One day in Zurich
May 13th, 2007, 03:03 AM
#42
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I know this is an old thread, but it came up to the top again, and I noticed that Cicerone had addressed some specific suggestions for me. So I want to thank her, and mention we did many of the things - bar expensive meals - mentioned here. In all we were in Switzerland for two weeks this time, and had to budget well. We bought more food from supermarkets this trip, and it was easier to have picnics as the weather was mild, even hot.
Highlights of our 50 hours or so in Zurich included the ferry trip to the other end of the lake and back on the 22nd September! Yes, they were running, but they weren't running on Lake Brienz on 28th - they'd stopped on 27th!
We loved the tram ride up to the zoo and the views from there. Also the train to Utliberg and the hike up the hill. And of course walking around the old town and so on.
Thank you again for the advice!
Highlights of our 50 hours or so in Zurich included the ferry trip to the other end of the lake and back on the 22nd September! Yes, they were running, but they weren't running on Lake Brienz on 28th - they'd stopped on 27th!
We loved the tram ride up to the zoo and the views from there. Also the train to Utliberg and the hike up the hill. And of course walking around the old town and so on.
Thank you again for the advice!
Jan 16th, 2008, 11:31 AM
#45
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Looking for suggestions of the best way to spend one day and night in Zurich.
We are taking a river cruise out of Basel. Our flight arrives to Zurich.
Any suggestions for accommodations around the main train station? Is it wise to leave some luggage in a locker and what is a cost for this service?
Thanks,Tanya
We are taking a river cruise out of Basel. Our flight arrives to Zurich.
Any suggestions for accommodations around the main train station? Is it wise to leave some luggage in a locker and what is a cost for this service?
Thanks,Tanya
Jan 16th, 2008, 05:10 PM
#46
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I assume you want to travel by train from Zurich to Basel, which is very easy, and they are only about an hour apart by train.
(Not that Zurich isn't interesting, but so is Basel, they have a small but very nicely compact old town and a nice cathedral on the river and an excellent modern art museum, the Beyeler, see beyeler.com/foundation. There is also a good Kunstmuseum (fine arts museum). It may be just as easy to go from Zurich Airport by train right to Basel for the night and see Basel. There is at least one train every hour that goes from the airport and requires no changes to get to Basel, otherwise there are frequent trains that only require 1 change. However, if you are returning to Basel at the end of the cruise you could do see Basel on the way out. There is no big lake in Basel like there is in Zurich and you can not usually see the Alps as you often can on a clear day from Zurich, so that is one consideration. )
OK assuming you want to spend a night in Zurich, it's really a pretty small town and IMO it does not matter a whole lot if you stay within a 5-10 minute walk of the train station or like a 5-10 minute tram ride which would put you further out of the main "down town" area, but in either case you won't be far. Do you have a budget for the hotel, that would be more of a help in giving reccos. If you have points in a hotel chain like Marriott or Sheraton this would be the town to use them in, as hotels are pretty expensive. Both have hotels in town that would be convenient to train stations (although for the Sheraton I would send you to another train station to walk to that hotel, and for some hotels on the right bank of the old town nearer the lake and Opera House there is another train station I would suggest you use.) You might run a search here as hotel recco post for Zurich have been pretty common in the past.
If you have a lot of luggage, yes, I would suggest you put it in the main train station rather than lugging it to a hotel for one night. ALSO, if you qualify, you may be able to send it from Zurich main station to Basel by train as unaccompanied baggage and you can pick it up the next day when you yourself arrive in Basel, see http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/en/reisemarkt/...isegepaeck.htm for info. This would be the easiest way, and it is very safe, I believe it costs about US$8 per piece without insurance which is a bit extra. However, you could only do this if you are able to give your luggage in by 9 am, otherwise they can't guarantee it will be there the next morning, it may take up to 36 hours, which you may not have. The program you want is "Fast Baggage" and NOT the regular train baggage service which takes up to 36 hours.
If you can't use the Fast Baggage service and want to use the lockers, you can either use lockers or the staffed luggage room in the main train station. If you have very large pieces, you will need to use the manned luggage room. If you use lockers, you will need exact change for the lockers (but the lockers accept Euros OR Swiss Francs). The luggage lockers are in the first basement area, right below the street level, look for a blue sign with a white suitcase and a key. The manned luggage room is on the street level, with your back to the tracks in the big arrival hall on the street level, look to the left toward the back of the huge hall, and look for a blue sign with a white suitcase. In either case, the cost is about US$3 per piece per 24 hours.
(Not that Zurich isn't interesting, but so is Basel, they have a small but very nicely compact old town and a nice cathedral on the river and an excellent modern art museum, the Beyeler, see beyeler.com/foundation. There is also a good Kunstmuseum (fine arts museum). It may be just as easy to go from Zurich Airport by train right to Basel for the night and see Basel. There is at least one train every hour that goes from the airport and requires no changes to get to Basel, otherwise there are frequent trains that only require 1 change. However, if you are returning to Basel at the end of the cruise you could do see Basel on the way out. There is no big lake in Basel like there is in Zurich and you can not usually see the Alps as you often can on a clear day from Zurich, so that is one consideration. )
OK assuming you want to spend a night in Zurich, it's really a pretty small town and IMO it does not matter a whole lot if you stay within a 5-10 minute walk of the train station or like a 5-10 minute tram ride which would put you further out of the main "down town" area, but in either case you won't be far. Do you have a budget for the hotel, that would be more of a help in giving reccos. If you have points in a hotel chain like Marriott or Sheraton this would be the town to use them in, as hotels are pretty expensive. Both have hotels in town that would be convenient to train stations (although for the Sheraton I would send you to another train station to walk to that hotel, and for some hotels on the right bank of the old town nearer the lake and Opera House there is another train station I would suggest you use.) You might run a search here as hotel recco post for Zurich have been pretty common in the past.
If you have a lot of luggage, yes, I would suggest you put it in the main train station rather than lugging it to a hotel for one night. ALSO, if you qualify, you may be able to send it from Zurich main station to Basel by train as unaccompanied baggage and you can pick it up the next day when you yourself arrive in Basel, see http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/en/reisemarkt/...isegepaeck.htm for info. This would be the easiest way, and it is very safe, I believe it costs about US$8 per piece without insurance which is a bit extra. However, you could only do this if you are able to give your luggage in by 9 am, otherwise they can't guarantee it will be there the next morning, it may take up to 36 hours, which you may not have. The program you want is "Fast Baggage" and NOT the regular train baggage service which takes up to 36 hours.
If you can't use the Fast Baggage service and want to use the lockers, you can either use lockers or the staffed luggage room in the main train station. If you have very large pieces, you will need to use the manned luggage room. If you use lockers, you will need exact change for the lockers (but the lockers accept Euros OR Swiss Francs). The luggage lockers are in the first basement area, right below the street level, look for a blue sign with a white suitcase and a key. The manned luggage room is on the street level, with your back to the tracks in the big arrival hall on the street level, look to the left toward the back of the huge hall, and look for a blue sign with a white suitcase. In either case, the cost is about US$3 per piece per 24 hours.
