Zurich Guide

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ZURICH GUIDE

ZURICH GUIDE

MONEY
Essential Information

Money

Communication

Holidays

Transportation

Food

Events During The Year

Things to do

10

DOs and DO NOTs

11

Activities

13

Everyone knows Lake Zurich, Swiss watches


and chocolate, but theres so much more to
Zurich. As well as being the main cultural hub
of the German-speaking part of the Switzerland, it is a leading financial center with one of
the worlds most important stock exchanges.
The wealthy city is not afraid to show off its
prosperity there are majestic and almost lavish buildings, ornate mansions and streets full
of luxurious shops and boutiques.
Zurich also has plenty to offer culture-lovers.
There are many amazing museums and galleries showcasing renowned historical artworks
as well as new and emerging contemporary
artists. Fans of theatre and music will have
hard time making an itinerary too there are
so many cultural events of all genres taking
place every night. Moreover, they are rivaled
by countless annual festivities such as Street
Parade, Jazz Festival, Theatre Festival and more!
When youve had enough of the city, its only
a short ride on super-comfortable trains to
reach stunning, unspoilt Swiss nature.

Emergency Contacts
Police: 117
Fire: 118
Medical emergencies: 144
Poison emergency: 145
Mountain rescue: 1415
The universal European emergency number
122 can be used too.

Money can be best exchanged at railway station


kiosks and in the banks (they charge a commission fee). Travelers checks are up for a slightly
better exchange rate. ATMs are abundant and
also offer great exchange rates.
Switzerland is significantly more cash-oriented
than other countries, however cards are accepted
in large stores; the most popular ones being Visa
and Mastercard always check the stickers on the
door of the store for those card accepted. ATMs
are readily available almost everywhere.

Prices
Meal, inexpensive restaurant 20 CHF
Meal for 2, mid-range restaurant, three-courses100 CHF
Combo Meal at McDonalds 12 CHF
Bottle of water at supermarket 1 CHF
Domestic beer (0.5 liter, draught) 6 CHF
Cappuccino 4.50 CHF
Souvenir t-shirt 34 CHF
Gasoline (1 liter) 1.80 CHF
Hostels (average price/night) 45 CHF
4* hotel (average price/night) 250 CHF
Car-hire (medium-sized car/day) 110 CHF

Time Zone
CET (UTC/GMT +1 hour), daylight saving time
UTC/GMT +2 hours from March to October.

Contacts
Tourist Contacts
<ul> <li>Traffic information, driving conditions:
163</li> <li>Avalanche bulletin: 187</li> <li>Tourist
office hotline: +41 44 215 40 00</li> </ul>

COMMUNICATION

HOLIDAYS

Languages

Internet Resources

Zurich belongs to the German-speaking area


of Switzerland. It is actually a Swiss German
(Schwyzerdtsch), Allemanic dialect different
from standard German. But dont be afraid
standard German is taught in schools so you will
easily get by with it.

Official Tourist Board Zurich (www.zuerich.


com)
Official Tourist Website Switzerland (myswitzerland.
com)
The weather in Switzerland (www.meteo.ch)
Zurich cultural events (kultur.scheuble.ch)

Thanks to the complicated language situation in


Switzerland, the majority of Swiss are proficient
in languages. However, English is not as common
as you might think. Most people in Zurich should
know enough English to at least give you basic directions or answer simple questions.

Mobile Phones
The standard mobile network (GSM/GPRS/3G)
covers even the mountain areas well. If coming
from non-GSM standard country, check compatibility with your local provider in advance.

The only federal holiday is August 1 (Swiss national day). The rest are set individually by the
respective cantons.
The canton of Zurich observes these holidays:
January 1 New Year's Day
January 2 St. Berchtold
Good Friday
Easter Monday
May 1 Labour Day
Ascension
Whit Monday
August 1 Swiss National Day
December 25 Christmas Day
December 26 St Stephen's Day
Museums and attractions usually close during
these holidays.

