fatbully

I'm gonna spend 1 day in Zurich on 12/10 and I need advice on the followings:

1) Can I get an one-day pass for public transportation (both for airport transfer and within the city, e.g. VBZ)at the airport?

2) Do most shops (especially those on Bahnhofstrasse) close early on Sat?

3) What are the most popular national dishes in Switzerland (both fancy food and cheap eats)? And more important, where can I find them in District 1 or airport? Do restaurants close early on Sat too?

4) Where can I find some nice chocolate (don't know if they have good dark chocolate like those in Belgium but milk chocolate is ok) that can only be found in Zurich/ Switzerland?

5) Any advice on where to shop for watches or Swiss army knives?

Melnq8

You're speaking my language - Chocolate!

Teuscher probably makes the finest chocolate in Switzerland - it's not cheap, but if you're looking for the really good stuff, this is it. Try the champagne truffles - awesome!

Here are a few of the locations in Zurich:

Bahnhofstrasse 46
8001 Zürich

Jelmoli Department Store
Bahnhofstrasse
8001 Zürich

Airport Transit Shop
Departure Level Terminals A/B

Teuscher does have stores outside of Switzerland, but in my experience, they're few and far between.

Suchard, Lindt and Cailler are also very good and are available just about anywhere in Switzerland. I believe there's a Lindt & Spruengli in the Zurich Airport.

As far as national dishes - Rosti, Raclette and Fondue can be found just about anywhere - same with watches and Swiss Army knives - they're everywhere.

azure0327

It's been a few years since I traveled to Zurich so I can't tell you what business hours are on Saturday these days.
However, I can advise you on where to buy chocolate unique to Zurich. "Sprungli" has a store and cafe on the Bahnhofstrasse, definitely worth a stop, they have the most amazing dark chocolate truffles. The cafe is a nice place to stop for a light meal or pastries and coffee.
Typical national dishes: Fondue and raclette are very good (as long as you're not lactose intolerant)
You will find Swiss army knives everywhere but the best prices will be found at the major department stores.
Have a great time, Zurich is an interesting city.

swandav2000

Hi fatbully,

For food, also try veal prepared "Zuricher art," which means with mushrooms in a cream sauce. Usually comes with rosti. You'll see it everywhere.

s

Cicerone

1. I don't know if you can buy a combination train and tram pass at the airport train station. You should ask at the airport train station when you arrive.

2. Shops usually close between 4 -5 pm on Saturdays in Zurich; however December 10 may be one of the Saturdays when shops stay open later as it is getting close to Christmas. You will just have to see. Also, shops are open on certain Sundays close to Christmas as well and it could be that Sunday December 11 is one of those days, your hotel could tell you, or maybe check the www.zuerich.com website. Restaurants do not close early on Saturday and are open on Sundays.

3. Dishes vary by region, but in Zurich and the German parts of Switzerland, as noted above, traditional winter foods are rosti (fried potatoes), fondue, raclette, veal Zurich style, and bratwurst (well they eat bratwurst all year). Kris 1/District 1 is actually quite a small district (I used to live in Kris 1), but some places to try these foods that are close to Kris 1 if not strictly in Kris 1 are:

Vorderer Sternen
Restaurant Sterne Foifi
Theatrestrasse 22
(at Bellevue tram stop)
Zurich
Tel: 41-1-251-4949

If you can get a window seat (upstairs or downstairs) you will get a good view of the tram station and lake. Excellent veal Zurich style.

Sternen Grill Bratwurst Stand
Freitgasse and Theatrstrasse
Next door to Vorderer Sternen

Next door to Vorderer Sternen is their famous bratwurst stand. Just look for the line. The kitchen and all tables are outdoors, you can also do takeaway. A glass of beer and a bratwurst and you are a Zuricher! Great people watching as well. Not expensive, bratwurst starts at about $5. FYI, most bratwurst in Switzerland is veal, not pork. It is really delicious.

Le Dézaley
Römergasse 7-9
01/251-61-29
Swiss-French frood, from the Valais region (Lake Geneva and south), including fondue which is very good. Wood paneled restaurant. This is near the Grossmunster church in an interesting neighborhood of antique bookshops (my old neighborhood in fact).

4. I agree that Teuscher is a great chocolate, and I believe some of their shops are open on Sundays. Their shop at Storchengasse 9 is very charming, and is just off the Munsterhof near to the Fraumunster church in one of the loveliest parts of the old town. Spruengli/Lindt will do as well, and you can find Spruengli at the airport. Go to http://www.teuscher.com and http://www.spruengli.ch/Informatione...n_filialen.php for info.

