Zurich

City centre  

The bustling centre holds the many banks and businesses on which the city’s reputation is built, plus plenty of high-end retailers along exclusive Bahnhofstrasse. Explore the Old Town and enjoy excellent views from Lindenhofplatz, the former site of a Roman fort. You're never far from a quaint cobbled lane, imposing church steeple or charming place to eat when you need to fuel up.

Zurich West  

This regenerated former industrial quarter now boasts arty cafes, bars and clubs where warehouses and factories once stood. Designer stores, market halls and vintage shops are tucked under its old railway arches. And it's ideal for a leisurely lunch or dinner before it springs to life when the sun goes down.  

Seefeld  

To get some fresher-than-fresh air, take a stroll along this historic two-mile (3km) promenade on the eastern shore of Lake Zurich to admire superb views of yachts moored on the water and the imposing Uetliberg mountain. You can also go for a swim in Zurich's two lakeside baths – the Strandbad Tiefenbrunnen or Seebad Utoquai – or explore the leafy Blatterwiese Park.  

Religious landmarks  

Zurich is known for its grand churches and their remarkable architecture is well worth seeing. Climb the two-towered Grossmünster for one of the city’s best views and admire beautiful stained-glass in Fraumünster. The church of St Peter is simple to find as it houses the largest church clock face in Europe.  

Zoo Zurich 

The spacious Zoologischer Garten is home to over 380 species in modern enclosures. Its most famous residents are Asian elephants housed in the strikingly designed dome of Kaeng Krachan Elephant Park. The zoo’s also part of an international breeding programme for king and Humboldt penguins.  

Kunsthaus  

This must-see gallery is filled with collections spanning from the Middle Ages to the present day. Naturally there’s a strong focus on Swiss painters, but you can also get your eyes on impressive works by masters including Van Gogh, Cezanne, Monet, Manet and Picasso.  

Chinese Garden  

Small but stunning, this delicate floral creation on the lake shore at the Zurichhorn was gifted by twin town Kunming in China’s southern Yunnan province. It opened in 1994 and features a small pond island, pavilions, artificial mountain and a water palace.  

Landesmuseum Zurich  

The Swiss National Museum holds one of Europe's leading cultural history collections, made up of the National Museum Zurich, Castle of Prangins and Forum of Swiss History Schwyz. The building itself is impressive, comprising a combination of French Renaissance-style château architecture with a striking modern wing which opened in 2016. 

Traditional fare  

Think Switzerland, think cheese – and of course the country’s impressive list of edible exports features many, including Gruyere and Emmental. Raclette and warming cheese fondue are very popular traditional dishes, and locally-made cheeses such as Appenzeller often feature heavily in starters and mains.  

No-one makes chocolate quite like the Swiss, making it a frequent dessert ingredient, but there are also plenty of delicious fruit tarts, strudels and cakes to savour. 

Fine dining  

Zurich has around 20 Michelin-starred restaurants, indicating how much external influences have infused the city’s own culinary roots. You’ll find plenty of traditional Swiss dishes, balanced by European and world cuisine in sophisticated surroundings. Exquisite eating – naturally, the prices match.  

Food markets  

Weekly markets all across the city offer an excellent choice of fresh, often organic, farm products. Expect a fantastic variety of produce on sale from farmers, bakers, butchers and local makers, with flowers added into the home-grown mix too.  

Zurich Festival July

Every three years this huge city-wide event packs in the attractions and celebrates with food, music, parties, fairground rides and spectacular fireworks. Over a month, the city's major cultural institutions present shows, concerts, dances, exhibitions, readings and discussions, all based around a single theme.  

Street Parade August

The city's largest annual event is one of the world's biggest techno parties. Hundreds of thousands of people dance along the banks of Lake Zurich to promote freedom, love and tolerance.  

Christmas markets December

Zurich has more than one Christmas market to choose from. You can feel the festive vibes at gatherings in the Old Town, at the Wienachtsdorf pop-up village at Sechseläutenplatz, and around the enormous Christmas tree at the station. With the average winter temperature around 0°C, real snow is highly likely!