9 excursion destinations around Zurich – green oases for nature lovers

What could we do today? A question that I am also confronted with from time to time. Especially when we spend a weekend at home in Zurich and feel the need to go for a spin outside in the countryside. So I am looking for a destination around Zurich that is not too far away, that offers you the opportunity to clear your head and that is wallet-friendly – after all, not every Sunday trip should cost me huge sums of money.

In the meantime, we have scouted out some excursion destinations in the vicinity of Zurich and put together our favorites for you. Below you will find nine varied and criss-crossed places in the countryside in the canton of Zurich, which can be easily explored in half a day.

1. Circumnavigate Lake Husemersee – excursion destination on the lake

The idyllic Husemersee is located in the triangle between Andelfingen, Marthalen and Ossingen in Zurich’s wine country. It would be correct to speak of “lakes” here, because the nature reserve consists of a total of four natural lakes of different ages. Some depressions formed after the retreat of glaciers at the end of the last ice age and filled with water over time. Other depressions were created by peat extraction during the two world wars. Today, there are barbecue areas in the western part of Lake Husemersee as well as beautifully placed wooden walkways that reach into the water – perfect for enjoying the warming rays of the winter sun! Hard-boiled people can also jump into the water here year in and year out. If sub-zero temperatures persist for a longer period of time in winter, Lake Husemersee freezes and is opened for ice skating.

Either way, a nice destination to spend a few hours outside in nature. The short circular hike from Ossingen train station around the lake takes a good 1.5 hours (without a break at the lake).

2. Go on a bird safari in the Neeracherried – excursion into nature

This tip contains advertisements for my partner Swarovski Optik.

Wedged between two busy cantonal roads and in the area of the approach path of Zurich Airport is one of the largest flat moors in Switzerland. Due to its classification as a wetland of national importance, nature conservation organisations have been campaigning for years to ensure that the area is no longer cut through by cantonal roads – as it is today – but bypassed. Until then, the man-made infrastructures and noise sources are omnipresent on a trip to the Neeracherried. Nevertheless, it is worth visiting the BirdLife Nature Centre at its southwestern end (not far from the bus stop Riedt bei Neerach, Riedacher).

Admission to the nature centre, which consists of an interactive exhibition and two viewing platforms accessible via wooden walkways, costs CHF 7 for adults (free for children up to 6 years of age, and CHF 3 for children aged 6 – 16). It is worth packing binoculars for this excursion. If you don’t have your own, you can test one of the rental devices from Swarovski Optik free of charge on site – if available.

Equipped with my CL Companion, which has already faithfully accompanied me on this year’s safaris in Namibia and Botswana, we made ourselves comfortable on one of the two observation platforms and watched the mixed flock of birds in the Ried with interest. We don’t see the colorful feathered kingfisher on this day, but a rare shrike flies in front of our lens (thanks at this point to Urs Kyburz from the blog idnu – he drew my attention on Facebook to what a handsome guy we have caught here). In addition, we spotted a mouse bush and several filigree egrets.

The BirdLife Nature Centre is open on the second Sunday of each month during the winter months (November to mid-March). From the end of March to the end of October, it is accessible every Wednesday afternoon and all day on Saturday and Sunday. Outside of opening hours, you can walk or cycle along the paths along the Ried and observe the exciting flora and fauna from there.

3. Forcing the Altberg

At first glance, the ridge between Zurich and Würenlos does not seem very attractive. Crammed between the infrastructural Limmat Valley and the Zurich Unterland, it almost gets lost that beautiful forest paths, exciting viewpoints and a rustic forest tavern are hidden here at the back of Zurich. On high fog days, the trip to the Altberg is doubly worthwhile – up here, on the one hand, the chances of breaking through the high fog line are high. On the other hand, the Waldschänke is guaranteed to have a warming soup.

The network of hiking trails along the Altberg is dense and accordingly the route variants are diverse. An entertaining tour of almost 1.5 hours walking time starts in Dällikon and leads from there about 200 meters uphill to the observation tower right next to the Waldschänke Altberg. Afterwards, a steep forest path leads down to Oetwil an der Limmat, where there is a bus connection to Dietikon. Since the Waldschänke is open in summer as well as winter, the Altberg is also a worthwhile destination on a freshly snowy Sunday morning. It must be wonderful to trudge through the freshly snow-covered forest here (especially because the magic is guaranteed to last longer on the Altberg than on the much more visited Uetliberg).

