Quality of the daily free Zurich old city tour?

  • Removed user
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    20 August 2016 at 11:54:42 #809943

    What is the quality of the daily free old city tour that leaves every day at 11am, from the Paradeplatz

    We will arrive in Zurich from the U.S. and have only the rest of that day in the city staying city center essentially, but we’d like to see as much as we can of the landmarks. Is this free tour a good choice? Thanks.

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    Removed user
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    72625 posts
    20 August 2016 at 20:40:46 #855368

    A free tour in Switserland. How is it posible…… !

    Slowpoke
    Participant
    7567 posts
    20 August 2016 at 23:27:14 #855369

    <<“A free tour in Switserland. How is it posible…… !”..

    Hey, Brahms –

    And, I thought I was cynical. 😉

    for Europe2016 –

    I have always made my own tours, so I cannot comment.

    Can you give a source that describes the tour or its sponsor or the company runniing it? That might help.

    Thanks, Slowpoke

    Removed user
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    72625 posts
    21 August 2016 at 16:21:33 #855370

    I’ll see if I can find it again.

    In the meantime, do you have some suggestions for a few hours on the afternoon of our arrival from the U.S.? Thanks.

    Slowpoke
    Participant
    7567 posts
    21 August 2016 at 19:04:16 #855371

    Hi Europe2016:

    <<“In the meantime, do you have some suggestions for a few hours on the afternoon of our arrival from the U.S.?”>>

    Sure do.

    In general-

    http://www.myswissalps.com/zu rich

    Check the tabs. Lots of good stuff.

    Some more ideas:

    http://www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/swiss-itinerary-for-december-2015

    Look down to Nov 2 and 3 posts, particularly the last one on Nov. 3, with the map and comments.

    Also-

    http://www.myswissalps.com/ba hnhofstrasse/packages

    Now some questions to respond in a bit more detail:

    1.-What time does your flight arrive at Zürich Flughafen?. Have you traveled overnight by air to Europe from the USA before. If so ( or if not) do you have a process for dealing with jet lag?

    2.- Where are you going after Zürich, and is Luzern in your itinerary?

    3.- Are you a fan of the author James Joyce?

    They are not frivolous questions.

    And, some useful tools:

    A map-

    map.search.ch/?pos=683812,247448&z=12 8

    In that map, if you look under Points of Interest in th emenu, and

    click on Traffic, you will see theoption to turn on an overlay with

    public transport stops.

    and, the timetable:

    Please check the instructions on the first page of this link, and, if you plan to spend much time in Switzerland, dig in and play with it a bit before you go. It is invaluable.

    http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable

    The direct link, which can be used after you have memorized the very useful instructions 😉 is:

    http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.htm l

    Slowpoke

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    31 August 2016 at 15:18:14 #855372

    Sorry for the long delay in my response to the questions you asked when you responded to my request for information on a “free” old city tour of Zurich. We have travelled to Europe and dealt with the jet lag problem. Since we arrive early a.m. in Zurich we are prepared for a long day that first day. We will be in Lucerne later in our travels. We are not fans of James Joyce. Thanks for all your information.

    Slowpoke
    Participant
    7567 posts
    31 August 2016 at 15:59:57 #855373

    Hi Europe2016-

    <<“We have travelled to Europe and dealt with the jet lag problem. Since we arrive early a.m. in Zurich we are prepared for a long day that first day. We will be in Lucerne later in our travels. We are not fans of James Joyce.”>>

    You are welcome.

    You shortened my responses…but I’ll still add that Luzern is easy to get to and has more “touristic” stuff than Zürich.

    http://www.myswissalps.com/lu cerne

    Here is why i asked about James Joyce:

    http://www.google.com/search?q=james+joyce+zurich+g rave&sa=X&biw=1240&bih =741&tbm=isch&tbo=u&so urce=univ&ved=0ahUKEwi mttGf_-vOAhVJkx4KHceOD2MQsAQI OA

    http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/s pirit-of-joyce-still-roams-zurich/12828

    And-

    A walk along either shore of the lake near the city is pleasant. I

    prefer the northeastern bank, and at Zürichhorn, you can see Tinguely’s

    Heureka.

    I often ride the #4 tram to the end at Station Teifenbrunnen and walk back to the old town.

    map.search.ch/?pos=685034,245016&z=25 6

    The #2 from Paradeplatz ( near the Restaurant Zeughauskeller) will also get you there

    If you walk along the shore through the parks, you will come to Tinguely’s “statue” or ” mechanical art” called Heureka. Weird but wonderful….it gets turned on and runs for a few minutes twice per day:

    http://www.pauldoolan.com/201 2/05/tinguelys-heureka-returns-to-zurich.html

    Have a great trip.

    Slowpoke

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