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Dan
Yungerman
chucksterace
VacationLover Part 1
VacationLover Part 2
Chapshnell
Tzadik Nistar
@Yehuda - 1 day trip
sam28
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 604400 times)

Offline joetrader

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1480 on: May 07, 2017, 04:47:45 AM »
Which part of Switzerland would be most accommodating to see the alps with a 1 year old in tow?
I'll have a week in total.
Summer months

Offline mr.

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1481 on: May 11, 2017, 04:37:25 AM »
I will be in Switzerland for 9 days in July i was thinking of being in  St moritz area (Maloja) for 7 day and wanted to see if anyone have an idea of how to spend the last 2 days eaither staying all in St moritz or seeing something else and the heading  back to Zurich airport. I was planning on buying the swiss pass so i guess it doesnt realy make a difference where i  go besides for the fact that i dont want to miss a minyan.

Offline Saulius

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1482 on: May 11, 2017, 03:41:53 PM »
I find Maloja pretty boring. Although the hotel there is very nice, it seems to attract lots of "rebbish" type folk who stay there, and spend their time taking strolls around the surrounding lake. In the Summer months, the alps turn into "shtetlach", and there are minyanim everywhere, e.g. Arosa, Davos, Haute Nendaz, Klosters, Saas Almagel, Saas Fee, Saas Grund, Riederalp & Adelboden, Wengen, Zermatt, and numerous villages around St. Moritz, e.g. Celerina, Samedan. No reason to spend a week in one place.

I will be in Switzerland for 9 days in July i was thinking of being in  St moritz area (Maloja) for 7 day and wanted to see if anyone have an idea of how to spend the last 2 days eaither staying all in St moritz or seeing something else and the heading  back to Zurich airport. I was planning on buying the swiss pass so i guess it doesnt realy make a difference where i  go besides for the fact that i dont want to miss a minyan.
« Last Edit: May 11, 2017, 04:25:00 PM by Saulius »

Offline mr.

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1483 on: May 11, 2017, 04:02:45 PM »
Thanks i know what you are saying but i was thinking about maloja more as a center to be able to see the Engadin area as apossed to walk around with the Rebbe's
Have you been to other nice places you can recomend?

Offline Saulius

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1484 on: May 11, 2017, 04:50:08 PM »
Thanks i know what you are saying but i was thinking about maloja more as a center to be able to see the Engadin area as apossed to walk around with the Rebbe's
Have you been to other nice places you can recomend?

I just like the other side of the alps, e.g. Zermatt, Saas Fee. In the Engadin area, e.g. you can go to Heidi Hutte, Hahnensee, Bernina Pass, Lake Como, Guarda, Morteratsch Glacier, etc. Also, in the Summer months, there is a one-hour orchestra performance every morning at 10:30am at the concert hall of Bader AG, at the Heilbadzentrum in St. Moritz Bad. It's free.
There is also a bakery there, (pas yisroel in the Summer) Bäckerei-Konditorei Bad, Via dal Bagn 4.

Online flyingace

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1485 on: May 11, 2017, 05:01:18 PM »
Is there a source that lists the minyanim in different areas? Do the hotels allow outsiders to join the davening?  I see many rentals on VRBO - any tips on how to find out their proximity to minyanim?

Offline Saulius

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1486 on: May 11, 2017, 06:13:43 PM »
Is there a source that lists the minyanim in different areas? Do the hotels allow outsiders to join the davening?  I see many rentals on VRBO - any tips on how to find out their proximity to minyanim?

There is a list/source, the Jewish community in Switzerland has a weekly magazine that lists all the minyanim. Would need to contact somebody who lives there for the published list. I don't see why a hotel wouldn't allow an outsider, but do realize the majority of those minyanim are not in a hotel, but usually in the village's community center, aka "Gemeindehaus", and sometimes in somebody's house. It's mostly Yidden from England & Belgium and Switzerland, and they don't stay in hotels, they rent chalets / self-cater for an entire month.

For Switzerland, there are tons of websites for chalet rentals in the alps, but most of them are in French or German and dedicated for the particular village.

but you can also look here: http://chalet.myswitzerland.com or e.g. website for village for Saas Fee http://www.saas-fee.ch/en/ferienwohnung/

Online flyingace

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1487 on: May 11, 2017, 06:23:14 PM »
Thanks for the quick and informative reply.

Offline mr.

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1488 on: May 12, 2017, 05:56:10 AM »
An important thing to relize is that all the Europeans that rent apartments etc. are generly in August Av and not July same is with alot of the Kosher products.
I am going in July therfore i am much more dependant on A kosher hotel.
I actualy realy wanted to go to Wengen this year but as i am sure you heard there will be no kosher program this year in Wengen.
Do you think i can see both sides of the alps in 8-9 day and enjoy or better of doing one side this year and then next year the other side of the alps?

