Zurich
From Imakoopedia
Zurich (German: Zürich, Zuerich) is the largest city in Switzerland, with a population of some 364,500 in the city proper and close to 1 million in the greater metropolitan area. Zurich is on Lake Zurich, where the lake meets the Limmat River, in the north of Switzerland.
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Understand
Contrary to popular belief Zurich is not the capital of Switzerland (that would be Bern), just the largest city. Zurich has long been known as a clean and efficient city, but additionally has been quite a fascinating city for the last ten years. This has a lot to do with the liberalization of the culture, party and gastronomy sector and a much more cosmopolitan and hybrid population.
The Swiss dialect of German is the city's main language. Many people will understand English, French, or Italian as well.
Get in
By plane
Zurich International Airport is Switzerland's largest and busiest airport, run with Swiss efficiency. It is actually in the community of Kloten, 20 minutes by train to central Zurich, about every 15 minutes. Several bus lines connect at the airport and provide access to the hinterland.
By train
Regular trains to other major European cities from the Hauptbahnhof main train station, conveniently located downtown with easy access to mass transit.
The train station and the connecting underground mall has shops, restaurants, and a grocery store which locals use when they need to do late night shopping, as it is not subject to the closing hours laws otherwise in force in the city.
By car
Almost every highway leads straight into Zurich. This might be quite easy for tourists, but is also really painful if you have to cross Zurich on a daily basis.
By bus
The main bus station is just next to the main train station, where the river Sihl is flowing into the river Limmat. Many busses from and to other European cities, mainly southern destinations like former Yugoslavia or Spain.
By boat
As Zurich is located at the "end" of lake Zurich, it can be reached by boat from other coastal villages, e.g. Rapperswil at the upper end of the lake.
Get around
Zurich has an extensive and integrated system of public transport that includes trams, buses, S-bahn (local trains) and even boats for the lake and river.
Tickets must be purchased from a ticket machine before boarding or from one of the ticket selling kiosks.
The ticket machines are intimidating at first glance, but in general for most tourist your just need the green button for Tageskarte (day card - valid for 24 hours) for 7.20 Chf. This ticket is also valid for boats in Zone 10, so take a trip on the lake or river on the same ticket!
There are many other special offers on tickets for tourists so ask at the tourist information or your hotel.
Public transport information: ZVV (German & English) (http://www.zvv.ch/) Online Maps (GIS): GIS Zürich (German language) (http://www.gis.zh.ch/)
See
Most of the interesting sights are in the old town around the river and lakefront.
- Grossmünster: old Romanesque church
- Fraumünster: old Gothic church
- Landesmuseum: history museum
- Kunsthaus: art museum
Do
Take the Polybahn, a 19th century funicular, up the steep hill for a fine view.
Go skiing by train - buy all-in tickets (train, skipass) at the Hauptbahnhof during winter months, train out in morning, back in evening
Learn
Work
Buy
Eat
Distinctive foods: Rosti, Swiss potato pancakes; sandwiches using fresh baked pretzels as the bread.
- New-Point, Langstrasse. Good Turkish food.
- Swiss Chuchi, niederdorf. Classic Swiss food.
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
- Widder Hotel
Drink
Swiss white wine
Sleep
- City Backpacker/Hotel Biber, Niederdorfstr 5, 01 251 90 15 (sleep@city-backpacker.ch). Probably the most convenient hostel for backpackers. In the centre of the city with dormitory beds for 31 Chf. There are shared bathroom and cooking areas. http://www.city-backpacker.ch/
- Martahaus, Zaehringerstrasse 36, ++41 1 251 45 50 (Fax ++41 1 251 45 40, email: info@martahaus.ch). A clean and friendly place which doubles as a hostel and a one-star hotel, this is one of the few hotels in Zurich which goes out of its way to proclaim itself gay-friendly. They also have weekly and monthly rates for rooms as well as a couple of studio apartments. 38-150 Chf (dormitory bed to double room with a shower). http://www.martahaus.ch/
- ZicZac Rock-Hotel, Marktgasse 17, 01 261 21 81 (email: rockhotel@ziczac.ch). One of the cheaper options right in the middle of things. It has rock'n'roll 'theme' rooms (generally just the name of the room and a photo on the wall). Good, relaxed atmosphere in an old and slightly worn-down building. 100-200CHF (double w/wout private bath). http://www.ziczac.ch/rockhotel/
- Otter, Oberdorfstr, 7, ++41 1 251 22 07 (Fax: ++41 1 251 22 75). Now this is a good hotel for the price! The rooms have been decorated with the kind of care that one normally expects in a much more expensive hotel, each with its own theme. You can choose from the jungle room with its hammock, or the pink Carmen, or go for the top floor apartment. With the exception of the apartment the bath and toilet facilities are shared, one per floor. 90-100 Chf for a single room, 130-160 for a double, and 180 for the apartment (more with more people) http://www.wueste.ch/
- Hotel Splendid, Rosengasse 5. This hotel is relatively cheap. The rooms are ok and clean, but not very luxurious. Private showers and bathrooms are not available, you share with your floor. What is really great is the location, right close to the Gemüsebrücke and the city center! 60Chf (double room). http://www.hotelsplendid.ch/
Contact
Stay safe
Cope
Get out
Zurich has a lot of places to go out. There are a lot of clubs, restaurants, cafés, bars but also many museums and theaters.
Event calendar: Züritipp (German language) (http://www.zueritipp.ch/)
External links
- Zurich Tourism (http://www.zurichtourism.ch/)
- Zuerich com (http://www.zuerich.com/index.php?&displayLanguage=en) English language page
- Street Parade (http://www.streetparade.ch)
- Travel Agency (http://www.geotravel.ch/)
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