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)

myswitzerland.com

Zurich

The highest concentration of clubs in Switzerland, one of the most famous shopping miles, and a plethora of cultural offerings. And all of this against a medieval background. Zurich Old Town is a cultural, social and historical melting pot.

Zurich's Medieval houses, contorted, narrow lanes and guild and town halls from the Renaissance period offer an attractive backdrop for world-class entertainment. A tour of the Old Town lets visitors experience Zurich's multifaceted past. The backdrop turns into a living history of characteristic buildings and the people that lived and acted out their lives in them.  
  
The double towers of the [Grossmünster](https://www.myswitzerland.com/en/experiences/grossmuenster/) (Great Minster) are Zurich's landmark. According to legend, Charlemagne built the towers at the location where the graves of the city saints Felix and Regula were discovered. Further sights worth seeing include the [Peterskirche](https://www.myswitzerland.com/en/experiences/st-peters-church/) (Peter's Church), which has Europe's largest clockface, and the [Fraumünster](https://www.myswitzerland.com/en/experiences/fraumuenster-church/) (Minster of Our Lady), which is known for its stained glass windows by Giacometti and Chagall.

Zurich's Old Town - Zurich