Hi, I land in Zurich at 6am on Wednesday morning (long flight from Australia) and being picked up by coach at 2pm from the airport so have a few hours to kill.
Few questions please?
* is there luggage storage at the airport (can you pay by credit card or do you need cash?)
* can you pay by credit card for the train into the city? (Ie I haven’t bought any Swiss francs and hoping I can get by with a credit card)
* suggested things to do or is there time to catch another train somewhere for an hour or 2?
Thank you for any help.
Posted by
Green Bay
21150 posts
Yes, there is luggage storage after you exit customs. Don't know about payment types.
You could conceivably go to Luzern. It is 70 minutes on a direct train at 15 past the hour, and with connections at other times. So if you took the 7:15, you would be there by 8:25. You'd only have 3 1/2 hours before you would have to turn around and come back, and it would cost 60 CHF.
Zurich would be a lot safer, as trains are going like every 10 minutes and it only takes about 15 minutes to get there. Lake boat tours, or maybe the Swiss National Museum across the street from the station would interest you. Swiss history from the stone age to the present. If you ever wondered how a country of cow herders became one of the richest nations in the world, this will provide some answers.
Reading between the lines, I am guessing that you are going on a Rhine cruise out of Basel and the cruise company is providing coach transportation. If you missed your coach, you can always pony up another 35 CHF and get a train to Basel. Trains in Switzerland run like street cars elsewhere. There is always another coming along soon, especially on busy routes like Zurich to Basel or Luzern.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17427 posts
You could visit the Fraumünster church and see the Chagall stained glass window.
Posted by
Zurich
6 posts
There is luggage storage at the airport. You can pay with cash or credit card. Rates here: https://www.zurich-airport.com/passengers-and-visitors/airport-services-en/baggage-service
You can also pay for the train using the machines at the airport (change the language to English). Buy the Flughafen to Zurich Bahnhof (Main Station). It will give you an option of return (2 hour ticket) or a 24-hour ticket. For what you are doing, 24 hour return ticket will cover you.
You can do a self-walking tour around Zurich in a few hours
https://apassportaffair.com/best-zurich-city-self-guided-walk/
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
1) Yes, there is luggage storage at the airport station. Not sure if you need cash. The self-service lockers definitely need coins, there may be manned storage, which then would accept a card.
2) Yes, both the manned SBB ticket desk and SBB ticket machines accept cards. Proviso: As long as your card has been authorised for foreign use (in Switzerland) - talk to your bank.
3) I too am assuming you are getting a cruise from Basel (that would explain why you don't want to get any Franks, because you are about to leave the country). I would suggest getting a train to Basel immediately, leaving your bags at Basel station (lockers and manned desk), and spending your time looking around Basel old town.
If you do this, be sure to find out where your ship docks (there are three possible docking locations in Basel, St Johann, Klybeck and Dreiländereck) and what time you have to be on board.