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  • Take the Polybahn, a 19th century funicular, up the steep hill for a fine view. Starts at tram station Central and goes up to the ETH. Zone 10 ZVV ticket is valid. Nice terrace up there. During the week, the student cafeteria below the terrace is also open to the public.
  • Go skiing by train — Buy a snow'n'rail ticket (train & skipass) at the Hauptbahnhof during winter months, train out in morning, back in evening. Flumserberg is the closest large ski-resort, popular with people from Zurich, with a good range of runs for beginners and experts. Retreat to the right side of the resort if the rest gets busy.
  • Take a trip on the Zürichsee with one of the two old steam ships. There are a few different routes you can choose from, which will vary mainly in the distance. Or rent a small rowboat.
  • Go up Uetliberg, a hill overlooking Zurich. You can hike up, or take a train from the main station. Enjoy the 360 degree view from a tall viewing tower (not for vertigo sufferers!). This is also the start of the planetenweg (planetary walk), an 8 mile walk along the ridge with models of the planets along the way. These are scaled down in true proportion to the solar system. To look at Zürich from the other hills, go to the Irchel (Tram station Milchbuck) or Käferberg (Bucheggplatz, walk up the hill and keep left of the forest).
  • Go club-hopping — Zürich has proportionately the largest number of clubs per capita in Europe. Pick up a free copy of the 20 Minuten (20 Minutes) paper and start exploring.
  • Go for a bike ride! You can get free bikes, skates or other fun transport at several stops throughout town. Beware though that biking within the city is only for the experienced, as trams and buses frequent the roads and tram tracks are a serious hazard to inexperienced cyclists.
  • The Grossmunster sometimes has organ concerts in the evenings. Check the front door for notices.
  • Explore the full and vast selection of foods and condiments available at any Swiss supermarket, heavily influenced by cultures of all the countries around Switzerland. Migros is everywhere and cheap for Swiss standards; Coop is slightly more expensive but has a greater selection of high quality foods; Globus at Lowenplatz has a more upscale supermarket in the basement which is worth at least a browsing.

Events

  • Streetparade, [28] — Currently the biggest open air techno rave in Europe. It happens one day each year on the second Saturday of August, during which trucks which function as mobile soundsystems ("Love mobiles") start driving along the lake side, starting from the east at Utoquai and ending at the west at Hafen Enge. Every year this event attracts nearly a million visitors who dance in the streets to the music which you can hear from anywhere in the city. After the Streetparade the party doesn't stop, there are open air parties along the route until midnight and club parties at various locations in town until late the next day, to keep the party going. Don't be surprised if the city isn't so clean the next day.
  • Swiss national day, August 1st — Celebrations are carried out in many cities in the evenings and fireworks are launched at night. Watch them over the lake, or if you're experienced with safely launching fireworks yourself, you can buy them in the days leading up to the national holiday and have fun. The display over the Rheinfall, one hour away by S-Bahn, is also extremely popular.
  • Züri Fäscht, which occurs every 3 years (next in 2010), is a weekend festival celebrating Zurich.

Photos from Zurich, Switzerland
Grossmünster in Zurich
Sprüngli
Limmat River in Zurich
Fraumunster windows by Chagal
Central Zurich and the St. Peter Church
Trams in Zurich

Most of the interesting sights are in the old town around the river and lakefront.