Opening Hours
The shops in the city center generally open 9 a.m.
to 7 p.m. Saturday opening times are shorter,
usually until 5 p.m. Keep in mind that all shops,
except for those situated at railway stations and
gas stations, are closed on Sundays. In Zurich,
you will find shops at Main Railway Station and
Stadelhofen Railway Station open all year round.

If you intend to stay for a while, you might consider purchasing a pre-paid card. The supermarkets sell them for quite reasonable prices.
The country code for Switzerland is +41, the area
code for Zurich is 44.

The offices and banks are open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Internet
The majority of shops close on public holidays.

There are many free Wi-Fi hotspots in Zurich. Almost every caf, bar or mall offers some kind of
connection and some phone booths allow browsing too. At the major railway stations, there are
paid Internet terminals. Wi-Fi is also available at
the airport.
Hotels and hostels with free Internet connection
are increasingly common, too.

TRANSPORTATION

TRANSPORTATION

Public Transportation

Zrich Public Transport route planner (www.


zvv.ch)
Zrichsee Schifffahrtgesselschaft (boats) (www.
zsg.ch)
ZrichCARD (www.zuerich.com)

Providing a fast and effective system covering


Zurich and neighboring cantons, there are many
modes of transport which can be combined for a
fare counted by zone. Tickets are distinguished
according to the class traveled, too. Even some
cable cars are included in the zone system.

Taxis
There are not many taxis on the streets and they
are usually full. Therefore it is always better to
book your taxi by phone or to find a taxi rank. The
fare is always shown on the meter.

Tickets can be purchased at vending machines or


kiosks. You need to validate them before boarding. A single ticket for 2 zones in 2nd class costs
CHF 4.10 (2.90 for children). There are also short
distance tickets valid in Zurich and Winterthur for
CHF 2.50 (2.20) see vending machines where
validity is specified. The day pass costs CHF 8.60
(5.20) for traveling around the city center. If you
are staying longer or plan to travel a lot, you might
consider purchasing multiple day passes with six
freely selectable days of travel CHF 44.40 (32)
or multiple-journey tickets for six single journeys
CHF 22.20 (16). Theres also the ZrichCARD
designed for tourists: valid for 24 hours (CHF
20/14) or 72 hours (CHF 40/28) for travel around
Zurich, recreational areas around the city, shop
discounts and free admission to all museums in
Zurich. Keep in mind that you need to validate it
before boarding for the first time.

Expect taxis to be expensive the ride from the


airport to the city center is around CHF 60. A ride
always starts at CHF 6, and for every kilometer
CHF 3.80 is added. Waiting time is CHF 69 per
hour. Only some taxis accept credit cards.
Phone numbers:
105 TAXI Zrich, +41 842 105 105
Taxi Zrich, +41 44 404 13 80
Taxi 444 AG, +41 44 444 44 44

Regional Transportation
As mentioned above, Zurich is connected to the
surrounding cities in a compact net with a zoning system. The whole transportation system is
clean, effective and comprehensible one of the
best in Europe. Expect it to operate punctually.

Trams and buses are the main means of transport in the city center. There are night buses
(marked N) running on weekends only. You need
to buy a night ticket and validate it before boarding. The S-Bahn covers the suburbs and connects
them with the city. The main transportation hub
where all lines meet is Hauptbahnhof (Main Station). Boats operate on the lake as well as the
Limmat river. The routes can be tourist-oriented
but there are also lines used by the locals.

If you plan to travel a lot, purchase the Half-Fare


Card for CHF 165 which will grant you a 50%
discount of the Swiss Card that will provide you
with unrestricted traveling for the chosen duration and significant discounts at various establishments. Overall, the discount system is quite
complicated but it pays off to study it thoroughly
beforehand and decide what the best option for
you is.

