Zürich
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General Information on Zurich
Welcome to Zurich, Switzerland's financial capital. The fabulous green and multicultural city!
The most useful tips first for those who are from far away:
- MAP This site is grat, type in the address or simply click until you have found the spot (in section "KARTE"). It will even tell you when the next bus/tram is supposed to arrive at the very stop you are clicking on. Also works as a phone book and yellow pages:
- Zurich is very green, has many parks and forests. Take your time to have a look at those. Missing these wonderful areas means you haven't really seen Zurich.
- Swiss are very punctual. Expect them to be on time. The trains and even trams will definitely be on time. (If it looks like they are late, something may be wrong with your watch!) In off-peak times, especially when catching your last tram home, you might want to be a few minutes early.
- Water: there are fountains everywhere and you may drink this water as well as tap water from everywhere, except in trains or where otherwise written.
- Money: Switzerland uses Swiss Franks (CHF) not Euros! And - against some widespread belief: Switzerland is not part of the European Union. While you can pay with euros at some places, and many do accept some credit cards, it's a very cash-oriented country, so you are better off just finding an exchange office (there is one at the main train station and the airport) or a bank and getting some local currency. You surely already guessed, that it is not so hard to find a bank or an ATM in Zurich.
- Luggage lockers: at the main station in the middle floor. Just follow the suitcase icon. The smaller ones cost 5 francs and the bigger ones 7. (I guess, will check next time i get to main station) You MUST provide exact change, 1 and 2 franc pieces, the machines do NOT accept the 5franc piece.
- ZürichCARD [1]: you can buy a this card for 24h or 72h at tourist offices, which allows you to use public transport (train, bus, tram, boat and funicular railway) in and around Zürich and gives you free admission to several museums and diverse other reductions at the same time.
What to see in Zurich - tips from our insiders
- Walk through the narrow streets in the old town. From Bahnhofstrasse you can enter Rennweg and from there walk along the narrow winding streets. Choose the smaller ones rather than the big ones as they are less full of tourists and generally just cuter and more authentic.
- Hang out at the Letten outdoor cafe and swimming area in summer. From main station walk through Platzspitz (along the Landesmuseum, that's the building that looks like a castle) and follow the river. You will get to Letten after about 10 minutes. There are 2 open-air bars in summer right opposite to each other, plus another one a bit further down the river. Have a look at the graffiti on the wall. Take a swim or just sit down and relax with a bottle of "Gazosa". You can also find some food, mostly sandwiches, bbq, and ice-cream, but things can be a bit expensive.
- Walk from Platzspitz or Escher Wyss Platz along the Limmat to the Werdinsel, or take Tram Nr. 4 till the last stop.
- Walk along the lake. Spend some time down by the lake, in the Zürihorn Park (near Stadelhofen station). There is always so much activity, plenty of people, music, swimming places, and food stands. Check out the crazy Jean Tinguely sculpture by the Casino. Be aware: at night you may run into some rowdy, beer-drinking youngsters, who occasionally throw their bottles on the ground. Zurich is a rather safe place, but to be sure, don't go alone and wear good shoes.
- Climb the Grossmunster, the big cathedral in town. It only costs 2 francs and you get a great view of the city. While there, cross the river, enter the Fraumunster cathedral and see the phenomenal Marc Chagall stain-glass windows.
- Catch a train up the Uetliberg, the mountain directly above the city. It has great views, although it can be a bit touristy. Another other option is to get to Bucheggplatz by tram 11 or 15, then catch bus 69 to the stop Waidbadstrasse. You will recognize immediately that you are on the right spot, as you can already see the view from inside the bus. Get out and walk up the hill to the lookout. There are benches and a fountain for water. A nice spot for a spontaneous pre-evening gathering or even at night a breathtaking view!
- Take a cruise on the lake (Zürichsee). Get to Bürkliplatz and take a small or big round boat trip (kleine Rundfahrt or grosse Rundfahrt). On a sunny day they will be packed but its definitely worth doing once. Maybe pick a day thats not that sunny, to avoid the crowds. The small roundtrip is enough for Zurich beginners, and here is a god tip. Get a 24h ticket from the machines at the tram stop and get a discount on the ship. Get off at Wollishofen and enjoy lying on the grass at Landiwiese. You can also swim there but watch out for the stony bottom. To get back to town you can catch a train or tram or just walk along the lake shore.
