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ZURICH ITSELF
ZVV – 9 o’clock Travelcard
The 9 o’clock Travelcard (9-Uhr Tagespass) entitles you to use public transport within the whole canton of Zurich. From 9 am until shut down (no time restrictions on weekends) you save 30% off the regular day ticket price! So if you are planning to make any excursions in and around the area, look into this option (CHF 23; for Swiss-Card-holders CHF 11.50). or buy a ZurichCARD (see practical Information)!
Cruise on Lake Zurich
Take a boat and enjoy a relaxing time on the beautiful Lake Zurich! The lake is almost 40 km long and measures nearly 90 km2. The Lake Zurich fleet offers different cruises, also in winter. Even if you do not have much time in Zurich, you’ll find the right trip for you: a 1 ½ hour short roundtrip dep. daily at 1 and 2.30 pm from Bürkliplatz; this cruise costs CHF 8.- or is even free of charge for ZurichCard or Eurail holders (or 50% off for Interrail holders). The long roundtrip (from Zurich to Rapperswil and back) starts at 1.30 pm at Bürkliplatz and will be back at 5.15 pm; this cruise costs CHF 23.-. Get your ticket on board. www.zsg.ch.
Limmat river cruise
A Limmat river cruise affords wonderful views of Zurich’s historic buildings, bridges and monuments. One of the best and most popular, trips start from the Landesmuseum (Swiss National Museum) for the scenic upriver journey through the heart of the city, including a short trip on the lake and the return journey down the river again – or you can get off at Zürichhorn and have a refreshing swim in the lake! Boats from Landesmuseum operate from April 5th – October 18th. Departure every 30 minutes from 10.05 am – 9.05 pm; April and October until 6.35 pm only. Tickets cost CHF 4.- per hour (a roundtrip lasts 55 minutes!), the cruise is free of charge if you hold a Eurail ticket or a ZurichCard.
Uetliberg mountain
Take the S-train no 10 (leaves from track 2 at the main station) through fields and forest up to the Uetliberg mountain. A 10-minute walk brings you to the top (871 m) where you can climb the tower with a beautiful view. From there you can hike back to the city or you can easily trek along the (planetary path) to Felsenegg (1 ½ hour). From there a cable car will bring you down to Adliswil from where you can get back to the city (by S-train no 4). The ZurichCARD is valid for this excursion up the Uetliberg. Without a ZurichCARD it costs: CHF 16.- for a 24-hr ticket (this includes all Zurich city public transportation, so make use of it!). Free for Eurail-holders (only for the Felsenegg cable car will you need to pay CHF 4.-).
Guided tours
Do you want to experience Switzerland on a personally guided tour? Swizzbuzz offer adventurous activities in Switzerland with a flexible service for backpackers off the
beaten track for local culture and alternative activities - and unlike an ordinary Swiss bus tour you have the option to get off and stay longer in any place. For information
see ›››www.swizzbuzz.ch or call 076 245 99 82.
Inline skate rental and Monday night skate event
At the luggage office inside the main station you can rent inline skates (incl. helmet, knee pads and ellbow pads). Open Mon - Sat 7 am – 7 pm, Sun 8 am – 7 pm, CHF 20.- ½ day, CHF 25.- whole day, CHF 16.- per day if 2 days or more , deposit required: CHF 200.- or your credit card; www.sbx.ch.
A special event is the Monday night skate, open for everybody, lasts about 2 hours (15 – 22 km), starts at Bürkliplatz at 8 pm on Mondays from May - Sep (in dry weather only), check www.nightskate.ch.
AREA OF ZURICH
Winterthur
Located just 20 minutes from Zurich, Winterthur combines the flair of a big city with the homely atmosphere of a small town. The town has everything a bigger city can offer: cinemas, markets, parks, bars, discos and excellent museums
Museum of Photography (Fotomuseum) at Grüzenstrasse 44 + 45. A critic has called it “the most beautiful Museum of Photography in Europe”! Open Tue - Sun 11 am – 6 pm (Wed to 8 pm), closed on Monday; entry CHF 9.-, students CHF 7.-; bus no. 2 (direction Seen) until or 15 minutes on foot from the main station.
Another museum that puts most of its visitors in awe is the Swiss Science Center (Technorama) at Technoramastrasse 1, which shows science and technology in an easily understandable way. Open Tue - Sun 10 am - 5 pm (closed on Monday); entry CHF 24.-; take bus no. 5 (main station Gate F) until .
The pedestrianized old town has some charm once you get off the main shopping streets and is worth a look. And if Victorian industrial architecture lights your fire, head southwest into the Sulzer-Areal district, where old industrial sites have been carefully revamped and now combine urban living and working, atmospheric theatre spaces, bars and skating arenas.
