Ani12

Thanks to all who had given their valuable advice to me on a similar topic a few days back. Would like to visit Zurich on a 3 days trip in August, with family. Found a few reasonably priced hotels on the web ... Hotel Welcome INN (Near the airport) and Hotel St. Josef (in the city centre). We will be arriving Zurich by train from Vienna. Would prefer to stay in a quiet location (away from the noice of trams). Appreciate if someone could suggest a mid-range hotel in Zurich. Thanks in advance.

Michael

What would be wrong with this place or other similar ones?

http://www.hostels.com/hostels/zuric...fuerdich/39025

Pepper_von_snoot

Why in the name of Princess Lee Radziwill would you ever want to spend three days in Zurich?

Aren't you the person who was asking about budget accomodation on the previous thread?

Zurich is great if you are hedge fund manager, Mark Zuckerburg's accountant, or you are on a corporate junket, but the prices in Zurich will make a budget tourist's hair stand on end.

And there really is nothing to do there unless you are Ivana Trump on a shopping spree.

You would be much better off if you staying in Rapperswil or Luzern.

Tschuss,
Pepper of Salt and Pepper Fame

Michael

<i>And there really is nothing to do there</i>

Not quite true, although not comparable to major cities in France, Germany, Italy, Spain or England. There is the old town on both sides of the river that is worth strolling about. The fine art museum is worth a visit for those who are in Zurich.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...ith/5964445064

Pepper_von_snoot

There is nothing wrong with staying in Zurich if you have some sort of business there, or are passing through on your way to Luzern or the BO, but as a holiday destination it is absurd.

It only takes a few hours to walk down the Bahnhofstrasse, view the Fraumunster, Grossmunster, walk around the Old Town.

What are you going to do with your other 2 1/2 days?

I have been to Zurich many times and have stayed in the lap of luxury at the Baur au Lac and even then I was bored.

Zurich is a very pretty, pleasant town, but IT IS NOT A TOURIST DESTINATION.

Pepper

Glenn_Sandberg

Sorry, can't agree with much of above. Just got back from a week in Zuerich and there were many things left undone. Here are some suggestions for things to do:

Visit the Zuerich Zoo - @10 CHF per person

Take the Altstadt Walking tour - @10 CHF per person

Climb the Gross Muenster tower - @4 CHF

Visit the Frau Muenster and see the Chagall stained glass windows - free

Visit the Kunsthaus - free with Zuerich Card

Visit the Landesmuseum - free with Zuerich Card

Inexpensive hotel: Hotel Adler. Breakfast included with room. Spotless. Attentive staff.

Inexpensive places to eat: Rheinfelder Bierhaus, Rheinfelder Bierhalle (cash only), Swiss Chuchi (inside Hotel Adler), Zeughaus Keller

Inexpensive day trip - visit Stein am Rhein. Once there, visit the Museum Lindwurm for @4 CHF per person. Definitely climb up to the Hohenkilngen - free.

Ani12

Thanks for all your inputs, in particular Glenn_Sandberg. Very helpful. Pepper - I will certainly consider your suggestion to stay at Rapperswil or Luzern, but hope these are not far away from Zurich or other main areas.

kawh

the town of baden is a 30 minute train ride from zurich-- i would recommend staying there, and using their thermal pool -- or soaking in a tub at one of the spas there. it is on a river and is a pretty cute town. just a suggestion, in case you run out of things to do in zurich.

Ingo

I've stayed in Zürich twice for three nights each time and no, I did not head to Lucerne or Rapperswil later. I enjoyed both trips very much, especially the one in summer over Swiss National Holiday with the celebrations going on that day. Zürich in summer can be very pleasant - with the lake (beaches, boat rides), the beautiful parks, the mountains in view. Rates for accommodation was less expensive in July/August - many special offers since it's not business season. It is beyond me why Zürich gets so much bashing here, it has a LOT of sights, from picturesque old town over interesting churches to outstanding museums. Sure, it is expensive, but with some planning and purchasing the Zürich Card you'll survive.