5. You can find watches and Swiss army knives all over the place, on the Banhofstrasse and other parts of Zurich. Do some comparison shopping at home before you leave so you have a good idea of prices, as they are not necessarily cheaper in Switzerland and may in fact be more expensive with exchange rates and the 7.5% sales tax. You can also buy them at the airport. But do not put knives in your carry on or they will be taken from you at security!! Put them in your checked bags.


A great kitschy souvenir place in Kris 1 to buy stuff which I know sells knives but I am not sure about watches is:

Teddy's Souvenir shop
34 Limmatquai

This is on Limmatquai along the river just below the Grossmunster cathedral and accross the river from the Fraumunster church.

Cicerone

Sorry, I left off some other restaurants in or near Kris 1, these are on the more expensive side:

Kronehall
Rämistrasse 4, 8001
Tel: 41-1-251 6669

This is probably Zurich's most famous restaurant, also one if its oldest. A favourite with locals, their bar is worth a look and a drink. Classic Swiss-German food. Unless you speak German, however, you tend to be overlooked by staff.

Zunfthaus zur Zimmerleuten
Limmatquai 40
Phone 41-1-252-0834
http://www.zimmerleuten.ch/ (mostly German)

This restaurant is in one of the old "guild houses" along the river in the old town and has a marvellous old Swiss style decor. Ask to see their silver collection locked away in the wall safe, and you can also look at the banquet rooms upstairs. The menu combines Zurich specialties with innovations by the current chef.

Kuferstubli
Limmatquai 40
(can't find number, try calling the Zunfthaus)

This is the ground floor stubli (more casual) restaurant of the Zunfthaus zur Zimmerleuten, a tiny cellar-like room. Very charming, I actually think it has a bit more atmosphere than the main restaurant. Good food, a bit more value for money than the main restaurant.

Hotel zum Storchen
Am Weinplatz. 2
Zürich
Tel: Tel: 41 1 227 2727

Has a very good grill on the first floor with Swiss specialties (expensive and formal), a lobby bar serving tea and drinks with a fireplace (good for rainy afternoons), and the Barchetta bar, which serves food in the Colonnade Café which has outdoor tables (with heaters in winter) along the river. In a lovely part of the old town.

je

Absolutely don't leave Zurich without a visit to Conditorie Cafe Schober for chocolates in the old town section on Napfgasse which is an extension of Niederdorfstr. It is small, historic but has an amazng assortment of chocolates and a very nice tea room with wonderful pasteries. I believe Teuscher owns it but it much different from thier other shops since it also has the tea room. Have some of their champagne truffles - they melt in you mouth.

je

Cicerone - I've enjoyed reading your posts about Switzerland, especially Zurich which we have visited many times. Feel as though we may have seen you in some of the places you mention. The Kronenhalle bar and the Zum Storchen bar are favorites of ours. We always enjoy Le Dezaley and a visit to the Sternan bratwurst stand for a Cervelat and roll is a must although I always pick up some of the Thomy hot mustard before hand for a special taste of Switzerland. The Kropf(sp) is also a favorite. Thanks for all the good information.

fatbully

Thanks for the excellent information from all of you. I'm sure I'll try raclette, rosti, fondue, veal Zuricher Art and buy tons of champagne truffles at Teuscher (i just realize they do have a store in my Chicago area) & swallow those fancy chocolate at Cafe Spruengli! I have three more questions:

1. Does anyone know whether the airport opens after midnight? Since I have an early morning flight, I plan to sleep over at the airport if they are open. I'd like to save one night hotel stay if possible.
2. Do most of the restaurants recommended here also have an English menu for tourists like me who doesn't know German?
3. Should I buy a ZurichCard? I'll only be on the ground for one day.
4. Would I be allowed to bring back Swiss Army Knives to the States?

Cicerone

1. From the airport website it appears that the last departures and arrivals are at 10:30 pm. I know from some of my own late arriving flights that it is pretty quiet there after about 10 pm and things like the restaurants in the food halls in the arrivals area and train station close after about 10 pm and don't open until after 9 am, so have dinner before you arrive at the airport and bring breakfast with you. I think the biggest problem you will have however, is that if you are on a US airline flying to the US you won't be able to check in early for your flight, so you won't be allowed past immigration. Therefore, you won't find a whole lot of places to sleep in the check-in areas or the train station. I have not done this and so have not really scoped those areas out for sleeping places, perhaps others on this site have. Knowing the Swiss, you may be hassled a bit if you try to do this in any event. I can see that they may ask to see your ticket if you try to tell them that your flight is delayed, cancelled, etc. and may tell you to move on if you can't prove you are legitimately there because your flight is delayed. Perhaps others can speak from experience from this.

