Zurich: Art, Culture & Gastronomy

Located directly on the crystal-clear Lake Zurich amidst stunning natural beauty, Zurich is bustling with life. A mindful lifestyle is in the very DNA of Zurich and the people who live here. Living and traveling sustainably does not have to be expensive or complicated. In Zurich, exceptional art and culture, exquisite gastronomy and unique local shopping is concentrated in the smallest of urban areas, ready for you to explore.

Considered one of the design capitals of Europe, Zurich is packed with aweinspiring art, architecture and design. Art connoisseurs and culture enthusiasts have more than 100 galleries and over 50 museums to choose from. The Pavillon Le Corbusier on the shores of Lake Zurich, by the great architect Le Corbusier, is a must-see. The Kunsthaus Zurich, with its recently opened extension designed by the architect David Chipperfield, has just become Switzerland’s largest art museum and offers the most important collection of Classical Modernism, coupled with attractive temporary exhibitions.

Zurich’s restaurant scene is just as diverse as the city itself. The Haus Hiltl – according to the Guinness Book of Records, the oldest vegetarian restaurant in the world – was founded here and in Zurich-West, you can dine in factory halls or high above the clouds. All around Lake Zurich, mouth-watering menus featuring fresh fish from the lake are served up together with a spectacular view. Chocoholics should not miss a visit to the latest attraction - Lindt Home of Chocolate, which is home to one of the world’s largest chocolate fountains and an interactive museum on the history of chocolate making. FOOD ZURICH provides an opportunity to indulge: every year, the festival celebrates food in all its facets over a period of 11 days. Featuring a large street food festival, countless workshops, food tastings and courses, it enriches Zurich’s gastronomic scene.

During the summer months, Lake Zurich and the River Limmat give Zurich a fresh Mediterranean ambiance. Bathing in the lake or the river is a particularly popular pastime; measured in terms of the population, scarcely any other city in Europe has such a high concentration of bathing facilities as Zurich. After dusk, a number of riverside and lakeside bathing areas are transformed into “Badi bars”, offering refreshing drinks and entertainment. Those who prefer to be on rather than by or in the water can best enjoy the luxuriant nature along the shoreline by boat.

Nature lovers seeking fresh air and green open spaces will delight in the city’s location by the abundant expanses of forest and in its very own mountain, the Uetliberg. Located in the heart of Switzerland, Zurich is the perfect base for your excursions to explore the rest of the country: visit the nearby Rhine Falls, Rapperswil castle, Mount Rigi or the snow-capped peaks of Mount Titlis. And on your return to Zurich the same day, enjoy the comforts and infrastructure of a modern, boutique metropolis. Have it all in Zurich!