Discover Zurich

Zurich is located on Switzerland's central plain, with the elevation rising towards the south and the Alps. Positioned at the northern tip of the Zürichsee (Lake Zurich), the city's fine lakeside promenades and expensive houses are prominent and can be spotted along both shores.

Zurich's most familiar sights are, without a doubt, the Fraumünster and Grossmünster churches, which solemnly face each other across the River Limmat. The Old Town spans this river, and some of the most interesting lanes and buildings are clustered along its banks. The nearby Lindenhof was once the site of a Roman customs post and is a good vantage point.

Surrounding the Old Town, the kreis (districts) of Zurich are arranged clockwise around the city centre, with the numbers corresponding to the last digit in the postcode. In summer, the view of the city is beautiful, with the lake reflecting the mountains and clear blue sky. The winter snowfalls bring a magic of their own.

The modern Zurich is a city of bankers in a country of banks. This concentration of wealth can most readily be seen along the Bahnhofstrasse, flanked by lime trees. All the major Swiss banks have a presence here, notably at the Paradeplatz, where elegant shops and designer boutiques line the street, interspersed with trendy bars and attractive cafes.

Other riches lie in the city's excellent universities - Zurich is a powerhouse for research, with public-private partnerships leading to innovations both in design and the high-tech sector.

The city also has a strong cultural presence - there are over 50 museums, art galleries, auction houses, the opera, orchestras and the Schauspielhaus theatre, as well as a number of performance spaces that encourage contemporary artists in all media.

For those who find the comfortable burgher lifestyle a little too tame, there are always alternative places to seek out. This is, after all, the city that saw the birth of the artistic movement of Dadaism - the antithesis of conformity.

For more information on Zurich, tourist attractions and places to see please visit: Zurich Tourist Information

Transport

The Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich (VBZ) (tel: (044) 434 4111; website: www.vbz.ch), operates the highly efficient and easy-to-use tram and bus network (known as Züri Linie) within the city. The Zürcher Verkehrsverbund (ZVV) (tel: 0848 988 988; website: www.zvv.ch), operates services within the Zurich canton as a whole, including all trains.

Tickets for all forms of transit must be purchased at ticket machines (located at tram stops, bus stops and train stations) and validated before boarding. Tickets cannot be bought on trams or buses - there is a fine for anyone travelling without a ticket. Check the websites above for detailed instructions on using ticket machines.

Zurich canton operates on a zone system. A single adult fare for one to two zones is valid for one hour (including transfers). A cheaper short hop (known as a 'Kurzstrecke') is available for five or fewer stops. First-class seating is available on S-Bahn trains, for a higher fare. Night buses depart from Bellevue on Friday and Saturday.

It is much simpler and better value to buy a day pass (Tageskarte), good for 24 hours of unlimited travel and available from ticket machines and the Tourist Information Office. The 24-hour and 72-hour ZürichCARD cover all travel in the seven central zones, including trips to and from the airport, as well as other discounts for tourists. The 9-Uhr-Tagespass is ideal for daytrips out into the surrounding region, and is valid for all journeys after 0900 for one day.

Taxis may be found at taxi ranks or hailed on the street, as well as ordered by phone from the taxi firms: Züri Taxi (tel: (044) 222 2222; website: www.zueritaxi.chm), Taxi 444 (tel: (044) 444 4444; website: www.taxi444.ch), Alpha Taxi (tel: (044) 777 7777; website: www.alpha-taxi.ch) or Taxi Jung (tel: (044) 271 1188; website: www.taxijung.ch). For wheelchair-friendly taxis, contact Tixi - Transport Service for the Disabled (tel: (044) 404 1380; website: www.tixi.ch) or Zurich Transport for the Physically Disabled (tel: (044) 444 2211; website: www.btz.ch). Tipping is not an issue, seeing as a compulsory service charge of 15% is included in the fare, although it is customary to tip SFr2 per bag for luggage handling