Zurich

Good to know

1. 1The Old Town is split by the Limmat, with the Grossmünster and its twin towers on one bank and the Fraumünster and St. Peter church on the other. The Reformation took hold here in the 1520s under Huldrych Zwingli, which shaped the city's character for centuries.
2. 2Most people speak Swiss German in daily life, which differs a good deal from the standard German used in writing and on the news. Many people also speak good English, so visitors rarely struggle.
3. 3Zurich is one of the world's major banking centres, and the Bahnhofstrasse, a long shopping street running from the main station toward the lake, is lined with banks and shops.
4. 4A classic local dish is Zürcher Geschnetzeltes, thin strips of veal in a creamy mushroom sauce, usually served with rösti. Swiss chocolate and cheese are easy to find too.
5. 5The currency is the Swiss franc, not the euro, even though the country sits in the middle of Europe.
6. 6In summer people swim in the lake and the Limmat, and there are old wooden bathhouses along the water where locals spend whole afternoons.

Tips for a first visit

• Tap water is excellent and the city has many public fountains with drinking water, so there is no need to buy bottled water.
• Cards and contactless payment are widely accepted, but it is still handy to carry a little cash for small kiosks, markets and some mountain huts if you take a day trip.
• Be on time. Trains, trams and appointments run to the minute, and locals notice lateness.
• Keep noise down in residential areas in the evening and on Sundays, when quiet is taken seriously.
• Try a fondue or raclette in a cosy restaurant, and have a coffee with a pastry in one of the old cafés in the Old Town.
• Zurich is a good base for day trips by train to lakes and mountains, so consider leaving a day or two free for one.

When to go

Summer is warm and sunny, good for swimming in the lake and eating outdoors, though it is also the busiest time. Spring and autumn are mild and pleasant for walking, with autumn colours in the hills around the city. Winter is cold and often grey in town, but the Christmas markets are atmospheric and snow is close by in the mountains.

From the airport

Zurich Airport lies a few kilometres north of the centre and is linked to the main station, Zürich Hauptbahnhof, by frequent direct trains in about ten minutes. Trams and buses also run from the airport area, and taxis are available, though the train is the simplest and fastest way in.