I just bought a ticket to Zurich for next weekend and I have done very little research so far. So far all I know is that there is a lake with a tourist boat and that the city is supposed to be gorgeous.

Weather forecast says snow for the next couple of days. Cold. Fodors guide said the weather could be dreary. Suppose I should be prepared for walking in slush and snow?

I expect there will be an airport bus like any other airport, maybe a train or subway. Does Zurich have a subway system, or street cars, for getting around the city?

Priceline shows two regions: Central and Glattbrugg. There is absolutely no chance that I will be renting a car, so am wary about bidding in Glattbrugg if there is not convenient transportation.

Would like to hear about any events this weekend. Will probably stay in the city on Friday but might go elsewhere for a day trip or overnight on Saturday or Sunday. Are there hot springs spas in the area?

I would appreciate recommendations on hotels for $150 or less.

I will be there Feb 25 to 28.

I live in Zurich, bring a lot of warm clothing a good boots, we are having quite a cold winter and a lot of snow. Snow tends to melt quickly in the city itself, there is a lot more on the surrounding hills and countryside.

For basic info on the airport train, trams, etc, try clicking on “Destiations” above, also go to Frommers.com and go to the website for Zurich tourism at http://www.zuerich.com. You can also search for concerts and other events, also look at www.whatsonwhen.com for listings. It is opera season, but may be hard at this point to get tickets for a weekend. There is no particular holiday or festival next weekend.

A good map of Zurich would help make your trip a bit easier, if you don't have one there is a tourist office in the main train station that has good maps. The tourist office also has English language guided walking tours on Saturdays at 11 am & 3 pm that you might find a good intro to the city. They cost about US$15 and last about 2 hours. You don’t need a reservation, just show up at the tourist service office in the hautbanhof a few minutes before the tour. For information, e-mail the tourist service at [email protected], or go to http://www.zuerich.com/sightseeing

I would pick Central if you are bidding for hotels, Glattburg is north of the city and is towards the airport. It may be tough to find hotels in that price range, as Zurich is quite expensive, but February is not high tourist season. I have listed a few of the lesser expensive ones I know and would recommend, they may still be above your budget, but it is worth contacting them as it is low season. Many offer weekend rates as well. Run a search here, as Zurich hotels are a pretty popular topic.

Zurich is quite small and compact and the main tourist areas can all be done on foot quite easily. The trams do not run in many of the more charming sections which are pedestrian-only. My favorite parts are the little streets off of St Peter’s Square and the Lindenhof on the “left” bank (train station side), and the streets leading off the Neiderdorf and Kirchgasse on the “right” bank (university side). Cobblestone streets with charm galore.

If it is a clear day, I would suggest you take the little train up to Utliberg , the highest point in the Zurich city area which offers spectacular lake and Alp views. The train leaves from the main train station in Zurich and also makes a stop at the Selnau station in Zurich. The ride takes about a half hour. There is a hotel at the top with a self-service and full-service restaurant.

The ferry boats and tour boats run on a very abbrieviated schedule during the winter. The tourist info office in the main train station should have schedules, or your hotel may be able to give you a schedule a swell.

There are no hot springs in the immediate area, I think the closest are in Bag Ragaz (about an hour by train, quite a pretty ride). You might try looking at myswitzerland.com for info on hot springs. If you want to be in the mountians, you can get to the Bernese Oberland (Wengen/Interlaken), or the Grabunden/Engadine area (or Davos/Klosters,St Moritz, Pontresina, Guarda) by train in 2-4 hours depending on how far you want to go. Take a look at rail.ch for train schedules. Myswitzerland.com will give you basic info on each area and links.

Hotel Helmhaus
Schifflände 30
8001 Zürich
tel: 41-1 251 88 10
fax: 41-1 251-0403
http://www.helmhaus.ch

Hotel Adler
Hirschenplatz
Tel: (01) 266 9696. Fax: (01) 266 9669.
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.hotel-adler.ch

Hotel Seefeld Seefeldstrasse 63
8008 Zurich
41-1-387-4141
41-1-837-4151
http://www.hotel-seefeld.che 63
[email protected]

To correct my own post, the hot springs town is Bad Ragaz, not Bag Ragaz.

