From mid-October, Zurich's open-air rinks fill with families, and polar bear skating aids get first-timers moving. Most rinks rent skates and beginner aids, set aside time for pickup hockey, and have a restaurant beside the ice for warming up. Here's what we checked, from the forest rink at Dolder to the town rink up the hill in Küsnacht, plus Dolder's themed Saturday ice discos.
Six evenings a season, the outdoor Dolder rink turns into a disco: a light show, DJs Steven Sander and Marvellous80 playing hits, and a theme for each night, from a Halloween ghost ride to a Frozen night and a fireworks edition.
It suits kids who can already skate on their own and teens out with friends. Families can book a fondue table in the restaurant overlooking the ice.
One of Switzerland's largest open-air ice rinks, 6,000 square meters set in the Dolderwald forest. There is room for free skating, ice hockey and Chneble, and you can try Bavarian curling or Lättlischiessen. Rental skates, free kids' helmets and polar bear skating aids help beginners.
Ice discos run with live DJ sets, and a self-service restaurant and winter market sit beside the ice.
Sportzentrum Heuried is a City of Zurich ice rink with an outdoor ice field, an indoor ice hall and a 300-seat stand. Public skating runs on the outdoor field, with set evening slots for pickup hockey.
Skates, sliders for toddlers, skating aids and hockey sticks can be rented at the rink, and the Vrenelisgärtli restaurant is on site.
A city-run outdoor ice rink for public skating, next to an indoor hall used by clubs. Skates, push-along skating aids and small sliders for toddlers are for rent at the rink, and toddler helmets are lent free against a deposit.
Some sessions are set aside for open pick-up hockey, including a parent-and-child slot. Restaurant Stadiönli is on site for a warm-up between laps.
Winter World is the Wallisellen ice rink, with two rinks side by side: a roofed 30 x 60 m hockey field and an open skating field.
Beginners push polar bear or clown skating aids, older kids join open stick-hockey sessions, and groups can book lanes for Eisstockschiessen, a curling-style ice game. From mid-November, a mobile rink turns the mini golf course into Winterzauber.
KEK is the town of Küsnacht's ice rink, up the hill by Itschnach. It has three parts: an open-air rink for public skating, an indoor ice hall that opens to the public for Chneble sessions at set times, and a four-rink curling hall.
The restaurant, Hosteria DeDi, has a terrace for warming up. Skating and hockey lessons, curling and Eisstock all run through the local clubs.
From mid-October, Zurich's open-air rinks fill with families, and polar bear skating aids get first-timers moving. Most rinks rent skates and beginner aids, set aside time for pickup hockey, and have a restaurant beside the ice for warming up. Here's what we checked, from the forest rink at Dolder to the town rink up the hill in Küsnacht, plus Dolder's themed Saturday ice discos.
Six evenings a season, the outdoor Dolder rink turns into a disco: a light show, DJs Steven Sander and Marvellous80 playing hits, and a theme for each night, from a Halloween ghost ride to a Frozen night and a fireworks edition.
It suits kids who can already skate on their own and teens out with friends. Families can book a fondue table in the restaurant overlooking the ice.
One of Switzerland's largest open-air ice rinks, 6,000 square meters set in the Dolderwald forest. There is room for free skating, ice hockey and Chneble, and you can try Bavarian curling or Lättlischiessen. Rental skates, free kids' helmets and polar bear skating aids help beginners.
Ice discos run with live DJ sets, and a self-service restaurant and winter market sit beside the ice.
Sportzentrum Heuried is a City of Zurich ice rink with an outdoor ice field, an indoor ice hall and a 300-seat stand. Public skating runs on the outdoor field, with set evening slots for pickup hockey.
Skates, sliders for toddlers, skating aids and hockey sticks can be rented at the rink, and the Vrenelisgärtli restaurant is on site.
A city-run outdoor ice rink for public skating, next to an indoor hall used by clubs. Skates, push-along skating aids and small sliders for toddlers are for rent at the rink, and toddler helmets are lent free against a deposit.
Some sessions are set aside for open pick-up hockey, including a parent-and-child slot. Restaurant Stadiönli is on site for a warm-up between laps.
Winter World is the Wallisellen ice rink, with two rinks side by side: a roofed 30 x 60 m hockey field and an open skating field.
Beginners push polar bear or clown skating aids, older kids join open stick-hockey sessions, and groups can book lanes for Eisstockschiessen, a curling-style ice game. From mid-November, a mobile rink turns the mini golf course into Winterzauber.
KEK is the town of Küsnacht's ice rink, up the hill by Itschnach. It has three parts: an open-air rink for public skating, an indoor ice hall that opens to the public for Chneble sessions at set times, and a four-rink curling hall.
The restaurant, Hosteria DeDi, has a terrace for warming up. Skating and hockey lessons, curling and Eisstock all run through the local clubs.
