Not so long ago,
ZÜRICH
was famed for being the most icily calm, cleanest city in Europe. Apocryphal stories abound from the 1970s of tourists setting out to find a cigarette butt or a food wrapper discarded on the streets and drawing a blank every time. Since then, Zürich has reinvented itself. This most beautiful of cities, astride a river and turned towards a crystal-clear lake and distant snowy peaks, has plenty to recommend it. Now you can people-watch on crowded, multi-ethnic streets, drink, dance or hang out at bars and clubs as hip and varied as those in more celebrated European cities, and feel a lived-in urban buzz that contradicts the Swiss stereotype. The steep, cobbled alleys of the Old Town are perfect for exploratory wanderings, and with an engaging café culture and a wealth of nightlife, you could easily spend days here.
Arrival And Information :
The main point of arrival is the giant
Hauptbahnhof
(HB) in the city centre, served by trains from all over Europe and every quarter-hour from the
airport
, 11km northeast. The international
bus station
is 50m north of the station on Sihlquai. The
tourist office
on the station concourse (Mon-Fri 8.30am-7/8.30pm, Sat & Sun 8.30/9am-6.30pm; tel 01/215 40 00, www.zurichtourism.ch ) sells maps and transport tickets, books rooms for free, and offers guided tours on foot (Sfr18) or inline skates (Sfr20) as well as river and lake cruises (from Sfr13). Pick up the useful
listings
booklet Zürich News ( www.zuerich.ch ). More Zurich information...
DOWNTOWN / ZURICH The Hotel Eden Au Lac Zurich is luxury hotel located 15 kilometers from Zurich International Airport. This unique hotel is situated on Zurich's magnificent lake promenade, near the heart of the city.
CITY CENTER / ZURICH The Swissotel - Zurich is a deluxe hotel centrally located 10 minutes from Zurich airport and downtown. 347 guest rooms and a business center cater to the needs of today's business traveler.