Zürich is a capital that’s more than befitting of the Swiss reputation for efficiency and focus. The biggest banking hub on continental Europe may look to be powered by meetings and sharp suits, but on the flip side there’s an increasingly diverse counterculture in the city which has produced some of its most memorable events and venues.
The Old Town
Despite the growth of the business district, Zürich has done a magnificent job of retaining its traditional sense of Swiss charm – with four major churches in the city including the world famous Grossmünster.
The Fraumunster offers one of the most engrossing sights in the old town – the stained glass windows of Marc Chagall, which depict biblical scenes – while the Kunsthaus is home to a large collection of art including Rodin’s famous Gates of Hell sculpture. Those of a more avant-garde taste may choose to sample the atmosphere of Cabaret Voltaire – an arts and performance space which was the birthplace of Dadaism.
Centre of arts
As well as the Dadaist movement, other works and artists are celebrated here in Zürich. The Centre Le Corbusier & Museum Heidi Weber, south of Bellevueplatz near the lakeside, collects the works of Swiss-born architect Le Corbusier and offers a fascinating insight into one of Europe’s most innovative designers. Meanwhile, Museum für Gestaltung collects the best of the trends from home and abroad and showcases them inside Brutalist concrete buildings.
Further afield
Even if you’re pressed for time, you won’t have to travel far out of town to see some trademark Swiss scenery – the idyllic Lake Zürich on the edge of town and the mountain peaks of Pfannenstiel and Bürglen are just a short drive away.
Zürichsee rewards visitors with views across the magnificent waters to the Alps which crop up over the horizon to the south. Set sail across the lake on one of the many passenger boats for unparalleled views of the seaside resorts and find out all about the prehistoric pile dwellings which sit on the shore.
And if you can’t break away from the Zürich area, you needn’t miss out on some of Switzerland’s best hiking trails – they’re all within easy reach of the city by car, leaving you free to enjoy a scenic drive to Schnebelhorn and a bracing walk through the charming Swiss countryside.
