I like this place to cool off during hot summer days. Have a short walk upriver and let yourself float down by the green and fresh water, sourcing from Lake of Zurich. If you have the guts, throw yourself down the crossing bridge.
Zurich is at its best in the summer, when swimming becomes part of the daily agenda. There are a variety of great places along the river Limmat, most of which are free and open to the public. When it gets too crowded at these, try to find one of the few hidden places along the lake.
Zürich has embraced ‘shipping container chic’ with the utterly charming urban garden Frau Gerolds Garten. We stopped by for drinks in the early evening, and sipped as the sun went down. Lovely stuff. Positioned beside the railway, I got over-excited about the bundles of overhead wires, which ultimately inspired my Tiny Guide Zurich print. Mixed in with fairy lights, street art, cushions, greenery and a bath of plants (of course) this is a great place to hang out for relaxed food and drinks, and full of opportunities to test out your camera.
The Hardbrücke is a long, brutal concrete bridge that runs through a former industrial area. I like the view down to the rail tracks and the many construction sites. And, within spitting distance, you can find a few good places to spend a nice evening, such as Helsinki (for concerts), Rosso (for pizza), and Les Halles (for beer and tapas).
Spend a leisurely morning brunching at Restaurant Viadukt... aaaaah. We sampled some pretty awesome pancakes here while chain-drinking delicious espressos.