Practical Tips
Arrival
Zurich is the transport hub of Switzerland. Zurich Airport (ZRH): 10 min. by train to the main station (6.80 CHF). From Germany by train: Munich 3:30h, Frankfurt 3:55h, Stuttgart 2:45h — all in comfortable ICE/EC.
Public Transport
The ZVV network (Zürcher Verkehrsverbund) includes trams, buses, S-Bahn, and boats. 15 tram lines perfectly connect the city.
- Single ride Zone 110: 4.40 CHF (valid for 1 hour)
- Day pass Zone 110: 8.80 CHF
- ZürichCARD (24h): 27 CHF — public transport + free entry to 40+ museums + boat trip + cable car
- ZürichCARD (72h): 53 CHF
All public transport in Zurich is included in the Swiss Travel Pass!
Accommodation
€ Budget: Zurich Youth Hostel (Mutschellenstrasse 114, bed from 40 CHF) — right by the lake, great location! PlacidHostel (Friedaustrasse 56, from 45 CHF).
€€ Mid-range: Hotel Marktgasse (double room from 220 CHF) — boutique hotel in the Old Town. CitizenM Zurich (double room from 160 CHF) — modern, central.
€€€ Luxury: Baur au Lac (from 700 CHF) — Zurich's grand hotel by the lake. The Dolder Grand (from 600 CHF) — legendary.
Best Time to Visit
June–September: Ideal. Bathing culture by the lake, street festivals, open-air cinemas. July: Street Parade (one of the largest techno parades in the world, 1 million visitors).
December: Christmas markets (main station, Sechseläutenplatz, Niederdorf). Atmospheric, but cold.
April: Sechseläuten — Zurich's traditional festival with the burning of the Böögg (snowman). The faster the head explodes, the better the summer will be.
