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Sam28 St Moritz Switzerland kosher Grand Hotel Kempinski
Yehudaa - 18-hour Zurich stopover


Kosher food list 2022

Zurich
HOTELS
-The Park Hyatt is fantastic and a 10 minute walk to shul.
Tram stop: Stockerstrasse

RESTAURANTS

Meat:

Florentin - Located inside he JCC https://florentin.rest/
Tram stop: Bahnhof Enge

Grill Cave

Food truck. Check website for opening hours. Burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs etc.
https://www.thegrillcave.co/


Milk/Parve:

Babi's Bagels (Bederstrasse corner Klopstockstrasse 8002 Zürich) Tram Stop "Waffenplatzstrasse"

Bakery:
Ma'Adan Bakery
Manessestrasse/Schimmelstrasse
Has delicious pastries and also sells sandwiches, salads, and some sushi.

Butcher:
Metzgerei Kol Tuv

Can preorder for pickup.
Can also deliver throughout Switzerland by post.
See website for details.

https://www.koltuv.ch/en

ATTRACTIONS
-Walk around the lake area
-Bahnhofstrasse window shopping
-Take a train to Lucerne and buy the golden ticket, included a boat ride on Lake Lucerne, cogwheel train and tram. Then take bus back to Lucerne
-When you arrive in Lucerne you can go to the tourist office to see a live view from Mount Pilatus (Or you can check online). If it's cloudy skip the cogwheel train and just take a nice boatride and explore the town, ancient bridges, and walk on top of the old city fortress walls.




Options in the Alps

Arosa: Metropol Hotel - quaint little old hotel. Not very fancy - it's like honeymooning in your grandmother's house (HT: Mrs. Moishebatchy). The food is very basic, but delicious. Mikva on premises. If skiing is your thing, the have an agreement with one of the ski places (Härtner) not to charge Metropol customers for ski rentals over Shabbos.


Need a meal on shabbes, please PM me (Chuchem). I live 15 minute walk from the hyatt, close to chabad. Zürich has no eiruv!

Major Attractions
“Please edit the wiki to add more attractions”

Central Switzerland
-Lucerne, Pilatus Offers: Cogwheel, Gondolas, Alpine Sliding, Mini Zip-line and fun area
-Titlis Offers: Gondolas, Snow Tubing, Trutti Bikes, Ice Museum, Row Boating
-Brunni Offers: Gondolas, Alpine Sliding, Stroll in Lake(!)

Jungfrau Region
-Jungfrau/jungfraujoch Click here for the Kosher hotel in Wengen / 360-degree panorama of Jungfraujoch-Top of Europe
-Grindelwald Offers: Gondolas, mega Zip-line, Trutti Bikes

Eastern Switzerland
-St. Moritz
Davos / Klosters
Arosa Click here for the Kosher Levins hotel

Southern Switzerland
-Zermatt - "Matterhorn"
-Saas-Fee Offers: Gondolas, Alpine Sliding, Mega Zip-line, Trotti Bikes, (Saas-Grund has Monster Trotteres) and on top of "Allalin" you can go Snow Tubing and Skiing even in the summer!
-Crans Montana You can email the Kosher hotel in Crans Montana Hotelmk@gmail.com  or call them at 0032485640498 or 003233011600


HalbTax Pass

A HalbTax pass (or Half Fare card) is a card designated for tourists and not for Swiss residents (officially...). The card gives you half price on all public transportation like buses, trains, trams, boats and also on "most" cable cars (attractions). There are basically 4 kinds.

1) An annual pass, the price is currently 175 francs. If i remember correctly it has a photo ID of the recipient, so double check before sharing it.
Click here for the annual pass

2) A 30 day pass, the price is currently 120 francs, it does not have a photo ID on it.
Click here or here for the 30 day pass

3) - Recommended for frequent traveling Swiss Travel Pass - you prepay a set amount per day and get unlimited for that day (plus "optional" for a fee, for 1 month including the days you chose, it is a HalbTax, even on the prepaid free days, it's only free for all transportation, on cable cars you only get half off). The price per day depends on how many days you prepay, for example if you prepay 8 days, the price per day will be about 53 francs, if you prepay 3 days the price per day will be about 73 francs. If you are 25 y/o or younger, you can get the Youth Pass which is cheaper - If you prepay 8 days  the price per day will be about 40 francs a day, if you prepay 3 days the price per day will be about 62 francs.
Click here (or here) for the prepaid pass

The card comes with a few days “you could chose your dates later”, officially when you want to use a certain day for the free day you should fill in on the pass that date, and when the first conductor comes he punches that day, but technically you can leave the date blank until the conductor comes, that way you have a chance if no conductor asks you for your card (happens quite often) you can save it for the next day :)

4) Swiss Transfer Ticket" This card costs 141 francs and is valid for 2 trips from and to the boarder or airport, for example you are traveling from the airport to Arosa and are not planning to go anywhere else or take any other transportation, with this card you will effectively pay 71 francs per way. This card is only valid for trips to and from the airport or boarder and no (long) stops allowed. Technically if you will travel one more day, the Swiss travel pass mentioned above will probably be cheaper.

