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Back to Uster

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Voykit pocket guide · Switzerland

Uster

Spend a half‑day in Uster: train from Zurich (15 min), visit Uster Castle (Sunday 14:00‑17:00) and walk the Greifensee lakeside.

Uster is a small town 15 min by S‑Bahn from Zurich, offering a medieval castle, lakeside paths and cheap eateries. One half‑day is enough for the highlights; an extra night is optional for a relaxed stay.

GenevaAarauAlbinenAndermattAppenzellArosaAsconaAvenchesBadenBaselBellinzonaBernBielBrigUster50 kmdots: other places in this guide
Sketch, not to navigate by: shapes follow this guide’s areas and places, not official boundaries. North is up.
Country
Switzerland
Best months
May–September
Avoid
December–February (cold, limited opening hours)
Stay
0‑1 nights

Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.

Essentials

Currency
CHF
Money
Currency is the Swiss franc (CHF). Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere; euros are sometimes taken with change in francs.
Daily spend
Budget Fr 30–45 excl. bed · Mid Fr 45–70 excl. bed (estimate; check)
SIM and data
Swisscom, Sunrise and Salt sell prepaid SIMs (ID needed); Swisscom covers the most mountain terrain.
Emergency
Police 117 · Ambulance 144 · Fire 118
Plugs
Types J, C · 230 V · 50 Hz · Swiss three-pin sockets are recessed: thin two-pin (type C) plugs fit, but thick German Schuko plugs do not — bring a Swiss adapter.
Tipping
Restaurant: Service included; round up or leave 5–10% for good service.; Café or bar: Round up.; Taxi: Round up.; Hotel: Optional; CHF 2–5 for porters.; Mountain guide: CHF 20–50 for a day, optional.
Water
Tap and fountain water is excellent. Restaurants usually charge for bottled water; ask for 'Hahnenwasser' / 'eau du robinet'.
Toilets
Station toilets cost CHF 1–2; restaurants and department stores are free for customers.

What things cost

ItemPrice
Coffee at caféFr 4–6
McDonald's mealFr 10–12
Model railway collection entryFr 5/3

Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.

Get in

By air

ZRH · Zurich Airport
Take S5 to Zurich HB (15 min) then S5 to Uster (15 min).

Typical fares

Zurich HB → Uster (S5)
about Fr 6.80, 30 min (check)
Taxi Zurich Airport → Uster
Fr 60–70, 30 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card

Get around

ZVV S‑Bahn (S5, S9, S14, S15) serves Uster station every 30 min from 05:30‑00:00; buses connect the town centre; taxis are expensive.

See and do

Known for

  • Uster Castle
  • Greifensee lake
  • Model railway collection

Day trips

WhereHowTime
ZurichS5 from Uster to Zurich HB, 15 min≈30 min total
RapperswilS5 via Zurich HB, 30 min≈45 min

Sleep

Hotel Ochsen
Central, single Fr 125 / double Fr 165 per night.

Phrase card

EnglishSay or show
Excuse me / SorryEntschuldigungEntschuldigung
Thank youDankeDanke
How much is it?Wie viel kostet das?Wie viel kostet das?
Where is the toilet?Wo ist die Toilette?Wo ist die Toilette?

Etiquette, safety and scams

Etiquette

  • Greeting: Handshake; three cheek kisses among friends; avoid: Skipping the greeting in shops
  • Punctuality: Be exactly on time; avoid: Running for the train expecting it to wait
  • Language: Greet in the local language, then ask for English; avoid: Speaking German in Geneva as a default
  • Quiet: Low voices in trains; quiet carriages are marked; avoid: Speakerphone calls
  • Money: Keep financial talk discreet; avoid: Asking people's salaries
  • Recycling: Separate PET, glass and cans; avoid: Leaving rubbish in hotel or flat bins unsorted

Scams and watch-outs

  • Night trains SN5/SN9 run only Fri‑Sat; check schedules.
  • Uster Castle opens only Sunday afternoons (14:00‑17:00).
  • Swiss taxis charge high fares; expect Fr 60‑70 from Zurich Airport.

Uster is safe; standard Swiss precautions apply – watch for bicycles on lake paths and keep valuables in sight in crowded areas.

One and two days

No timed day plan for Uster yet. Suggested stay: 0‑1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.

  • Uster Castle
  • Greifensee lake
  • Model railway collection

Sources

Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.

Pocket card

Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.

Uster

Zu dieser Adresse, bitte

To this address, please

My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)

Swiss embassies handle consular matters; US consulate in Zurich (check address).

Voykit · checked 2026-09

Printed from Voykit (/uster). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.