The city of Zürich, on the northern shores of Lake Zürich, lies in the heart of Europe and at the center of Switzerland. Its multicultural flair and the variety of leisure activities on offer attract guests from all over the world. Zürich offers a unique mixture of culinary, cultural and sightseeing attractions – over 50 museums and more than 100 art galleries, 2,000 bars and restaurants, unlimited shopping (Banhofstrasse, Old Town and Zürich-West), including top watches, jewelry, fashion, and luxury brands, and the most flamboyant and lively nightlife in Switzerland with over 500 late night venues.

Recreational activities range from a visit to the riverside and lakeside bathing areas in the very heart of the city, to a spectacular hike on the Uetliberg mountain.

Zürich, as a city endowed with both a lake and the Limmat River, has long been a popular destination for people in search of health and wellness and is now more popular than ever before. Zürich is like a gourmet menu – its secret lies in the quality of the ingredients.

When to Go: The winters are cold, damp and overcast. Whether is ideal at the height of summer, in July and August. Spring and fall are also quite pleasant.

Featured Five Star Luxury Hotel

Alden Hotel Splügenschloss Splügenstrasse 2, Zürich +41.44.289.99.99 www.alden.ch A discrete 5-star boutique hotel in Zürich, favored by the cognoscenti. This beautiful landmark building dating back to 1895, was completely refurbished and restored to its original splendor.

Five Star Super-Luxury Hotels

Baur au Lac
Talstrasse 1, Zürich
+44.220-50-20 www.bauraulac.ch
The hotel, opened in 1844 and owned by the same family, is set in its own park on the shore of Lake Zürich, yet only a stone's throw from the Paradeplatz, the city's bustling financial district, and the world-famous Bahnhofstrasse. Rooms and suites have a unique elegance, style, and grandeur, and the service is impeccable. The hotel is one of the founding members of "The Leading Hotels of the World" and of "Swiss Deluxe Hotels".

Dolder Grand
Kurhausstrasse 65, Zürich
+41.44.456.60.00 www.thedoldergrand.com/en
After a construction phase lasting four years, Zürich celebrates the return of one of its most prominent landmarks. The original "Curhaus" (health spa), built in 1899, has been transformed into a luxury-class city resort. In the process, the hotel's glittering past and vibrant future have been fused together, as reflected in the architecture by Foster and Partners, the interior design by United Designers and a new, 4000- square meter-Spa-Oasis created by the Star-Spa designer Sylvia Sepielli. The Dolder Grand is part of the Dolder Resort.

Eden Au Lac
Utoquai 45, Zürich
+41.44.266.25.25 www.edenaulac.ch/en
For nearly 100 years, discerning guests from around the world have been coming to the Eden Au Lac, one of Switzerland's leading luxury hotels renowned for its superior standards of service and hospitality. Leisure guests, business travelers, international stars – all have enjoyed the warmest of welcomes at the hotel. At this traditional, art nouveau hotel protected by a preservation order, guests enjoy a dignified atmosphere and individually furnished rooms with lake views.

Park Hyatt Zürich
Beethovenstrasse 21, Zürich
+41.43. 883. 12.34 zurich.park.hyatt.com
A five-star contemporary hotel, located in the city's financial and commercial district and yet just steps away from the fashionable Bahnhofstrasse shopping street, the Lake of Zürich, the Zürich Kongresshaus and the Old Town. A newly built, modern and stylish hotel, The Park Hyatt Zürich combines ultra-modern architecture and technology with the latest comfort amenities in hotel guest room design.

Five Star Luxury Boutique Hotels

Widder Hotel
Rennweg 7, Zürich
+41.44.224.25.26 www.widderhotel.ch
Eight refurbished, historic townhouses, created in distinctive style. The fusion of historical architecture and innovative, modern design creates a relaxed ambience with real character.

Featured Super-Luxury Spa

Dolder Grand Spa Kurhausstrasse 65, Zürich +41.44.456.60.00 thedoldergrand.com A highlight of the legendary Dolder Grand Hotel's recent $400 million renovation, the Spa offers European therapies with Japanese influences and Swiss-style service, healing body, mind and spirit.

Featured Restaurants

The Restaurant at The Dolder Grand Kurhausstrasse 65, Zürich +41.44.456.60.00 thedoldergrand.com Switzerland's most desirable dining address, the Dolder Grand's fine-dining room, The Restaurant, is one of the highest-rated restaurants in Zurich, under the direction of Chef of Fine Dining, Heiko Nieder.

Zunfthaus zur Waag Münsterhof 8, Zürich +44.216.99.66 www.zunfthaus-zur-waag.ch A highly regarded restaurant in the heart of Zürich offering typical culinary delights within a warm Bidermeier-style interior. Owned by the Guildhall of Waag - established in 1336 - the restaurant is now managed by Sepp and Sandra Wimmer.