  • Grossmünster, Zwingliplatz, [14]. Old Romanesque church, symbol of reformed Zurich, where reformer Huldrych Zwingli was appointed the people's priest in 1519. Tower 2CHF.  edit
  • Fraumünster, Kämbelgasse 2, [15]. Old Gothic church (former convent) with window paintings by Marc Chagall.  edit
  • Landesmuseum, Museumstrasse 2, +41 44 218 65 11, [16]. Tu-Su 10AM-5PM and most public holidays including M. The biggest Swiss history museum. You can also learn about the various traditions of the cantons comprising Switzerland. It's currently undergoing major refurbishment works until 2009 though many exhibitions are still open.  edit
  • Kunsthaus, +41 44 253 84 84, [17]. One of the major Swiss art museums. Its specialities are modern sculpturer Giacometti and the surrealist 18th Century painter Fuseli, both Swiss.  edit
  • Schanzengraben. A small canal that used to be part of the city fortifications between Limmat and Sihl. From the main station, go to Gessnerallee, find the stairways down to the tiny creek, and walk all the way to the lake.  edit
  • Rietberg Museum, Gablerstrasse 15, +41 (0)44 206 31 31, [18]. One of Europe's best collections of Asian art (mainly Indian drawings).  edit
  • Langstrasse. Red light district of Zürich, with more drug dealers and police than usual, but interesting because even this most notorious spot in Switzerland is so clean and safe. Expect some lewd comments when walking alone at night as a woman. This busy night-life street is crowded by pubs and bars and about 15 strip clubs.  edit
  • Zoo, Zürichbergstrasse 221, +41 44 254 25 05, [19]. With the new Masoalahall, the Zoo is really worth a visit!  edit
  • Lake Promenade. Especial during summer, the lake is a beautiful place to spend the evening or the weekend. Starting from Bellevue, the boardwalk goes for about three kilometers along the lake towards Tiefenbrunnen. About halfway from Bellevue there is a meadow where you will find thousands of people on a sunny day.  edit
  • Chinese Garden, +41 44 435 21 11, [20]. This small but beautiful Chinese garden was offered to the city of Zurich by the Chinese city of Kunming as symbol of gratitude after Zurich helped the Kunming with technical knowledge.  edit
  • Le Corbusier House, (near Chinese Garden), [21]. A beautiful modern villa planned by the famous Swiss architect.  edit
  • Lindenhof. The hill in the heart of the old town. A beautiful view of the city and one time location of a Roman fort.  edit
  • Niederdorf. The old town offers beautiful alleys and luxurious shops.  edit
  • Bahnhofstrasse. One of the busiest and best known shopping streets in the world. Highly refined. Certainly a must-see for every tourist in Zurich! (see below)  edit
  • Museum Buehrle, Zollikerstrasse 172, +41 44 422 00 86, [22]. A rich private art collection worth visiting.  edit
  • Jacob Coffee Museum, Seefeldquai 17, +41 44 388 61 51, [23]. An original museum which describes the evolving of coffee and different aspects of the culture the developed around it.  edit
  • Zurich West. This modern quarter used to be an industrial one, but modern urban developments made it into a centre of vibrant night life.  edit

Shows and Theatre

  • Rote Fabrik (Red Factory), [24]. An old silk factory converted to a center of youth culture and art in the 80's. The Red Factory became one of the most exciting parts of cultural life. An artists coop, a couple of kilometres south, form along the west bank of Lake Zurich. They have a variety of events, including music, film, and theatre.  edit
  • Theater am Neumarkt, Neumarkt 5, [25]. Closed Summer. Closer to downtown.  edit
  • Schauspielhaus, Schauspielhaus Pfauen, Rämistrasse 34, 8001 Zürich (Tram stop Kunsthaus), +41 44 258 77 77, [26]. Zurich's Schauspielhaus is one of the most important theatres in the German speaking part of Europe. The Schauspielhaus has several locations, the most important one being the Pfauen. Students can get really cheap last minute tickets (10 minutes before the show) if they show their student ID. The best category, if available, costs 20 CHF that way.  edit
  • Opernhaus, Falkenstrasse 1, CH-8008 Zurich (Tram stop Opernhaus, or take the S-train to Stadelhofen), +41 44 268 64 00, [27]. The Zurich Opera house shows frequently changing productions of world famous operas. As for the Schauspielhaus, students get a big last-minute discount. The best category costs 45 CHF for students.  edit

Photos from Zurich, Switzerland
Trams in Zurich
Sprüngli
Limmat River in Zurich
Central Zurich and the St. Peter Church
Bahnhofsstrasse
Fraumunster windows by Chagal

By plane

Zurich Airport [2] (IATA: ZRH) (German: Flughafen Zürich-Kloten) is Switzerland's largest and busiest airport, run with Swiss efficiency. It is actually in the community of Kloten, 12 minutes by train from central Zurich, trains depart about every 10-15 minutes. Several bus lines connect at the airport and provide access to the Winterthur region.