Also, the walking tours may only be in the mornings in the winter, check with the tourist office which is located in the main train station (Hautbanhof).

I have only visited Zurich once, but the above post says it ALL. Very concise and informative. The train connection to/from the airport is excellent.

Good morning, CICERONE , When last in Zurich, November of 2003 there was
a ristorante which was getting favorable reviews at the time and that was the Blind Cow, is it still open or
had it failed. Thank you, Richard of LaGrange Park, Il.

As far as I know, it is still open, but you need to book several weeks in advance. I think the food is not nearly as memorable as the experience; I have not been myself. Too many actually good restaurants in Zurich.

Take a look at http://www.blindekuh.ch/

Thanks, Cicerone, for all of the info and links. I will definitely take your advice on Zurich as I benefited from your recommendation of Ananda Cottages.

My bid was accepted at Priceline. I got the Mercure Stoller Zurich. Read some very negative comments about the place! For example, they put one person in a room facing the tram line even though the place was half empty. Gave him that room because he was a priceline customer and then extorted more money to move to a quieter room.

So, I am getting prepared on being unhappy with the hotel. Am going to call the Metropole number in the U.S. and Priceline though I don't think that will do any good, but I might feel better about this by pre-complaining.

Cicerone, I wonder if you think that the tourist office could help if the place is as bad as it sounds? Is there a better business bureau or something? If they try to extort me then I want some local authority to know. Not that it would do any good.

Cicerone, what do you think of the Zurich Marriott for location and convenience? I will contact Seefeld to see what their weekend rates are like. The Helmhaus was also recommended at Frommer's.

Zurich is one of my wife and my favorite cities, our favorite hotel is Bar Au Lac, at least check it out, absolutely beautiful. The old town area is just loaded with all kinds of restaurants all within walking distance, i can just taste the schnitzel now. Zurich is a very elegant town, can't wait to get back, ENJOY!

I live in Zurich as well and the Marriott is a perfect location - 2 minute walk to the HauptBanhof/Main Train Station so once you arrive and take the train from the airport you will not need to walk through the city in the cold and snow - it is right there on the other side of the Limmat River. Perfect for picking up the River Taxi or taking a stroll through the Old Town or walking over to Banhofstrasse. enjoy Zurich it is a great city!

Thanks for the info about the Marriott. I have calmed down a bit since seeing the bad review of the Mercure (not Metropole) hotel. "You pays your money and you takes your chances", as they say. Their lowest internet rate, advance purchase, is 120 CHF. I bid $80. With taxes it would be about 100 CHF. I will see what the Mercure is like but will keep my Marriott reservation which I have until 6PM on Friday to cancel.

Am at the Quanta internet place on Niederdorf.

Before I left the USA, I did call Mercure to see if I could upgrade my priceline room at the Stoller and found out that I had a superior double room, but was not able to upgrade.

While I was checking in this morning, I asked the lady if things were busy and she said no, it was slow because it was the weekend. She also said that the only rooms they made available through PL were standard double rooms facing the street. If I wanted a room facing the back, then I would have to pay a whopping 50 Sfr per night more. Turns out that the difference between the standard double and the superior double is that the standard faces the street and the superior doesnt. I insisted that Mercure told me I had a superior room and she gave in saying that she would make an exception this one time. Minor victory for me, considering the room is not that great, but a victory and a good deal considering the price.

Prettz easy finding my way around. Got a tageskarte and been riding the trams. Had lunch on the 5th floor of a department store on Bahnhofstrasse. Dinner at the Adler restaraunt. Had the Zuricher veal, very good.

The z and y are mixed up on this keyboard.

