Practical Information for

Living in Switzerland

In this section on Practical Information for living in Switzerland we list some practical resources under the following headers:  

Accommodation, Shopping, Markets in Zurich, Webcams, Water Temperature of the Lakes, Skiing, Webcams, Travel, Cars and Parking, Telephony, Weather, Public Holidays and Christmas Markets.

First of all – Zurich City

Zurich consists of 12 “Kreis” or districts – these are as follows:

District 1 comprises the Old Town

District 2 comprises Narrow, Wollishofen Leimbach

District 3 comprises Wiedikon

District 4 comprises part of the former municipality Aussersihl

District 5 comprises the former industrial area to the West

District 6 comprises upper and lower Strass Rhinestone

District 7 comprises Fluntern, Hottingen, Hirslanden and Witikon

District 8 comprises Riesbachstrasse

District 9 comprises Altstetten and Albisrieden

District 10 comprises Wipkingen and Hoengg

District 11 comprises Affoltern, Oerlikon and Seebach

District 12 comprises Schwamendingenstrasse

Accommodation in Zurich The housing market in Zurich is notoriously difficult to navigate and sites such as Flats For Expats are there to help newcomers find affordable accommodation in the city. For more information please see here.

Shopping in Switzerland – See here for where to shop in Zurich and Switzerland 365 days a year.

Markets in Zurich  – See here for details of Zurich markets.

Webcams in Switzerland

List of Webcams in Switzerland – useful to view before you  plan a day trip

Webcams in Zurich

NZZ Webcam near Bellevue with views over lake Zurich Tourismus webcam in central Zurich

Water Temperature for swimming in the Lakes in Switzerland

Travel

Biking for free in Zurich – Zueri Rollt

SBB Journey Planner in English

Zurich Card – ideal for visitors and available for CHF 24 for 24hours and CHF 48 for 72 hours

Guide to Customs Allowances when bringing food and drink back into Switzerland Weather Forecast Switzerland

Cars

Cars Where to place the Auto Vignette on your windscreen – yes, seriously!

It must also be “stuck” to the windscreen (not merely propped against it). Failure to adhere and to place in the correct location on your screen could result in a CHF 200 fine. The Autovignette needs to be purchased at the Post Office or at some petrol station every calendar year. Your old vignette always remains valid until 31st January the following year.

Dipped Head Lights From 1st January 2014 you must drive at all times (even in daylight hours) with dipped headlights. Failure to do so may result in a fine. Speeding (please note the following is just a guide as this is a list from 2012)

The maximum speed limit on roads in Switzerland are detailed below. Please note that these are the maximum speeds and that very often lower speed are enforced in these areas. Motorways  – 120 km/h High roads or expressways – 100 km/h Main roads – 80 km/h Towns and cities –  50 km/h.  – but watch out for many 30km/h areas near schools and housing If you drive too fast the following fines are applicable:

Winter and Summer Tyres You need to make sure you have Winter tyres on your car from about October onwards.  It is a good idea to book well in advance at your garage as everyone else wants to get them done at the same time too! Normally you put the Summer tyres back on in March time. Your garage will normally store the tyres for you (for a small fee) and if you need a recommendation, Pneus Alex is the garage we use.

Where to Buy Tyres

If you need new tyres and have been quoted what seems an extortionate amount you could try ordering from Reifendirekt.ch and they will deliver to your nearest garage (like the one we use).

Parku

Parku is an innovative parking service in Zurich allowing you find privately owned car parking spaces in town to rent at a cost of CHF 3 per hour. You can also rent out your parking space or driveway if you have one too.  For more information read our post here.

Restaurants NewInZurich’s Restaurant Guide to the Gold Coast of Zurich 2013

List of Restaurants winning the Swiss Gastro Awards 2012

Children’s Playgrounds For a list of children’s playgounds all over Zurich please consult the  Zuriplay website.

Cooking Fahrenheit Celsius Converter

Before you Arrive in Switzerland

Bringing Pets into Switzerland – regulations

Practical Help – around the house and garden  

“Rent A Pensioner – Rent A Rentner” service

Telephony – Telephones, Mobiles and Internet

There are many “deals” to be had when you combine your land lines, television, internet and mobile contracts altogether – so it is worth checking what each supplier can offer.  There are also some very good deals for “under 26 year olds” on mobile packages too – so do check out the sites below and call them up to discuss if you need more information.  Even if their website is in German most of them do have English speaking people available on the phone or in their shops.

Swisscom Website in English Orange Website in English

Sunrise Website in English

Cablecom GGA Maur (German)

Yallo Mobile Phones in English

Lebara Mobile Phones in English

M-budget Mobile Phones (German)

Skiing

Snow Report for Switzerland

Ski and Snow Report Worldwide

Skiing Conditions for Flumserberg

Skiing Conditions for Davos / Klosters

Skiing Conditions for Flims / Laax

Skiing Conditions for Lenzerheide

Snow Report for Hoch Ybrig

My Switzerland Information Pack about Where to go and What to do in Switzerland

Top Events in Switzerland

Check here for some of the Top Events in Switzerland for the coming season Another events website

Health Insurance Visitors over from the EU? Read about the European Health Insurance App and Card

Christmas Markets

Guide to Christmas Markets in Switzerland

Guide to Christmas Markets over the border

Public Holidays

To see all the Public Holidays in Zurich see here

Books

There are some great books about Switzerland or with a Swiss connection that you might be interested in. Here are some suggestions: Swiss Watching by Diccon Bewes Swisscellany by Diccon Bewes Slow Train to Switzerland by Diccon Bewes Living and Working in Switzerland by David Hampshire Swiss Life: 30 Things I Wish I’d Known by Chantal Panozzo and Hausfrau by Jill Alexander Essbaum.

These books can be purchased at Amazon. See our page about BOOKS here

Events and Fairs Throughout Switzerland – for a calendar with all the “Messe” or Fairs held in Switzerland read here.

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