Most major airlines fly to Zurich but SWISS [3] is still the Swiss flagcarrier and covers the biggest part of the international traffic at the airport. Almost every large hotel in Zurich provides shuttle buses from the airport to your hotel. The stops for these buses are a short walk to the right from Terminal 1 arrivals.

EasyJet resumed its flights to Zurich in 2007 after a three year absence.

By train

Regular trains to and from other Swiss and European cities leave from and arrive at the Hauptbahnhof, the main train station, conveniently located in the city centre at the end of Bahnhofstrasse, with easy access to mass transit. The Zurich Hauptbahnhof (HB) is served by the local S-Bahn commuter trains, InterCity (IC and ICN) connections throughout Switzerland, Italy's Cisalpino [4], Germany's ICE, France's TGV [5], and various other direct night train services to/from as far as Amsterdam, Berlin, Rome, Lecce, Barcelona, Budapest, and Beograd.

For train times and tickets, visit the SBB [6] or Deutsche Bahn [7] websites, although you may not be able to book many international journeys online through these websites. If you are already in Europe, your local train station office should usually be able to book these trains. A rail pass may make your trip cheaper. For more long-distance international journeys, visit Seat61 [8] for more information.

The train station and the connecting underground mall has shops, restaurants, and a grocery store which locals use when they need to do Sunday shopping, as it is not subject to the closing hours laws otherwise in force in the city.

By car

Almost every highway in Switzerland leads straight into Zurich. This might be quite easy for tourists, but is also really painful if you have to cross Zurich on a daily basis.

By bus

The main bus station is next to the main train station, where the river Sihl is flowing into the river Limmat. Many buses arrive there from other European cities, mainly southern destinations like former Yugoslavia or Spain.

By boat

As Zurich is located at the end of lake Zurich, it can be reached by boat from other lake villages, e.g. Rapperswil at the upper end of the lake.


Photos from Zurich, Switzerland
Central Zurich and the St. Peter Church
Bahnhofsstrasse
Limmat River in Zurich
Trams in Zurich
Fraumunster windows by Chagal
Grossmünster in Zurich

Public transportation

Zurich is famous for its highly efficient, clean and safe public transport system. The network includes trams, buses, S-Bahn (local trains) and even boats for the lake and river. The size and complexity of the network may be daunting at first, but you will soon realize that there are dozens of ways to get from one place to another and following any of them will still be efficient.

Tickets — Tickets must be purchased from a ticket machine before boarding or from one of the ticket selling kiosks. The ticket machines might be intimidating at first glance, but simply get a "Tageskarte Zone 10" (day card valid for 24hr) for 8.00CHF by pushing the green button (a single ride costs 3.90CHF). The ticket covers the city and should be enough for most tourists' needs, except perhaps the Uetliberg, which is not in Zone 10. This ticket is valid for all trains, trams, buses, boats and cable cars in Zone 10, so take a trip on the lake or river with the same ticket! If you are not sure whether your destination is in Zone 10, possible destinations (with their respective code) are listed at each vending machine. Punch in the code and the price will be displayed.

The Swiss Pass is valid on all public transportation in Zurich, and if you are a tourist visiting most of Switzerland, this may be your best way to saving both money and time spent trying to figure out zones, routes, and fare options. Eurail passes are valid only on the S-Bahn and boats. Interrail passes are valid on the S-Bahn (although the ZVV website claims a "reduction" for other routes for Interrail holders). Nevertheless, you may find you don't need the trams and buses if you don't mind walking around a little.

There are many other special offers on tickets for tourists so ask at the tourist information center, your hotel or visit the Zurich Public Transport Authority (Zürcher Verkehrsverbund ZVV)[9]. The ZVV is a regional agency that coordinates fares and schedules for the region's different transit companies. The ZVV's website has maps, links to transit providers in the Zürich area, and trip planning information.

By tram and bus

Several tram lines and buses (some electrified) cover the city at street level. Like all other public transport in Zurich, you purchase and validate tickets before boarding, or risk a fine if they decide to spot check. The most surprising thing about trams and buses in Switzerland is that they are also extremely punctual and you can find a schedule at every stop accurate to within a couple of minutes.

