Zurich in the heart of Europe

Zurich, a banking city located in Switzerland, in the center of Europe.

It is not the capital of Switzerland, but is considered by many to be the economic center.

Zurich, known for its quality of life, is also known for its city of water, as it was built on the shores of Lake Zurich, which is 28 km long and 4 km wide, as well as the Limmat River, which flows through its historic part. It is curious that the city has 1224 fountains, of which about 1200 are drinking water. This information is important to anyone visiting Zurich, as you only need to buy a bottle or container and fill it with water when you need it during your visit to the city.

It is the largest city in Switzerland with 400 thousand inhabitants, and if we consider the entire region of the canton of Zurich, the number of inhabitants rises to about 2 million.

Although the language is Swiss German, the dialect is almost similar to traditional German, French and English can be heard and spoken in this city.

Zurich is a city that combines the modernity of a metropolis with the historical side of the old city. The historical part of the city is one of the recommended places for tourists to visit due to its charm and organization.

When we land in Zurich, we do so at Switzerland’s largest airport, which has direct connections to almost 150 destinations around the world and is only 10 minutes by train from the city center – Central Station. If you are arriving during the Christmas season, do not miss a visit to the Christmas market (ShopVille-Zurique Hauptbahnhof), which takes place exactly at the Central Station.

But since we are close to Christmas and given Zurich’s location at the foot of the Swiss Alps, grab some warm clothes and head towards Einsiedeln, where you can really feel the Christmas atmosphere, being part of the setting of a typical market where you can drink the famous Glühwein (mulled wine) and listen to Christmas music and watch various shows.

But Zurich is a city where we can breathe in a cosmopolitan atmosphere and where we can combine visits to numerous museums and art galleries with restaurants, bars and at the same time have a busy night.

One of the places worth visiting is Lindenhof, the site where in the past there was a Roman castle, and today it is a park within the city walls, which, due to its landscape and historical importance, is always a place to visit.

However, to get to know Zurich, you need to stroll along its most popular streets. One of the must-see trails is Bahnhofstrasse, one of the busiest with major shops and luxury brands. This street is located between Central Station, which, as I mentioned, is worth a visit, to Lake Zurich, which overlooks the most famous lake in Switzerland.

Arriving here, we will discover the old town or the historical part of Zurich. Limmatquay Street, bordering the Limmat River, invites you to stroll along the river and is one of the places where we find cafes for hot chocolate or restaurants for dinner.

Another street worth visiting is Rennweg, which played a key role in trade during the Middle Ages and is still one of the centers of attraction in the historic district of Zurich.

On this itinerary, visit the Grossmünster, a Protestant church built around 1100 and open to the public, where you can visit its modern colored stained glass windows by the German artist Sigmar Polke.

But if we are talking about churches, we have another one worth visiting on the other side of the Limmat river, Fraumunstar, with stained glass windows by Augusto Giacometti and Marc Chagall, the latter, which depicts fragments of Christianity in five windows. Another of the churches worth visiting is St. Peter’s Church which is famous for its largest clock of all churches in Europe.

Leaving the historic district of Zurich, we find ourselves in West Zurich, an area that was once inhabited by factories and industrial enterprises, and after the industrial revolution has become a “trendy” area with art galleries, bars and restaurants.

Zurich is thus a waterfront ‘metropolis of experiences’ with stunning views of the snow-capped Alps, offering a quality of life, a unique mix of attractions – over 50 museums and over 100 art galleries, top international brands and Switzerland’s liveliest and most extravagant nightlife.