Couple of notes:
- the Chagall stained glass windows are absolutelz magnificent. Never have seen anzthing like it.
- there seem to be a lot of v. tall women here
- the fraumunster was started in 10th century, if I read the German sign correctly. The grossmunster is 12th centurz, or so. Both look fairlz new. Must be rebuilt or is it the stone?
- is the schweizer deutche much differnt that regular German (high german)? It has been a while since I have heard much native German being spoken but this seems to be significantlz different. Kind of like the difference between a Porteno speaking Spanish in Buenos Aires and a Mexican speaking Spanish. Same language, but it comes out sounding quite different. Might be that I just have not heard much High German being spoken recentlz.
- there are a lot of nice stores in Zurich and AT LEAST half of them are schuh stores. My guide book said that Zurchers make their first impression of a person by looking at the person's shoes. I believe it now. These folks take their shoes seriously. There are lots of shoe stores, so lots of competition, but the prices are high.

hi mrwunrfl,
i'm going to be in zurich in late march and staying at the hotel hirschen on niederdorfstr (i think very close to the adler). if you pass by it, can you let me know if it looks clean and an Ok place to stay? if not, i might change to the marriott (have free nights wth points). hope you're having fun in zurich... your post and the replies are very helpful!!

There is a great place you can go to if you are interested in a little treat while in Zurich. I noticed you mentioned that you were interested in some hot springs, and this is a great alternative.
Last year when I visited, I indulged in a few hours at a fitness park that my swiss friend told me about.
Fitnesspark Stockerhof is a little gem! I paid about $20 I think, for a few hour admittance to their health club, where there is a heavenly pool with water jets all over (large pool), a sauna room, and a fabulous aroma steam room, where you can sit on little wooden mats (get one just to the inside of the door and put it on the marble bench) and then when you exit, stand under the 'waterfall' area and push the button for a refreshing douse!
I think the afternoon admittance is only available after 1pm.
enjoy!!

Fitnesspark Stockerhof
Dreikönigstrasse 31a
8002 Zürich
Tel. 044 206 50 50

Mo-Fr 08.00-22.00
S&S 09.00-20.00

made it up to utlieberg this am. cloudy, not much view
can check hirschen tonight
tx for stockerhof, will locate on map

eeven the homeless looking guy has nice boots, handing outr flzer

i just missed the sbahn to winterthur but there is a fast train at 1137.

the guy is handing out fliers here at tthe hbf. kind of looks like a homeless person but ¨wearing nice boots

people sledding down from utlieberg, over 3km ride. should find rent-a-sled

They are not really serious about the shoes in Winterthur. Several of the shoe stores are having half off sales.

At Winterthur station, was happy to see that the S12 that would take me to Zurich continued from there to Baden, so I went straight on thru. I think my pass covered it. At Baden, I went to the public thermal pool. On the way, I stopped at the Baden casino and played blackjack. They also have slots and roulette. No jacket required like the casino you read about near zurich. Baden was only a half hour away.

I just took a look at a room a the Hirschen Hotel and I cannot recommend it. I saw the room that has the 140 cm double bed. Bed is just a mattress. Small room and very basic furnishings. Location is good, just a half block away from this internet place which is a half block away from the Rudolf Brun Brucke tram stop (take tram 4 from the station). I would not want a room that faced the platz. Lots of people out on the town here.

The single and two-person "large" room is what I described above. Same bed in both. 150 single 175 for two.

Had a rate of 175 or so for a room at the Marriott and would stay there anytime. It is in a convenient location but just a bit out of the way.

I walked by the Helmhaus yesterdaz and that looked nice. Recommended bz Cicerone and fodors and frommers. Great location.

Free Marriot staz would be a great choice.

It's probably too late for this but several years ago we stayed at the Zurcherhof, a Best Western, on Zahringerstrasse. It was ok, rates were reasonable and I understand they have renovated all rooms recently. It's also convenient to the main rail station.

Hi mrwunrfl,

Just a note to tell you I'm thoroughly enjoying your notes! Thanks so much for thinking of us while travelling. I love this vicarious visit!

Thanks!

s

took thê train and bus to liechtenstein then train tro bad ragaz and back to zurich. got passport stamp at the post museum in vaduz and visitëd the kunstmusem. sushi not so good axt the cafe in the museum. the bad was good in bad ragaz, lukjewarm tho at abt 100f.
got ticket for mthe whole trip 67f at zurich hbf. lost atr b.r. casino. missed tthe last bus to b.ragaz station and bumme^d a ride from somec guys.
lost thee stocking cap that cost 2400 yen in kanazawa last month.
snowy and woindy in bad r but rotenburo was gut