Hi guys, I have a rather stupid question. For the next few days, until I work out where I'll be living permanently, I will need to take the tram to work. However the machines look like they only take coins, whereas all my francs are in notes. Is there a machine somewhere you can change notes into coins? Or do you just have to walk around doing a lot of shopping until you have enough change?

Sorry if this sounds like a stupid question, it sounds stupid even to me, but I've never really needed to use cash before. I'll sort out some sort of monthly pass or similar once my living situation is sorted, but until then I think I need coins! I have searched and googled for the answer, but mostly it seems people have the opposite problem.

Bank...Walk to any bank or post office n you have as many coins as you want...
Cheers

Just get a monthly pass that covers the main Zurich city travel zones since you will need that regardless of where you are living in Zurich. There are plenty of machines that handle notes just go to a bahnhof instead of a tram stop since the tickets are the same anyway since the entire system is made up of zones not point to point travel.

Most machines will take Swiss-issued debit cards as well. Although if you're a new arrival here, that may not be a big help.

Thanks for the help guys. I'll go try and get a monthly pass after work this evening. Plus, it looks like since I'm still 25, it'll be even cheaper!

Another option is to buy a strip of tickets - though not as cheap as a tram pass, it does allow you to buy with paper notes as these can bought at kiosks (in Basel anyway).

If you do need a supply of coins, there are change machines downstairs in the main station. Go to the mezzanine level where the toilets are - just inside the door of the mens' (before the turnstile) there is a change machine on the wall.

There are probably lots of them scattered in other places as well (other train stations? major tram stops?) but that's the one I know of for sure.

Not sure how it works in Zurich but down here in Canton Vaud the SBB mobile app can be used for all of the tickets, it charges your credit card directly and the inspector just checks out your phone.

Kiosks are always a good source of coins. They also sell a variety of chewing gum, soft drinks and literature and cheap Chinese crap imports for the kiddies to spend their pocket money on.

Tune in to tomorrow's installment of "How I live my life - Part IV - Opening a pack of Corn Flakes".

Future episodes to include:

- Flushing the toilet
- Opening a can
- Mailing a letter
- Being nice to noobs on an internet forum ....

On my first day in Switzerland I needed change (I thought it would be rude to pay with a 100 for a bottle of water). Put the 100 note into the Change machine at Lausanne station, got 80 euros back. :switzerlanded:

update on that episode list ... last one was cancelled due to lack of viewers

- How to bundle newspapers so they don't fall apart.
- How to recycle milk containers
- How to bring back your Altoel
- When to speak to your neighbours
- Can I shovel my driveway on a Sunday?
- How to make Muesli
- How to stop these silly lists

I'm rather embarassed Olygirl as apart from items one and two, this is a discussion I'd be interested to read ...

Thanks heaps for all the replies, particularly those of which were helpful.

I got my monthly pass at the Oerlikon station, although I ended up with a 88.- transferable one instead of the 79.- personal one. Something to improve on next month!

Most useful post, just what I was after. I went to the station twice on Sunday and Monday and didn't see them, so these are the kind of directions I needed. Thanks!

-Where i can find brown sugar.
-How to shower after 10 without the neighbours complaining
-How to pick up after the dog
-How to live in Switzerland with less than a million chfs a year

Just one mystery remains. What WAS Mathnut doing inside the mens toilet at the HB???
We should be told!

I'm not sure I want to know.

It's the entrance to the EF Mod's secret hide-out - didn't you know? I thought everyone knew...