The majority of trains dont require reservation


but there are some exceptions they are marked
with R on the timetables. You always need to buy
your tickets before boarding.
The buses are complementary to the trains and
they connect well. Timetables and routes are always posted at bus stops. There are also long-distance buses for which tickets need to be booked
in advance.
Switzerland Public Transport (routes, fares)
(www.sbb.ch)
PostBus (www.postauto.ch)

Walkability
Zurich has developed into a perfectly walkable
city there are many pedestrian streets and the
public transport is very comprehensible and effective. Walking around is a delight; theres so
much to see on the streets and you can explore
the city very comfortably.
You can also easily rent a bike at Zri rollt (www.
zuerich.com) for a refundable deposit. Check the
rental kiosks locations in advance.
Zurich is also known for its good accessibility;
public transport is, with few exceptions, equipped
with low boarding platforms and pavements and
access to sights is generally designed thoughtfully.

EVENTS DURING THE YEAR

FOOD
Here are some of Swiss specialties:
Zrigschntzlets veal in cream sauce
Chnpfli noodle dumplings
Rsti potato pancakes
Pretzlen
Bratwurst grilled sausages
Fondue, Raclette melted cheese in various
combinations
Tirggel honey pastry, eaten mainly for Christmas
Mandelfisch almond pastry
Birchermuesli the precursor of world-wide
popular msli
The most popular non-alcoholic drinks are Rivella
(carbonated sweet drink), sparkling apple juice
and Ovomaltine (malt and chocolate drink).

January
International Horse Show (en.horse-sport
-travel.com)
February
Art on Ice (www.artonice.com)
March
ZriCarneval
April
Zurich Marathon (www.zurichmarathon.ch)
Sechselauten (en.wikipedia.org) Zurich spring
festival
July
Caliente (www.caliente.ch) Latin music festival
Live at Sunset Festival (www.liveatsunset.ch)
August
Zurich OpenAir Festival (zurichopenair.ch)
Street Parade (www.streetparade.ch)
Weltklasse Zrich (www.diamondleague-zurich.
com) sporting event
Zrcher Theater Spektakel (www.theaterspektakel.
ch)
Langstrasse Festival (www.langstrassenfest.
ch) music on streets
September
Zurich Film Festival (zff.com)
Knabenschiessen (en.wikipedia.org) traditional shooting competition
October
Art International Zurich (art-zurich.com)
Jazznojazz (www.jazznojazz.ch)
Zrichsee Festival (www.zuerichseefestival.ch)
November
Zrich Car Show (www.auto-zuerich.ch)
Kunst Zrich (www.kunstzuerich.ch)
Zurich Six-Day-Race (www.sixdays-zuerich.ch)
December
Christmas Market (www.zuerich.com)

Switzerland produces delicious white wines such


as Riesling X Sylvaner. Theres also a rich tradition
of absinthe distilling and drinking that has been
resumed recently try Kbler or La Clandestine.

Legal Age
The minimum drinking age for non-spirits varies
according to the canton. It is usually 16 for drinking cider, wine or beer and 18 for spirits.

THINGS TO DO

DOS AND DO NOTS

Free Things To Do

DO swim in Lake Zurich in summer it is amazing! And then


DO stay and enjoy the sunset at one of the
beach bars.
DO be polite the Swiss are too!
DO be punctual!
DO NOT eat out in the evening if youre traveling on a budget lunches are almost half the
price.
DO NOT confuse the inhabitants of German-speaking regions with Germans the Swiss are sensitive to this comparison.

St. Peters Church, Great Minster and other


sacral buildings
Lindenhof great views of the city
Lake Zurich
Mythenquai Beach
Botanical Garden

Safety
Zurich is a safe city, even the so-called red light
district is deemed to be safe. Exercise the general
precautions, though: always keep an eye on your
belongings and never wear anything valuable
in easily accessible pockets or backpacks. This
applies especially to the crowded areas such as
transportation hubs and the main thoroughfares.
The tap water is safe to drink.

