After the Frauenfeld Marathon: Zürich

The Route: Frauenfeld → Zürich → Zürich Airport Logistics: A direct train from Frauenfeld to Zürich Hauptbahnhof, then a short train to the airport the next day. Marathon Month: November Duration: 1 night

Frauenfeld ──(~40 mins direct train)──> Zürich HB
                                              │
Zürich Airport (ZRH) ◄──(~10-15 mins train)───┘

Der Frauenfelder finishes on a Sunday in mid-November, in a small town with a direct train to Zürich. SBB lists direct services between Frauenfeld and Zürich, and the journey takes roughly 40 minutes. Check the exact timetable on sbb.ch for the day you travel, and buy a ticket that includes the airport leg if you are flying the next morning.

November in Zürich: the city is grey, cool and often foggy, with the lake and the Alps hidden under low cloud for days. The Christmas markets generally open in the second half of the month, after the race, so do not count on them. Days are short. Plan outdoor walking for the early afternoon and keep the evening for a restaurant.

Night One: Zürich

The recovery asset is the old town on both sides of the Limmat river. A flat, paved walk follows the Limmatquai on the east bank and the Schipfe on the west, between the Bahnhofbrücke and the Grossmünster, with benches and cafés along the way. Allow about an hour and a half for a slow circuit, including stops. The streets behind the quays climb steeply in places, notably around the Lindenhof, a terraced square above the river with a view of the old town. If the climb is too much, skip it. The riverbank is enough.

The Grossmünster, the twin-towered church where the Reformer Huldrych Zwingli preached in the sixteenth century, is open to visitors; the tower climb is a poor choice for the day after a marathon. Check the cathedral's opening hours and any entry fee on its website. The Kunsthaus Zürich is a short walk from the old town if you want an indoor afternoon. Check its opening days, as many Swiss museums close on Mondays.

For a bed, Hotel Marktgasse sits in the old town, and Hotel Widder is a larger, more expensive option in converted medieval houses. Compare rates and cancellation terms directly. For dinner, Zürcher Geschnetzeltes (veal in cream sauce, served with rösti) is the dish to ask for in an old-town restaurant.

Getting to Zürich Airport (ZRH)

Trains run from Zürich Hauptbahnhof to the airport every few minutes and take roughly ten to fifteen minutes. Check sbb.ch for the timetable. The airport station is under the terminal, so the connection is short.