- In the summer (and good weather) take the train to Ennenda [2]. Take the "crazy" furnicular [3] up to the SAC hostel [4] "Aeugsten Hütte" 1500 meters o.s.l. You can stay overnight and see fantastic sunsets and sunrise. The overnight stay costs you including some dinner less then 20 SFr. per person. For some insights, check Flickr [5] [6] [7] [8]. Last advise don't go at weekends...
Theater (Student Bargain)
In Zurich all the theater have a special fare for students. It usually costs just 25 SFr. and the tickets can be obtained until the same day of the play. Zurich features many small and large stages and many are worth a try. The opera is world-famous (whether it is world-class too is a different question).
Opera
- The Opera, [9]
Stages (ordered in size)
- Schauspielhaus+Schiffbau, [10], multiple 400 Places
- Theater der Künste, [11], multiple 300 Places
- TheateramNeumarks, [12], 150 Places
- Theater Rigiblick, [13], 90 Places
- Theater Stock, [14], 90 Places
- Theater an der Winkelwiese, [15], 80 Places
- Keller 62, [16], Plays and Workshops
- Tanzhaus Zuerich, [17], >50 Places, mostly dance performance
- Zentrum Karl der Grosse, [www.stadt-zuerich.ch/karldergrosse], Readings
- Miller's Studio, [18], 80 Places
- Maximtheater, [19], < 50 Places, Socio-Dynamics
- Maiers Raum von A bis Z, [20], < 50 Places, small projects, e.g. children puppets
- Papiersaal, [21], 30 Places
Nightlife
- Early in the evening, head to Niederdorfstrasse. Along the Limmat river, this is one of the oldest parts of town, with cute little streets and plenty of nightlife
- After midnight, many people move to the Escher Wyss Platz area, the Zurich party-district. Many clubs and bars stay open until late in the morning.
- Langstrasse district (bus 31 or a 10-15 min walk from main Train Station) [22]
During the day or all though the night, there is also the Langstrasse area, the cultural melting pot of Zurich. During the day its great for shopping in small international food stores (asian, indian, turkish, italian, oriental.....) and small art or clothes stores unlike the big shopping malls. In those you are meant to find cool, unreal, crazy, funny things and trouvailles! At night it's a great place to find all different types of bars and clubs. Lanstrasse area is also the red-light district of Zurich, so do not be surprised by the strip-bars, sex-shops, and your friendly neighborhood drug-dealers and hookers. This corner is still Zurich, well lit, clean, with two police stations around the corner - and they are usually quite busy on week-ends. Altough Zurich is generally perfectly safe, do not forget you are in the red light district.
Tips and links to some cool places around town
- Reithalle [23] not only a restaurant but also a bar/disco/club on the weekends
- El Lokal [24] attic-like bar right across the street from Reithalle, proud of it's bizarre Elvis/Che/Footbal decoration you can also get pub style food
- Xenix [25] not only an alternative cinema, but also a bar, very cool in summer
- Rimini [26] one of the best summer bars in town, a swimming place during the day, cool bar with fake palm trees and big pillows on the ground at night
- Daniel H [27] a unique place in the Zurich Langstrasse area, watch out for the retro-hip decor and Space Invaders video game in men's bathroom
- Bar Rossi [28], a trendy, friendly Italian-themed bar by Langstrasse
- Wuste Bar [29], under the Hotel Otter, this tiny bar has a cool atmosphere, live DJ on the weekends and a kayak hanging from the ceiling
- Rote Fabrik (the red building in Wollishofen) [30], student-friendly art center, often with concerts and art exhibits, but also a decent and cheap restaurant/bar
- Abart [31], one of the best alternative music places in Zurich
- Helsinkiklub [32], live music, mostly alternative stuff, often better to reserve ticket online before going
- Hafenkneipe [33], relaxed bar with live music sometimes, good stop on your way from the city center to Langstrasse
- BQM [34], relaxed bar inside the ETH Zuerich university campus, check for live music, always young people, with a nice view on the city, but closes early (22h00).
- Jules Verne Panoramabar [35], a nice place to get a drink after shopping on Banhofstrasse, great views of the city.
- La Catrina [36], Mexican Bar, sometimes live music
- Studentbar on Wednesdays: at Netzwerk. Ask a student to take you there
- Geologists party at Irchel on Thursdays (outdoors in summer)
- Cafe Zähringer for an easy evening, amongst the philosophers, play card or have a chat, vegetarian/vegan and non-vegetarian dishes available [37]
- Moods [38] near Escher Wyss-Platz has very good Jazz and World Music Concerts
- Acapulco [39] in the heart of Langstrasse district, loungy bar with nice comfy couches and a salad bar, plus comes with a pool table and more couches downstairs
- Mata-hari, at Langstrasse, brothel-turned-bar, smokey with typically student-like population. Check the photos of the old prostitutes on the wall.