By rail

The S-Bahn is Zürich's regional rail system, used mainly by commuters but also a good way to get to many destinations outside the city centre. Zürich's S-Bahn system provides convenient and fast service throughout the region. Most of the lines pass through the Hauptbahnhof. The ZVV offers directions[10] for a series of excursions on the S-Bahn. One popular destination (not mentioned on the ZVV website) is Stein am Rhein, a restored medieval village on the river Rhine which can be reached using the S-Bahn number 29 from Winterthur.

The S-symbol stands for Selbskontrolle (i.e. Self-controlled), you must have a validated ticket before you board. If you do not have a ticket you will be liable for an on-the-spot fine of 80CHF.

By boat

There are two types of boat-based public transportation operated in Zürich: river buses and lake steamers. The river boats operate in the summer months only and the lake boats operate on a much reduced schedule during the winter.

The river buses operate between the Landesmuseum (near the Hauptbahnhof) along the Limmat River and out in the Zürichsee (Zürich Lake) to Tiefenbrunnen. There are several stops along the Limmat River.

The Zürichsee Schifffahrtsgesellschaft (ZSG) [11] operates lake steamers which leave from Burkliplatz (at the end of Bahnhofstrasse). The ZSG's website provides information on destinations and ships. The ZSG offers a variety of tourist-oriented trips (including Jazz Brunch, and historic restored steam ships), and a popular trip is to Rapperswil at the south end of the Zürichsee. The town has a beautiful castle overlooking the lake surrounded by a medieval town.

On foot

The main train station, old town and the lake promenade and all nearby tourist attractions are easily walkable. You may find that you don't need transportation for most of your tourist needs once you get into the city.

By bike

You can "rent" bikes, skateboards etc. for free from 7AM-9:20PM daily May-Oct at several places in Zurich and year-round at the central train station. This offer is called "Züri rollt (German only)"[12]. You can get and return the bikes at several locations: the bikegate just next to the central station, next to the "Globus City" shopping centre, next to the opera, or at the Swissotel in Oerlikon. If you can't find these places, don't hesitate to ask some locals, they should know at least the bikegate at the central station. The Zurich Transit Company, VBZ also provides information about these bikes in English [13]. Nevertheless, you shouldn't count on it because sometimes the "rent" spots run out of bikes.

By car

Driving in Zurich is possible but it is painful as the city centre is not easy to navigate in a car.


Photos from Zurich, Switzerland
Limmat River in Zurich
Central Zurich and the St. Peter Church
Grossmünster in Zurich
Fraumunster windows by Chagal
Trams in Zurich
Sprüngli

For shopping in Zürich there are three different areas in the centre:

  • Bahnhofstrasse, which runs from the Zürich Train Main station "Hauptbahnhof" right down to the lake. Bahnhofsstrasse is famous for being one of the most exclusive and expensive shopping streets in the world. Here you can get anything from diamond rings to chocolate and fur coats. Globus and Jelmoli are two fiercely competitive department stores, both of whom carry items from many high-end brands.
  • Niederdorf, which is the Old Part of Zurich and expands from "Bellevue" by the Lake right to "Central" which is just over the River from the train station. The Niederdorf is more for young people. Aside from a lot of fast food places you will find a lot of trendy clothes stores here.
  • Löwenstrasse, which runs west of Bahnhofstrasse from the main train station, has lower range shops and a large branch of Migros, a department store chain.

Swiss clocks and watches

You may be disappointed to know that most of the cheap watches and clocks in Switzerland are imported from China and Japan for their cheap quartz movements (including most of the wall clocks and alarm clocks sold at department stores, for example). Don't purchase a "Migros Budget" clock for 8CHF thinking it is a Swiss clock! Nevertheless, real Swiss-made clocks are still well-known for their quality and reliability, and intricate mechanics. The following are true Swiss-made watches:

