Only in Zurich

Uncover Zurich’s hidden history, from Roman ruins to secret gardens, revolutionaries, and quirky museums.

Proving there is more to Zurich than banking, clean streets and punctuality, this explorer’s guidebook shows a very different side to the Swiss city. Roman ruins and medieval walls, curious museums and secret gardens, idiosyncratic shops and converted factories. From Roman Turicum and the Old Swiss Confederacy to the Helvetic Republic and the Industrial Revolution. Locations include the home of FIFA, an elephant in the woods, the emperor’s paddle steamer, and the original ‘Dark Restaurant‘. Also coffee with Lenin, the forgotten Mrs. Einstein, in the footsteps of James Joyce, and a martyr to the Reformation. The ideal city guide for travellers who want to escape the crowds and go beyond the well-known paths, as well as for those inhabitants who perhaps thought they already knew their city. Published by The Urban Explorer, these city tales from new and unusual perspectives are aimed at independent cultural travellers.

Author Duncan JD Smith is The Urban Explorer, an independent travel writer, guidebook author, historian, photographer, and publisher. In his ground-breaking Only In Guides he reveals cities from unique and hidden perspectives. He has traveled across four continents and described his experiences in books, magazines, and online. Born in Sheffield, England, he studied history and archaeology at university, and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.