I stayed once in the Comfort Inn Royal - nothing exciting, but ok, the rooms to the back are relatively quiet, I even had view of the lake and the mountains in the distance. The other trip I stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott in Zürich-Oerlikon which was a short commuter train ride from the old town, but that's a really very good hotel. Rooms to the front can be a bit noisy if you open the window - main street with buses and quite much traffic.

travelgourmet

Agree with Pepper, Zurich is a lousy tourist destination. I mean, when a zoo makes the top things to do list... Heck, it isn't even considered the best zoo in Switzerland!

I lived there for the longest 6 months of my life and couldn't wait to leave. I could live with boring. I could live with absurdly expensive. I could live with middling to poor food. I have no interest in living with all three.

Lucerne is much more charming and a better destination for a short break.

Pepper_von_snoot

Ingo, I am not bashing Zurich.

If you read what I wrote you would understand that I think it is foolish to come all the way from Vienna (or Paris or Rome) JUST to visit Zurich.

Really, you are going to schlep all the way from Vienna just to go to the zoo or visit the Swiss National Museum (which is tiny, by the way)?

If you bothered to read Ani12's OTHER post, you would have seen that she is also visiting Paris and Rome.

Zurich, after those two great cities, will only disappoint.

Far better to enjoy the beauty of Luzern or the spectacular scenery of the Lauterbrunnen Valley than spend three days in Zurich.

Pepper aka Thingorjus

Pepper_von_snoot

Ani, Rapperswil is only a short train ride away from Zurich, what maybe 15-20 minutes?

Luzern is less than an hour from Zurich via train.

Luzern is much more of a tourist destination than Zurich. It is, indeed, a tourist city. Many people come from all over the world just to stay at one of the big hotels on the lake and relax.

Many people honeymoon in Luzern because they find its beauty very romantic.

Luzern is also a gateway to the spectacular Bernese Oberland.

Zurich is a banking city. It is a city of money. The prices will give you the shivers.

Pepper

Ani12

Thanks Pepper .... Appreciate your valuable suggestions. Moving away slightly from the topic, is it economical to take a train pass or just buy tickets to visit these cities in Switzerland.

Pepper_von_snoot

Ani, no one can help you with train passes unless you post your itinerary.

We have to know how long you will be in Switzerland and where you are going.

www.sbb.ch

This site will help you with train schedules. Click on EN for English.

Pepper

Ani12

Tentative itinerary - 3 days in Switizerland (Zurich, Rapperswil, Luzern and any other nearby places). Then off to Italy - Venice, Florence and Rome. Total 7 days in Italy. Must exit from Rome. Hope this helps.

nini

Another vote for day trip to Stein am Rhein-loved it! The museum there that was mentioned is well worth a visit-it is actually an old farm house. Zurich has to be one of the most expensive cities in the world and our hotel experiences there were strictly Priceline bids. Dining is super costly.

Ani12

Nini - tks for sharing your experience. How did you travel to these places (Stein, etc.) .... train or bus ?

Ingo

Pepper, I did not specifically refer to your post, right? Other posts would qualify for bashing, no?

I did come all the way from Dresden to Zürich on the first trip, and only for Zürich. Second time I added Zürich after a couple of days in Konstanz. But no Lucerne on both trips, no Bernese Oberland.

I agree that there are many places in Switzerland that are more scenic, more picturesque. But some people actually want to see how Swiss people really live. The Bernese Oberland is hardly where the average Swiss lives. Ditto for the picturesque old town of Lucerne. And if you want picturesque you can hop on a train or boat to Rapperswil and there you are.

Ingo

Ani - buy the Zürich Card for 72 hours. Covers all transportation plus museums in Zürich (also the funicular up to Dolder and the train up to Üetliberg mountain). It also covers parts of the trip to Rapperswil (also boat), Lucerne and Stein am Rhein. However, with only 3 days you'll hardly be able to do 3 excursions. Lucerne would be my choice for a full day, Rapperswil for an afternoon.

Ani12

Good suggestion, Ingo. Well noted with thanks. Any suggestion for travel to the remaining sectors - Zurich/Venice/Florence/Rome. Is there any specific Rail Pass available and can I book it now (for journey in August).