  • Swatch, possibly your best bet for a "cheap" Swiss watch (40-100CHF) and perhaps better suited for the younger generation. Available in their stores on Bahnhofstrasse and various other locations, or in department stores.
  • M-Watch, based on both Mondaine and Migros and available in Migros Electronics stores such as the one on the 2nd floor of the Lowenplatz location. Also relatively inexpensive (40-100CHF). Do not confuse this with "M-Budget" which is an imported cheap watch.
  • Mondaine is known for their use of the famous SBB railway clock face. You can buy a replica of the SBB clock as a watch or a wall clock in most major railway stations, among other locations. However, you should note that most of them do not replicate the hallmark smooth movement of the second hand for 58.5 seconds followed by the 1.5 second pause that is characteristic of real SBB railway clocks, but they do replicate the clock face. They are quartz, and the price may seem a little inflated to you (130-180CHF). The vast majority of SBB railway clocks are actually produced by Mobatime (Moser-Baer AG), not Mondaine, even though Mondaine's name appears on some of the larger clocks such as the Treffpunkt in Zurich HB. Mondaine's wall and desk clocks, however, are only of "Swiss design" and are manufactured in China and Taiwan.
  • Mid-range brands (100-500CHF) can be found at clock and watch stores throughout the city. Just walk in and have a look if you're interested.
  • Upper-end watches and clocks, such as Rolex, are also sold, but you should probably do more research into them than you can find here. If you just want to stare at some of the most expensive watches for sale, take a look at the Bucherer store window at Bahnhofstrasse and see what a 25,000CHF watch looks like.

Swiss chocolate

Brands

  • Frey is a budget chocolate brand sold in Migros supermarkets, and though very low end in Swiss terms, is still excellent for a budget brand and probably better than most chocolate from elsewhere. Expect 1.20-2CHF for a 100g bar.
  • Lindt is available at the Coop and other supermarkets besides Migros for 2-2.50CHF, but they are sold at about half the supermarket price at the factory store[31], a 15-minute walk from the Kilchberg S-Bahn stop. Alternatively, take the bus 165 from Bürkliplatz, after ca. 12 minutes you reach the stop called "Schooren" which is located directly at the factory. Hours are limited (M-Th 9AM-5PM, F 9AM-4PM). A fantastic place to stock up on chocolate at bargain prices. They also sometimes sell factory rejects (when they happen for various reasons such as filling showing through) at even cheaper prices. If Germany is on your itinerary you can also stop at the Lindt factory store in Aachen which is huge.

The larger Coop supermarkets carry many brands, including Lindt, Camille Bloch, Goldkenn, and others, including all sorts of alcohol-filled chocolates.

Confectioneries

  • Teuscher [32] — An upscale confiserie that specializes in truffles. There are a three stores in Zürich: Bahnhofstrasse 46, Storchengasse 9 and Jelmoli Department Store.
  • Sprüngli — A Zurich institution that offers a variety of sweet and savory goodies including a wide variety of chocolates, from hand-made truffles to special chocolate bars. There are locations throughout the city, including Bahnhofstrasse and inside Zurich HB. Some specialities include the Luxemburgerli, a sort of soft macaroon resembling a hamburger in looks but is actually completely pastry and cream, and comes in a variety of flavors; the Truffe du Jour, a chocolate truffle that is made daily from raw cream and is meant to be consumed immediately; and the extraordinary Grand Cru Sauvage truffle, made from wild cacao beans from Bolivia. Most items are rather pricey but worth it. The flagship store on the Paradeplatz is a very popular spot for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. Try their berry-filled muesli, it's like no other muesli you've ever had. There are two handy stores at the Kloten airport for last-minute gifts to bring home.
  • St. Jakobs Confiserie, Badenerstrasse 41, [33]. The background organisation, Behindertenwerk St. Jacob, aims at providing jobs for disabled people.

Swiss handcrafts

  • Schweizer Heimatwerk, Uraniastr 1 (on the Limmat river), [34]. Also branches in the Hauptbahnhof (main station), airport, and Rennweg 14 in the Bellevue area. Quality Swiss handcrafts and other Swiss-made products presented in a gallery-like setting. You won't find many cuckoo clocks and the like here (cuckoo clocks are not really Swiss, they are from the Black Forest (Schwarzwald) in Germany!), the emphasis is on real traditional crafts and the work of modern craftspeople. You will find things like sleek modern hand-blown glassware and beautiful hand-carved wooden items from the Appenzell region. A worthwhile visit even if you just browse.

