Hostelworld Guide for Zurich

Switzerland's largest city Zürich finds itself ideally situated in a picturesque alpine setting. The LimmatRiver runs through the city centre into the breathtaking expanse of Lake Zürich. As well as natural beauty,

the cityscape here is also extremely pretty, encompassing cobbled streets, towering church spires andgreen parks. Attractions such as the Landesmuseum, the Kunsthaus, and much more can all be visited in

this culturally rich city. From Niederdorfstrasse in Zürich's Old Town to the former industrial area andcurrently hip district of Zürich West, the city is brimming with nightlife. Restaurants serving local and

international dishes, along with numerous bars and clubs, all provide the perfect distraction each andevery night. For a great taste of Swiss life in a stunning setting, be sure to check out this entirely enticing

destination.

In this Guide...

Useful InformationAfter Dark

Places to EatTop Attractions

Budget TipsWhere to Shop

The Essentials Climate

Getting There

By plane: Zürich Airport is found in Kloten, around10km north of the city centre. It has its own trainstation, complete with local and intercity services.Tram no. 10 goes directly from the airport to the citycentre, with the trip taking around 20 minutes.

By train: When arriving by train, you'll end up at theZürich Hauptbahnhof. Both the largest and busieststation in Switzerland, it serves numerous nationaland European destinations.

By bus: Zürich's main bus station can be foundbeside the main train station. Bus services from allover terminate here.

Getting Around

On foot: Walking to the main attractions in andaround the city centre is quite doable; however, youwill need to use public transport at some stage.

By tram: Tram lines criss-cross the city streets.They run on a very punctual timetable and servemany different parts of the city. 'Tageskarte', or dailytickets, last a full 24-hours and are great value.

By bike: You'll find an extensive network of bicyclelanes around Zürich. To take advantage of these,you can try out the 'Züri rollt' service, which is a bikerental and drop-off service with locations throughoutthe city.

Useful Phrases

Hello: HalloGoodbye: TschüssPlease: BitteThank you: Vielen DankYou're welcome: Gern geschehenYes: JaNo: NeinOf course: NatürlichExcuse me: EntschuldigungHow are you?: Wie geht es dir?Open: GeöffnetClosed: GeschlossenWhat is your name?: Wie heisst du?My name is...: Ich heisse...How much?: Wie teuer ist es?May I have the bill?: Kann ich die rechnunghaben?

Zürich has a humid continental climate, whichmeans that it has four distinct seasons. Summersare warm and winters cold, with a mild spring andautumn. July sees both the most sunlight and alsothe highest temperatures, averaging out at around19.5˚C. December is the coldest month withtemperatures sometimes dropping before zero.During the summer, Zürich sees most of its rain witharound 136mm falling during July.

Good to know...

Language: German.Currency: Swiss Franc (CHF).Electricity: 220/230V, AC/50Hz.Area code: +41 (Switzerland), 043/044 (Zürich).Emergency codes: Ambulance 144, Fire 118,Police 117.Time Zone: Central European Time (GMT +1).Central Post Office: Sihlpost, Kasernenstrasse95-97.Main Tourist Office: Zürich Tourist Office, ImHauptbahnhof.

Embassies and Consulates

UK: +41 (0)44 3836560*USA: +41 (0)43 4992960*Canada: +41 (0)31 3573200**Australia: +41 (0)22 7999100***New Zealand: +41 (0)22 9290350***South Africa: +41 (0)31 3501313**Ireland: +41 (0)31 3521442**Germany: +41 (0)31 3594111**Spain: +41 (0)43 3686111*Italy: +41 (0)44 2866111*France: +41 (0)44 2688585*

*Consulate in Zürich**Embassy in Berne***Consulate in Geneva

Hostelworld Guide for Zurich www.hostelworld.com

Cheap Eats After Dark

Grand Café Odeon, Limmatquai 2, Old Town Agreat choice for lunch, this spot tends to be quitebusy. On a sunny day the tables outside are packedfull of locals and visitors, and when it rains, thewindow-side tables are in high demand. Dishesoffered include their own take on the popular 'rosti'.Open Sun-Thurs 7am-2am, Fri & Sat 7am-4am.

Pumpstation, Utoquai 10, Lake Zürich As all thetables and even the grill area here are open to theelements, Pumpstation's hours depend on theweather. On the banks of Lake Zürich, it is theperfect spot to eat on a sunny afternoon. Sausages,sandwiches and salads are just some of the tastyofferings.Open daily 11am-12am.

