The Hills are Alive

Zurich lies within striking distance of some of the finest skiing resorts in Europe. Zermatt, Klosters – beloved of the British Royal Family – and St. Moritz are just some of the top destinations within only a few hours’ drive of Zurich airport. Indeed, Switzerland’s resorts can claim to be some of the oldest and most prestigious in the world, with the heads of Europe’s royal houses among their earliest guests. And with Swiss hospitality mingling the best traditions of France, Germany and Italy, you can guarantee that the apres-ski will more than live up to expectations, too.

Open for Business

Zurich is one of the world’s great financial centres, home to such global players as UBS, Credit Suisse and Swiss Re, to say nothing of the Swiss Stock Exchange. Banking and financial services make up around a quarter of the city’s business, but they are by no means its only worldclass industry: Zurich also plays host to the European headquarters of multinationals like Microsoft, IBM and Pfizer. Poised on the borders of three of Europe’s four biggest economies, it is, both physically and financially, at the heart of European business.

Bright lights

But modern Zurich is far more than business and skiing: more and more, the city is becoming known as Switzerland’s party capital. With around 500 bars, pubs and night-clubs to choose from, every visitor can find the place that’s right for them. And with Switzerland leading the world in the wellness and luxury comfort sector, the morning after can be a pleasure as well.

Multi-cultural culture

As a thriving economic zone, Zurich has long been the meeting-point of cultures. Over the years, national groups from Italy to Indonesia have made their homes here, giving the city a rich and vibrant range of cultural life. The Kunsthaus Zurich features one of the world’s largest collections of modern art, with works by Munch, Braque and Picasso, among others, while the Museum Rietberg boasts a spectacular collection of antique Asian art (limited access to some areas until early 2007). From the great nineteenth-century arcades of the city’s main railway station to the narrow streets of the old city by the Limmat river, Zurich’s multi-cultural present is everywhere apparent.

Lakeside beauty

Despite all those attractions, however, Zurich’s chief charm is the city itself. Populated since Roman times, and standing at the crossroads of Europe, Zurich is a treasure trove of historic buildings and comfortable cafes, all set in the magnificent surroundings of Lake Zurich and the snow-capped mountains beyond. From mediaeval masterpieces such as the Grossmunster cathedral, with its iconic twin towers, to the striking modernism of Marc Chagall’s stained-glass windows in the Frauenmunster, Zurich has something for everyone’s taste. When will you go to discover yours?