Swiss army knives

  • Coop City in Bahnhofstrasse sells the Victorinox line at uninflated prices, although you won't get additional bells and whistles like customized faceplates or engraving. Quite possibly many other department stores will also carry them.
  • Any cutlery shop will probably carry both Victorinox and Wenger lines of products. However, do make sure they are not inflating the price. For example, a SwissChamp (possibly the most popular model) should be retailed around 78CHF.

Markets

  • Flohmarkt Bürkliplatz (Fleamarket), Bürkliplatz (in the Bellevue area near the Stadelhofen station). May-Oct Sa 6AM-3:30PM. Fairly relaxed yet large flea market with many interesting stalls.
  • Flohmarkt Kanzlei (Fleamarket), Helvetiaplatz, [35]. Open Sa 8AM-4PM. A big fleamarket with sometimes more than 400 stalls.

Zurich has many other fleamarkets, a list can be found online.

Other

  • Pastorini Spielzeug, Weinplatz 3 (near the river). A high-end toy store.
  • There is an English language bookstore at the intersection of Bahnhofstrasse and Rennweg.

Photos from Zurich, Switzerland
View across Zurich from Grossmünster
Bahnhofsstrasse
Fraumunster windows by Chagal
Sprüngli
Trams in Zurich
Grossmünster in Zurich

The quintessential Zürich dish is Zürigschnätzlets, veal in a cream and wine sauce. Various kinds of grilled Wurst (sausages) are also popular. These are most often accompanied by boiled potatoes, Rösti, a Swiss potato pancake (grated potato, formed into a pancake then panfried until crisp in butter or oil) or Chnöpfli, in German sometimes called Spätzle, (small noodle dumplings).

Veal is still very popular, though the use of turkey and other meats as a substitute is growing.

While Fondue (melted cheese in a central pot, dip bread into it) and Raclette (cheese melted in small portions, served with potatoes and pickles) are not really local to Zürich (they come from the Valais region of Switzerland) they are commonly available at restaurants aimed at tourists.

The bread available in Zürich is generally delicious. There are many varieties, and your best bet is to go to a bakery or a supermarket in the morning or just after work hours, when most people are doing their shopping and bread is coming out fresh. Combine it with a trip to the supermarket to assemble your own lunch in your hotel with authentic cheeses and anything else.

Try grilled Bratwurst from street stands, served with a large crusty roll of sourdough bread and optional mustard, or sandwiches made with fresh baked Bretzeln (large, soft pretzels). A typically Swiss bread is the Zopf, a braided soft bread that is commonly served on Sundays (the other name for it is Sonntagszopf).

For breakfast, try a bowl of Muesli, which was invented as a health food in Switzerland. The Sprüngli confectionery store tea rooms serve a deluxe version of this fiber-filled cereal with whole milk, crushed berries and cream. You can also do what locals do and buy a bag of Muesli and milk at the supermarket and eat it yourself. Farmer Croc, among other brands is recommendable.

There are a huge variety of cheeses available at the supermarkets, speciality stores and markets, as well as all kinds of hams and dried sausages. Dairy products are generally delicious, especially the butter. Do not miss the supermarkets! You should take a thorough look through Migros or Coop and maybe even assemble your own lunch or dinner some time. Even the cheap, budget prepackaged desserts in the supermarket exceed the quality of what you are probably used to. Switzerland, being at the center of Europe, gets influenced by all of the cultures around it and this is very evident in the supermarkets.

For those with a sweet tooth, there's a huge variety of chocolates to enjoy, from the cheapest chocolate bar to individually hand-made truffles. (See the Shopping section above). The chocolate bar displays at the supermarkets will overwhelm you! Also enjoy pastries and cakes from the various Konditorei scattered around town. In pastry shops, you can also find special pastry from Zurich: The most famous of them probably is Tirggel, a rather hard pastry made of flour and honey. Although traditionally made and eaten during the Winter holidays, many pastry shops (including larger supermarkets) sell them throughout the year. Often, they've got sights of Zurich printed on the top, can be stored for months and thus make up a pretty good and cheap souvenir. Another famous type of pastry are Luxemburgerli exclusively sold by the confectionery chain of Sprüngli (part of the famous chocolatier Lindt & Sprüngli). A typical cake is the Mandelfisch, an almond cake shaped like a fish.