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11

ACTIVITIES

DOS AND DO NOTS


Old Town Zurich

/ Altstadt
Historical core of the city. Pedestrian-only walking cobblestone streets and
picturesque houses with authentic feel.

GPS: N47.36994, E8.54244

Augustiner Street

/ Augustinergasse
A frequented traditional street with medieval houses. Great place to aimlessly stroll and drift in various shops and cafs.

Augustinergasse, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland


GPS: N47.37168, E8.54020

Bahnhof Street

/ Bahnhofstrasse
The main and most expensive street in the city centre. Full of luxurious
shops and exclusive department stores.
Bahnhofstrasse, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland
GPS: N47.37253, E8.53830
Opening hours:
Shops usually open at 9 a.m. or 9:30 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.
They close earlier on Saturdays and stay closed on Sundays.

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ACTIVITIES

ACTIVITIES
Great Minster

/ Grossmnster
A Majestic Romanesque church from 12th century which towers dominate
Zurich. Underneath lies the largest crypt in Switzerland.

Grossmnsterplatz 9, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland


GPS: N47.37014, E8.54400
Phone:
+41 44 252 59 49
Opening hours:
Mar Oct: daily: 10 a.m. 6 p.m.
Nov Feb: daily: 10 a.m. 5 p.m.
Tower:
Mar Oct:
Mon Sat: 10 a.m. 5 p.m.
Sun: 12:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m.
Nov Feb:
Mon Sat: 10 a.m. 4:30 p.m.
Sun: 12:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m.
Admission:
Admission to the church is free.
Admission to the tower:
Adults: CHF 4
Seniors, students, children (6 -16): CHF 2

Minster of Our Lady

/ Fraumnster
Church best known for being decorated with ten meter high fascinating
stained glass windows made by Marc Chagall. Worth seeing.
Fraumnsterstrasse 28, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland
GPS: N47.36971, E8.54091
Phone:
+41 044 252 75 69
Opening hours:
Nov Mar: Mon Sat: 10 a.m. 4 p.m.
Apr Oct: Mon Sat: 10 a.m. 6 p.m.
Check the official website for concerts.
Admission:
Admission to the church is free.

Parade Square

/ Paradeplatz
The heart of the city. Lively square with adjacent streets full of shops and
restaurants. Enjoy the real Swiss urban atmosphere here.

/ St. Peterskirche
The oldest church in the city, also with the largest clock face in Europe. It
has an interesting baroque interior with wall paintings.
Schlsselgasse 17, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland
GPS: N47.37114, E8.54107
Phone:
+41 044 221 06 74
Opening hours:
Mon Fri: 8 a.m. 6 p.m.
Sat: 10 a.m. 4 p.m.
Sun: 11 a.m. 5 p.m.
Admission:
Admission to the church is free.

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Paradeplatz 11, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland


GPS: N47.36969, E8.53889

Confiserie Sprngli
St. Peter's Church

Long-standing confectionery and caf offering an unbelievable collection of


truffles, cakes, marzipan and chocolates.
Bahnhofstrasse 21, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland
GPS: N47.36939, E8.53914
Phone:
+41 44 224 46 46
Opening hours:
Mon Fri: 7:30 a.m. 6:30 p.m.
Sat: 8 a.m. 6 p.m.

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ACTIVITIES

ACTIVITIES
Schipfe
Medieval fishing district, now somewhat artistic place with many galleries
and craftmen working at the streets. Picturesque and romantic place.

Schipfe 16, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland


GPS: N47.37308, E8.54172

Zurich Lake

/ Zrichsee
Dominant of the city, beautiful serene lake mirroring the city panorama. A
must see.

GPS: N47.36594, E8.54159

Teuscher
A prime Swiss chocolate brand originated in the Alps. Flagship store sells
assorted truffles and pralines that are simply delicate.

/ Seepromenade (Quaianlagen)
The promenade runs along the eastern shore and passes a number of
statues and monuments. A popular place for outdoor activities.

