The cosmopolitan city by the water combines creative urban life with nature in all its glory. Zurich is abuzz with activity day and night with its countless events, diverse museums, own food festival and Switzerland’s most vibrant nightlife. And if you’re after rest and relaxation, you can be in the Swiss mountains in less than an hour.

### Why Zurich

Zurich is Switzerland’s centre of economic life and education. Located in the heart of Europe, the city offers all the modern amenities of a cosmopolitan metropolis, without sacrificing its natural side. Zurich has for years ranked among the world’s top cities in terms of quality of life. It is a boutique city that offers everything that implies, albeit in small and exquisite format.

### Creativity and innovation

Zurich is avant-garde: it was not only home to [Dada](https://www.myswitzerland.com/en/experiences/cabaret-voltaire/), but also the place where the [Freitag bag](https://www.myswitzerland.com/en/experiences/freitag-flagship-store/) and world-renowned Helvetica typeface originated. Researchers at the revered Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) and companies such as Google and Disney Research produce one innovation after the next. Creativity is also in abundance thanks to one of the biggest universities in Europe devoted to the arts – Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) – while establishments such as the Kunsthaus Zürich, [Haus Konstruktiv](https://www.myswitzerland.com/en/experiences/museum-haus-konstruktiv/) and [Museum für Gestaltung](https://www.myswitzerland.com/en/experiences/museum-fuer-gestaltung-zuerich-museum-for-design/) ensure that it all doesn’t fall into oblivion.

### Cultural diversity

Zurich was already a prosperous centre of commerce in the Early Middle Ages. The 1519 Reformation gave the economy such a boost that the city rapidly became Switzerland’s financial centre. This has remained unchanged to the present day and is why you’ll find the Swiss National Bank in Zurich along with the world-famous [Bahnhofstrasse](https://www.myswitzerland.com/en/experiences/bahnhofstrasse/), one of the most luxurious shopping strips around.

### Sumptuous discoveries

Zurich’s inhabitants don’t just eat [Bircher muesli](https://www.myswitzerland.com/en/experiences/food-wine/recipe/birchermueesli/) and “[Züri Gschnätzlets](https://www.myswitzerland.com/en/experiences/food-wine/recipe/zurich-geschnetzeltes/)” (sliced beef). They are veritable cosmopolitans and love sophisticated delicacies from across the globe. They do their utmost to embrace trends immediately – with creativity and delight. And this earns them awards: Zurich has one of the highest numbers of Michelin-starred restaurants per inhabitant in Europe. The city’s rustic pubs, street food festivals and pop-up restaurants in empty factories are also enjoying a great degree of popularity. All the city’s culinary offerings – and a lot more besides – can be sampled by the way at the annual FOOD ZURICH festival.  

### **Zürich Card – Your city travel pass**

With the Zürich Card, city explorers can enjoy Zurich in all its diversity and save time and money.  
The Zürich Card offers the following for 24 or 72 hours:

*   Unlimited 2nd class travel by tram, bus, train, boat and cable car in the city of Zurich and surrounding region
*   Short boat trips and Limmat river cruise
*   Free or reduced admission to 41 museums
*   50% discount on the Zurich Old Town Walking Tour
*   And many more experiences

[Further information about the Zürich Card](https://zuerich.com/zuerichcard)

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Zurich

This gem among the parks of Zurich was built in the middle of the beautiful park for a high-classicist style villa at the start of the 19th century. Today, this villa is home to the renowned Belvoirpark hotel management school and a restaurant.

Belvoir Park is one of the region’s oldest landscape gardens. It is a special place of relaxation with expansive lawned areas, large pools, mature trees, and peaceful areas that are ideal for contemplation. 

The fascination with this park is down to its location, which offers marvellous views of the city, lake and mountains, the artistic design of the terrain, as well as the backdrop of trees, which was rather unusual at the time.

Since 1985, visitors have also been able to enjoy an iris and daylily garden with over 120 species of flowers.

Belvoirpark - Zurich