If you are flying to the US on Swiss or another non-US airline, you may be able to check-in early and may therefore be allowed in past immigration and there may be more places to sleep. http://www.zurich-airport.com/ZRH/?I...ines&a3=67, or just /www.zurich-airport.com and click on "check-in" and then "check-in by airlines".

2. The restaurants I have listed will have an English menu for most things, some specials may not be on an English menu, but can be explained to you by a waiter; for the most part English is widely spoken but sometimes it takes a bit of sign language and patience on both sides. I did once have a hilarious conversation with a waiter who was trying to explain a special to me and did not know the English word for venison and I did not know the German word, so he looked at me and said "Bambi". I then understood. (It was delicious by the way.)

3. You would only need a Zurich Card if you plan on taking trams while you are in Zurich. It is my understanding that the Zurich Card includes one round trip to and from the airport. If that is the case, as the Zurich Card only costs CH15 and the fare to and from the airport is CH11.60, IMO you might as well buy the Zurich Card and then you have the flexibility to hop on a tram if you want to ride around Zurich if you want. It also gives you admission to some museums. As the ferries aren't running it is a little bit of a bummer as you can really walk to everything you want to see and so don't need take a tram (unless you want to go to the zoo) but for another US$3 or so you might as well have that option. If I am wrong and the Zurich Card does not include the ariport, then I would not bother with the Zurich Card. You can either pay for a single journey at CH3.80 (within Zurich city) or you can get a "tagerskarte" or a day card for CH.760 which will allow you to ride trams for 24 hours. Push the green button on the tram ticket machines for the day card.

4. Yes, you will be allowed to bring Swiss Army knives to the US, but NOT IN YOUR CARRY ON LUGGAGE. The x-ray machines at security will invariably find them and they will be taken from you, not sure if they will agree to mail them to you or keep them for you during the flight, I doubt it in both cases. Put them into your checked luggage.

fatbully

Thanks Cicerone for your information. I did a search at the Unique Airport website and found that they have dayrooms for overnight stay http://www.zurich-airport.com/ZRH/?I...ooms&a3=65
They are located at the transit area at the end of Dock A, close to Gates 80-89.

I just need to know when I should go to the airport to check in the night before my departure the next day morning. According to the same website, United airport doesn't offer "evening-before check-in" service. So, I may not even have access to the dayrooms to sleepover at the airport.

I just found out that the ZurichCard also includes an 1.5 hrs boat ride on the Lake. The boat cruise service operates at 1 or 2:30pm from Zurich Bürkliplatz daily. My concern is as most of the shops close at 4pm on Sat. and since I only have one day in Zurich, should I take out my precious 1.5 hrs on the Lake? And by the way, do you have any suggestions what I should do after 4pm? Maybe hanging out in Niederdorf area? Any good internet cafes recommendations?

Cicerone

I don't think the boat operates in December, you should check on this. Ferries generally don't run after September.

For other activities, check the hours of museums, I believe most are open until 5-6 pm or so. You may also find Christmas concerts in churches or other venues, check http://www.zuerich.com/events/index.html. The Christmas market at the main train station is probably open a bit later than 4 pm and is inside and warm. That close to Christmas there may be street fairs and people selling gluwine (hot mulled wine) on the street.

The Neiderdorf is a fine idea, I don't know of particular cybercafes, but go to cybercafe.com for a list. There are a number of bars in the area as well which I believe have WiFi and maybe internet terminals, I like the Wings Bar at 54 Limmatquai or the Rathaus Cafe basically across the street on the river side. The Zum Storchen hotel along the river in this same area has a lobby lounge that serves drinks and tea and has a fireplace, quite elegant and nice and a good way to get warm. They also have a bar outside with heaters that serves all year.

Am Weinplatz
Zurich, Switzerland, 8022
Tel: 41 1 227 2727
Fax: 41 1 227 2700
http://www.summithotels.com

I would definitely take a walk after dark around the old town to see the Christmas lights and store decorations, the area around St Peter's Square is very pretty (esp the areas around Augustinegasse, Widdergasse) and of course the Banhof is lit.

Also if you can get a ticket, consider going to the Conelli Christmas circus, you do not need to speak German to appreciate it, go to http://www.circus-conelli.ch/conelli/index.htm. You may be able to get one ticket at the last minute at the door.

If the dayrooms are in the transit area, that means that they are inside the secure part of the terminate and after Immigration, which means you most likely will not be allowed to access them if you have not checked-in for a flight. You might ask at the airport when you land, but I doubt you will be able to do it.

