Zurich Transportation

Getting There

Air

Zurich Airport (ZRH)
+41 43 816 2211
http://www.zurich-airport.com

Switzerland is located in the heart of Western Europe. Since it is landlocked, the airports are automatically strategic important entry/exit points. Located about 13 kilometers (eight miles) outside Zurich, in Kloten, the Zurich Airport is the country's largest international flight gateway, connecting the city to the world's commercial capitals and popular tourist destinations. The latest additions to the airport are an automated underground train system, a new terminal, and a new garage. The airport employs the service of around 100 different airlines that include giant carriers as well as low cost ones. The airport's Travel Center helps you book your tickets.

Some of the major airlines flying to Zurich include:

Air Canada (+41 848 247 226 / http://www.aircanada.com/)
Air France (+41 44 439 1818 / http://www.airfrance.com/)
Air India (+41 43 888 7090 / http://www.airindia.com/)
Alitalia (+41 848 486 486 / http://www.alitalia.com/)
American Airlines (+41 44 654 5256 / http://www.aa.com/)
British Airways (+41 84 884 5845 / http://www.ba.com/)
Continental Airlines (+41 44 315 5320 / http://www.continental.com/)
easyJet (+41 900 000 195 / http://www.easyjet.com/)
Delta (+41 844 000 074 / http://www.delta.com/)
Finnair (+41 84 800 0294 / http://www.finnair.com/)
Japan Airlines (+41 844 88 8700 / http://www.jal.com/)
KLM (+41 900 359 556 / http://www.klm.com/)
Lufthansa (+41 900 900 922 / http://www.lufthansa.com/)
SAS (+41 848 117 100 / http://www.sas.com/)
Swiss International Air Lines (+41 848 700 700 / http://www.swiss.com/)
United Airlines (+41 44 212 4717 / http://www.united.com/)
US Airways (+41 844 805 213 / http://www.usairways.com/)

From the Aiport

Bus

From the airport, there are about 11 bus lines (located behind garages two and three) that take you to the city center, and other surrounding areas like Zurich-Oerlikon, Glattal, Winterthur and more.

Taxi

There are numerous taxis for those who do not want to brave the buses or trains. Depending on traffic rides to downtown last 15-20 minutes.

Boat

You could also reach the city by train, car, bus or by boat. For boat service, call Zürichsee Schifffahrtgesellschaft (ZSG) (+41 44 487 1333/ http://www.zsg.ch/) to learn more about its seasonal service on Lake Zurich. Several inter-city trains and regional trains run between Zurich and its surrounding cities - Constance, Lausanne, Geneva and Basel.

Train

The Swiss Federal Railway (SBB) (+41 51 222 7376 / http://www.rail.ch/) at the airport, takes you to the main railway station within ten minutes. One of the most popular means is taking the train direct from the downstairs train station at the airport; the stop is called Zürich Flughafen. Trains arrive at the main train station from all over Switzerland as well as neighboring European countries, such as France, Germany, Italy and Austria. The Swiss Federal Railway (SBB) (+41 51 222 7376 / http://www.rail.ch/) offers an affordable and convenient way to get to this centrally-located country. The comprehensive website provides helpful information on train schedules; you can also book your own tickets. The Metro rail service (S-Bahn) offers service within the canton of Zurich and some outlying areas. The different lines are numbered from S1 to S43. If you intend on traveling in and out of the city, but staying within Swiss borders, go for the Swiss Pass. You can choose from the four- day to the 22-day pass, which permits unlimited access of Swiss Travel System's bus, boat and rail service (http://www.swisstravelsystem.ch/).

Car

If you plan to drive, take the N1 Northeast from Geneva, via Bern, to touch E17 and E4. Later drive eastwards to reach Zurich. If you are getting in from Basel, you can hit the route N3.

