Zurich OverviewWhile browsing in the elegant boutiques along Zurich's
Bahnhofstrasse, one of the most beautiful shopping areas in Europe,
you'll notice that the streets may not be paved with gold, but you
can be certain that a couple of metres below, unimaginable
treasures are lying in underground vaults. Zurich is the world's banking capital, but as well as being a
city of fat cats parading in pin-stripes, glued to their mobile
phones and swinging patent leather briefcases, you'll also discover
that this is the city that gave birth to the avant-garde Dadaist
movement, and where James Joyce wrote
. The city's Museum of Fine Arts houses one of
Europe's most extensive collections, from 15th century religious
iconography to the modern art works of Dali, Arp, Hockney, Cezanne,
Monet, Gaugin, Munch and Picasso. Visitors can spend days exploring Zurich's cobbled streets,
wandering through its museums, exploring its flea markets or
walking away with free gifts from its chocolate factories. The
quays, with their promenades, are made for walking, especially
along the shores of the lake. Zurich also boasts an active café
culture that's ideal for people-watching, and a lively,
multi-ethnic population to rival any other major European city. The
exacting order of the Swiss, with their passion for neatness and
precision, may create an impression of rather a prim and staid
society, but visitors will discover quite the opposite when
exploring Zurich's nightlife. With more bars, clubs and restaurants
than you can shake a stick at, as well as a calendar packed full of
street parades and festivals, a holiday in Zurich can exhaust even
the most energetic party animal. |