Zurich

Switzerland’s largest city, Zurich, is situated in the north of the country on the banks of the river Limmat at the northern tip of Lake Zurich.  Dozens of major ski resorts in the Alps and Jura mountain ranges are within easy reach of Zurich, so it is a popular destination for skiers in winter and also for summer tourists. 

TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR ZURICH, SWITZERLAND
Area for Travel Insurance : Europe

Glamorous ski resorts such as Davos, Klosters and Interlaken are a winter playground for celebrities, royals, and the rich and famous from across the globe. The resorts offer everything from skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing, cross-country, snowshoe and skating, as well as glamorous après ski and nightlife. For ski insurance, ski advice, and ski guides click here. 

In summer the same mountain terrain and lakes provide outdoor activities such as rafting, sailing, windsurfing, water-skiing, canoeing, mountaineering and hiking.

Zurich’s historic Old Town area (the Niederdorf) is situated on the banks of the Limmat River and a huge draw for locals and tourists alike with its narrow streets for exploring antique shops, boutiques, cafes and people watching.  Zurich is a great place to shop, though it can be pricey, with its many designer boutiques and specialist shops as well as department stores. Zurich is also a city of culture, with many excellent galleries, museums and churches   if you get tired of pounding the streets you can always wind down with a relaxing river tour.

The Niederdorf area of Zurich has plenty to offer for night owls with a buzzing nightlife, theatres, cinemas, bars, restaurants and discos.

The Old Town has many historic landmarks such as the Grossmunster (church) and the Fraumunster - which features stained glass windows by Marc Chagall.  Zurich Museum of Art (Kunsthaus Zurich) houses a huge collection with many famous works.  The Swiss National Museum (Landesmuseum) is another popular venue with a permanent exhibition of the history of Switzerland, as well as temporary exhibitions.  The Swiss are famous for precision, and evidence of this can be found at the Uhrenmuseum (clock and watch museum) which documents the history of timekeeping and houses a collection of primitive timekeeping instruments, sundials, hourglasses, etc.

Zurich has a zoo, botanical gardens and a Chinese garden.  A lovely view of the city can be enjoyed from the Uetliberg – Zurich’s closest mountain – which lies to the west of the city.  Zurich also has an opera house, annual Film Festival, annual and famous summer street parade, art festival and many other events.  We recommend that you check the dates for upcoming events before you book.

Zurich is a city of wealth and the main financial centre and home to many large banks, financial institutions, and the stock exchange.  Situated a few kilometres north of the city, Zurich’s international airport is the largest in the country.  Zurich also has an excellent public transport system with trams, buses, trains, boats and ferries, funicular railways and a cable car. 

Currency is the Swiss franc.  The official language is German but Italian and many other languages are also spoken.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Useful travel advice from the Foreign & Commonweath Office for travel to Switzerland. Click Here

Before your visit to Zurich we recommend a visit to the website of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) for updated travel advice and information as part of their ‘Know Before You Go’ campaign.  The information is comprehensive and includes:

• Passport and visa information
• Driving in Switzerland (and purchase of vignettes)
• Smoking ban in public places

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is valid in Switzerland but should not be used as a substitute for comprehensive travel insurance.  The EHIC entitles the holder to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as a Swiss national but does not include ongoing treatment, non-urgent medical care or medical repatriation.   Note:  Although the EHIC is valid, holders usually have to pay the costs upfront and claim the money back upon return.  Ambulance and air ambulance services are not free.  Full information is available on the FCO website. 

Useful website:  http://www.zuerich.com

Disclaimer: While we have tried to ensure the information in this Travel Guide is correct we do not accept responsibility for any inaccuracy, or the content of external links.

Inclusion in this Travel Guide does not guarantee travel insurance is available in any country at any given time. Travel Insurance is not available in countries where the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) have issued an advisory against travel.

You are strongly advised to visit the FCO website for updated travel information and general travel advice before you travel.