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READER INSIGHTS

‘No laundry after 10pm’: What foreign residents in Zurich should and shouldn’t do

Switzerland's largest city has a myriad of written and unwritten regulations about what is and isn’t allowed. We asked our readers to share their own experiences.

Swimming in Lake Zurich (like here) is a must while in the city.
Swimming in Lake Zurich (like here) is a must while in the city. Photo by Michael Buholzer / AFP

About 32 percent of Zurich’s population are foreigners, with Germans making up the largest group, followed by Italians, and Portuguese.

There is a sizeable English-speaking community in the city and canton as well.

Wherever they come from, each newcomer has had to learn the proverbial “ropes” of living in Zurich: what they should and should not do.

In October, we asked Zurich-based readers two questions: the ‘must-do’s’, and the activities that, based on their own experiences, foreigners should abstain from doing in order not to irritate the locals.

READ MORE: Tell us: Are there things that foreign residents in Zurich absolutely should (or shouldn’t) do?

The respondents have been living in Zurich for periods ranging from 18 months to 12 years, so they are well versed in the ways of the city.

This what they told us.

‘Be neat’

First, we asked for advice on things that foreign residents should get used to doing in Zurich.

“Accept the strict rules of garbage recycling,” Giesela Homa wrote, bringing home the point about the importance of proper trash disposal not only in Zurich, but throughout Switzerland as well.

READ MORE: Trash talk: What are the rules for garbage disposal in Switzerland?

Ramesh, an experienced resident with eight years in Zurich under his belt, reiterated what many foreigners already know but sometimes don’t put into practice: “You have to adapt to the Zurich way of life.”

“In most other countries, it is okay to be loud on Sundays,” he said. “But in Zurich, and Switzerland in general, Sundays are strictly for home. No vacuum cleaners or being loud.”

Another reader offered a practical tip like “look for deals to save money”, which is imperative in the world’s most expensive city.

That same person also recommends getting a half-fare travelcard for public transportation, which is also a good way to cut the cost of living.

Another no-nonsense advice is to “shop at Aldi, not Migros”.

Juraj suggested swimming in the lake (we assume he means in the summer), while Jennifer’s advice is to visit an area  called Frau Gerolds Garten.  Located on Geroldstrasse, it combines a market, art venues, and an urban garden.

One reader’s  advice is to “be neat”, which is sure to go down well in a country obsessed with cleanliness.

READ MORE: OPINION: Can foreign residents ever emulate the Swiss obsession for cleanliness?

Another brought up a point that should be self-understood but needs repeating nevertheless. “Take initiative to make friends,” the reader said.

Those are all valuable tips, but our favourite (though we are admittedly biased) is this one: “Sign up for The Local to get the updated news from around Switzerland.” (We might add that this tip holds true wherever in the country you may live).

‘Don’t break the rules’

Next, we asked what things foreigners in Zurich should never do.

Here too we received some valuable input, some which is in line with the much-talked-about rules of being a considerate neighbour.

“Never make noise after 10 o’clock the evening,” Giesela said. This includes, as other readers pointed out, “not flushing your toilet after 10 pm, or doing laundry at night or on Sunday”.

READ MORE: Swiss daily dilemmas: Can I flush my toilet at night?

“You should respect people’s privacy.  And be quiet in public transportation,” a respondent who identified themselves as Z, said.

Ramesh has also stressed the importance of respecting other people’s privacy. “Avoid enquiring about personal topics unless allowed to do so,” he said.

One reader advised against venturing to Sihlquai at night. It is an infamous neighbourhood that used to be a prostitution hub and considered unsafe, though it has been cleaned up in recent years.

Jennifer brought up an issue that is a sore point in many interactions between the Swiss and foreigners: “Don’t expect everyone to speak to you in English,” she said. “Do your part to integrate by learning conversational German.”

READ MORE: Why you shouldn’t expect the Swiss to speak English to you

To that end, as one respondent pointed out that you should greet people with ‘Grüezi’, not  ‘Grüessech’ which is likely a nuance only people living in Zurich can understand.

A reader named Albin, who has lived in Zurich for 12 years, summed up the entire subject succinctly but accurately: “Don’t break the rules” – a piece of advice that any foreigner would do well to comply with, whether living in Zurich or elsewhere in Switzerland.

READ MORE: Five Swiss laws that foreign residents are bound to break

What else would you add to this list? Leave a comment in the comments section below.

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READER INSIGHTS

Readers reveal: Top tips for things to do in Sweden this summer

Sweden's summers are so gorgeous that you'd be a fool to spend much time abroad. From mountain hikes around Kebnekaise and Åredalen to the beaches of Österlen and Gotland, from upmarket brunches to loppis flea markets, here are our readers' top tips on what to do.

Readers reveal: Top tips for things to do in Sweden this summer

What to do 

Perhaps the best advice a reader gave when we asked on our Facebook page for top tips for things to do in Sweden this summer came from Jay, a Brit living in Skåne. 

“Do the things that Swedes do in summer! They’re the experts!” he suggests. 

What Swedes do is as generally as little as possible, or at least as little as possible that is pre-planned.

Astrid, a Swede based in the UK, sums up the general vibe. 

“Chill, relax & family time. Swimming on the fresh water lakes & rivers. Smooching round shops, loppis with lunch and coffee stops as you go. Or simply going to lake, make a fire, barbecue some chicken, and enjoy.” 

Mirella, a Dutchwoman married to a Swede, recommends visiting the outdoor Loppis events that spring up around the country. 