Like any proper European city, Zürich abounds with cafés where you can enjoy a leisurely cup of coffee, glass of wine or other beverage, and watch the world go by.

There are many international dining options available too. The current hot trend seems to be pan-Asian noodle/rice/sushi places. However, due to the far distance to the sea and the lack of original, well-trained Chinese/ Japanese cooks, the quality cannot live up to that of the original countries. Instead, the Italian cuisine holds the highest popularity among the foreign restaurants. They can be found throughout the city and are relatively cheap. Of special notice are Turkish fast food restaurants. Their sandwiches like Kebab or Falafel are fresh, clean and very cheap in comparison.

Vegetarian food is easy to find throughout the city. Vegans may have a little trouble because cheese is used generously in most food, but should be fine living off supermarkets at the very least. Hiltl, the first vegetarian-only restaurant in Europe, is also worth a visit, and your meal is priced by weight from the buffet.

Budget

  • The Migros and Coop supermarkets (several branches all over the city) are good places to assemble an inexpensive and delicious picnic lunch consisting of freshly baked bread, cheese or ham and fresh fruit. Migros Gourmessa is the 'gourmet' takeaway counter, available in larger Migros stores including the Migros City branch at Löwestrasse. The Coop Bahnhofbrücke branch near the main station also has a small fast-food restaurant. Note: the Migros branch in the main station is open on Sundays when most other stores are closed, and also until 9PM on weekdays.
  • Lee's take-away, Preyergasse 8 (in the Niederdorf). Stand-up place serving excellent large portions of Asian food. Special student dishes under 10CHF.
  • Molino, Limmatquai (near Stauffacher). Italian Food.
  • New-Point, four locations: (1) at Langstrasse, (2) near the police station by the Sihl between main station and Stauffacher (Kaserne), (3) at Albisriederplatz (4) at Hardstrasse near Pfingstweidstrasse. Sells kebaps.
  • Jelmoli, St. Annahof and Manor department store restaurant for a cheap buffet lunch, good salad and vegetable stands. All at Bahnhofstrasse (not evenings). The large Migros supermarkets (those with two or three big orange M's) also have restaurants in the store.
  • Rheinfelder Bierhalle, at the beginning of the Niederdorf (near Central). In this huge and smoky restaurant you get good-value food and rich portions (only try the Jumbo Jumbo Cordon-Bleu when really hungry). Cheap beer.
  • Millennium Restaurant, on Limmatplatz (Limmatstrasse at Langstrasse) (right across the X-tra bar). Offers great pizzas, large hamburgers, spicy kebabs and other Italian and Turkish dishes at reasonable prices. Staff is very friendly and service is great. Perfect for lunch or a late-night snack.
  • Vorderer Sternen Grill, 22 Theaterstrasse. Zurich's most famous sausage stand next to the UBS bank building at Bellevue. Red or white sausage for 6CHF, piece of bread and (hot!) mustard is included.