Tre Cucine, Niederdorfstrasse 33, Old Town Aso n e o f m a n y r e s t a u r a n t s a l o n g b u s t l i n gNiederdorfstrasse, Tre Cucine's tasty traditionalItalian fare ensures it stands out from the crowd. Tosave some money, go for the smaller portion optionoffered for some dishes, as you'll still get more thane n o u g h t o f i l l y o u u p . O p e n S u n - T h u r s11.30am-11pm, Fri & Sat 11.30pm-12pm.

Restaurant Au Gratin, Bahnhofplatz 2, CityCentre A huge variety of meat and vegetablegratins (baked dishes covered in melted cheese)can be sampled here. The soundtrack to your mealwill be lots of chatter from both the restaurant andthe busy bar below. Open Mon-Thurs 11am-2pm &6pm-12am, Fr i 11am-2pm & 6pm-2am, Sat6pm-2am, Sun 6pm-11pm.

All-day breakfast treat

Bichermüesli One of Switzerland's favouritedishes, Bichermüesli is a healthy mix of rolledoats, mixed with yoghurt or cream, fruit andnuts. The perfect way to start a day of exploringZürich, this dish is also a popular late nightsnack. You'll find it, in its various forms, on themenus of cafés and restaurants across the city.

Newsbar, Bahnhofplatz 2, City Centre Beneaththe Au Gratin restaurant and a stone's throw fromthe Hauptbahnhof, this lively bar attracts a youngcrowd. From the two bar areas, affable staff serveup cocktails, wines, beers and more. Perch yourselfon one of the tall stools at the bar or lounge on thecushions in the wide windowsills while you sip yourdrinks. Open Mon-Wed 11am-1am, Thurs & Fri11am-2am, Sat 4pm-2am, closed Sun.

Gay/Lesbian Zürich

This city is home to an open and lively gayscene. Along with various annual festivals andparties, Zürich boasts many top-notch gay barsand clubs. Some of the most popular of theseinclude Barfüsser (Spitalgasse 14) which is thecity's oldest gay bar, Club AAAH! (Marktgasse14), Jim Club (Pelikanplatz), and Cranberry's(Metzgergasse 3).

Riffraff, Neugasse 57, Zürich West An alternativehaven, Riffraff combines a bar, cinema and bistro.In the retro chic bar area, you'll be able to samplethe comprehensive wine list along with scrumptiouscocktails and various beers. A great place tocombine a few drinks with some movie-watching ina laidback, friendly atmosphere. Open Mon-Thurs3pm-12am, Fri-Sat 3pm-2am, Sun 12pm-12am.

Bar Havanna Club, Niederdorfstrasse 64, OldTown Right in the heart of the action, this well-likedbar serves a wide range of lip-smacking cocktails,along with wines, beers and spirits. From the Latinmusic playing in the chic interior to the comfortabletables outside, Havanna is definitely worth checkingout. Open daily 4pm-2am.

Hard One, Hardstrasse 260, Zürich West A club,lounge and bar a l l - in-one, Hard One of ferssomething for everyone, whether you'd prefer tosample lots of bubbly or shake a leg out on themain dance floor. Pick up a drink from the swanky20-metre main bar or chill out in one of the funkylounge areas. Cigars are in vogue, so expectsmoke! Open Tues-Thurs 6pm-2am, Fri & Sat6pm-4am, closed Sun & Mon; admission freeTues-Thurs, varies Fri & Sat.

Opernhaus Zürich, Falkenstrasse 1, UtoquaiZürich's beautiful opera house offers a more culturaloption for your night out. Numerous ballet andoperatic performances are held here throughout theyear and the Opernhaus can seat 1,100 people.O p e n i n g h o u r s a n d a d m i s s i o n v a r y w i t hperformances.

Don't Miss Mark Your Calendar

Place of worship

Fraumünster, Fraumünsterstrasse, AmMünsterhofplatz A mix of Gothic andRomanesque design, this church complete withits towering spire, was initially founded in theyear 853. Make sure to look up so you catch aglimpse of the star-covered dome. OpenApr-Oct Mon-Sat 10am-6pm & Sun11.15am-6pm, Nov-Mar Mon-Sat 10am-4pm &Sun 11.15am-4pm; admission free.

Kunsthaus Zürich, Heimplatz, Niederdorf Thepermanent col lect ion of Zürich's prestigiousKunsthaus features paintings and sculptures byworld-renowned artists like Van Gogh, Monet,Munch and more. Open Sat-Sun/Tues 10am-6pm,Wed-Fri 10am-8pm, closed Mon; admission 18CHF, free Wed.

