25/11/2024
14 Hours of Transferring flight in Zurich
Having to claim back a few detained lithium batteries in Zurich Airport out of an accidental swapping of a hand baggage (note 1) with a checked one for a prior trip, has led me to book another transfer in Zurich in October for my trip to Hong Kong again. But this time, I intentionally look for a package with 14 hours of transfer. Why not making a meaningful stay-over for the family when you have the chance, particular if we have not been to Switzerland before?
The why-not situation did not stop here. As I was pretty engaged for a family issue in HK, I did not have the time to plot out properly how to enjoy ourselves in the 14-hours stay. So, why not leaving the planning task to the young ones?
We did talk about the budget, going through together the priority list of possible sight-seeing spots, though. And before setting off, we only exchanged a little bit of Swiss Franc and had a baggage filled with snack and drinks.
Upon arrival, we were advised to get to the underground of the airport terminal and purchased the 24-hour pass which is accessible virtually to ALL means of public transport (except taxi perhaps). It just took no more than 15 mins of ride to the city center. “What impressed me most in Zurich was the tram and train system. Every ride was clean, quiet, and on time, making it simple to get around. Going to places like the zoo and museum was straight forward and the whole experience felt calm and easy. Zurich’s transport really stood out.” My daughter said.
To me, simply the absence of any entry gate or turnstile at stations, together with the ease of navigation through clear signages, makes the journey so much free and enjoyable. A real sense of barrier-free. The only thing that one may feel uneasy at the beginning, might be about the comprehension of a highly integrated and intricate transport map. Well, at this point, you would anticipate how incomparable it is when you look back to the one in Cardiff.
One may buy ZVV 24-hour Ticket to travel between the Zurich Airport (Zone 121) and Zurich city center zone, which costs CHF 13.60 for adults and CHF 9.60 for children. The best part is, the ticket includes unlimited travel within those zones on trams, buses, trains, and even boats(!)
Right adjacent to the city center station situates the Zurich National Museum. From my perspective as building designer as well as a frequent museum visitor, this one offers quite a uniquely Swiss perspective. Architecturally, the historic castle completing with a contemporary extension in a loop, have created quite a striking first impression. Inside, the exhibits delve deeply into Switzerland's identity, showcasing not just artifacts but the stories of neutrality, innovation, and cultural diversity that define the nation. Unlike many museums, it emphasizes interactive experiences through multimedia displays that also justaposes with delicately preserved artifacts, which involves centuries-old craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail rarely seen elsewhere, have made history alive.
This museum feels less like a repository and more like a journey through Swiss soul. Admission fee of this museum is free for kids up to 16 yr-old.
We took a tram nearby (by stopping passer-by and enquiring on their whereabouts) the museum and headed direct to the zoo around noon time.
It took another 15 kind to get there and we spent a whole afternoon for visit. Here is the account from my 14-year-old son:
“What impressed me the most in Zürich was the Zürich Zoo. The zoo was huge but it was easy to figure out the way around and the map was detailed. It has a lots of different variety of animals from countries around the world including African elephants, rhinoceros and giraffes, kangaroos and koalas, penguins, camels and so much more. The habitats for each animals were personalized and nature-like. You can spend hours and hours in the zoo just by looking at animals without even noticing time pass by. It was the best zoo I have been to and I would love to visit it again.”
My son has been to quite a number of zoos up to now. As an architect and animal lover, I can imagine how vigorous the zoo has been in maximizing interaction between human and other living things. Visitors can actually climb over (designed!) inside the area with goats and have them cluddled; peacocks and some silkies chickens are free ranging in an possibly unintentional but permitted way; artificial habitats are nicely maintained and are created to merge so naturally with the visitor trail and their surroundings. This is particularly felt when concerns over protection of the user and liability of the owner overwhelms so much of the freedoms we used to enjoy in most other places.
All in all, the decision to stay over for as short as half a day should not be regrettable during chance over. It is quite natural isn't it, for one to stop by at any point you find it interesting en route. It becomes only, perhaps, a consideration of the additional time required in customs clearance, which is more like a give-and-take when comparing with the higher premium of travel by direct flight.
We spent 14 hours and within £80 before getting a late evening flight to Hong Kong. Here are a few additional observations:
1. To make the most of a day in Zurich, one may consider a flight from Heathrow T2 taking off between 0600-0800. There is little to none services available at T2 at that moment. You may find more travellers sleeping on the floor than those who are lucky enough to have found a seat within the coffee shop. Be prepared.
2. Zurich advocates not working on public holidays and Sundays. Shops are mostly closed on that day except perhaps some restaurants. You may wish to avoid these days if you are a street shopper or market goer. BTW, museums and the zoo remain open.
3. While the primary language spoken in Zurich is Swiss German, English is generally understood and used as a second language, particularly to those Customer-facing roles on street and most young people based on our observation.
Travel tickets
https://www.zvv.ch/zvv/en/travelcards-and-tickets/tickets.html
Zurich National Museum
https://www.landesmuseum.ch/en
Zurich Zoo
https://www.zoo.ch/en
Travel to the zoo
https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Zürich-HB/Zürich-Zoologischer-Garten
(Note 1: lithium batteries may caught fire incidentally which can be discovered and dealt with in a timly manner in the cabin, so that they may be allowed to be bought on flight as hand baggages. Please check dangerous goods requirements of your airline)
