Zurich advise
 

I am traveling to Norway in May 1999. On the way back, I decided to tack ZRH on my trip since I've never been there. I'm flying in Thursday night and flying out Saturday mid-morning. Any suggestions on what I can do in ZRH in such a short period of time. I'd rather get input first-hand from people who have been there rather than rely on a book. Also, any comments on SR's Business class? Thanks!

Rudi, where are u ??? - Here's your chance to shine :)

(Rudi, I believe is from Zurich)

I'll do my best - give me a little bit of time. I like to be "salesman" for my town of choice: Zurich.

But I think I'll do it on the e-mail-way because the topic will be (probably) of little general interest and has little to do with Flyer-Talks - Frequent Flyer's topics.

The Swissair-Business-Class-topic will be answered (give me some hours time) at the Qualiflyer-Site here on FlyerTalk - ok?

Whenever I am in Zurich, I always find time to stroll down Bahnofstraase (I think that is how you spell it) and visit all the shops. I particularly like the chocolate shop that sells confectioneries in all kinds of shapes and designs.

good try: BAHNHOFSTRASSE (= street of the railway-station). But I recommend, not to take your wife or girlfriend with you on our "Fifth Avenue" - or at least confiscate her credit-cards before...

There are easy, comfortable rail-connections direct from the airport to that station (Zurich Hauptbahnhof = Zurich Mainstation) where the Bahnhofstrasse starts. Costs are about SFr 5 = $ 3.50 (get your ticket before you board). A taxi would be a fortune, about SFR 50 for only about 15 miles. Or even better, if you tell me, and if I feel in the mood, and if I am not running/flying myself to strange places just to accumulate some more miles/perks, I could get you at the airport for free and invite you for a drink - why not.

And when you are in Switzerland, don't bother about what you did or did not learn of the German language - stay with your english - even the Germans (our mammuth-neigbours in the North) don't understand our dialects.

By the way, the largest direct distance (from one far end to the other) is only 330 km = not even 200 miles - and you are either in Germany, France, Italy, Fuerstentum Lichtenstein or Austria.

The two most famous choclate-shops for hand-made chocolates in town:
- Spruengli (the mother-house of the later Lindt & Spruengli-factory)
Teuscher (you can find a Teuscher also in NYC, Rockefeller Center/Plaza - but you need either a lot of cash or a credit card without limits).

(by the way) one of our Pub's is just a two minutes walk from the main-station - and 50 meters (60 feets?) from the Bahnhofstrasse (a popular meeting-place for english-speaking (age-group 18-30). ok - no more advertising here.

AusTXHiker: as I am without any feedback on my e-mails (and infos) to you - do you want any more?

Rudi: Your English is pretty good, but you keep asking for help. Your don't have "Pub's" you have Pubs. And I alos saw something about "feet's" that I thought should have been "feet", but I'm not sure where it was.
I loved your correction of the spelling on "bahn", but I think you may be going too far in offering your hospitality. I'll probably take you up on it sometinme in the next couple of years, but I hope you don't intend it as universal. It could bankrupt you.

thank you for your spelling help - I appreciate.

I think I am egoistic enough to avoid the "kuckuck" on my house - just try "connecting" before you arrive in Zurich.

Sorry Rudi-- I just got back from an unwelcome, unexpected business trip to SFO.

Sorry guys, I know asking for advise about destinations may not be of interest to a frequent flyer BB. But given the travel experiences of people on this BB, it was hard resisting it.

you e-mailed that you stay at the Hilton.

advantages: 5 min free-Hilton-shuttle from the airport (every 20 min, pick-up: outside lowest-floor of Term B, to your extreme left - don't cross pick-up-road); Hilton Standard comfort, "the american hotel-way of hotel-life", HHonor-points and miles, fast & efficient airport-connection, no rush-hours on the street

disadvantages: 15 min from downtown (best way to go downtown: shuttle to airport, than train), Hilton Standard comfort, "the american hotel-way of hotel-life" (not very local), no real sight-seeing as from many downtown-hotel right from their window, no quick return to hotel from downtown-strolling.

Swissair tips:

Known for its prosperity, cleanliness and stability, Zurich traditionally echoed the straight-laced Puritan legacy of Zwingli. Modern-day pressures have brought change to thecity, but in the process it has loosened up and learned to have fun.