Landesmuseum, Museumstrasse 2, City CentreFrom coins to clothing, the artefacts on display herechart the course of Swiss history from prehistorictimes to the present day. The museum is handilylocated beside the Hauptbahnhof. Open Tues,Wed, Fri-Sun 10am-5pm, Thurs 10am-7pm, closedMon; admission 10 CHF.

Zoo Zürich, Zürichbergstrasse 221, FlunternHome to around 320 different species, you'll seelions, tigers and bears (oh my!) here along with lotsof o ther an imals . Try and catch one of theschedu led feed ings o r even the e lephan twash.Open daily March-Oct 9am-6pm, Nov-Feb9am-5pm; admission 22 CHF.

Grossmünster, Grossmünsterplatz, Old TownThe two tall towers of this beautiful cathedral areone of the most identifiable sights in all of Zürich.S imp le s tone wa l l s and wooden pews a recomplimented by a huge organ with ornately craftedpipes. Open daily Mar-Oct 9am-6pm, Nov-Feb10am-5pm; admission free for church, 4 CHF fortowers.

March - Art on Ice This 4-day fest iva l is acelebration of ice skating with numerous eventstaking place. After show entertainment is alsoorganised.

April - Sechseläuten A traditional festival towelcome the arrival of spring, Sechseläuten seesthe burning of a straw snowman symbolising winter.Costumed revellers parade through the streetswhile huge numbers of spectators look on. Then thesnowman is set alight outside the Opera House inthe evening.

May-June - EuroPride In existence for 40 years,this annual celebration stretches out over fiveweeks. A colourful parade, numerous parties,sporting events and much more are all part of thepopular event.

June-July - Zürich Festival During the course ofits 3-week run, this festival combines opera, dance,art and drama events. Its aim is to promote thediverse selection of cultural institutions based inZürich.

July - Live at Sunset Held at the Dolder ice rink,this 12-day music festival features popular andclassical music acts from all over the world. Themusic stages are complimented by a number offood and drink areas.

August - Street Parade Each year, hundreds ofthousands of people attend this lively event. 25moving stages complete with musical and danceacts head around the city, with a number of afterparties taking place too.

August - Dörfli-Fäscht Taking place at the end ofthe month, th is fest iva l features l ive musicperformances, food stalls and much more.

September - Long Night of the Museums On thisnight, over 40 museums and attractions, includingthe Zürich Zoo, open their doors late into the night.Concerts and lectures also take place.

November-December - Christmas Market Stallsare set up around Zürich's old town area. Here youcan find handmade crafts, food and drink, andmuch more.

December - Lichterschwimmen During thisannual event, hundreds of small boats, each one fitwith a candle, are sent floating down the RiverLimmat. Stalls are set up in the Weinplatz and offertreats like mulled wine and more.

Hostelworld Guide for Zurich www.hostelworld.com

Neighbourhood Watch Retail Therapy

Old Town Covering a substantial area of the city,Zürich's Old Town straddles both sides of theLimmat River. Wander through narrow cobbledstreets taking in the t radi t ional houses andimpressive churches. Niederdorfstrasse is OldTown's swiftly beating heart, filled as it is with livelybars, popular restaurants and funky stores.

Industrial chic

Zürich West The former industrial quarter ofZürich West is now one of the hippest parts ofthe entire city. You'll find a number of coolmuseums here, including the two containedwithin the converted Löwenbräu brewery.Perfect for strolling along leafy streets duringthe day, Zürich West is one of the city's liveliestsectors once the sun sets.

Winterthur Winterthur is one of Zürich's mostimportant satellite towns and is the sixth biggest inSwitzerland. Visitors here will find plenty to occupythemselves with, including numerous stores and atop-notch food market. This town is best known fori ts impress ive co l lec t ion o f museums. Theworld-famous Oskar Reinhart art collection is justone of the treats in store here. Parks, gardens andtheatres only enhance Wintherthur's appeal.

Riesbach This district is bordered on one side bythe tranquil Lake Zürich and hosts a number of thecity's most popular attractions. You can appreciatethe beauty of the Chinagarten, stroll through theimpressive Botanischer Garten or take a dip in thelake. One of the most popular parts of Zürich, a visitto Riesbach should feature in any trip to this city.

Uteilberg A mere fifteen minutes from the citycentre by train, Uteilberg is the highest peak inZürich's immediate surroundings, stretching up 814metres or 2,671 feet. Active types will delight in thisalpine setting, complete with hiking trail through thewoods. This well-loved route takes about two hoursto cover.

Jelmoli, Seidengasse 1, City Centre Also knownas the 'House of Brands', Jelmoli is a prettyimpressive department store covering six floors. It ishome to around 1,000 different brands, many ofthem world-renowned, including Chanel, Zara andNew Yorke r . Cosmet i cs , accesso r ies andhousehold goods are all well-represented here too.Open Mon-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat 9am-8pm, closed Sun.