CityStroll. Join and meet new friends, socialize in the pub and hear about the sixth biggest city of Switzerland while strolling through the streets. CityStroll takes place every Thursday evening and it’s guided by two real Winterthurers. Costs CHF 25.- including 2 drinks and free gift. For more information check www.citystroll.ch and/or do not hesitate to ask at the reception of the City Backpacker/Hotel Biber in Zurich.
Block and Tempodrom (Lagerplatz 17, just 300 m from the train station, open Mon – Sat 10 am - midnight; Sun 10 am - 10 pm) is Europe’s largest indoor sports park, with 3,000 m2 of rollerpark, beach volleyball courts, racing carts, a climbing wall and much more (sports equipment can be hired). It’s good fun! Five minute-walk from Winterthur’s main station (052 204 07 00).
The Bäumli is Winterhur’s most popular vantage point. On the terrace above the hillside vineyards of the Goldenberg you can enjoy the fantastic view of the entire city and the Alps. Take bus number 10 (direction of Oberwinterthur railway station) to Bäumliweg bus stop, from here you’ll reach the Bäumli via the city's longest steps measuring 425 metres.
Winterthur’s coolest events are the
Afro-Pfingsten (Pentacost, African food, culture and music) on May 20 – 24 and the
Winterthurer Musikfestwochen (musicfestival) which offers a large variety of concerts from rock to pop to jazz, mostly free, in the unique atmosphere of the old medieval town (August 18 – 29).
How to get to Winterthur: From Zurich main station trains to Winterthur leave every 15 minutes (S-train no 12, 11, 8, or fast trains in the direction of St.Gallen and Frauenfeld).
The Rhine falls
The largest waterfall in Europe is 150 meters wide and 23 meters high! It is refreshing to stand on a boulder in the middle of a waterfall and feel the gusts of cool air rushing towards you and see the massive amounts of water jetting down the Rhine fall. There is a special visitor’s platform which allows you to get as close as possible. This is a great natural spectacle that you should not miss! Notice: Schloss Laufen is under construction, it’s not possible to enter the platform before May 31st 2009 (reopening on June 1st ).
The nearby city of Schaffhausen is situated along the Rhein river and has a charming town center with many nice shops and restaurants. A highlight here is the fortress built in the 16th century, from where you’ll have a great view! This is Schaffhausen’s trademark circular fortress (admission is free).
How to get there: From Zurich’s main station take a train to Winterthur and from there take S 33 direction Schaffhausen, and get off at “Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall”. As a Eurail/Interrail-holder you travel free of charge; with a ZVV 9 o’clock Travelcard (see above) it costs CHF 23.-; the normal fare for this ticket is CHF 30.-. www.rhinefalls.com
Rapperswil
The small lakefront town of Rapperswil, called City of Roses, lies only 37 km south of Zurich and is dominated by an imposing thirteenth-century castle (with its small Poland museum). An other highlight of Rapperswil is the longest wooden bridge in Switzerland! Rapperswil offers wonderful views, nice terrace cafés, a shaded promenade, a little marina and a delightful walled rose-garden. And, last but not least, and also just a short walk from the station, the Knies Kinderzoo (Children’s Zoo), with animals to pet and feed and elephants to ride.
How to get to Rapperswil: From Zurich main station trains to Rapperwil leave every 15 minutes (S-train no 5, 15, 7) or take a boat trip for one way.
Zug
The town of Zug is just a 25-minute train ride from Zurich main station. The town’s location on the crystal-blue lake Zug is very attractive, framed by the Zugerberg rising 600 m to the east and the peak of Mount Rigi on its southwest shores. Zug is very famous around Switzerland for its local Kirsch (cherry brandy) and the Zuger Kirschtorte (a cherry cake made with cherry brandy distilled in Zug). So tired tourists and shoppers are strongly recommended to take a break at one of the town’s countless cafés and there treat themselves to a slice of the famous Kirschtorte.
How to get to Zug: From Zurich main station trains to Rapperwil leave every 10 minutes (direct trains direction Lucerne and/or Arth-Goldau and S-train no 9, 21).
Baden
Baden is a relaxing spa town on the river Limmat, just 24 km downstream from Zurich. The intact, picturesque old town and the thermal spring baths are good reasons to visit Baden (German for “bath”). Discover what fun it is to relax in the steaming open-air thermal pools (the richest mineral water in Switzerland - the public pools are on Kurplatz). Baden also has a Casino and, visible from all over town, a castle. The tourist office is at Bahnhofstrasse 50 (just 100 m north of the station).
How to get there: Trains to/from Baden leave every 15 minutes (S-train 12 and fast trains in the direction of Bern and Basel).
Braunwald (1,256 m)
Staying in Zurich and want to spend a day or more in a car-free vacation resort off the beaten track? Choose Braunwald. Read more about this beautiful destination 'Braunwald Section' |