Make sure to order your pass a few weeks before leaving, it takes about 1-3 weeks for the pass to arrive. But you can always buy it in the Airport, though you might have to wait in line and also if you want to buy the Youth pass (for 25 y/o or younger) they might ask you for proof...

There is also a family pass if you travel with a large family, I am not familiar with that.


Fast Baggage
There is a service via SBB, They deliver your luggage for you!! For example you are traveling from ZRH to Arosa, you don't want to be busy Shlepping around your luggage, You can check in your luggage in the airport and they (SBB) will deliver it to the train station in Arosa. This service is available "from and to" most train stations in Switzerland. You can ask about the Fast Baggage by any train station or read here or here

You can even buy a tag that you put on the luggage before checking in your luggage in any airport (i.e. JFK) and Rail Europe will take your luggage from the airplane in Switzerland and deliver it either to your hotel or to the train station in the city you're going to.  Read about Flight Luggage Here




PS. When doing research and getting to a website in German, just add /en (after .ch) to translate to English.
And Hey, Don't forget to write a TR ;)

Sample Itinerary for 9 hour stopover on Swiss flight from TLV to U.S. that lands at 810 and takes off around 5
Copied from @cholent:
Here it is: landed in zrh, crazy line for entering country but moved pretty quickly, about half an hour. Picked up sim in the airport. Rented car through Priceline from europecar. Drove to Titlis, stunning scenery along drive. Missed a turnoff because I couldn't get Waze to talk and I was trying to do some stuff online while we were driving, added half an hour to get there, but the stunning scenery made it worthwhile. Got there, parked, you pay at the entrance if you're going to park for more than an hour. Paid, took the cable car. Got off at there halfway station by mistake, gorgeous lake. Went back on and back up to the top. It was somewhat cloudy which was a pity. Suspension bridge was fun but no view because of the clouds. Took the ice flyer to the other peak, then went sledding down the hill, lots of fun. No tubing because there wasn't enough snow. We didn't have enough time for the ice cave because of the extra time driving there and we weren't sure where it was anyway. Made some new Israeli friends and took the cable car down with them. Got back to the airport, returning the car took less than five minutes, getting through the airport took a little longer so we didn't have time for showers at the lounge. It was amazing all around, I would definitely recommend

« Last edited by yyzzrh on October 20, 2022, 01:16:48 PM »

Author Topic: Switzerland Master Thread  (Read 604316 times)

Online Sam Finkelstein

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1360 on: August 15, 2016, 08:39:17 PM »
What are the minyanim options in Lucerne?
Formula for success: rise early, work hard, strike oil. –J. Paul Getty

Offline tafastamerubaLOtafasta

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1361 on: August 21, 2016, 05:40:22 AM »
with wife and kid whats best way to get from airport to Park Hyatt in Zurich???

Offline Travelisfun

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1362 on: August 23, 2016, 06:16:52 AM »
Hi!

Thank you all - especially chuchem - for all the great information here.

My wife and I have a 12 hour stopover on our way to TLV.  Most of the posts advised going to Lucerne as it is an easy train ride and a fun/cool place to hang out for a few hours.

A friend of mine who has been to Switzerland several times insists that instead I should rent a car and drive to Davos (the train takes too long), which is about 2 hours away.  He says those are "real mountains".  I looked up the pictures on the Internet and does indeed look breathtaking, and a 2 hour drive each way with a 12 hour stopover does seem reasonable/doable, but was wondering what the real experts thought.

Is Davos really that much better than Lucerne?
Is renting a car/driving easy in Switzerland?  I know it's expensive - the price I got quoted was $120 for the day (including VAT and airport charge), but are there other large hidden fees?
We are flying Swiss Air Business Class and I know my luggage will go through to TLV, but can we leave our carry-ons in the lounge?
Is there kosher food in the Swiss Air lounge?

Thanks again!

Offline hr555

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1363 on: August 23, 2016, 05:50:25 PM »
https://www.zurich-airport.com/passengers-and-visitors/airport-services-en/baggage-service

I don't believe there is kosher in the lounge other than fruit etc.

Hi!

Thank you all - especially chuchem - for all the great information here.

My wife and I have a 12 hour stopover on our way to TLV.  Most of the posts advised going to Lucerne as it is an easy train ride and a fun/cool place to hang out for a few hours.

