Albisriederplatz - Zurich West

Accomodation, House and Garden
1
Hi,

I will moved in Zurich in 1 month from Montreal, Canada for my postdoc at ETHZ. I found an appartment in the Albisriderplatz area. Any comment about that part of the city (services, parks, restaurants, bars, club,etc.)?

His that considered Zurich West area which I heard was very nice and quite a hype district?

Thanks

matlat

2
Actually the real Swiss consider this area to be the worst part of Zurich, because of a high concentration of foreigners and "crime" whatever that means.

3
Crime? Crime in ch???

Foreigners? Foreigners in ch??

I can't wait to reallly find out about this overhelming feer of the swiss for its criminal neighbours. That's the single thing we here about swiss these days...!!!???!!!! I hope they have better to offer...

4
No, it's across the train tracks and 3 bus stops from Albisriederplatz. There are two bus lines which run through both places. Zurich West is a former industrial area which has been rejuvenated in the last 10 years so it's fairly clean and modern with plenty of night life in some parts.

5
I've been at Albisriederplatz at every time of the day for countless times and the area is neither flooded by crime nor foreigners. It is more down to earth than the area north of the train tracks, which is also the nearest location to go for clubbing.

However that doesn't mean that there is no life around Albisriederplatz. There is a kebab stand that is open until 2am on weekdays and around the clock on weekends, a reasonably big supermarket for Swiss norms, a post office and some cafés. There are a few nice bars at back roads and a recently opened club is making some baby steps nearby. Also there are two parks nearby, the smaller one has a playground but is also a good place for studying during summer. The bigger one is the largest green area in the city, a cemetery park. Albisriederplatz is located in the more flat side of the Limmat river and therefor good for bicycling short distances (biking up to the ETH buildings requires some effort though).

You can get a better idea of the infrastructure and surroundings by browsing this map .

ps. Please don't post the same question more than once, to keep the noise/information ratio reasonable.

6
I live around the Albisriederplatz and like it just because there are a lot of foreigners. This is one of the only areas in Zurich I know that at least has 'an edge' to it (and I don't mean a criminal edge). Unlike many other areas, it's not clean, sleepy, and/or overly hip. There's a Turkish (I think) supermarket that's open until 23h every day, which is quite handy and so is the Döner shop mentioned in a previous post (arguably the best döners in Zürich, according to my döner-fetishist-german colleagues).

you're also very close to the Idaplatz, which has a very nice, relaxed atmosphere and a few cool bars.

Anyway, get yourself a bike when you move to the Albisriederplatz and you can get anywhere you would want to get in a 10-15 min ride.

7
I lived in Albisrieden for a number of years and loved every minute of it. Around Albisriederplatz, sure it can be a bit dodgy, but living in the city always does pose us at times with urban and social adversities. We lived in Albisriederdörfli and knew the area well.

Both my kids were born their and the opportunities for kids is endless. Transport into down-town Zürich consists of bus tram and train. And if you get bevvied over the weekend a taxi won't cost you an arm and a leg!

Great place to live.

The influx of foreigners makes the place even more exciting. The fish department in the Lindenplatz Migros is amazing. Turkish bakeries - brilliant!!

Home sick

8
Hi there, I just moved from the area 4 weeks ago lived there since end Dec 05.

I was based on Zurlindenstr. near Idaplatz and within 5 mins walk there was everything. Schmiede Wiedikon for villagelike feeling, Albsriederplatz as transport/food hub and off every street both upmarket restaurants Zur Linden, Taverne, and new trendy & ethnic eateries and drinkeries. In fact you could live there and almost never need to go into town 10 mins by tram away.

Bus ride to Hardbrucke gets you to the airport in 2 stops and to all the clubs in EscherWyss. I only moved to have more space to live and park a car. I was 2 blocks back from Badenerstr. by the graveyard so it was really quiet.

Recommend it unless you prefer really Swiss/German vibe closer to Seefeld on the Tram 2.

Missing it already, even my neighbours were friendly especially the nurse next door.

Go for it.

9
Hello,

I'm going to visit Zurich in the next weeks. I found a relatively cheap accomodation in Badenerstrasse, near the intersection with Hardstrasse. Since I remember that Hardbrucke has not the reputation of being the best part of Zurich, and since I remember I once went to Altstetten, and wasn't really impressed by the 'outlook' of the area, can you please give me an advice on how dangerous really is the area, expecially for single travellers?

Thanks a lot

10
About as dangerous as Piazza Navona in bright daylight.

Please read the thread with which I've merged yours for more information.

11
OK, thanks. I've never been to Rome (I don't like it, I actually don't like most of the Italian cities, the only good ones are in the North-Eastern part, which, guess what, was once ruled by the Austria-Ungarians...), so I don't know how to decode your phrase...

12
It's not less safe than elsewhere in Zurich.

13
I have lived close to that part of town since arriving and have never had any dramas. I am (thankfully) not aware of any overt crime and problems in this part of town and haven't had any problems myself.

I am indifferent to the demographics, but would comment that there probably are less native Swiss than in other parts of town.

On the plus side, you would have good bus and tram links and reasonable sized supermarket on your doorstep. Also Zurich West is a good night out.

I guess with all these thing that it is a matter of preference.

Good luck

14
I took a trip to Zurich yesterday to find an apartment. One option was just off Badenerstraße near the cemetary park. Here is a translated approximation of a conversation I had while walking near a tram stop at noon.

Alleged Prostitute (while swaggering like a drunkard.): Hey there. What is going on?

Me: No thanks.

Alleged Prostitute: Oh come on. What are you doing? What is going on?

Me: I am busy. Thank you.

Alleged Prostitute: Me too!

This, combined with the sword/magic potion store and vandalism near the prospective apartment, led me to choose another neighborhood.

But yes...very multi-culti.

15
Depends on what your used to, I live in albisriederplatz but am from liverpool seems quite swish to me.

There are foreigners everywhere in Zurich play spot the swiss wherever you go.