Getting Around

Public Transportation

The best way to move within the city is with the help of its excellent public transportation system. Equipped with an efficient mesh of trams and buses, the various neighborhoods of the city are well linked. For more information on transportation facilities in Zurich, get in touch with Zürcher Verkehrsverbund (ZVV), which is the main link to all the transport companies in Zurich canton (+41 848 98 8988/ http://www.zvv.ch/). You may even check with the other public transportation authority, Verkehrsbetriebe Zurich (VBZ) (+41 848 80 1880/ http://www.vbz.ch/) for precise information on how to get where. And to know which one to take, identify from the number and color. Just make sure you are heading in the right direction though! Both private and public bus services are available at your service. For instance, PostAuto (+41 44 317 2700) is a public bus service. Yet, private bus companies are a better way of getting acquainted with the city. Marti Reisebüro AG (+41 32 391 0111/ http://www.marti.ch/) at Kallnach offers good package deals on sightseeing within and outside the city. Twerenbold Reisen AG on Fislisbachstrasse in Rütihof also offers similar services (+41 56 484 8484/ http://www.twerenbold.ch/). For a unique way of getting acquainted with the city, hop on the Zurich Trolley or choose to bike it out with Zurich by Bike. Other seasonal services include the Fondue-Tram (+41 44 434 4434), which runs from November to February and serves culinary specialties while taking a ride.

Mountain & Steam Train

For a hike into the forests of Sihltal, or for a visit to some other scenic city, take the Sihltal Zürich Uetliberg Bahn. And if you are heading to some quaint towns in the Zurich Region, take the trip from Bauma to Hinwil with Dampfbahn-Verein Zürcher Oberland (DVZO) a historic steam train service, which is open on every first and third Sunday of the month, from May to October.

Taxi

Airport Taxi (+41 848 85 0852) offers a pick up from the airport to your hotel. It is located near the airport Arrivals 1 and 2. A ride from here to the city center would take you around 15 minutes and cost around CHF60. The city is also served by many private taxi companies. Alpha Taxi AG with its 24-hour service helps you design your own trip and if you want to head to the train station or further, call the Rail Taxi (+41 800 44 2266). Taxi fares are metered and include a tip.

Watertaxis

Avoid traffic jams with this pleasant watery option. Many companies like Wassertaxi offer ferry service along the coast of the lake, connecting the different areas to the city. And if you want to enjoy the scenic beauty around the lake at leisure, opt for the inexpensive day trips offered by Zurichsee Schifffahrtgesellschaft (ZSG) (http://www.zsg.ch/).

Rental Car

Opt to take it easy and drive down to your destination. Choose your car from the Rental Car Center at the airport, get in and drive off! Select among the few offices located in Car Park 3, some of which are the Alamo Rent a Car (+41 800 55 2174), the National Car Rental (+41 800 55 7021) and the Hertz Autovermietung AG (+41 848 82 2020).

Limousines

For those exclusive rides with or without drivers contact Elite/Carey Limousine (+41 44 800 1600 / http://www.eliterent.com/), One Limo Zurich (http://www.onelimo.com/Zurich32.htm), or Werner Keim Limousine Services (+41 44 262 4490 / http://www.wernerkeim.ch/).

Behinderten Transporte Zürich is specially designed for the handicapped. It offers transportation services throughout the city. Seasonal passes are available for citizens, while tickets are essential for tourists. Tixi Zurich also offers similar services (+41 44 493 1144 / http://www.tixi.ch/).

Planning a Trip

Arriving

By Plane -- Kloten Airport (tel. 044/816-22-11; www.zurich-airport.com), the international airport of Zurich, is the biggest airport in Switzerland and the most popular gateway to the country; in fact, it's among the 10 busiest airports in Europe. Located approximately 11km (7 miles) north of the city center, the trip by taxi costs between 55F and 60F ($45-$49/£23-£26). A far better and cheaper option is to take the Swiss Federal Railways train service; for 6F ($4.90/£2.55) -- press the solid red button on the automated ticket machine -- you'll arrive in less than 15 minutes at the Zurich Hauptbahnhof, the main railway station in the center of town. Zurich is a fairly compact town -- from the train station, you can walk or hop on a tram or bus to most Zurich hotels in less than 30 minutes. (The train ticket you purchase at the airport is valid for 1 hour and includes connecting travel on the trams and buses within central Zurich. Alternatively, you can purchase a 24-hour version of the same ticket for 15F ($12/£6.25) -- press the solid red button followed by the silver button with arrows). The train runs every 15 to 20 minutes between 5:36am and 12:20am. You can also take bus no. 768 (Zurich Airport-Seebach), but you'll have to change to tram no. 14 to get to the center of town.