What's happening in Zurich? -- The Friday edition of the Tages-Anzeiger contains thesupplement züri-tip, with a detailed guide to entertainment, restaurants and cinema.

9:00 a.m. In summer the best way to start the day is at the Badi Utoquai, the lakeside bathing place. Gaze to your left for a panoramic view of the Alps. To your right are thetowers of the Grossmünster, Fraumünster and St. Peter's, which has the largest clock-face in Europe.

9.45 p.m. Stroll in the direction of the city center to Bellevue; the Centre Corbusier is nearby, but only open from July to September, and then only on weekends in theafternoons. From Bellevue, cross the Quaibrücke to Bürkliplatz. There's a market here on Tuesday and Friday mornings and a flea market on Saturdays.

11.00 a.m. Take a tram to the zoo. Next door is Fluntern Cemetery, where James Joyce is buried.

12.00 p.m. Go back in the direction of the city center until you get to Technical University (ETH) with its red cupola, and next to it the green one belonging to the main university. From the Poly Terrace, gaze down to the historic center of the city and the Central Library. Walk through the Niederdorf to the Grossmünster, Zurich's architectural landmark.

1.00 p.m. Cross the Münsterbrücke to the Fraumünster with its famous stained-glass windows by Marc Chagall. Afterwards relax at Strozzi's, Fraumünstergasse 8 for sophisticated fast food, wine by the glass and a beautiful setting in the idyllic Zentralhof.

2.30 p.m. Window shop in the Münsterhof, with a brief detour to the Trois-Pommes arcade, and on to Weinplatz, address of the traditional Storchen Hotel.

Browse the boutiques of Donna Karan, Gianni Versace, Jil Sander, and Issey Miyake.

5.00 p.m. Head to the Filmpodium in Kino Studio 4 in Nüschelerstrasse and check out the varied and interesting program. Films are always shown in the original language.

6.30 p.m. Stop in Shopville, the shopping arcade underneath the railway station, to buy hosiery and the obligatory Luxemburgerli at Spruengli (a sort of miniature sweet burger).

7.30 p.m. Dine at Opus in the Haus zum Kindli. Make sure you book ahead of time (tel. 211 41 82). Vow to visit the Rietberg Museum (Asian art) in the Rieterpark the following day.

11.00 p.m. Close with a nightcap at the tiny Weisse Rose in Torgasse near Bellevue,behind the Odeon.

An apèritif in the Jules Verne Bar in the observatory, just off the Bahnhofstrasse. This circular building offers a fascinating perspective on the city. The bar is open from 11 a.m. weekdays, on Sunday from 3 p.m.

Peter Brunner's restaurant, Kaisers Reblaube & Goethe-Stübli in Glockengasse (tel. 221 21 20). Peter Brunner's philosophy of the kitchen has also manifested itself in a sumptuouslyillustrated book (Notizen aus Küche und Wirtschaft). Try the Wollishofer semolina dumplings.

The Park zur Katz, where the Ethnology Museum is situated. Enjoy a romantic oasis of calm near the city center which used to be the Botanical Gardens.

Luxury Hotels:
-Dolder Grand Hotel, Kurhausstr. 65 (double room with a view of the lake CHF560, with a view of the woods CHF510)
-Widder Hotel, Rennweg 7 (double room CHF550-630)
-Eden au Lac, Utoquai 45 (double room CHF460-590)
-Sofitel, Stampfenbachstr. 60 (double room CHF400, weekend rates CHF 215)

Reasonably Priced but Beautiful Hotels:
-Swissôtel, Am Marktplatz Oerlikon (double room CHF300)
-Hotel Seegarten, Seegartenstr. 14, by the lake (double room CHF231)
-Marriott Hotel Zürich, Neumühlequai 42 (double room 265, weekend rates CHF185)
-Hotel Kindli, Pfalzgasse 1 (double room CHF250/270, weekend rates CHF210/230)

Central, Cozy and Moderately Priced Hotels:
-Hotel Krone, Limmatquai 88 (double room with communal shower CHF 89/102, double room with bath 125/132)
-Franziskaner, Niederdorfstr. 1 (double room CHF160-230)

Gazette - March 1997