Zurich

Zurich is Switzerland's largest city and its financial centre, but to reduce it to banking and watches would be to miss one of Europe's most beautiful urban environments. The city sits at the northern tip of Lake Zurich, where the Limmat River flows out toward the Rhine, and the combination of Alpine backdrop, pristine lake and well-preserved medieval old town (Altstadt) creates a setting of almost unfair attractiveness. The Altstadt, divided by the river into two halves, is a delight on foot — cobblestone alleys, guild houses, Romanesque churches and narrow lanes opening suddenly onto waterfront promenades. The Kunsthaus Zürich is one of the finest art museums in Switzerland, with an excellent collection spanning from medieval to contemporary. The Swiss National Museum occupies a fairy-tale castle-like building and covers the full breadth of Swiss cultural history. What surprises many visitors is how much Zurich enjoys itself. The lakeside swimming areas (Badi) are packed on summer weekends; the Langstrasse district is an unexpectedly gritty, fun nightlife strip. The city consistently ranks at the top of quality-of-life indices, which is apparent in its clean streets, excellent public transport and thriving café culture. Day trips to Lucerne, the Rhine Falls or the surrounding Alps are straightforward. Expensive by most standards, but the quality of everything reflects the price.