Kronenhalle Rämistrasse 4, Zürich +41.44.262.99.00 www.kronenhalle.com Famous for its collection of fine art paintings, it is considered one of the city's finest restaurants, serving a distinctive combination of Swiss, Bavarian and classic cuisine. A meeting point for the worlds of art, culture, elegance and opulence.

Petermann's Kunststuben
Seestrasse 160, Zürich
+41.44.910.07.15 www.kunststuben.com | www.grandestables.ch
Cuisine: Continental
Considered one of the finest restaurants in Switzerland and all of Europe. Gourmets will queue up for the chance to taste Horst Petermann's cooking in Küsnacht, just outside the city limits of Zürich.

Restaurant Rigiblick - Spice
Germaniastr. 99, Zürich
+41.43.255.15.70 www.restaurantrigiblick.ch
Cuisine: European/Asian Fusion
Lucia and Felix Eppisser guarantee top-class culinary enjoyment in the renovated Hotel Rigiblick. Only top-quality natural products are used for their cooking which has a European/Pan-Asian touch. The atmosphere is clean, pure and elegant with a beautiful view.

Restaurant Mesa
Weinbergstr. 75, Zürich
+41.43.321.75.75 www.mesa-restaurant.ch
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Renowned chef Marcus G. Lindner offers sound, classical cuisine, with light and easy Mediterranean influences. Desserts are a must. An impressive list represents over 250 wines from many nations. A classically elegant decor lends to the relaxing dining experience.

Haus Zum Rüden
Limmatquai 42, Zürich
+41.44.261-95-66 www.hauszumrueden.ch
Cuisine: German/Austrian/Swiss
The unique Gothic decor promises an eventful gastronomic experience in a genuine historic ambience. The room built in 1348, is certainly an attraction. The central position with views of the River Limmat and the city makes the restaurant a popular meeting place.

Barrique
Marktgasse 17, Zürich
The wine list at the Barrique reads more like a book; the cellar accommodates no fewer than 800 types of wine, many of them available by the glass or carafe. Particularly worth recommending to complement the goût of the wine is a bite of cheese, of which there is a wide variety.

Bar Sol
Manessestrasse 132, Zürich
Whether inside relaxing on the cozy sofas or outside surrounded by the dense
vegetation of the garden, guests can enjoy a drink of wine accompanied by either tapas or something more substantial from the daily menu.

Bodega Española
Münstergasse 15, Zürich
In this wood-paneled wine bar, guests can enjoy Spanish wine, accompanied by either tasty tapas or a more substantial menu on the upper floor. In the evenings, the venue is well frequented, so things can get a little noisy.

Caduff's Wine Loft
Kanzleistrasse 126, Zürich
A former factory building has been transformed into a trendy bar. At elegant tables dine a vibrant array of members of the in-crowd; the cellar is home to more than 1,000 varieties of wine.

Divine
Gartenhofstrasse 1, Zürich
Here, both food and wine live up to the highest expectations amidst an urban ambiance. The wines come from all over the world; the proprietors are renowned for their wine bar at Zürich's Theater Spektakel festival.

Öpfelchammer
Rindermarkt 12, Zürich
Zürich's oldest tavern has not changed since the days when the writer, Gottfried Keller, enjoyed more than a small drop here. Inscribing something on the walls is a tradition here; anyone who succeeds in swinging over and around two wooden ceiling beams and drinking an entire glass of wine while dangling upside down is permitted to immortalize himself with his engravings.

Urania
Uraniastrasse 7, Zürich
This elegant establishment for weight-conscious business executives boasts an
exclusive wine list and exquisite hors d'oeuvres.

Wein & Dein
Regensdorferstrasse 22, Zürich
Wein & Dein means feasting in the realm of 1,000 wines; the restaurant is located on the site of the threshing floor and old wine press of the 350-year old farmhouse belonging to the Zweifel family, who are just as renowned for their potato chips as for their wines.

Wine Tavern at the Hotel Hirschen
Niederdorfstrasse 13, Zürich
Only very few locals know that there is a wine tavern in the history-steeped, vaulted wine cellar, dating back to the 16th century, at the Hotel Hirschen – and those who do know, keep it a secret.

Museums & Art Galleries
Zürich has over 50 museums and more than 100 art galleries. The fine arts museum Kunsthaus Zürich presents a richly varied exhibition programme along with its exquisit collection containing masterpieces of Alberto Giacometti and other Swiss artists, a Classical Modernist section complemented by Old Masters and Contemporary art. Together with the Museum for Contemporary Art and other galleries, the Kunsthalle is situated in the former Löwenbräu brewery. A unique collection ranging from sundials through to Swatch, time measurement instruments since Pre-Christian eras are exhibited at the Muesum der Zeitmessung Beyer.

