Zurich

Switzerland's gateway and financial centre, with Lake Zurich, Bahnhofstrasse and the Limmat riverside old town, and the essential starting point for the Jungfrau and Lucerne.

Zurich is Switzerland's largest city and its economic and financial centre, with a population of about 440,000 (about 1.4 million in the metropolitan area). It lies in northeastern Switzerland at the northern end of Lake Zurich, where the Limmat River flows north through the city from the lake outlet. The city regularly ranks among the world's most liveable: streets are clean, public transport runs on time, and the lake water is clear enough to swim in directly. The core of sightseeing is the old town on both banks of the Limmat: on the west bank are Bahnhofstrasse, Lindenhof hill, St Peter's Church and the Fraumünster, and on the east bank are the twin-towered Grossmünster and the Niederdorf district, full of alleys and taverns. North of the main station is the Swiss National Museum, and east of the lakefront are the Kunsthaus Zurich and the Opera House. Uetliberg in the southwest suburbs overlooks the whole city and lake, and on clear days you can see the snowy Alps; about 50 minutes' drive to the north are the Rhine Falls, the most powerful waterfall in Europe. The climate is temperate, with fairly cold winters and occasional snow and warm summers (around 25°C). May–Sep is the best time to visit: the open-air Badi lido baths by the lake are open, there are more boat services, and the Street Parade takes place in August; in December there are Christmas markets at the main station and in the old town. Getting around: from Zurich Airport it takes about 10–15 minutes by train to the main station, a hub of the Swiss rail network, with direct trains to Lucerne in about 45 minutes, Interlaken in about 2 hours, the Jungfrau region and Milan. The city has a dense tram network, and you can buy a ZürichCard (including public transport, short lake cruises and admission to most museums); the Swiss Travel Pass also covers city transport. Prices are very high: a simple meal costs about CHF 25–35, and tap water and fountain water in the city are both drinkable. Allow 1–2 days; it is often the first or last stop of a Swiss itinerary. Most shops are closed on Sundays.

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