/ Rheinfall
These plain waterfalls are the widest ones in Europe. Breathtaking nature
scenery that is worth the trip from Zurich.

/ Lindt & Sprngli


Visit the production facility of the famous chocolate brand and buy some
delicacies in its factory shop.

Seestrasse 204, Kilchberg, 8802, Switzerland,


GPS: N47.31774, E8.55260
Phone:
+41 01 716 22 33
Opening hours:
Factory shop:
Mon Fri: 10 a.m. 6 p.m.
Sat: 10 a.m. 5 p.m.
Open from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m. on Dec 24 and 31.
Closed during Christmas, Easter and other holidays.

Utoquai 34, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland


GPS: N47.36619, E8.54488

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Laufengasse 18, 8212 Neuhausen am Rheinfall, Switzerland


GPS: N47.67829, E8.61484
Opening hours:
Southern bank:
Jun Aug: daily: 9 a.m. 7 p.m.
Sep, Oct, Apr, May: daily: 10 a.m. 6 p.m.
Nov Mar: 10 a.m. 5 p.m.
Admission:
Northern bank: no admission fee
Southern bank:
general admission: CHF 5
children (6 16): CHF 3.50
Payment in euros is possible.

Lindt & Sprngli Factory

Storchengasse 9, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland


GPS: N47.37075, E8.54120
Phone:
+41 022 310 8778
Opening hours:
Mon Fri: 8 a.m. 6:30 p.m.
Sat: 8 a.m. 5 p.m. (December: 6 p.m.)
Sun: 4 p.m. 6 p.m.

Lakeside Promenade

Rhine Falls

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ACTIVITIES

ACTIVITIES
Swiss National Museum

/ Schweizerisches Landesmuseum
Place where you can get lots of information about Swiss history. The collection is usually enriched by numerous temporary exhibitions.

Museumstrasse 2, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland


GPS: N47.37902, E8.54100
Phone:
+41 044 218 65 11
Opening hours:
Tue Sun: 10 a.m. 5 p.m. (7 p.m. on Thu)
Admission:
Adults: CHF 10
Concessions: CHF 8
Children (up to 16): free

Water Church

/ Wasserkirche
Medieval church built on a tiny river island that is now part of the shore.
Closed during Reformation, since 1940 is in service again.

Prestigious jewellery and watch shop showcasing precisely handcrafted


masterpieces by world-renowned producers.

/ Zrcher Spielzeugmuseum
Museum just perfect for the children: its collections consist of hundreds of
antique toys from the whole Europe.

Jucker Farmart Adventure Farm

/ Jucker Farmart Erlebnisbauernhof Seegrben


Drop by at this real Swiss farm keeping goats and other farm animals. You
can also pick your own vegetables and fruits here.
Dorfstrasse 23, 8607 Seegrben, Switzerland
GPS: N47.34357, E8.77303
Phone:
+41 44 934 34 84
Opening hours:
Restaurant and farmers' shop:
Nov Apr:
Sun Wed: 9 a.m. 6 p.m. (7 p.m. in Apr)
Thu Sat: 9 a.m. 10 p.m.
May Oct: daily: 8 a.m. 10 p.m.

Bahnhofstrasse 33, 8001 Zrich, Switzerland


GPS: N47.37119, E8.53851
Phone:
+41 044 221 27 30
Opening hours:
Mon Fri: 9 a.m. 6:30 p.m.
Sat: 10 a.m. 5 p.m.

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Fortunagasse 15, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland


GPS: N47.37301, E8.53989
Phone:
+41 044 211 93 05
Opening hours:
Mon Fri: 2 p.m. 5 p.m.
Sat: 1 p.m. 4 p.m.
Closed on Sundays and general holidays.
Admission:
Adults: CHF 4
Children (up to 16): free

Limmatquai 31, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland


GPS: N47.36988, E8.54325
Phone:
+41 044 261 66 19
Opening hours:
Tue: 9 a.m. noon
Wed Fri: 2 p.m. 5 p.m.
Sat: noon 5 p.m.