By Train -- Several trains bound for Switzerland leave from the Gare de l'Est in Paris. Two nonstop trains leave from Paris to Zurich daily, taking 6 hours. There are also good links between Austria and Switzerland, with trains arriving from Salzburg in 6 hours or Vienna in 9 hours. The best connection from Italy is via Milan (4 1/2 hours). Trains to Zurich run every hour from Geneva (a 3-hr. journey) and from Basel (1 1/4 hr.). From Munich, high-speed express trains depart for Zurich frequently. All trains arrive at the Zurich Hauptbahnhof (tel. 0900/300-300).

By Bus -- Zurich's bus routes function only as feeder lines from outlying suburbs, which lie off the train lines, into the vicinity of the town's railroad station.

By Car -- From Basel, take N3 east, and from Geneva, take N1 northeast, going via Bern, where you'll connect with E4 and E17 heading east into Zurich.

By Boat -- The Zurichsee-Schifffahrtsgesellschaft, Mythenquai 333 (tel. 044/487-13-33; www.zsg.ch), offers regularly scheduled service on modern passenger ships as well as old steamers plying both sides of Lake Zurich. The service is operated from Easter to October, going from Zurich as far as Rapperswil.

Visitor Information

The Zurich Tourist Office, Bahnhofplatz 15 (tel. 044/215-40-00; www.zuerich.com), is in the main railway station. It's open November to April, Monday to Saturday from 8:30am to 7pm and Sunday 9am to 6:30pm; May to October, Monday to Saturday 8am to 8:30pm and Sunday 8:30am to 6:30pm.

City Layout

Zurich lies situated on both shores of the Limmat River, which flows from the northern end of Lake Zurich. The Sihl River, a tributary of the Limmat, also flows through the city, and quays line the riverbanks and the lake. The city spreads across a ravine in the eastern hills between the wooded slopes of the Zürichberg and Kääferberg hills into the Glatt River Valley.

The hamlet that became Zurich began at the Lindenhof, which is where you, too, may begin your orientation to the city. This square is the architectural center of historic Zurich. From here, you can survey the city as it rises on both banks of the Limmat from Bahnhofbrücke (brücke means bridge) to Quailbrücke. Between these two bridges are four other spans over the river: Muhle-Steg, Rudolf Brun-Brücke, Rathausbrücke, and Münsterbrücke.

Below this square runs Bahnhofstrasse, one of the most elegant and expensive shopping streets in the world. It begins in the north, at the Hauptbahnhof (the railway station), opening onto Bahnhofplatz, and runs south to the lake. It crosses Paradeplatz, a converging point for trams and the modern center of the city. From Paradeplatz continue east, passing Fraumünster church and crossing Münsterbrücke to reach the right bank of the river. Here, the narrow streets of the Limmatquai are the second-best place in the city to shop. Running parallel to Limmatquai is Niederdorfstrasse, in the so-called red-light district of Zurich.

Old Town, or Altstadt, was developed during the early medieval period and is focused on Lindenhof, Fraumünster, Grossmünster, and St. Peter's. It expanded to Weinplatz, the oldest market square, and Strehlgasse. By the 11th century, the city developed on the right bank with such centers as Kirchgasse and Neumarkt.

Finding an Address -- In a system that developed during the Middle Ages, all Swiss cities, including Zurich, begin their street-numbering system with the lowest numbers closest to the center of town. In Zurich the center is the Hauptbahnhof. All even numbers lie on one side of the street, and all odd numbers are on the other.

