It is the first week of March, and it is starting to feel like Spring weather – clear sky with beautiful sunrises post 6:30ish giving me an opportunity to witness the crimson painted sky each morning from my home balcony. I was thoroughly enjoying the warmth of sunrays and a bit of chill in the air, through the entire week.
Uetliberg is Zürich’s very own mountain, and is we as the top of Zürich, giving you wonderful views of the landscape and cityscape that makeup Zürich and much beyond.
We have been to Uetliberg atleast a dozen times, but this was our first time in the mountain to view the sunrise. Early spring (for sunrise in a clear sky) and Autumn (for sunrise amidst the fog filled Zürich on most days) are ideal times of the year to catch sunrise atop Uetliberg given a more convenient time of sunrise.
It was beautiful catching the early rays of sun lighting up the Zürich lake and the many peaks visible from Uetliberg on a clear sky day. Along with clear sky, early spring is also a good time to view snow capped peaks, before the onset of higher temperatures. It can make for a wonderful spring activity in Zürich.
We were thrilled to see so over 20+ snow capped peaks with the help of a new found app Peak Finder, the landscape starts to look more meaningfully beautiful when you get to know the names of the mountains you are looking. The favourite part we also spotted some of the more popular mountains (the names of which we knew) like – Mt. Rigi, Mt. Pilatus and Mönch.
After soaking in some vitamin D, people watching fellow sun chasers, joggers and mountain bikers that are at the summit of Uetliberg at the early hours, we chose to pick a small breakfast of Schoggi (hot chocolate) and the popular Almond Croissant of Uto Kulm hotel being sold at the Marktstand. Marktstand seem to have a lot wider options starting from 9 am, including Samosas for 14 CHF.
If public transport is your only choice, then this is still an option you can consider if you can get to the top of Uetliberg 20 to 25 mins after sunrise time of the day to view the sunrise magic. If you have the opportunity to use a private vehicle or taxi, then you have 2 options,
- Drive until Ringlikon train station (there are some car parking options in the area), and a pretty comfortable hike in well paved path up to Uetliberg train station. This hike takes about 30-40 mins. And then the 10 min. hike up to the top of Uetliberg.
- Drive until Parkplatz Feldermoos, (here there is usually lot of parking space available during the early hours of the day and is one of the closest car parking available to Uetliberg). From there a 11 min. walk takes you to the Uitikon Waldegg train station, there take train S 10 from Uitikon Waldegg (from as early as 5:18am) to Ringlikon. Trains are every 40 mins until 6 am and every 20 mins. thereafter. From Ringlikon again follow the description in point 1 to get to the top of Uetliberg.
You can also get to Binz from where train S10 starts at 5:09 am or any other train stations in-between. The above 2 options I have shared are the closest to Uetliberg if you are driving and then taking a hike.
I am adding this to my things to do in Zürich during Spring list and also if you are looking for a fun, budget friendly date idea with your partner or a fun morning activity with family / friends on a weekend in Zürich, this one fits the bill.
The Indian Traveller blog 