Zurich

Think of Zurich and you probably picture banks and Bahnhofstrasse first – but Switzerland's most populous canton stretches from Lake Zurich to the Rhine, and from the Uetliberg to the vineyards of the Weinland. A vacation in Zurich combines big-city culture with lakeside swimming docks, world-class museums and hiking trails that start just a suburban train ride away.

Between Lake Zurich and the Rhine

The canton of Zurich is hilly rather than alpine. To the south lies Lake Zurich, whose shores are known as the "Gold Coast" (east side) and the "Pfnüselküste" (west side). In the east, the Zurich Oberland rises above 1,000 meters with the Bachtel and the Töss highlands; around Wetzikon and Uster you'll find Lake Pfäffikon and Lake Greifen, both with protected shorelines and loop trails. In the far north flows the Rhine: a bridge spans the river at Eglisau, and in the Weinland around Andelfingen, Riesling-Sylvaner and Pinot Noir grow on sunny slopes. This variety packed into a relatively small area is what makes the canton so appealing.

Zurich and the Cities of the Canton

With a little over 440,000 residents, the city of Zurich is the largest in Switzerland. Along the Limmat, the Grossmünster and Fraumünster crowd the banks; the latter's choir windows were designed by Marc Chagall. In the Niederdorf, guildhalls and bars line the streets, and from the Lindenhof you can look out over the Old Town. To the west, Zurich-West has transformed from an industrial district into a nightlife quarter, with the Prime Tower, the Viaduct with its shops under the railway arches, and the Schiffbau as a theater stage.

Winterthur, the second-largest city, is a former industrial town with a surprising density of museums: the Oskar Reinhart Collection "Am Römerholz" and the Kunstmuseum show Impressionists and Old Masters, and the Fotomuseum is considered one of the most important in Europe. Kloten lives off the airport, with the shopping and services complex "The Circle" right at the terminal. Uster, Dübendorf, Schlieren and Opfikon are established suburban cities where it's worth taking a look at everyday life beyond the postcard views.

If you're staying a few days, also visit Eglisau on the Rhine with its covered Old Town, or take a boat to Rapperswil, which belongs to the canton of St. Gallen but is among the most popular Zurich destinations on the lake.

Sights in Zurich

Among the best-known sights in Zurich are the Kunsthaus, the largest art museum in Switzerland since David Chipperfield's extension, and the Swiss National Museum right next to the main train station. The Le Corbusier House on the lakeshore, the zoo with its Masoala Rainforest Hall, and the Uetliberg with views over the city, lake and Alps round out the program. In summer, the river baths on the Limmat and lake baths like Utoquai are part of the cityscape: here you swim after work right in the middle of the city. Outside the city, Kyburg Castle near Winterthur, Kappel Abbey in the Knonauer Amt and the Rhine Falls are worth a visit; the Zurich side of the falls, with Laufen Castle, belongs to the canton.

Culture, Festivals and History

Zurich was a center of the Reformation: Huldrych Zwingli preached at the Grossmünster from 1519. Later the city became a refuge for thinkers and artists – Dadaism was born at the Cabaret Voltaire in 1916. The most important folk festival is the Sechseläuten in April, when the guilds parade through the city and the "Böögg," a snowman made of cotton wool, is burned. In August the Street Parade celebrates electronic music, and the Zurich Theater Spektakel takes over the Landiwiese by the lake.

Food and Drink

The classic dish is Zürcher Geschnetzeltes with rösti, sliced veal in a cream sauce with mushrooms. A glass of Räuschling, an old grape variety grown almost exclusively on Lake Zurich, pairs well with it. For something sweet, try Luxemburgerli, small macarons from the Confiserie Sprüngli, or Tirggel, a wafer-thin honey cookie served at Christmastime. In the lanes of the Niederdorf, at the food trucks of Zurich-West and in rustic seasonal wine taverns in the Weinland, you'll find the full range of Zurich cuisine.

Getting There and Best Time to Visit

Zurich Airport is the largest in Switzerland and is connected to the main train station by rail in about ten minutes. From Germany, you can reach Zurich by ICE train or by car via the autobahn from Singen and Basel. Within the canton, the dense S-Bahn network serves almost every village; Lake Zurich boats run as far as Rapperswil. The best time to visit is between May and September, when the swimming areas are open and the city lives outdoors. In December, Christmas markets draw visitors to the main train station and Sechseläutenplatz.