Sihlcity, Kalanderplatz 1, Enge One of themost-visited shopping complexes in Zürich, Sihlcityhouses four floors of stores in a bright and modernenvironment. Whether you're looking for a phone ora pair of sneakers, this is the place to go. OpenMon-Sat 9am-8pm, closed Sun.

Freitag Shop Zurich, Geroldstrasse 17, ZürichWest This unique shop is worth a visit, even if youdon't plan on buying any of the multitudes of bags,wallets and other accessories on sale. Housedinside 17 converted freight containers, Freitag alsoboasts an observation platform on its roof stretchingup 25 metres. Open Mon-Fri 11am-7.30pm, Sat11am-5pm, closed Sun.

City centre shopping

Bahnhofstrasse, City Centre Zürich'spremiere shopping stretch Bahnhofstrasse is along street boasting decorative flowerpots,traversed by trams and often teeming withpeople. Shops include everything from HugoBoss to Claire's. Men's and women's fashions,cosmetics, electronics, and of course a hugenumber of watches, are all available.

Rennweg, Lindenhof Another one of the mainshopping streets in Zürich, Rennweg is home to awonderful mix of stores. Whether it's souvenirs orthe neon clothing of American Apparel you need,look no further than this busy stretch. Other storesinclude Lacoste, Benneton, as well as some localbrand names.

Zürich for Free A Day in Zürich...

Visit St. Peter's Church Dating back to the 7thcentury, St. Peter's Church is the oldest in the city.Its most stunning feature is the church tower's clockface, the largest of its kind in Europe at 8.7 metresin diameter. The interior is just as enticing, with itshanging chandeliers and giant organ. Open Mon-Fri8am-6pm, Sat 8am-4pm.

Check out Lindenhof, the highest point inZürich's Old Town Head up here to see stunningviews of much of Zürich, including Limmatquai,Grossmünster and more. One of the oldest sites inthe city, this hill was where the Roman settlers setup shop in 15BC. Today, as well as enjoying theview, you can watch the games of street chess andboules regularly played here.

Enjoy views of Lake Zürich from ZürichhornPark An open area, Zürichhorn Park is filled withlocals and visitors on sunny days. Here you'll findwide stretches of grass to sunbathe on, and a longjetty stretching into Lake Zürich. The frequent boattrips that head around the Lake and up the LimmatRiver can be caught here too.

Stroll along Mythenquai and watch the fountainStarting at the Arboretum Enge, an open park areacomplete with aviary, a walk down Mythenquaiprovides great views of the city and of Lake Zürich.Head out onto the jettys, past the boats moored att h e q u a y , a n d h a v e a s e a t , t a k i n g i n t h econt inuously changing and impressive lakefountain.

How does your garden grow

Wander through the beautiful BotanischerGarten Administered by Zürich University, theBotanischer Garten are home to approximately9,000 species of plants and flowers. Thesestunning gardens cover an expanse of around53,000 square metres. Open Mar-Sept Mon-Fri7am-7pm & Sat-Sun 8am-6pm, Oct-FebMon-Fri 8am-6pm & Sat-Sun 8am-7pm.

Enjoy a delicious bowl of Bichermüesli at anynumber of cafés throughout the city. This filling dishwill set you up for the day.

Start your explorat ion of Zürich at the ci ty 'sH a u p t b a h n h o f . B e h i n d i t y o u ' l l f i n d t h eLandesmuseum, which is filled with numerousartefacts chronicling Swiss history.

From here, take tram number 3 to the Kunsthaus.This impressive art museum houses works by greatartists such as Monet, Van Gogh and more.

Head to Utoquai and stop for lunch at Pumpstation,where you can eat while enjoying great views of thelake.

Walk along the quays as far as Zürichhorn Park.Check out the Chinagarten, go for a quick dip orsunbathe on the grass.

Go back towards the city centre and have a lookinside Fraümunster and St. Peter's, two of the city'stop attractions.

To sample some of Zürich's top-notch shoppingopportunities, wander up Bahnhofstrasse (above),which is home to many internationally renownedbrands.

Cross the river and go to Niederdorfstrasse inZürich's Old Town area, where you'll find numerousrestaurants to choose from.

On your way towards Zürich West, stop off for a fewdrinks in the Newsbar by the Hauptbahnhof.

Finish the night at Hard One, a club with a 20-metrelong main bar, some cosy lounge areas and ananimated main dance floor.

Hostelworld Guide for Zurich www.hostelworld.com