About Zurich
One of Europe’s most picturesque centers of banking and finance, Zurich sits like a gilded crown upon sparkling Lake Zurich in northern Switzerland. This clean, well-mannered city is the polar opposite of the bustling towns of southern Europe.
Zurich’s charms may be less boisterous, but they are equally plentiful. Walk through history in the city’s Old Town, with its charming medieval homes and narrow walkways.
Explore Switzerland
Overview
Zurich's iconic double towers of the Grossmünster Church (Great Minster) provide one of the city’s most notable landmarks; its Fraumünster Church (Minster of Our Lady) is famous for its stained glass windows created by renowned artists Giacometti and Chagall. While the city may not always move like a Swiss watch, Peterskirche (Peter's Church) does hold Europe’s biggest clock face. And the city’s more than 50 museums, 100 art galleries and other inviting attractions all run quite efficiently.
With an international airport offering flights in 150 diverse directions, and a railway station that provides a hub for all of Europe, Zurich is clearly a world-class travel destination.
What To Do
Swimmers and nature lovers will discover a pleasant mix of lakes and pools throughout Zurich.
Explore some of the city’s dozens of museums, such as the Kunsthaus Zürich, with fine arts from the Middle Ages to the modern day, the Rietberg Museum, exquisitely displaying non-European art, and the Swiss National Museum, resembling a fairytale castle, showcasing an extensive range of the country’s cultural heritage.
Children and their parents will love the immense Zurich Zoo, housing hundreds of species of wildlife from the Madagascan Masoala Rainforest, and beyond.
When to Go
Sitting at a lofty 1,339 feet, surrounded by lakes and mountains, Zurich lies at a considerably lower altitude than its country’s remarkable Monte Rose at 15, 2013 feet high in the Swiss Alps. Still, blue skies are frequently seen in this northern European city, blessed with some of cleanest air on the continent. Summer is gorgeous and hot, while autumn turns the trees into glorious shades of gold and vermillion. Never too humid, Zurich enjoys some remarkable thunderstorms and little wind.
Fast Facts
The Sechseläuten festival marks the beginning of the summer, when the city explodes a giant snowman in the town center; while winter is heralded in with a parade of youngsters holding candles in carved-out turnips during the yearly Räbeleichti.
The Fraumünster Church (Minster of Our Lady) is partially famous for its stained glass windows by Giacometti and Chagall, each depicting a different Biblical story.
It is believed that Zurich’s legendary Grossmünster Church was founded by Emperor Charlemagne during the 8th or 9th century. Apparently, he came upon the burial grounds of the city’s two patron saints, Felix and Regula, after following a giant deer throughout Europe to Zurich. According to the legend, Charlemagne’s horse and hounds bowed down at the site. Believing it to be a sign from God, Charlemagne ordered a church to be built in this exact location. Even today, the emperor’s presence can be seen with a statue cast here in his honor.
Travel Tips & Tools
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