A loppis on Dalens football ground in the. Slottskogen park in Göteborg. Photo: Faramarz Gosheh/imagebank.sweden.se

Amanda from the UK says she made “memories that will live forever” by embracing Swedish raggare culture and visiting some of the classic car meets in Varberg and Falkenberg, where she say “hundreds of stunning vehicles, car obsessives, rockabillies, alternative cultures, people happy to show off their astonishing vehicles and share their stories”.

It was, she writes “one of the highlights of my life”. 

If you already live out in nature, you don’t even need to leave the house.  Alex, who lives outside Stockholm, says she plans to “literally live in the backyard and tend to the garden as we grow a lot of fruits and vegetables”, all washed down with frequent glasses of rosé wine. 

What to do in and near Stockholm 

Many Stockholmers disappear to their summer houses in the summer months, but there’s lots to do if you stay put. 

Dou recommends simply visiting Kungsträdgarten, the tree-lined park in central Stockholm which has a succession of events on its stages throughout the summer. 

Johanna instead suggests a visit to the Skansen park, with its historic houses from different parts of Sweden, its Zoo and its hugely popular open-air concerts. 

Annie loves doing the Haga parkrun every Saturday in the summer, which she says is a “really beautiful run, with loads of banter!”. 

Grace recommends a leisurely brunch at the “legendary” Grand Hotel Stockholm. 

For a more active day, Kathy enjoys kayaking on the waterways around Stockholm, while Heather Barrett suggests floating over the city in a hot air balloon. 

One of the most fantastic things about Stockholm, though, is the countryside, islands and charming towns outside it. 

Helene enjoys getting the ferry all the way to Sandhamn, the last major island in the Stockholm archipelago, while Ariel is content with stopping at Vaxholm, the medieval fortress and town that is the gateway to the islands.

The ferry boats to the archipelago are so accessible in Stockholm that Heather, with slight exaggeration, recommends that people “take the ferry to the islands hundreds of times” over the course of the summer.

Going in other direction, several people recommend taking a day trip to Mariefred and the historic Gripsholm Castle, others going south to the Riddersholm nature reserve on the coast near Norrköping. 

A taxi boat in Växholm. Photo: Anna Hållams, Visit Sweden

What to see and do in southern Sweden

A lot of people tipped the beaches and nature reserves in southern Sweden, with Venetia recommending Åhus beach on the east coast of Skåne for having the “softest sand”,  and Lara instead promoting the windy dunes of the Falsterbo peninsular. 

Mona said that visitors would “love” Österlen, the southeastern corner of Skåne cut off by the road between Ystad and Brösarp, and also recommended the coast a little further north in Blekinge, which she said was called the “garden of Sweden”. 

Mylinda instead recommended the beach at Råå on the west coast of Skåne near Helsingborg,  while Monika suggested going further north into Halland and staying at the sumptuous beachside Varberg Kusthotell. 

For Kira, the cities of Southern Sweden also had a lot to offer, recommending trips to the Sofiero Castle and Garden in Helsingborg, and the free Salsa and Bachata dancing on the beach in Malmö. 

To get around to all the places in the south, Cristina tipped getting the Sommarbiljett Skåne, the 829 kronor ticket getting you unlimited train and bus travel in Skåne from June 15th to August 15th. You can also get a Sommarbiljett Skåne och Blekinge for 1219 kronor. 

A field in Falsterbo, Skåna. Photo: Lucas Günther/imagebank.sweden.se

What to see in central Sweden

The forested, hilly and lake-filled county of Dalarna has a well-deserved reputation for folk culture and landscape and Sara recommends a visit to Lake Siljan, Sweden’s sixth largest lake, because “it’s so beautiful and so essentially Swedish”. 

Shelly wants to see the Säljbergsgrottan cave in the village of Järna, visit the Dalarna Museum in Falun, and see the Silvberg abandoned silver mines with their lakes filled with turquoise water.

Others suggest going a little further south, with Gunnel tipping Mariestad, the “pearl of lake Vänern”, with its “gorgeous” old town, prison museum, gourmet restaurants and lovely surrounding walking trails. 

Gary instead recommends the Läcko Slott castle on Vänern, and some of the other attractions of Skaraborg county, such as the burial place of the founder of Stockholm in Varnhem, viking burial grounds, and forest trails. 

Kim says the beautiful little town of Vadstena on Lake Vattern, with its historic buildings, will always be a favourite after she spent time studying there.  

A man dives off a boat into Lake Siljan in Dalarna. Photo: Johan Willner/Imagebank Sweden

For a longer holiday, Paulien recommends travelling on the Inlandsbanan, the rail track that goes from Kristinehamn in the centre of Sweden on Lake Vänern all the way up to Gällivare in Lapland.

For 2,395 kronor you can get a 14-day ticket, allowing you to hop on and off the train, although you have to pay extra to take a bicycle. You can also buy package tours with hotels and hotel entry included from 8,595 kronor to 14,995 kronor, depending on the number of nights. 

What to do in the summer in northern Sweden

Going further north, Ellen recommends the Nederhögen outdoor centre in Jämtland, and trips to the Fettjeåfallet and Sångbackfallet waterfalls in Klövsjö. Michaela instead mentions the walking trails in the Åredalen mountain area near Åre. 

For others, the best hikes are even further north with Mary Preyanka mentioning the trails around Hemavan or Nikkaloukta, the starting point of the hike up Kebnekaise, Sweden’s highest peak. 

Hiking near the mountain of Kebnekaise. Photo: Fredrik Broman/imagebank.sweden.se
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