Meister Zrich

Zurich Toy Museum

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ACTIVITIES

ACTIVITIES
Schweizer Heimatwerk
Gift shop selling products manufactured according to the tradition. Wide
selection for everyone, a place where to shop for souvenirs!

Uraniastrasse 1, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland


GPS: N47.37432, E8.54168
Phone:
+41 044 217 83 00
Opening hours:
Mon Fri: 9 a.m. 8 p.m.
Sat: 9 a.m. 6 p.m.

Thermalbath & Spa Zurich

/ Thermalbad & Spa Zrich


Vast spa premises containing thermal spa and extraordinary stone vaults.
Relax in the rooftop pool and enjoy the great views of Zurich.
Brandschenkestrasse 150, 8002 Zurich, Switzerland
GPS: N47.36487, E8.52528
Phone:
+41 044 205 96 50
Opening hours:
Daily: 9 a.m. 10 p.m. (last admission at 8:30 p.m.)
Tue: no access for men
Admission:
Thermal bath:
Adults: CHF 32
Children (7 14): CHF 16
Children (up to 6): free

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Kunsthaus Zrich
Here you can admire European masterpieces ranging since 17th century to
modern art. Interesting collection of art since 1945.

Heimplatz 1, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland


GPS: N47.37016, E8.54846
Opening hours:
Tue, Sat, Sun: 10 a.m. 6 p.m.
Wed Fri: 10 a.m. 8 p.m.
Admission:
Admission to the permanent collection:
Adults: CHF 15
Concessions: CHF 10
Admission to the separate exhibitions varies.
Combined ticket:
Adults: CHF 25
Concessions: CHF 18

Lake Cruises

/ Rundfahrten am Zrichsee
Enjoy the special experience of a cruise around the Zurich lake and select
what suits you best from a wide offer of trips.
Brkliplatz ZSG, Zurich, Switzerland
GPS: N47.36601, E8.54081
Phone:
+41 44 487 13 33
Opening hours:
Tours take place daily.
Departure times differ according to the type of a cruise.
Check the website for the timetable.
Admission:
Prices start at CHF 8.40 per adult.
Longer cruises cost more.

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ACTIVITIES

ACTIVITIES
Zurich on Wheels

/ Zri rollt
You can borrow bikes for free to get around Zurich streets! You only need
to leave deposit and some ID.

Museumstrasse 1, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland


GPS: N47.37855, E8.54041
Opening hours:
Daily: 8 a.m. 9:30 p.m.
Admission:
Bike rent is free during the day.
You need to leave a deposit of CHF 20.
Overnight rent: CHF 10

Teddy's Souvenir Shop


As the name says it, this is a shop that will cater to all your gift needs. Wide
selection from clocks and music boxes to cowbells.

Botanical Garden

/ Botanischer Garten
Adjacent to the Zurich University, there are many exotic plants and cactuses in the glasshouses. Free entrance.
Zollikerstrasse 107, University of Zurich, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland
GPS: N47.35893, E8.56006
Phone:
+41 044 634 84 61
Opening hours:
Mar Sep:
Mon Fri: 7 a.m. 7 p.m.
Sat Sun: 8 a.m. 6 p.m.
Oct Feb:
Mon Fri: 8 a.m. 6 p.m.
Sat Sun: 8 a.m. 5 p.m.
Admission:
Admission to the garden is free.

Limmatquai 34, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland


GPS: N47.36946, E8.54374
Phone:
+41 044 261 2289
Opening hours:
May Oct:
Mon Fri: 8:30 a.m. 8 p.m.
Sat: 8:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m.
Sun: 10 a.m. 5 p.m.
Nov Apr:
Mon Fri: 8:30 a.m. 8 p.m.
Sat: 8:30 a.m. 4 p.m.
Sun: 11 a.m. 5 p.m.

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