Zurich is Switzerland's financial capital and a high-end banking city. As a result, it's no surprise that it's frequently referred to as the world's most expensive city. Zurich is known for its high-end shopping, luxurious lifestyles, and fine chocolates. It's easy to forget that Zürich, Switzerland's largest city, is also a delightful and fascinating place for tourists because it's well known as the country's economic and cultural hub and one of Europe's main financial and industrial capitals. There are dozens of museums, a well-preserved old town full of medieval and Renaissance buildings, and enough art both inside and outside of museums to keep art lovers happy for a week. Georg Büchner, Vladimir Lenin, James Joyce, C. G. Jung, and Thomas Mann were all drawn to Zurich's tradition of liberal thinking and active intellectual life, which has continued into modern times. Despite its bustling business district, Zürich is one of the best Swiss cities to visit and is well-suited to sightseeing by foot. The city is also a great starting point for exploring many other fascinating places in Switzerland and Germany's Black Forest region. In fact, a number of these can be visited in a single day from Zürich. Capital: Zurich International Airport: Zurich international airport (ZRH) Population: 1,408,000 Currency: the Swiss franc Time: UTC+1 Driving side: Right Main Electricity: 230V Official Language: Swiss German Religion: Roman Catholic
A historic neighborhood with narrow streets rises steeply on the east side of the river in the midst of this modern financial powerhouse of a city. Follow locals to their favorite weekend aerie, the 871-meter Uetliberg, for the best views of the city and lake. The long Lake Zürich is the city's focal point and a popular playground for both tourists and locals. The Kunsthaus, one of Europe's best art museums, is run by the Zürich Society of Arts and dates back to a society of artists founded in 1787. The western half of Zürich's old town rises steeply to the quiet tree-shaded Lindenhof between the Bahnhofstrasse and the Limmat's left bank.
