|
|
| City Guide - Zurich - Getting Around | ||
|
||
|
Getting Around Public Transport The Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich (VBZ) (tel: (0848) 801 880; fax: (01) 431 1526; website: www.vbz.ch), operates the highly efficient and easy to use tram and bus network (known as Züri Linie) within the city. The Zürcher Verkehrsverbund (ZVV) (Zurich Transport Federation), (website: www.zvv.ch), operates services within the canton as a whole. Services operate 0530-0000. Tickets for all forms of transit must be purchased at ticket machines (located at tram and bus stops) before boarding; tickets cannot be bought on trams or buses, and there is a SFr60 fine for anyone travelling without a ticket. Night buses depart from Bellevue at 0100, 0200 and 0300 Friday and Saturday. The fare is SFr6. Zurich canton operates on a zone system. A single adult fare for 1-2 zones is SFr3.60 and is valid for one hour (including transfers). A short hop, known as a Kurzstrecke, costs SFr2.10 for five or fewer stops. First-class seating is available on S-Bahn trains for a higher fare. It is much simpler and better value to buy a day pass, good for 24 hours of unlimited travel and available from ticket machines and the Tourist Information Office for SFr7.20 for 1-2 zones. Taxis Taxis may be found at taxi ranks or hailed on the street, as well as ordered by phone from Züri Taxi (tel: (01) 222 2222), Taxi 444 (tel: (01) 444 4444), Alpha Taxi (tel: (01) 777 7777) or Taxi Jung (tel: (01) 271 1188). For a wheelchair-friendly taxis, telephone Zurich Disabled Transport (tel: (01) 461 3866). A compulsory service charge of 15% is included in the fare. Fares are SFr6 plus SFr3.20 per kilometre. Limousines WF Limousine (tel: (01) 444 1666) offers limousines and stretch limousines, charging SFr1300 for eight hours. Driving in the City Motorways go almost to the city centre, making it easy to get to destinations in Zurich; however, parking in the city can be difficult. There is a printed guide for motorists that is published by the police. It is available from the Tourist Information Office and is displayed in car parks. Parking in city-centre car parks costs approximately SFr2 for the first hour, rising to SFr5 for two hours, SFr8 for two and a half hours and over SFr80 for 12 hours; the night rate is usually about half. Car parks are located on Lavaterstrasse, Beethovenstrasse, Lowenstrasse, Gessner-Allee and Dufourstrasse. Car Hire Zurich is well represented by the major car hire firms, including Alamo/National (tel: (01) 271 2646), Avis (tel: (01) 296 8787), Budget (tel: (01) 450 7535), Europcar (tel: (01) 271 5656), Hertz (tel: (01) 242 8484) and Sixt/Eurodollar (tel: (01) 445 9090). The minimum age for hiring a car is 21 years and there is an additional charge for drivers under 25 years. Expect to pay SFr159 per day for a small car, prices rise at weekends. Bicycle Hire Free bicycles are available for use in the city between 0730 and 2130, on payment of a deposit of SFr20 and valid ID. Bicycles are available year-round from the Hauptbahnhof (main railway station) on Zollstrasse, and from May to October from railway stations at Altstetten, Enge, Oelikon and Stadelhofen and near the Globus department store on Usteristrasse. |
||