4. Indulge in morning happiness in Regensberg

One of my favourite places for an atmospheric start to Sunday is the small town of Regensberg, which towers high above Diesdorf on the eastern foothills of the Lägeren. From here you can enjoy the late sunrise in the autumn and winter months. Afterwards, you have the choice between a sporty morning hike from Regensberg over the Lägerngrat to Baden or an extensive brunch in the historic walls of the Krone Regensberg (by appointment until Saturday noon). I’d think these are both quite passable options, right?

5. Forest bathing on the Felsenegg

The Felsenegg joins the guild of viewpoints of the Albis chain. You can reach it either via the Albisgrat High Trail via Uetliberg or Albispass, or in 5 minutes by taking the Adliswil-Felsenegg cable car.

I love the early morning atmosphere in the forests at Albis – the sun’s rays cover the forest floor in a magical golden glow in the autumn and winter months. From Felsenegg you can hike to the Hochwacht viewpoint high above the Sihlwald in a good 1.5 hours and immerse yourself in the forest with all your senses on the way.

6. Explore the Erlenbacher Tobel

I am always surprised by the natural oases that can be found in the densely built-up and bustling agglomeration around Zurich. This also includes the wild and romantic Erlenbacher Tobel. After just a few minutes’ walk from the train station, you leave the village centre of Erlenbach behind and immerse yourself in a world of rippling water, moss-covered erratic blocks and narrow nature paths. You don’t have to hike far before the first highlight in the ravine follows with the “Hanggiessen” – a waterfall that plunges over 12 m into the depths.

If you follow the Erlenbacher Tobel Weg into the hills, you will be guided over the Küsnachterberg directly into the next beautiful ravine – the Küsnachter Tobel. The entire circular hike with a length of 11 kilometres takes a good three hours. Alternatively, you can pack a picnic and, without hiking far, look for a nice spot by the village stream and stay there for an hour or two.

7. Walk along the Limmat Embankment Path – Day Trip from Zurich

Who knows that the Limmatuferweg from Zurich to Baden is signposted as a continuous and uniformly signposted pathway? It doesn’t matter whether you start at Zurich’s main train station or come across the riverside path somewhere in the Limmat Valley – you can follow the hiking trails without a care in the world and walk along the riverside path almost “haphazardly”. The information boards are exciting, providing a lot of interesting information about the natural and settlement area along the Limmat.

The “classic” tour starts in Zurich West and leads from there via the Werdinsel and the Fahr monastery to Glanzenberg and then back to the city centre on the opposite side of the river. Once again, it is surprising how quickly you find yourself in the middle of nature despite all the infrastructure buildings all around.

By the way, the walk along the Limmatuferweg can also be combined with a visit to the State Museum or the Museum of Design.

8. Enjoy the view from the Loorenkopf – Excursion in Zurich

In the list of viewpoints worth visiting around Zurich, the Loorenkopf observation tower should not be missing. It has been standing on the Adlisberg for over 50 years and offers a beautiful view over Zurich’s Gold Coast to the Glarus Alps. From the Zurich Zoo tram station, the viewpoint can be reached on foot in less than an hour. Alternatively, the “Lorenchopf Trail” – a worthwhile short hike of 9 kilometres – leads from Fällanden via the observation tower to the Rigiblick cable car.

9. Wander through Zurich’s Succulent Collection

And if there is that one Sunday that destroys your desire for a short hike with its nastyness, then perhaps the succulent collection in Zurich Wollishofen will lure you out of your four walls. The impressive collection of “succulents” (water-storing plants from arid areas) has been around since the 1930s and is one of the largest and most important special collections. The greenhouses are divided into regions – North and South America, Africa, Asia – and thus enable a global foray into the fascinating world of cacti, agaves, aloes and other thick-leaved plants.

The greenhouses of the succulent collection are open daily and can be visited free of charge. On site, there is also the possibility to purchase baby cacti for the “greening” of your own living room.

If you just want to take a short walk through the city – then check out my tips for varied walking tours through Zurich. You can find even more ideas for your next Sunday excursion in my extensive collection of 99 Swiss excursion destinations as well as for other destinations not far from Zurich in the post 5 beautiful short hike in the canton of Aargau.