As United does not offer early check-in, you have to check-in in the morning with everyone else. At least you can store your bags at the airport overnight.

Have you looked at places like the Movenpick or the Formulae 1 hotel near the airport? I see that the latter has a price of CH62 for December 11 on their website. I have a feeling this is with a shared bath, but it is a good price. The hotel may have a shuttle bus to the airport. You could also take a taxi to the airport, would be less than 10 minutes (probably abut 5 minute) but would cost about US$30.

Movenpick Hotel Zurich-Airport, go to moven-pickhotels.com
Novotel Zurich Airport, go to http://www.accorhotels.com
Formulae 1 Hotel, go to accorhotels.com

If I have read the rail.ch website correctly, the last train to airport is at 12:17 am, the next train is not until 5:02 am. (I did not count the train at 12:20 am that takes 4.5 hours to get there, perhaps you can take that and sleep on it, it does require a change at Basserdorf at 4:54 am, it appears to sit in Basserdorf for 4 hours as well.)

fatbully

Cicerone,

If I can only go to one restuarant in Zurich for Veal Zurich Style and Rosti, which one of the restaurants you recommended is the most non-German-speaking-tourist-friendly and won't cost me more than US$40 for dinner (drinks not included)? Also, should I try the food court under Jelmoni or main train station for lunch?

je

fatbully - certainly a tourist friendly restaurant is Le Dezaley which is just below the Grossmunster church. I don't know about the veal dish there but you can check out their menu posted outside. We've been there and enjoy the atmosphere as well as the food. I'm not real familiar with Jelmoli but I don't remember a food court - it was more of lots of food presentations for purchase. There are several restaurants in the main train station and my experience is that anything purchased in the train stations is far superior to what you would get in similar places in the usa. This equally applies to the airport where I continue to be amazed by the quality of the food in the little shops there.

Cicerone

I think for veal Zurich, I would go to either Vorder Sternen or the Kuferstubli. I did not mention that restaurant in my post to you, don't know why, I guess because they aren't strictly known for German Swiss dishes and don't always have veal Zurich, but walk by and check the menu. They have other good dishes. I think both would be in your price range. Vorder Sternen is more of a noisy local Zurich place, Kuferstubli has a little more charm and is quieter. Both have English menus and you would be fine on your own. Le Delazy is very nice, but I also doubt veal Zurich is on the menu, you can easily check out the menu during the day. Kuferstubli is along the river in the same area.

Kuferstubli
Limmatquai 40

For lunch, Jemoli has a very small food court area that is in the middle of the grocery area. It is fine I guess albeit no ambience. I think that that Tibits or the foodhall in Globus is better, but might be boring for you as it is basically next door to the Vorder Sternen and just down a few blocks from the Kuferstubli so if you think you might go there for dinner maybe you will have had enough of that neighbourhood.

Globus Department Store
Theaterstrasse 12
Website: www.globus.ch
Bellvueplatz
At the Bellevue Tram stop

The food hall is on the ground floor, you can eat inside, as well as picnic tables outside if it is warm enough. They have sandwiches, sushi, Italian, salads, etc. This is near to the Opera and the lake and the Stadelhofen train station.

Tibits
Seefeldstrasse 2
tel: 41-1 260 32 22

This is just past the Opera House on the right. Wide variety, good prices.

If you like vegetarian, than I would definitely recco Hiltl, a Zurich institution and a real bargain as well. Right off the Banhofstrasse:

Hiltl
Sihlstrasste 28
8001 Zurich
tel: 41-1-227-7000

Also for good sandwiches in a charming part of the old town on the left bank (i.e. on the Banhofstrasse side) try:

Juice Market
Augustinergasse
Tel: 01 211 69 33

If you like crepes, then a very cheap and cheerful place on the right bank not too far from the Grossmunster and near the river is:

Café Walthi
Schoffegasse 3
Zurich
Tel: 41-1 262-0906

For good pizza and not too expensive Italian in the old town, right bank:

Santa Lucia
Marktgasse 21
Tel: 41 (44) 262 3626

I would not eat in the train station. It is OK, but really it is for people who are there because they have to get trains and no one goes there to eat. (Unlike some train stations which actually have excellent restaurants, these are found mostly on the French side.) The best is the buffet upstairs, but that is kind of pricey.

sansman

There is also decent food for decent price, lunch, in Manor, 4th floor I think, this is a department store on the Bahnoffstrasse. Food is reasonable.

In addition to the FoodCourt in Jemoli there is a buffet style restaurant in Jemoli on about the third floor. Food is better than the Food Court.

Food court in Jemoli relatively cheap and you choose of Doner Kebab, Chinese, bad Sushi, pasta or something.