Kosher Guide to Zurich

Yes. The Zürich eruv, under rabbinical supervision, mainly encloses the Wiedikon, Enge and Wollishofen quarters. Its status is checked every week and posted on eruv.ch and in its WhatsApp group.

Mostly in Enge and Wiedikon, south-west of the city centre. The IRG, Agudas Achim, Minjan Brunau and Chabad shuls, Florentin and the kosher shops are all in these two quarters.

Yes. Florentin, in the ICZ community centre on Lavaterstrasse, is a glatt kosher meat restaurant open for lunch Monday to Thursday and dinner Sunday to Thursday. Babi's Bagel Shop is a kosher dairy café, and The Grill Cave is a kosher meat food truck.

Koscher City on Weststrasse and LeShuk on Waffenplatzstrasse are kosher supermarkets, Kol Tuv on Aemtlerstrasse is the kosher butcher, and Ma'adan on Schimmelstrasse is the kosher bakery. Many general supermarkets, such as Coop Wiedikon, also stock products on the Swiss Orthodox communities' kosher list. Tiny Fish Sushi and Gelateria Leonardo sell a set list of ICZ-certified items at their ordinary counters; only those items are kosher.

Yes, partly. Koscher City opens on Sunday morning, Ma'adan Bakery and Babi's Bagel Shop open on Sundays, while LeShuk and Kol Tuv are closed on Sundays.

Yes. For security, visitors register in advance with the ICZ before attending services at the Löwenstrasse synagogue.

At the ICZ's Löwenstrasse synagogue, Shacharit is at 7:00 AM Monday to Friday and 8:45 AM on Sunday, and the Shabbos morning service starts at 9:00 AM, followed by Kiddush.

Chabad Lubavitch of Switzerland on Rüdigerstrasse hosts visitors for the Friday-night meal when possible, arranged in advance by email, and holds a Kiddush after Shabbos morning prayers. The ICZ also holds a Kiddush after its Shabbos morning service.

The Engimatt, Hotel Neufeld, the Renaissance Zurich Tower Hotel and the Zurich Marriott offer kosher breakfast on request.

The Engimatt, Locke am Platz, Motel One, B2 and Park Hyatt in Enge, and Hotel Neufeld in Wiedikon, are all within walking distance of the Enge and Wiedikon shuls and kosher shops.

Yes. The ICZ runs a mikvah at its community centre on Lavaterstrasse, and the IRG has a mikvah at its synagogue on Freigutstrasse. Contact the communities in advance to arrange a visit.

Trains run from the station beneath the airport to Zürich main station several times an hour and take roughly 10 to 15 minutes; trams and S-Bahn trains continue to Enge and Wiedikon.

Switzerland uses the Swiss franc (CHF), not the euro. Sockets are Type J at 230V; two-pin Type C plugs also fit.

Yes, Zürich is one of the most expensive cities in Europe. Self-catering from the kosher supermarkets, and staying in an aparthotel with a kitchenette such as Locke am Platz, keeps costs down.

No. Trams, buses and S-Bahn trains cover the whole city, and the shuls, kosher shops and Florentin in Enge and Wiedikon are within walking distance of each other. A car is only worth it for trips into the mountains.

All the fully kosher restaurants, shops and the bakery close for Shabbos, closing early on Friday afternoon. The ordinary shops that sell some certified items (Tiny Fish Sushi, Gelateria Leonardo, Coop) open on Saturday. Museums, the zoo and most general shops stay open on Saturday, and trams and trains run as usual.