Car Hire Zurich - Mini guide to Zurich
Switzerland's most populous and cosmopolitan city is distinctly Germanic, and reputedly the intellectual and cultural capital of the nation. Historic, yet with a modern character, it has a slightly unhurried atmosphere, full of cyclists and arty people.
Concentrated around the northern end of Lake Zurich, the old town straddles the Limmat river as it leaves the lake, and consists of pedestrian streets, winding alleyways, 16th and 17th-century houses, guildhalls and courtyards. The elegant Bahnhofstrasse occupies the site of the old city walls and sits atop the world’s biggest bank-vault booty. It’s great for a stroll, but leave your credit card in your hotel room unless shocking price tags don’t scare you. The enormous clock face on the 13th-century tower of St Peter's Church epitomises Switzerland. The Fraumünster church nearby is noted for its distinctive stained-glass windows.
The Museum of Fine Arts is one of Europe’s finest, with a large permanent collection dating from the 15th-century and the Swiss National Museum, housed in a pseudo-castle north of the city centre, provides the ultimate rundown on the life and times of the Swiss nation.
Safe at any time, the city is very walkable with plenty of lively corners by night (the infamous ‘needle park’ near the station has disappeared in favour of a permissive marijuana policy). All along Lake Zürich are picnic, sunbathing and swimming spots, popular on summer evenings with the locals.
