Well, the Swiss football league (Super League by name) is probably not why you came to Zurich. The big football stars definitely play elsewhere on the continent, and even many of the best Swiss players play abroad.

But if you are a football enthusiast, a Swiss football match might nevertheless be worth your while. It can be a spectacle as the best teams of the Super League attract between 15’000 and 28’000 spectators per match (the Zurich teams usually less though). Zurich has two football clubs that play in the Super League - the FC Zürich (commonly referred to as FCZ (say ef tse tset) and the Grasshopper Club (referred to as GC, say gay tse). Both clubs have a long tradition and have won the championships as well as the cup many times.

While the supporters of FCZ traditionally were working class, GC is said to be an upper-class club. In recent years FCZ was more successful, but last season GC was the better Zurich team. Both teams play at the Letzigrund stadium, which was rebuilt in 2007 by architects Bétrix & Consolascio and with its floating roof is worth a visit in itself (open Mon - Fri 09:00 - 19:00, no admission).

Unfortunately for football fans it is a stadium for athletics too, which means you’re not that close to the action. The two clubs have been fighting for a real football stadium for more than a decade - and still are, in fact. We will keep you posted.

Letzigrund Stadium, www.letzigrund.ch, Badenerstrasse 500