Zürich Sports & Outdoors

Okay, we went there with friends and their pre-school kids to the small, provisory ice skating ring by National Museum, in the courtyard that faces park. Looks like a spot local families love to go but it's 'little' crowded. Well, you see funny things and also falls, but there's always someone watching so you're generally safe and enjoy nice atmosphere of the place. Sure, watching can be fun too - you have your glass of glueh wine and indulge with conversation with those who are not skating either. It's free of charge and near main train station across the road, so it's in handy location in centre.

Being there for ice skating was my only interaction with that otherwise huge museum building. I simply didn't have time to dedicate one day to enter Swiss history in the large castle.

Actually I don't know if this is good place to learn ice skating - for this is too crowded, so it's for those who want more serious recreation, but hey - this place carters mostly to children (and their parents).

Equipment: You can rent ice skates at spot but you prefer your own - theirs had distinctive foul of old sweat and who knows what kind of bacteria or fungus live in those shoes. Yuck.

1 more image

When it gets hot in Zürich in summer (which is quite often I think) locals enjoy a lazy day at one of the many beaches along the lake shore or the river banks. Zürich must be the city with most beaches worldwide!

I happened to walk by the Mythenquai beach and saw that entrance was free that Sunday - the watch shop Beyer had an anniversary and treated everyone to the beach (plus everyone got a chocolate Vreneli :-)). So I went in and relaxed for a half hour, even walked knee-deep in the water (didn't bring a swimsuit, too bad). It was fun to watch the locals enjoying their Sunday afternoon, especially the guys and gals jumping from the 1/3/5 m heights into the lake ... quite a show, LOL!

Equipment: You can rent anything you need. Lockers are free if you bring your own lock. Otherwise rent a cabin for the day (CHF 3).

2 more images

Photos:
1. Dolder Ice Skating Rink
2. Three of these machines are in constant use to scrape and smooth the ice.
3. Entrance to the ice skating rink

Not far from the upper station of the Dolderbahn is a large sports complex, including the Dolder Ice Skating Rink, which they claim is the largest artificial ice skating rink in Europe.

It was built in 1930 and has an area of roughly six thousand square meters.

The sports complex also includes an outdoor swimming pool and a mini golf range.

This ice rink was opened in 1930 and is still in our days the largest open-air ice rink in Europe. Whoa! Season is from early Oct to mid March. Please see details on opening hours on their website.

They have lockers there where you can change and leave your streets clothes. You can rent the equipment (reasonable prices) and skate yourself or you can just watch - which we did when we visited. And both is fun.

I recommend you take the Dolderbahn (see Transportation tip) to the ice rink. It's just a short walk from the top station.

Admission fee in 2009 is 7 Sfr.

Right on Zurichberg hill you'll find the headquarters of the FIFA (World Soccer/Football Association). There's not really much to see or do there since they are very paranoid folks. Their property is fenced, equipped with surveillance cameras as I suspect and you cannot get near the main building. Just have a look and you know it is a multi-billion-$$$ company.

Soccer is the most essential aspect of Sports in Zurich, home to the Headquarter of the FIFA. The city has two major football-soccer clubs listed in Switzerland’s First Division; Grasshopper-Club Zürich and FC Zürich.

Another popular sport is the ice hockey, is represented by the ZSC Lions. The club won Swiss ice hockey championship several time. The International Ice Hockey Federation is based in Zurich as well.

Major sport events running in Zurich are the annual Weltklasse Zürich, a world-class athletics venue, and the Zurich Open, part of the WTA tour and in 2008 some Euro 2008 match

Equipment: Letzigrund stadium is multi-purpose with an athletics track and indoor training facilities.
The stadium is alsd the home ground of FC Zurich in the Swiss First Division and located in the western part of the city.

Euro 2008
9-Jun Romania - France
17-Jun France - Italy
13-Jun Romania - Italy

4 more images

Switzerland and Austria hosted the UEFA European Football Championships in June 2008.

Zurich was among the four Swiss cities where matches took place.

The national teams of Italy, France and Romania played in the famous Letzigrund stadium (capacity 30.000).

At that time a large UEFA Fan Zone with a big screen and a capacity of 45.000 could be found at the Bellevue Square.

Before the championships a countdown clock to the EURO 2008 was located in Zuirch's main train station and during the event giant statues of players were installed here.

3 more images

The Hardturm stadion is home to the Grasshoppers club. It's an older stadium that is supposed to be replaced eventually. The original plan was that the new stadium should be finished for the Euro 2008 but there were so many objections by various parties with different interests, so it remains to be seen when there actually will be a new one.

Many years ago I watched here my first and last football match as a young adult.

Update:
The old Hardturm has closed for good in autumn 2007. The grasshoppers are now guests in the new Letzigrund until they have a new home. It's not yet known, when this will be the case. There are voices that think that Zurich should only have one soccer club with the new Hardturm as their home and the Letzigrund should only be for other purposes.

Flying in a wind tunnel is such a big thing to do. Here's a good deal if you want to take off in a unique way or give your friends a treat. It is not my sport but i thought of sharing this for those who's into this kind of activity. Visit their website for more infos. Located outside the city of Zurich, in the municipality of Rümlang.

1 more image

The Letzigrund is home to the FC Zurich. Currently, they are building a new stadion for the Euro 2008. This stadium belongs to the city of Zurich and this is also were the "Weltklasse Zurich" atlethic meeting takes place.