Offline Saulius

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1489 on: May 12, 2017, 09:13:40 AM »
Well, the school year in Switzerland starts on August 14th, so I am sure many are starting their holidays earlier in July, and Rosh Chodesh
Av is on July 24th, but there is definitely fewer minyanim in earlier July. If you can't self-cater, then you are dependent on staying in a hotel, but that's extremely expensive. Only St. Moritz and Davos one can get kosher products in a specific shop in the Summer months, but otherwise, most people bring along their food from the stores in Zurich, Basel or Saint-Louis (French side).
I also heard that the hotel in Wengen is not opening, but very likely there should be a minyan there or in Grindelwald, but that would be in August.

An important thing to relize is that all the Europeans that rent apartments etc. are generly in August Av and not July same is with alot of the Kosher products.
I am going in July therfore i am much more dependant on A kosher hotel.
I actualy realy wanted to go to Wengen this year but as i am sure you heard there will be no kosher program this year in Wengen.
Do you think i can see both sides of the alps in 8-9 day and enjoy or better of doing one side this year and then next year the other side of the alps?

Offline basketnarb

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1490 on: May 12, 2017, 01:35:40 PM »
On jewisheurope.org there is an eatery called Cholowiss  that it says is under the same superviosion as Fine & Schein and Hamasbia but it is not listed on the Chabad website.  Anyone know anything about this place?

Offline Saulius

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1491 on: May 13, 2017, 01:14:01 PM »
On jewisheurope.org there is an eatery called Cholowiss  that it says is under the same superviosion as Fine & Schein and Hamasbia but it is not listed on the Chabad website.  Anyone know anything about this place?

That's not an eatery, just where one can buy their cholov yisrael milk and yogurts, and other dairy products directly. Note their limited store hours.

Offline joetrader

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1492 on: May 14, 2017, 12:28:00 AM »
What websites are recommended to find apartments for summer around the alps

Offline Saulius

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1493 on: May 14, 2017, 01:17:44 AM »
What websites are recommended to find apartments for summer around the alps

You can try http://www.en.e-domizil.ch     http://chalet.myswitzerland.com   

There should be also websites for each village detailing the chalets available, e.g.

St. Moritz - https://www.stmoritz.ch/st-moritz/ferienwohnungen/
Saas Fee - http://www.saas-fee.ch/de/suchen-buchen/

Also, search on google using the name of the village and ferienwohnung (it means holiday flat in German)


Offline Saulius

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1494 on: May 14, 2017, 10:02:20 AM »
I forgot to mention in my previous post, when renting a holiday flat, majority of rentals are only available to rent by the full week, being strictly Saturday to Saturday. Some places might allow for an early Sunday check-out...

Offline basketnarb

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1495 on: May 16, 2017, 10:19:22 AM »
Is Ma'adan Bakery under a reliable hashgacha?

Offline Saulius

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1496 on: May 16, 2017, 12:52:03 PM »
Is Ma'adan Bakery under a reliable hashgacha?

google search on Ma'adan shows up with this: https://simchaspot.com/blog/2017/04/18/maadan-bakery-tonight-in-zurich/

Offline Berenstein Bear

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1497 on: May 16, 2017, 03:18:43 PM »
I am looking to spend a week in Saas Fee in Aug. I've read through this thread and just have some questions for someone who was already there TIA.
Minyanim?
Does anyone have an apt. that they were happy with? Couple with baby
What's the hostility like there?

Offline Saulius

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1498 on: May 16, 2017, 04:55:48 PM »
I am looking to spend a week in Saas Fee in Aug. I've read through this thread and just have some questions for someone who was already there TIA.
Minyanim?
Does anyone have an apt. that they were happy with? Couple with baby
What's the hostility like there?

I have been to Saas Fee a few times. There's usually a minyan there, as well as in Saas Grund in August. As far as having an apt., people that
go there every year, stay in different places, as availability is not the same year to year. I vaguely recall one year there was a hasidishe admor from Antwerpn with his hasidim.

Hostility? Well none, unless you are not keeping the Swiss etiquette such as orderliness, and quietness. Don't jaywalk or cross against red light, don't use a washing machine on Sunday if you are in an apartment building. Read out about the Swiss trash and recycling rules, e.g. cans and glass bottles are deposited at neighborhood dumps sorted by color. From 10pm to 7am are quiet hours, the Swiss can get quite upset if they hear noise, e.g. loud zemiros on Friday night, - your neighbors will call the police who might issue a fine. Don't litter, and remember that you are not in New York. I saw a Chosid come to a supermarket, and the lady cashier hands him change, and he scream leig es arop.

Only hostility I remember was one time in St. Moritz by the lake, I overheard a lady telling to her friends in German, that the Jews should go vacation in Tel Aviv instead.

Also see this Saas Fee Guide: https://www.yumpu.com/en/embed/view/jIqYSFyaMT3uPWKe
« Last Edit: May 16, 2017, 05:03:27 PM by Saulius »

Offline mr.

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Re: Switzerland Master Thread
« Reply #1499 on: May 17, 2017, 03:50:16 AM »
There is a kosher hotel with minyanim and resterant 10 min away in Saas Almagell
http://www.bayisbagova.com/