A friend of mine who has been to Switzerland several times insists that instead I should rent a car and drive to Davos (the train takes too long), which is about 2 hours away.  He says those are "real mountains".  I looked up the pictures on the Internet and does indeed look breathtaking, and a 2 hour drive each way with a 12 hour stopover does seem reasonable/doable, but was wondering what the real experts thought.

Is Davos really that much better than Lucerne?
Is renting a car/driving easy in Switzerland?  I know it's expensive - the price I got quoted was $120 for the day (including VAT and airport charge), but are there other large hidden fees?
We are flying Swiss Air Business Class and I know my luggage will go through to TLV, but can we leave our carry-ons in the lounge?
Is there kosher food in the Swiss Air lounge?

Thanks again!

Offline Kabrams1618

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1364 on: September 01, 2016, 12:01:13 AM »
I will be in geneva from a thursday until a sunday.  Where do you suggest we visit.  Where can we go without a car on a day trip? What is the deal with kosher food.  Any recommendations for places to daven on Shabbat?

Offline blue eyes

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1365 on: September 04, 2016, 11:24:25 PM »
We are landing in Zurich. What alps has the most direct / shortest trains?
Any recommendations for accommodation decently priced  (kosher hotels will b closed by end of October )

Offline davmtl

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1366 on: September 11, 2016, 08:29:53 AM »
What are the minyanim options in Lucerne?
Bump.

Offline davmtl

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1367 on: September 11, 2016, 08:42:14 AM »
i am in Zurich Wednesday till Sunday.
got some time to kill for a day trip thursday morning/noon to friday noon. any ideas as to a nice trip?
i was thinking lucerne, any ideas on a good hotel? i've got spg points and marriott, but i can pay if needed.
or does anyone have a better idea?

Offline Kabrams1618

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1368 on: September 11, 2016, 11:05:52 PM »
Which swiss chocolates that ae can buy in switzerland are kosher?

Offline ual902

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1369 on: September 11, 2016, 11:10:20 PM »
i am in Zurich Wednesday till Sunday.
got some time to kill for a day trip thursday morning/noon to friday noon. any ideas as to a nice trip?
i was thinking lucerne, any ideas on a good hotel? i've got spg points and marriott, but i can pay if needed.
or does anyone have a better idea?

grindelwald  You wont regret going there..

Offline davmtl

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1370 on: September 12, 2016, 02:13:49 AM »
grindelwald  You wont regret going there..
It looks like a 3 hour train journey which I can't really afford on a Friday afternoon

Offline Der Deutsche Jude

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1371 on: September 12, 2016, 03:12:55 PM »

Offline Live N Learn

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1372 on: September 19, 2016, 01:26:10 PM »
Is there any hachnosas orchim place in Zurich?
".איזהו חכם, הלומד מכל אדם"

Offline Live N Learn

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1373 on: September 21, 2016, 08:40:03 AM »
Is there any hachnosas orchim place in Zurich?

BUMP

Any contact info for a place to stay in Zurich, or Cuch em contact info. Please PM.
".איזהו חכם, הלומד מכל אדם"

Offline blue eyes

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1374 on: October 12, 2016, 10:19:42 PM »
is there a catererer or something that would deliver food to davos?
how is switzerland with bringing in food/cooked meat etc from europe?

Offline bestwatchman

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1375 on: October 13, 2016, 07:08:56 AM »
how is switzerland with bringing in food/cooked meat etc from europe?
Meat is very strict! Each person is allowed to bring in 1kg per day. More than that must be declared at a tax of CHF17/kg up to 10kg and CHF23/kg after 10kg.

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1376 on: October 21, 2016, 12:02:05 AM »
Is there anything that's open in early-mid November? Looks like everything is closed for maintenance.. Also, is it worth it to rent a car in Switzerland for a week? Are there toll roads?

Offline Der Deutsche Jude

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1377 on: October 21, 2016, 08:26:13 AM »
Is there anything that's open in early-mid November? Looks like everything is closed for maintenance.. Also, is it worth it to rent a car in Switzerland for a week? Are there toll roads?
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g188045-i336-k5591085-Toll_Roads-Switzerland.html

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1378 on: October 21, 2016, 09:33:36 AM »
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g188045-i336-k5591085-Toll_Roads-Switzerland.html
Thanks. And any ideas of something that's open? Everything closes October 23rd and opens in December.

Offline blue eyes

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1379 on: October 26, 2016, 03:08:26 AM »
Arriving in zurich soon. Debating between Kosher bagel and fein n Shain for lunch. Any suggestions? is there any particular drive to davos that is nicer we should take ( rather than just follow the GPS?)