World City Guide

Sport

The city’s top ice hockey team is ZSC Lions (website: www.zsclions.ch), which usually plays Nationalliga A games at the Hallenstadion. Whilst this stadium is being refurbished, the team has moved temporarily to the nearby Kunsteisbahn Oerlikon, Siewerdtstrasse 80 (tel: (01) 315 4050; website: www.sportamp.ch). ZSC Lions were first in the 2002/2003 season. Football is also popular in Zurich and FC Zürich (website: www.fcz.ch) plays at Stadion Letzigrund, Baslerstrasse 5 (tel: (0848) 800 800), while rival football club Grasshopper-Club Zürich (website: www.gcz.ch) has been playing since 1886 and can be seen at the Stadion Hardturm, Hardturmstrasse 321 (tel: (01) 447 4646).

Tickets to sporting events can be booked through the stadiums and clubs or through TicketCorner (website: www.ticketcorner.com).

Golf: The Dolder Golf Club, Kurhausstrasse 66 (tel: (01) 261 5045; website: www.dolder.ch), is Zürich’s oldest course, having nine holes overlooking the city and lake. For 18 holes, there is the Zürich-Zumikon Golf Club, located in Zumikon, 10km (6 miles) southeast of the city, at Weid 9 (tel: (043) 288 1088; website: www.swissgolfnetwork.ch). Both courses are available Monday to Friday. Players are required to have a registered golf handicap and to reserve in advance.

Skating: As one would expect, skating is very popular in Zürich. The kunsteisbahn (rinks) include Dolder, Adlisbergstrasse 36 (tel: (01) 267 7080; website: www.doldereisbahn.ch), which has a good restaurant and kiosk; Heuried, Wasserschoepfi 71 (tel: (01) 455 5161 or (079) 684 5752; website: www.sportamp.ch); and Kunsteisbahn Oerlikon, Siewerdtstrasse 80 (tel: (01) 315 4050; website: www.sportamp.ch).

Skiing: The Schweizerischer Ski-Verband (SSV), Worbstrasse 52, 3074 Muri bei Bern (tel: (031) 950 6111; website: www.swiss-ski.ch), is the national ski federation. There are ski hills within half an hour of Zurich and a 12km (7 miles) cross-country trail from Uetliburg (see Further Distractions section), however, it is worth the two to two-and-a-half hours (by rail or road) to ski at Klosters (website: www.klosters.ch) and Davos (website: www.davos.ch). Many locals opt for the shorter journey to Engelberg (website: www.engelberg.ch), south of Lucerne, where a one-day rail and ski pass is available.

Swimming and Fitness Centres: The Hallenbads (website: www.badi-info.ch) are public indoor pools with fitness centres including saunas, solariums and massage facilities. Hallenbad City, Sihlstrasse 71 (tel: (01) 219 7722), is the most centrally located. The Hallenbad Oerlikon, Wallisellenstrasse 100 (tel: (01) 315 6777), is more convenient for the Messe and has a good restaurant and bar. Other pools can be found at Altstetten, Bungertwies, Käferburg and Leimbach. Swimming beaches on both shores of Lake Zurich are open from May to September.

Tennis: The Mythenquai courts, Mythenquai 200 (tel: (01) 202 3243), are situated near the beach. Year-round tennis is available at the Lengg courts, Bleulerstrasse 141 (tel: (01) 381 1313; website: www.lengg.ch). Reservations must be made in winter. Other courts in the city are available from Sportaktiv, Mainausstrasse 50 (tel: (01) 388 9999; website: www.sportaktiv.ch).