Zurich

Zurich is one of the economic, scientific, and cultural centers of Switzerland. But it has also retained much of its old world charm, with a dreamy Old Town, river banks, and an idyllic lake which reaches into the city center. Zurich is half metropolis and half village, and offers the best of both. Zurich is connected to the world by its international airport Zurich-Kloten, which is located 12 km outside the city center.
Culture
Zurich offers a great deal to art an culture lovers. You can enjoy a wide range of international art and culture in more than 40 museums, 100 galleries, and a dozen theaters and concert halls as well as in the famous opera house.
Shopping
The international city of Zurich offers superb shopping with an almost unlimited choice of everything you may wish to buy. In particular, there is the famous „Bahnhofstrasse“ area with its elegant boutiques, jewelleries, couturiers, bookshops, antique dealers, and banks which make up for the reputation as one of the world’s most attractive shopping areas. Excellent buys are watches, pocket knives, textiles, woodcarving, music boxes, embroideries, fine hankerchiefs and other handmade items.
Shops are generally open from 09:00 am to 06:30 pm weekdays, 09:00 am to 04:00 pm Saturdays; closed Sundays. But on some Sundays in December the stores are open for Christmas shopping
What to See and Do
Most of Zurich's interesting sights are located near its old town, around the river and lakefront. Whether you are interested in history, culture, shopping or nature, you would find something interesting in Zurich to see:
The Old Town: Niederdorf, which goes along the river, offers beautiful alleys, restaurants and shopping mainly aimed at younger consumers. On the other side of the river, the hill in the heart of the old town, Lindenhof, has a beautiful view of the city and one time location of a Roman fort.
Grossmünster and Fraumünster: The two main old churches are the historical highlights of the city. Grossmünster is a Romanesque church and the symbol of reformed Zurich, while Fraumünster is an Old Gothic church (former convent) with window paintings by Marc Chagall.
Museums: Landesmuseum, Kunsthaus (Art House) and Rietberg Museum offer great and unique collections about: Swiss History, Swiss and international Art and European collections of Asian art, respectively.
Nature Lovers: the lake is a beautiful place to spend the evening, especially when the scenery view towards the Alps is clear. A nice stop at the lake is the small but beautiful Chinese garden, which was offered by the Chinese city of Kunming as symbol of gratitude for helping with technical knowledge.
Switzerland
Switzerland is one of the oldest democracies in the world, founded 1291 by the unification of the three states Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden in the region of Lake Lucerne. In 1815 Switzerland reached its present size. Today, Switzerland is a confederation of 26 cantons (states) and each of these has a considerable autonomy and its own constitution. The region of the Swiss Alps comprises about three fifths of the country.
Electricity
The electrical current is 230 volts - 50 Hz.
Banking Hours
Banks’ opening hours are generally Monday to Friday from 08:30 am to 04:30 pm. They are closed Saturday and Sunday. However, most banks provide a 24-hour banking cash service. Exchange facilities are available at the airport, major hotels and railway stations.
Swiss Currency
Despite being located in the middle of the Euro-Zone, Switzerland remains with the Swiss Franc, usually indicated as CHF.
Many merchants, including most hotels, some restaurants and souvenir shops, may accept Euros but are not obliged to do so. The prices are most likely to be cheaper in Swiss Francs and change given back to the client will be in Swiss francs.
Tips
Tips are always included in the prices displayed.
Visa
Valid passport is needed for travel in Europe. For EU countries only an identity card is needed. Passengers from certain countries may require visas for Italy. Please check with your travel agent.
Climate
Switzerland is a land of micro-climates, in December temperatures can reach from -10°C up to 6°C, in average. It can be very nice, but rainy and snowy days are possible.
How to reach Zurich
by plane
Zurich Airport is the largest and busiest airport in Switzerland, and it is the visitors' portal to Swiss efficiency. It is located in north of the city, and it takes 12 minutes by train to reach central Zurich. The trains depart about every 15 minutes.
Swiss International Air Lines is the national carrier of Switzerland serving 70 worldwide destinations in 42 countries from its home hub in Zurich. Many major airlines have daily flights to Zurich Airport as well. (Find connections to/from Zurich Airport).
A complimentary shuttle bus runs from the Zurich Airport to the Hilton Zurich Airport Hotel (also stops at the Apart Hotel) and back. The service operates between 5.30am and 11.30 pm and the shuttle runs every 20 minutes during peak times and 30 minutes off peak. The bus leaves from the airport arrivals level between Terminals 1 and 2 and the journey takes approximately 5 minutes.
by train
Thanks to its convenient central location, Switzerland is also served by fast reliable inter-European rail services.
Daily services operate from major cities in Germany, Italy, Austria, Spain, France, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Scandinavia and the Benelux countries. Check out CityNightLine for night trains or companies such as Deutsche Bahn, TGV, Cisalpino, Elipsos. Information about train connections within Switzerland and from other neighbouring countries can be found on Swiss Railway Website. The Hilton Zurich Airport Hotels provides a complimentary shuttle bus from/to the Zurich Airport (see details under “by airplane”).
by car
Almost every highway in Switzerland leads straight into Zurich. This makes it quite easy to reach Zurich from all neighbouring countries. To the Hilton Airport Hotel take the Motorway A51 direction „Schaffhausen“, take exit Opfikon-Glattburgg-Kloten, keep right at the first light, follow the street and then follow the Hilton signage to the hotel. The hotel address is:
Hilton Zurich Airport
Hohenbuehlstrasse 10
CH-8152 Opfikon-Glattbrugg (Zurich)
www.zurich.hilton.com
The Hilton Zurich Airport hotel also offers 300 secure onsite parking spaces