Churches
Grossmünster with its two towers and Karlsturm tower (open to the public), Fraumünster with stained-glass windows by Marc Chagall in the choir, St. Peter's Church as Zürich's oldest parish church and with the largest clock face in Europe, the Wasserkirche (Water Church) with the martyr stone of Zürich's patron saints in the crypt.

Design & Architecture
Cabaret Voltaire (Spiegelgasse) – birthplace of the Dada art movement; Eureka sculpture by Jean Tinguely (Zürichhorn); Heidi Weber House (Höschgasse) – last building constructed by Le Corbusier; Town Hall (Limmatquai); Schiffbau (Zürich-West) – once shipbuilding halls, now a cultural center; Federal Institute of Technology Zürich (Rämistrasse) – built by Gottfried Semper and today associated with 21 Nobel prizewinners; Zürich University (Rämistrasse) – first university in the German-speaking region to admit women students; Zug Railway Station – with light art by James Turrell

Monuments
Alfred Escher (Bahnhofplatz) – the most important statesman of the 19th century; Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi (Pestalozziwiese) – educational reformer and father of orphans; Huldrych Zwingli (next to the Wasserkirche) – reformer; Hedwig ab Burghalden (Lindenhof) – revolutionary women's leader; Hans Waldmann (Münsterbrücke bridge) – former mayor.

Parks & Gardens
Belvoir Park, Botanical Garden of the University of Zürich, Bruno Weber's Sculpture Park, Chinese Garden, Platzspitz, lakeside parks, Rieter Park, Succulent Plant Collection

Vantage Points
Lindenhof in the Old Town, Polyterrasse university look-out terrace, Uetliberg, Bürkliterrasse by Lake Zürich, Karlsturm in the Grossmünster Church, Urania Observatory with its panoramic bar.

Places to Stroll
Bahnhofstrasse shopping mile, multicultural Niederdorf, Schipfe artisans' street, quays along the Limmat and the Sihl rivers and the shores of Lake Zürich.

Markets
Rosenhof curiosity market (Thursday & Saturday), specialty market at the Main Railway Station (Wednesday), various flea and vegetable markets, such as the Bürkliplatz Flea Market: At the end of Bahnhofstrasse, Prada meets flea market: this is the place to rummage for rarities and antiques to your heart's content. Apart from the usual junk, this is also a popular place to acquire second-hand jewelry as well as other valuable items.

Water
Cruises on the Limmat River and Lake Zürich, 18 lakeside, riverside and open air bathing areas

Zoos
Zürich Zoo with the Zoolino pets' corner and the indoor Masoala Rainforest, Knie's Children's Zoo in Rapperswil, Goldau Nature and Animal Park, Sihlwald Nature.

Zürich offers a rich variety of cultural venues and events. The Opera House, one of the leading such establishments in Europe, enjoys international acclaim for both its opera and ballet productions. The Tonhalle concert hall boasts some of the best acoustics in the world. The Schauspielhaus, Switzerland's largest theater, stages performances of world-class caliber. In a sophisticated blend of old and new, the historic shipbuilding halls in the trendy Zürich-West district have given way to a cultural center complete with Schauspielhaus theater auditoriums, a restaurant, the Turm Bar and a jazz club. Numerous smaller theaters also enchant the public.

Some 150 years ago, part of the city's fortifications were transformed into what is now arguably the most famous pedestrian train station rail-road in the world: the Bahnhofstrasse. Zürich's shopping mile has contributed largely to the city's reputation as an El Dorado for shoppers and is a top address for international fashion labels, jewelry and watches.

However, it is just one of the places where you can find urban Zürich labels; whether in Zürich-West or in the Aussersihl quarter, you often come across local brands where you least expect them. They inspire the fashion-conscious and cause a sensation far beyond Switzerland's borders – as has, for example, the cult label Freitag, with its unique style of bags and accessories.

In stark contrast to these exclusive locations are the artisans' street, Schipfe, lined with quaint workshops and ateliers, and the pedestrian shopping malls in the Niederdorf and Oberdorf. Here, against the picturesque backdrop of the Old Town, you can find trendy boutiques, antique shops, bookshops and markets.

After dinner, a number of elegant clubs and lounges invite you to celebrate with them: from Diagonal at the Hotel Baur au Lac, to the Kaufleuten and the Saint Germain to the Amber. Zürich boasts the highest density of clubs in Switzerland – here, you can never turn up too late. From a house music party in the legendary Kaufleuten to Greatest Hits from the Eighties at the oldest club in the city, the Mascotte, parties really get going after 11:00 pm and continue into the wee hours of the morning.

In the summer, nightlife can be found not only in the clubs, but also outside in the open air; the venues where visitors bathe and relax during the day are ideal places to flirt and dance at night. The clubs in the trendy district of Zürich-West have turned Zürich into the European party metropolis; here, hip locales rub shoulders with unconventional bars, and out of the old is born the new. Moreover, at the gateway to Zürich, the Grand Casino Baden tempts with the highest jackpots in Europe.