- Less Halles [40], big bistro with relaxing atmosphere. Serves as some kind of special shop selling Italian products during the day.
- Bling (Neufrankengasse 22) close to Langstrasse, lounge bar providing a nice view of the train tracks.
- Rotes Kamel [41] at Niederdorf, nice little bar/restaurant with a good variety and quality of wines, although more in the upper range of prices. It's ok though to order a normal(ly priced) beer.
- Zukunft at Dienerstrasse: [42]
- Safari Bar at Zähringerstrasse: [43], down-to-earth bar with a nice atmosphere.
- Baradox Bar: [44], easy going bar at a nice location
- 5nach6 Event at Carlton: [45], weekly event on Tuesdays. Entry is free until 7pm and until 7pm it's happy hour.
Irish/British pubs:
- Nelson Bar, Beatengasse 11
- Oliver Twist Pub, Rindermarkt 6
- Paddy Reilley's [46], Talstrasse 82.
- The Lion [47], Oetenbachgasse 24. British pub often packed to the brim with blokes watching rugby.
Gay friendly:
- Rathaus Cafe [48], cute small cafe with a big patio full of comfy couches (no surfing those though!) outside in the summer; one of the nicest places to sit by the river; gay friendly.
- Cranberry Bar [49], your typical mainstream gay bar, friendly staff, fantastic drinks selection
- Odeon Bar [50], a Zurich legend, old school, elegant European cafe/bistro, old bohemian hangout, Lenin used to drink there before heading back to Russia to start the revolution
- LOBBY BAR & BISTRO [51], Cocktailbar - Spitalgasse 3 - 8001 Zürich, beim Hirschenplatz / Niederdorf
Beautiful Open-Air Areas
- Lindenhof park [52]
- Arboreum [53] Its the green space around it (obviously has no address)
- Landiwiese starts here: [54] you will recognize the crowd of people
- Letten [55] open air bar and swimming area
A tip from your insiders for a cheap night out: Buy your drinks and food at the supermarket first, then head to one of the open air areas. Its a lot cheaper than buying drinks out, and there is always plenty of people there. You can sit and talk to people, bring a game, its light until 9 to 10 pm. Picnic in the park costs nothing! It's legal to drink alcohol in public, no need to hide it. However, marijuana is still illegal in Zurich. Although the general attitude is very relaxed, and you will smell at in many places, police is allowed to stop you because of it.
"Where can I get more information about whats doing on in Zurich?"
- Usgang [56], clubbing and nightlife info
- Tilllate , [57], also clubbing and nightlife
- "20 minuten", ".ch" or "Heute", Zurich free daily papers - get them at the tram and trainstops
- Zurich Tourism [58], for anything and everything Zurich
- Restkultur [59]
Trips around Zurich
- Rent a bike for FREE and tour around the city[60]
Free bike rent from May to October at several points around the city, most notably by the main train station (close to the Landesmuseum, the big castle looking thing), on Bellevue by the Zurich Opera building and at Oerlikon train station. You may have to leave a deposit (~20CHF) and an ID. They can be a bit busy, all bikes be gone by lunchtime, so getting there early may be a good idea. Riding around Zurich is easy and fun, people are mostly very respectful of the cyclists, but unless you are going in the lake and river area, it can be a bit hilly. Here are some tips on nice bike day-trips:
- Katzensee: drive around the 2 twin lakes next to Regensdorf (get to Radiostudio and turn left, direction of Zürich Affoltern all straight, red signs pointing for bikers). Bring food and grill it there, swimm in the lake and relax. Feasible in half a day as well. - Greifensee: From Zurich Oerlikon (find Tramstrasse close to Hallenstation and follow eastbound along the street, sings are there you cant miss it) via Dübendorf. It takes quite some time to get there so leave the entire day open and start early if you can. There's a broad biking/walking/skating street along the entire lake and swimming and bbq places spread out around the lake. Try to get a map of the area once you are there and that will help you find the location of the bbq places and toilets. - for more info ask for a bike-map at the tourist info (they will charge you for it) or look for more tips online
- Get on the train and drive to any of the towns around it: Chur, wonderful old Luzern, St. Gallen, Basel, the capital Bern. There are many cool places that you can get to in one hour.
- Hiking trips: get info at the tourist office, most start in the forests around town
- Walk up Uetliberg! Instead of taking the train, walk from Triemli tram/bus stop. Sings will show you the way.
