. Picnic Dinner by Lake Zurich
For the cheapest way to eat, grab food from the grocery store and enjoy the evening down by the river. You’ll be able to control the cost more this way. The river promenade is a really lively place with tons of people doing the same so you’ll be in good company.
A Pro Tip – Train Station Food
I’m not going to list this as #8 in affordable food but it is worth giving you all the information. We had a super early train out of Zurich to Munich and knew that no grocery stores would be open for us to grab a quick breakfast before we got on the train.
The train ride was going to be hours long and we knew we would be starving if we didn’t eat something before we got on the train. We tried to research if there were any cafes that would be open at the train station that early (in the 6am hour) but couldn’t find anything.
However, when we got there, a bakery was open and it had the most delicous pastries that we were able to eat and hot, fresh coffee to go along with them. It isn’t the protein heavy breakfast that I would normally eat, but it was good and did the job to hold off hunger.
I wanted to give you this info in case you also have an early morning train to catch out of Zurich. You’ll be able to find something to eat within the train station and it just might surprise you how good it is, like it did us. 🙂
And just in case you are wondering, this is what the trains out of Zurich look like. 😉
Desserts
1. Vittorio Vanini Swiss Chocolate House
We tried a lot of gelato all over Zurich, and we landed on Vittorio Vanini was the best that we found. So much so that we actually went back twice!
It may not be the cheapest in the city, but it was definitely not the most expensive dessert that we bought so it was worth mentioning here. The most expensive dessert we purchased was a hot chocolate at Cafe & Conditorei 1842, and to be perfectly honest, it was just ok to us. We would have much rather bought another gelato at Vittorio Vanini!
2. Lindt Factory Outlet Kilchberg
We couldn’t get tickets to Lindt because they were already sold out when we decided to travel to Zurich 2 months before our trip. However, there is a Lindt chocolate outlet that you can visit for free and grab some Swiss chocolate at a discount.
Affordable Activities in Zurich with Kids
Pro Tip: If you purchase the Zurich City Card, some of these attractions are offered with the card so make sure to look into it. You can find information about it here.
1. FIFA Museum
We absolutely LOVED the FIFA Museum! We thought it was pretty affordable for the kind of museum that it is and all that it has to offer. It has actually been deemed my kids’ favorite part of Europe so far. Plus, it is FREE if you have the Zurich City Card!
It was super interactive, educational, and so much fun. From the moment that you walk in, you can feel the energy.
You start out at a rainbow of futbol jersey’s from around the world and from there have several floors of soccer challenges, old soccer / futbol film, the World Cups from years past, and so much more. A picture is worth a thousand words so I’ll just put several pictures below for you to see what it is like.
In addition to the interactive exhibits and museum, there is also a cafe, a FIFA gaming area, and a souvenir shop.
Our family truly hopes that your family can experience The FIFA Museum some day!
2. Boat Rides
Again, if you get the Zurich City Card, you get to enjoy several boat rides for FREE!
Not only is this a fun way to get around as you can get on and off at different docks, it is also a great way to view the Alps in the distance.
There are two main boats that you can ride on the Zurich City Card. The smaller boat where you sit just above eye level with the lake and then the ferry boat.
The smaller boat is pretty hot and my son actually got a little sea sick on it. We ended up having to get off at a port just for him to get some air. So heads up if you have someone in your group who tends to feel this way in tight, hot spaces.
The ferry ride was great though as it was a big boat and you could stand outside taking in the views.
3. Walk, Walk and Walk Some More
This may seem like a “no-brainer” but I really want to stress how incredible it can be to just walk around and explore with your family. While the museums and dining are great things to do, just taking in the daily life and Swiss streets gives you so much culture.
Explore Old Town for those Instagram-Worthy Pictures
I know you probably already had Old Town on your list but I want to reassure you that you need to do it. There are so many beautiful streets and Swiss flags everywhere that it makes for really great pictures.
Extra bonus if you can find the little bistro tucked away in Old Town called Montmartre. This restaurant does not belong in the “where to eat” section above because it is super pricey, but if you have ever visited Paris, you’ll get some nostalgia seeing it. (If you haven’t ever visited Paris, make sure to check out all of my Paris write-ups here. As someone who used to work for a company in Paris, I have a lot of suggestions for you if you visit the City of Lights!)
Get Lost on the Secondary Streets
By walking through secondary streets you can find some real treasures and more local life. It was actually on one of these secondary streets that we found two things that we loved seeing.
The first was a group of girls playing something called “Canoe Polo” in one of the canals. I’ve never seen a sport like this before! We stood and watched them for a long time – and that was completely free to do!
The next thing that we found that we loved was a restaurant with a swimming hole right in the center of it! We had already eaten dinner (and I think this place may be a bit pricey), but it was a great bathroom stop and people watching spot for a bit.
Opera House District
I am a sucker for visiting Opera Houses when I travel. While we didn’t go inside the Zurich Opera House this trip, the outside architecture was stunning! This whole area was really beautiful and a great place to walk around and explore.
4. Old Town & Archeological Windows – The Secret Spots of Zurich
While in Zurich with kids, you’ll want to visit Old Town as this area has some of the most historic, interesting and photographic spots in the city. However, I’m going to suggest doing a walking tour through Old Town with the Archeological Windows.
This is a completely free thing to do, it just takes some planning on your part. The Archeological Windows tour is a self-guided tour through Old Town where you can see the ancient parts of Zurich that are hidden behind doors, under the streets, in alleyways, etc.
To get a map of the Archeological Windows and the keys that open up these hidden spots, you’ll have to go to City Hall. Once at City Hall, there is a window on the right hand side of the lobby. This is where you’ll ask for the keys. In exchange for the keys, they will take your passport (this was a surprise to me). So make sure that you have it on you.
Another really important thing to know is that whoever gives over their passport HAS to be the person returning the keys to get their passport back.
We learned this the hard way. I took the kids to go get a table for dinner while my husband returned the keys. However, because I was the one who had picked up the keys, they wouldn’t give him my passport. We did a bit of scrambling but finally got my passport back. Yikes!
An honest review of the Archeological Windows:
While we thought the concept was cool, the reality of this wasn’t what we had hoped. In my itinerary planning, I planned a whole day around this and left some things off of the itinerary due to when City Hall was open for me to pick up and return the keys.
Many of the spots were not working and the few places that we did get to see was just kind of meh.
Why even write about it then, you ask? Well, because it is a FREE thing to do in Zurich. Hopefully ALL of the hidden spots will be working when you visit.
I think it is good enough to at least try, especially since you’ll want to see Old Town anyway. Just don’t over stress and plan your whole day around it though. If you get to do it, great. If not, no biggie.
5. Play with the Swans at Lake Zurich
I had no idea that Zurich was such a huge place for swans! When we were sitting down by the lake, we had so much fun with a swan that kept coming up to us and biting us lol.
At first, we jumped when it swam over to us (unprompted by us by the way) and just bit my husband. However, a local came over and said that it was totally normal and just having fun with us lol.
So we sat there and kept playing with it. It brought major laughs and was such a fun hour or so of it coming back to us.
Even if swans aren’t there when you go, sitting by the lake, putting your feet in and watching the boats is always a fun thing to do too.
6. Visit the Library
I absolutely love to visit libraries in other cities. They all range in architecture and what they have to offer. Plus, it is a great way to view some of the locals doing their local thing.
The Zurich Public Library also has free bathrooms. It is always great to know where the free bathrooms are around a city when you visit. Look how cute the bathroom doors are here. 🙂
7. Go to a Swiss Church
No, not just go and look at an old church with great architecture, but actually go and be a part of a service.
There are two churches that I really wanted to visit when we were there, but we unfortunately were not there at the correct times. However, I do visit churches like these in other cities and always love going. Not only do I get to meet local people (who give me great recommendations), but hearing people worship in other languages is always so powerful! Reminds me of how Revelation says that in Heaven there will be people from every nation, tribe and tongue.
We are not Catholic and in Europe it is kind of hard to find churches that aren’t Catholic. However, here are the two that I would recommend:
Don’t worry if you don’t speak German. Check out their websites for what they offer in English (English services, translators, headsets, etc.)
8. Put a Lock on the Bridge
Walking across the bridge in Old Town, you’ll see where people have put locks with little notes on the lock. If you all prepare before you go, you could do the same. Pack a lock with your favorite Bible verse, quote, drawing, etc. for someone else to find. This is a really quick and simple activity but could still be memorable. Take some time to read through the other locks and compare which ones are your favorites.
Getting Around Zurich with Kids
Zurich’s city transportation is fantastic. The buses, trains, and trams all work seamlessly. We never had to wait too long to catch our next ride.
Like I mentioned above, Zurich has a City Card to help with costs (which includes transportation costs). Make sure to check that out to see if it would be a good fit for your family.
The Wrap Up
So is visiting Zurich with kids without going broke doable? Yes, but with the right expectations and a lot of planning ahead.
There are plenty of things to do that don’t require money in Zurich, like I listed out above. For us, Zurich was a 2 day stop before we headed into Germany and Austria as it was the cheapest place to fly into from the United States at the time. A lot of people will also do something similar before they head into the mountains. So if this is what you are considering, I say don’t let the internet scare you away from making Zurich a part of your vacation just because it is known as “One of the most expensive cities to travel to.”
An example of “setting the right expectations for your family beforehand” is how my husband and I discussed that we would not buy wine / beer with our dinners in Zurich. Instead, we would wait until we got to Germany where we would be on the Euro instead of the Franc.
We did end up breaking this the last night we were there though. We ordered a glass of wine with our pizza, because we had saved by finding an affordable pizza place. (This was the Gainsbourg Restaurant listed above.)
Another example would be to tell your kids to carry water bottles with them. They can fill them up with the cities’ free water before going to a restaurant. A lot of places in Europe charge for water so this is something that can help save money. The water in the fountains is perfectly safe to drink and is actually SO good because it is alpine water.
I hope these tips help you have the best time in Zurich with kids. Use them to help you save money while you are there!
Thanks for reading…now go live that Free Life, my friends!