Maps -- The best map, published by Falk, is a pocket-size Stadtplan (city plan) with an index. Copies are available at various newsstands and bookstores. Try the Travel Book Shop, Rindermarkt 20 (tel. 044/252-38-83; www.travelbookshop.ch). Hours are Monday 1 to 6:30pm, Tuesday through Friday from 9am to 6:30pm, and Saturday 9am to 4pm.

Neighborhood in Brief

Zurich is divided by the Limmat River into the following two general areas:

West or Left Bank This district is dominated by Bahnhofplatz, center of rail connections, and Bahnhofstrasse, which is the main commercial and banking thoroughfare. This is the Zurich world of high finance and elegant shops. The venerable Fraumünster church, on Fraumünsterstrasse, dominates the west bank. Included within the west bank, but somewhat removed from its sense of high-flying prosperity, is the increasingly visible, increasingly gentrified, warehouse-cum-artmeisters district of Zurich West.

East or Right Bank Opposite Fraumünster, on the other side of the river, rises Grossmünster church, on Grossmünsterplatz; its two Gothic towers are an east-bank landmark. The historic guildhalls of Zurich, such as the Zunfthaus zur Saffran, rise on the east bank of the river. So, too, does the Rathaus, the city's town hall, completed in 1698. On the east bank you can explore the eastern part of Altstadt, strolling along Neumarkt, one of the best preserved of the old streets. The area beyond is Niederdorf, the center of the town's hot spots.

Getting Around

Zurich is an easy city to navigate, and the trams (streetcars) and buses are reliable.

By Public Transportation -- The public transport system of Zurich is operated by ZVV, or Zurich Public Transport (tel. 0848/988-988; www.vbz.ch). The modern and extensive network of trams and buses (there is no subway) runs daily from 5:30am to 12:30am. You should have to wait no longer than 6 minutes during rush hours. Most trams and buses connect at the Zurich Hauptbahnhof, in the heart of the city.

You can buy tickets from automatic vending machines located at every stop. You must have a ticket before you get on a vehicle; if you're caught without one, you'll pay a fine of 50F ($41/£21). The fare is 3.80F ($3.10/£1.60) for a trip of one hour. Visitors can get the most for their money by ordering a Tageskarte (1-day ticket), which costs 7.60F ($6.25/£3.25) and allows you to travel on all city buses and trams for 24 hours.

By Taxi -- Taxis are very expensive. The budget-conscious will only want to use them as a last resort. Your hotel will usually be glad to call a taxi for you, but if you're making the call yourself, call Taxi 444 (tel. 044/444-44-44). The basic charge before you even get into the vehicle is 6F ($4.90/£2.55), plus 3.50F ($2.85/£1.50) for each kilometer you travel.

By Car -- We don't recommend attempting to see Zurich by car -- the city is way too congested, and parking is too scarce and too expensive. Save the car for exploring the environs.

Rental Cars -- All the major car-rental firms are represented in Zurich, with offices at both Kloten Airport and downtown. Representative firms include Avis, with offices at Gartenhofstrasse 17 (tel. 044/296-87-87) or at the airport (tel. 044/800-77-33); Budget, with an office at Steinstrasse 21 (tel. 044/450-75-35); and Hertz, with a base at Morgartenstrasse 5 (tel. 044/298-84-84).

Parking -- You should get a street plan, which indicates parking garages with a "P" sign; a similar leaflet is available from the Zurich police. Some hotels have their own parking garages, for which there is an extra charge; others, especially those in congested Old Town, do not. You'll have to inquire at your hotel for the location of the nearest public garage. Parking costs range from 6F to 10F ($4.90-$8.20/£2.55-£4.25) per hour in most of the city's public garages.

By Bike -- Biking is a good way to get around Zurich, especially in the outlying areas. Bicycles can be rented at the baggage counter of the railway station, the Hauptbahnhof (tel. 051/222-29-04), for 27F ($22/£11) per day or 21F ($17/£8.85) for a half-day for a city bike. Hours are daily from 7am to 7:30pm.

On Foot -- Zurich and its quays are ideal for walking, and many of the places of interest, such as the sights of Altstadt on both sides of the Limmat, are conveniently grouped together.