Zürich Transportation

24 hour Zurich card CHF. 20.00 children 14.00
72 hour Zurich card CHF 40.00 children 28.00

buy this card at the airport as it covers the journey from and to the airport - you need to pay in cash as they don't accept credit cards. There is a ATM machine on the opposite side of the ticket vending counter - it is behind the electric stairs.
the Zurich card is valid on all trams throughout the city and trams and trains into the agglomeration of Zurich and onto Uetliberg as well as the boats on the river Limmat and lake Zurich

the card also includes complimentary entry to all museums in Zurich (Museum Rietberg charges a supplement if you wan to view their present Special exhibition)

the card offers a free drink with each meal bought in certain restaurants (brochure will will be given to you at time of purchase) also in the Restaurant on top of Uetliberg - which was the only time I used it for a free drink. Most of the Restaurants which feature in this brochure would be rather more expensive than average with a few exceptions.

the card needs to be validated at the time you start to use it at one of the orange ticket machines at the tram stops.

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Photos: Cycling in Zürich

Cycling along the lakeshore in a popular activity in Zürich, but cyclists often have to share the paths with pedestrians.

For cyclists in a hurry this is usually not a problem, however, because there are often parallel streets with bicycle lanes painted on them.

The official policy of the city of Zürich is -- quite rightly! -- that bicycles belong on the streets, not on the sidewalks. "On the streets bicycles can go faster, have more room to maneuver, profit from more intensive street cleaning (broken glass, snow) and there are fewer conflicts with pedestrians." Also there are fewer accidents when motorists and cyclists can see each other, i.e. when both are on the street.

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Photos: Cycling in Zürich

Anyone who has cycled in other Swiss cities like Basel, Bern or even Geneva will no doubt be somewhat disappointed by the cycling situation in Zürich.

Although Zürich has made great progress in recent years and has a cycling infrastructure that would (or should) make most British and American cities green with envy, by the standard of other Swiss and European cities Zürich still has a long way to go.

One reason for this is Zürich's excellent public transit system. In a city where trams and trolleybuses come every few minutes and whisk people swiftly and silently from anywhere to anywhere else, even confirmed autophobes often fail to see the urgency of improving the bicycle infrastructure.

Nonetheless, city officials are aware that there is considerable scope for increased bicycle traffic. A "micro census" from the year 2000 found that 53% of all car journeys within the city are shorter than three kilometers and 79% are shorter than five kilometers, which are "ideal bicycle distances".

Helvetic rolls onto the runway of Unique Airport to almost 20 destinations in Europe. Has direct , non-stop flights only from Zurich. The quick, simple booking procedure enables you to make a booking on the Internet in just a few steps. Helvetic Airways offers more comfort and quality than train and car journeys .

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Also included in the integrated transportation system are the Limmat Boats, which go along the Limmat River from the main railroad station, and then out a ways onto Lake Zürich.

These are very low boats because they have to pass under several low bridges along the Limmat.

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Photos:
1. A ship on Lake Zürich (by coincidence that's the opera house in the background)
2. A three-decker ship on a cloudy day

There are also larger ships that go all around Lake Zürich on cruises and on regular routes, mainly leaving from the docks at Bürkliplatz.

I HIGHLY recommend Lufthansa Airlines from Frankfurt to Zurich. A short hop, about 1 hour flight and you are there. Friendly flight assistants, on time and smooth take off and landings.

You get a nice view of both Germany and NorthEastern Switzerland on a clear day.

Travel around in circles, and see Zuerich from the sky. Funny thing is, we never saw anyone actually riding this thing. Is it outrageously expensive?

To see a cool 30 second clip of this ferris wheel being built, click on the link below.