Mid-range

  • Rosalys, (near Bellevue). Typical Swiss food including Älplermacrone (pasta with apple purée). excellent cocktail bar, too.
  • Commercio, (near Stadelhofen station (Mühlebachstrasse)). Excellent pasta and a busy atmosphere.
  • Commi-Halle, (near Central). Italian food.
  • Swiss Chuchi, (in the Niederdorf). Classic Swiss food for tourists. Kitsch.
  • Zeughauskeller, at Paradeplatz. Offers hearty sausages, stews, rösti potato etc. in a Brauhaus-like setting. Touristy, but good and large portions. Historical (built in 1487) building.
  • Kropf, (just down the street from the Zeughauskeller). Offers similar fare in a slightly more refined setting. Beautiful painted ceiling.
  • Globus Bellevue — This relatively new branch of the Globus department store in the Bellevue near the Stadelhofen station is totally dedicated to food. There is a large eatery on the ground floor that serves various fusion-type foods (decent noodle bowl) and a passable sushi bar. The ground floor has a gourmet food market, and upstairs there are kitchen wares.
  • Sprüngli Paradeplatz, at Paradeplatz. The flagship store of the Sprüngli confectionery store chain has a beautiful turn-of-the-century style dining room upstairs that is extremely popular for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. Choose from the menu or from the gorgeous display case filled with beautiful cakes, tarts, open-face and regular sandwiches. Try the muesli! Great people watching too, since this is the place for an after-shopping snack for the rich ladies of Zurich.
  • King's Kurry, (near Bahnhof Wiedikon, trams 9 and 14). Offers a good value daily Indian lunch buffet. www.kingskurry.ch
  • Masala, (near Stauffacher). Indian food.
  • Hiltl, Sihlstrasse 102 (behind Jelmoli department store), 044 227 70 00, [36]. The oldest vegetarian restaurant in Europe (from 1890). Reopened in March 2007 after renovation work.
  • Tibits, at Seefeldstrasse (behind the Opera house). The fast-food outlet of Hiltl, Europe's oldest vegetarian restaurant. Offers a nice self-service buffet of fresh veggies and fruit and a surprising variety. Try the freshly squeezed juices.
  • Outback Lodge, at Bahnhof Stadelhofen. Unrelated to the U.S. Outback Steakhouse chain. Enjoy Aussie tucker like ostrich, kangaroo, and crocodile, as well as more conventional fare. Popular with locals as well as expats. Has a hopping bar scene (see Drink section). Also a branch in Winterthur.
  • Iroquois, Seefeldstrasse 120. Tex-mex food in the trendiest part of town, with the best margaritas in Zurich.
  • Tiffin's, Seefeldstrasse (between Kreuzstrasse and Feldeggstrasse). Great place for Asian food. Crowded, closed on Sundays.
  • Lily's, Langstrasse (between the railway and Limmatplatz). Great Thai and other Asian food. Especially recommended: huge portions of Thai curry. Come before 7PM or after 9PM if you don't want to wait.
  • Nooba, Kreuzplatz. Pan-Asian noodle bar, a short walk up the hill from Stadelhofen station. Stylish setting, attentive and multi-lingual service and a broad selection of freshly prepared noodle, rice and curry dishes.
  • Nooch, Heinrichstrasse 267 (opposite the Cinemax movie multiplex). Yet another Pan-Asian noodle, rice and curry joint. Also has a sushi bar.
  • Ristoranto Toscano, Schmidgasse 17, [37]. A very good Italian restaurant in the old part of the city (Niederdorf). You should try the Spaghetti al Bacio! Closed for lunch on Saturday and all day on Sunday.
  • Restaurant Eisenhof, Gasometerstrasse 20. Has the warm feel of an old pub. The house specialty is horse steak, served on a hot stone with fries.

Splurge

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  • Widder Hotel — Has a very cool bar, great piano music, cool red leather decor, and halogen lighting.
  • Zunfthaus Zur Waag, (near Bahnofstrasse). Very authentic Swiss high end restaurant. To ensure your meal does not get cold, they split your order into 2 plates and bring you one at a time.
  • Bindella, Gassen 6 (off Bahnhofstrasse), 44 221 25 46. Great Italian Food and very authentic.
  • Le Dezaley, Römergasse 7 (Near the Grossmünster Cathedral in a street connecting Limmatquai and the Niederdorf), [38]. Traditional French-Swiss food from the French-speaking Kanton Waadt (Vaud). One of the best fondue restaurants in Zurich  edit
  • Blaue Ente, at the far end of tram 2 and 4 near Bahnhof Tiefenbrunnen.
  • LaSalle, in the Schiffbauhalle. Stylish and romantic.
  • Kronenhalle, at Bellevue. The city's most famous restaurant where all the glitterati go to see and be seen. Good Swiss food and heavenly chocolate mousse are one reason to go, the opportunity to dine among original artwork by famous Swiss and European artists (who payed in paintings instead of money) the other. Dress nicely, and treat yourself to a drink at the classy bar before or after your meal.

The restaurants at the top of the Uetliberg are great to combine a nice view of town (a hike in the summer) and some great food. It also has a cheaper self-service area.


Photos from Zurich, Switzerland
Central Zurich and the St. Peter Church
Fraumunster windows by Chagal
Sprüngli
View across Zurich from Grossmünster
Limmat River in Zurich
Bahnhofsstrasse