 |
Fast Facts
Babysitters -- If enough advance notification is given (at least a day in advance), virtually any hotel in Zurich can arrange for a babysitter. Another option is the child-care facilities at one of Zurich's largest department stores, Jelmoli, Seidengasse 1 (tel. 044/220-44-11).
Banks -- Banks are generally open Monday to Wednesday and on Friday from 8:15am to 4:30pm and on Thursday from 8:15am to 6pm. A convenient bank is Crédit Suisse at Paradeplatz 8 (tel. 044/333-99-11), open Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm.
Climate -- Summers in Zurich are not as warm as on the French Riviera, but the lake is usually warm enough to swim in during July and August. Many days are chilly, and spring and fall can be quite cold. In winter the temperature rarely goes below zero. The average temperature in January is 30°F (-1°C); in July the average is only 61°F (16°C). On cloudy days the view of the Alps is obscured.
Consulates -- If you lose your passport or have another emergency, go to the U.S. Consulate, Dufourstrasse 101 (tel. 043/499-29-60) or the Consulate of the United Kingdom, Hegibachstrasse 47 (tel. 044/383-65-60). Canadians and Australians should contact their respective embassies in Bern, and New Zealanders should apply to their consulate-general in Geneva.
Currency Exchange -- Most banks and travel agencies will exchange money for you. There's also an exchange office of Credit Suisse at the Zurich Hauptbahnhof, the main railway station, open daily from 6:30am to 11:30pm at Minervastrasse 117. Incidentally, there are ATMs all over the city.
Dentists -- For emergency dental problems, call tel. 044/269-69-69. An appointment with an English-speaking dentist can be arranged for you.
Doctors -- Contact the Zurich Universitätsspital (University Hospital), Rämistrasse 100 (tel. 044/255-11-11).
Drugstores -- For 24-hour service, Bellevue Apotheke, at Theaterstrasse 14 (tel. 044/266-62-22; www.bellevue-apotheke.com), lies off Bellevueplatz.
Emergencies -- Call the police at tel. 117. For first aid, phone tel. 114; for the City Ambulance Service, dial tel. 144. There's an accident center at the University Hospital, Rämistrasse 100 (tel. 044/255-11-11). For a fire, dial tel. 118. Zurich's Bahnhof (main railway station) contains a limited roster of medical and dental facilities which, if they can't treat an ailment effectively themselves, will at least direct you to larger medical facilities that can.
Hairdressers & Barbers -- Women do not need a reservation at Gidor, Theaterstrasse 8 (tel. 044/251-90-18). Men can get their hair cut at the Hauptbahnhof (rail station).
Internet Access -- Head for an Internet cafe such as Telefon-Corner, Kanzleistrasse 57 (tel. 044/297-20-80), open Monday to Thursday 9am to midnight, Friday and Saturday 9am to 2am, and Sunday 10am to 11pm.
Laundry/Dry Cleaning -- One of the best and most centrally located of Zurich's self-service laundries is Wäscherei TBTV, Dienerstrasse 70 (tel. 043/243-80-73). A dry-cleaning service is also on-site.
Libraries -- The main branch of the Pestalozzi Bibliothek (Pestalozzi Library), the largest in Zurich, is at Zähringerstrasse 17 (tel. 044/204-96-96). You must maintain a permanent address in Switzerland to be able to borrow books, but even if you don't, you're welcome to browse the stacks and read anything you want on-site. It's open Monday to Friday 10am to 7pm and Saturday 10am to 2pm (till 4pm Sept-May).
Lost Property -- There is a lost-property office at Werdmühlestrasse 10 (tel. 044/216-25-50), open Monday to Friday 7:30am to 5:30pm.
Luggage Storage/Lockers -- These are available at several locations throughout the vast Hauptbahnhof.
Newspapers/Magazines -- The major newspaper of Zurich is the German-language Neue Zürcher Zeitung. The International Herald Tribune is printed in Zurich. Several German-language magazines are published in Switzerland, and the latest copies of Newsweek and Time (European editions) are available at most newsstands and in big-hotel lobbies.
Post Office -- The main post office is the Sihlpost, Kasernenstrasse 95-97 (tel. 044/296-21-11), across the Sihl River from Löwenstrasse; an emergency-service window is open from 6:30am to 10pm daily. Most post offices -- listed under "Post" in the phone directory -- are open Monday to Friday 7:30am to 6:30pm and on Saturday from 6:30 to 11am.
Restrooms -- Public toilets are located at all central points, including the Hauptbahnhof and such locations as Bellevueplatz, Paradeplatz, and Heimplatz. They are open daily, generally from 5am to midnight.
Safety -- Zurich is one of the safest cities in Europe, both during the day and at night. The most potentially dangerous place is Niederdorf, the red-light district in Altstadt.
Taxes -- A 7.6% VAT (value-added tax) is added to hotel and restaurant bills. There are no other special taxes.
Telephone/Telex/Fax -- A telephone, telex, and fax office is open at the Zurich Hauptbahnhof, the main railway station, Monday to Friday from 7am to 10:30pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 9pm.
Transit Information -- For bus and tram information, call tel. 0848/988-988.
Page 2 of 3 : 1 | 2 | 3
Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's Switzerland, 13th Edition, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.
