St Gotthard Hotel in Zurich

By international comparison, Zurich has remained a small town. Yet the largest city in Switzerland offers all the advantages of a pulsating international metropolis and skilfully combines a cultural metropolis, a ‘scene’ city, shopping mile and economic centre. As far as lifestyle and quality of life is concerned, the financial and banking city at the northern end of Lake Zurich is regularly ranked among the leaders by Europe’s fashion and trend magazines. This ‘scene’ city, together with New York and London, is one of the hubs of contemporary art, in which the Kunsthaus (art gallery) is regarded as a leading European address. The Rietberg Museum houses valuable exhibits from non-European cultures. What’s more, Zurich offers varied and interesting theatre enjoyment ranging from the largest theatre in Switzerland through to innovative small theatres. The Zurich Opera House ranks among Europe’s leading opera and ballet stages. The prominent towers of three churches define the city’s silhouette: the Grossmünster, built by Kaiser Karl the Great, the St. Peter’s Church with the largest clock dials in Europe and the Fraumünster, much admired because of its famous stained-glass windows by Marc Chagall. Every devout shopper will get their money’s worth in this city which sits astride the river Limmat. Along Bahnhofstrasse you’ll find shops catering for all budgets as well as stylish designer stores offering jewellery and clothing fashions. Small boutiques and alternative shops abound in the old town side streets in Niederdorf and invite shoppers to linger and take their time. The popularity of Zurich’s nightlife is well-known far beyond Switzerland’s borders. Around 500 nightclubs and bars provide a range of entertainment for every taste until the early morning hours. In summer, you’ll even find nightlife assuming a presence in Zurich’s swimming baths as they transform themselves into enticing bars with a multicultural ambience after sunset. Furthermore, restaurants sited in unusual locations such as former mills and foundries are a popular draw. The ship building facility, for example, is a case in point: today, the former assembly hall for steamships is a separate institution with a concentrated mixture of bars, restaurants, music and theatre. Probably the best-known festival in Zurich is the «Sechseläuten», where the guilds dating from the 14th century once again make an appearance and walk through the town attired in traditional dress. In a spectacle reminiscent of the Middle Ages, a rag doll effigy of a snowman is burnt to symbolise the end of winter.