Lake Zurich Promenade

The Seepromenade is the lakeside walk that runs along the northern end of Lake Zürich, on both banks, from the Bürkliplatz past the opera house and the Bellevue square to the Zürichhorn, and it is the city's main outdoor living room. It exists because of a large public works project of the late nineteenth century. Until then, the city's edge was a ragged line of harbours, warehouses and low ground, and the lake shore was largely inaccessible. Between 1881 and 1887 the city engineer Arnold Bürkli oversaw the building of the quays, the Quaianlagen, by filling in shallows and laying out a broad, tree-lined waterfront, and this transformed the city's relationship with the lake. Bürkliplatz, the square at the lower end of Bahnhofstrasse, carries his name. Today the promenade is a long chain of walkways, lawns, jetties and gardens, and it is used throughout the year.

The walk along the right bank, the Utoquai, is the more lively. Starting from the Bellevue square, with its tram stops and cafés, the path leads past the opera house, a late nineteenth-century building, and the Sechseläutenplatz, the great open square where the spring festival culminates in the burning of the Böögg, a snowman figure stuffed with fireworks. Beyond the Utoquai bathing place, a wooden bathhouse where people swim in summer, the path continues to the Arboretum, a small park of old trees and flower beds, and then to the Zürichhorn, a green peninsula with lawns, a lakeside restaurant, a fountain and a modern sculpture garden. The Chinese garden, a gift from Zürich's twin city Kunming, and the Pavillon Le Corbusier are in the same area.

The left bank, the Mythenquai, is quieter and runs along the shore past sailing clubs, rowing clubs and a swimming area, to the Rentenanstalt building and the Enge district. The two banks are connected by the Quaibrücke, a bridge at the outlet of the lake, and by boats. A good walk can be made as a loop, crossing the bridge and returning along the opposite side, with views across the water to the old town and the hills. The scene includes people swimming, rowing and sailing, children playing, street musicians and skaters, and in summer the lakeshore is crowded with sunbathers.

Boats leave from the landing stages near the Bürkliplatz for tours of the lake, and the ferry to the opposite shore is a cheap way to enjoy the view. On clear days, the promenade has views of the Alps to the south, with the snow peaks of Glarus and Uri on the horizon. Cafés, kiosks, ice cream stands and restaurants line the way, and a good number of benches allow you to rest. The path is flat and wide, so it is suitable for walkers, joggers, cyclists and wheelchairs, though bicycles should keep to the marked lanes.

The promenade is free and open at all hours, and it is at its most lively on summer evenings and weekends. It suits all visitors, and a walk from end to end takes about an hour. Combine it with a swim, a boat trip or a meal. Take care in busy periods to keep out of cycle lanes, and bring a hat and water in summer.