- Go to Winterthur, the museum city, and check out the Photography Museum, Techorama with hundreds of cool interactive science
- If you like Inline Skating: There's in summer every 2nd monday the Monday Night Skate [61]. After meeting at a meeting point, a few hundred people ride through the streets of Zurich. Fantastic athmospere!
Public Transport
Zurich public transport is great, very well organised and very very very much on time! It entirely is run by ZVV ZVV. (Zürcher Verkehrs Verbund) So basically, when you buy a ZVV ticket, it is valid on any vehicle with the ZVV sign. Even on some of the ships on the lake!
The Zurich region is divided into different zones. You can find the city transportation plans at any train, tram, trolly, and bus station. The majority of Zurich (pretty much anywhere you will need to go while here, other than the Airport) is in the Zone 10. You can buy tickets from a machine at any stop ( see photo here [62]), but you will need coins. There are three basic types of tickets you can buy: short ride (yellow button, ~2.10CHF), regular ride (blue button ~3.80CHF) and day ticket (green button, ~8CHF). Each ticket machine has a list of stops that are covered by a short ride from that point, usually about 4-5 stop away, regular ride ticket can get you anywhere in Zone 10 and is valid for 1h, and the day ticket is valid anywhere in Zone 10 for 24h (a great deal if you will be using the public transportation much). Riding without a ticket is an option but not a recommended one. Controls do happen periodically, the fines are pretty steep, about 80 CHF, and playing a dumb tourist may not help.
Members of ZVV are: SBB (National Railways), SZU (Uetliberg Rail), VBZ (Tram and Bus lines in Zurich), Post (Most Buslines on the countryside), VZO (Buslines right side of the lake), FB (Forchbahn tramline), VBG (Glattal Bus and Tramlines), Stadtbus Winterthur (Winterthur Bus lines), ZSG (Lakecruises), LAF. You can find the plan of zones here [63]
Additional Information
- Internet: Public library is called "ZB" (Zentralbibliothek). Internet is free but its very hard to get a computer, as there are not time restrictions on how long you may use it. So try to get there in the morning when they open and be the first one. Otherwise in the other libraries you have to pay (yes, its true!). There are some internet cafes but its still quite reare to find it. Next to Mainstation there is one (Sihlquai tram stop) and also inside the mainstation building you can find these posts with internet. Those are probably quite expensive.
- Free Toilets: In the big shopping malls: Migros City, Globus, Manor, at museums (sneak in) cinemas, libraries, and of course Starbucks (which are all over the city). Around the lake there are many of the public toilets, but they may not be too clean and you will likely have to wait in line for a bit on a sunny day.
- Supermarkets: For most travellers is Zurich a rather expensive city. If you want to save money, buy your stuff at the supermarkets! The cheapest supermarket is probably Aldi but they don't have a store in the city centre. Only worth going if your host is near (Oerlikon and Altstetten). Most common supermarkets are Coop and Migros. Migros is a bit cheaper than Coop but they usually don't sell alcohol and apart from some exceptions they don't sell brand products. There are two Migros in the Shopville (under the mainstation) and one Coop just near the mainstation and also in Bahnhof Stadelhofen. Mainstation and Stadelhofen Coops and Migros open on sundays too. Same price than usually
- Books: The biggest book store in Zurich is the Orell Füssli. It is located near the Bahnhofstrasse, tramstop Rennweg and Street name of course "Füsslistrasse" :) There is also an Orell Füssli with only english books. This one is at the Bahnhofstrasse, too.
- Smoking: It is not allowed to smoke in public transports, but in most restaurants, bars and clubs it still is fine. This is likely to change soon!
- Alcohol: You can buy beer and wine at the age of 16, other alcohol at the age of 18. It is allowed to drink it in public.
EMERGENCY LIST
POLICE STATIONS If you need immediate help, call: 117
AMBULANCE
Call 144
HOSPITALS
If you need immediate help, call the ambulance: 144
(this number does NOT work throughout the whole country, in Zurich it does)
Universitätsspital main site emergency
WALK-IN MEDICAL CARE
At the main station, next to the 24h pharmacy. Its open until 10pm in the evening. YOu need to get a number and wait. That could mean many hours. But then it will cost the same than an ordainariy visit at the doctors, unlike the visit at the hopsital...
PHARMACY
24h one at the mainstation.
EMERGENCY COUCH
Look in:
FIRE
Phone 118
Maintenance
Things to add to the wiki:
- Map [64]
- pictures
- split nightlife into restaurants, bars, clubs
Work
Jobs in Zurich - Job search site offering easy access to English speaking jobs in Zurich.
Links
More information:
